Book description
Forget everything you thought you knew about Hogwarts. Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education isn't a school for the magically gifted-it's a high-stakes survival camp where the curriculum is literally written in blood. Set at the Scholomance, where failure means actual death (no retakes, no pass/fail, just a one-way ticket to the afterlife), this book is less Harry Potter and more Lord of the Flies with better wands and a protagonist who'd rather you died than had to share a library table with you. El, our delightfully cynical heroine, isn't here for your platitudes. She's here to survive, and her greatest weapon? A power so devastating it could erase the entire student body with a sneeze. (Spoiler: She's terrified of using it.)
The genius of Novik's worldbuilding lies in its brutal, darkly funny logic. The Scholomance operates on rules so basic they'd make a toddler scoff: Don't walk alone. Don't trust anyone. And for the love of magic, don't accidentally genocide your classmates. There are no teachers, no holidays, and friendships are strictly transactional-like a high-stakes game of Don't Get Eaten By the Monster You Just Made Friends With. El's isolation isn't just plot armor; it's the only sensible strategy when your greatest asset is a magic that could level a city block. And let's be real: if you're spending your days dodging sentient hallway shadows and calculating whether a new classmate is worth the risk of getting eaten, "social anxiety" is the least of your problems.
What elevates this beyond a clever premise is the audiobook delivery. El's voice-sharp, sarcastic, and utterly exhausted-isn't just narrated; it's lived. You hear the exhaustion in her sigh when she realizes another "strategic alliance" just got her chased by a griffin. You feel the tension as she weighs whether to unleash her power, knowing the cost isn't just her life-it's everyone else's. The narrator nails her voice perfectly: a mix of teenage snark and the quiet terror of someone who's seen too many classmates turn into monster snacks. It's like having a brutally honest, slightly unhinged best friend whispering survival tips while the walls try to eat you.
And the humor? It's the kind that cuts. Novik skewers every cliché of magical academia: "No holidays? Obviously. The Scholomance doesn't do 'spring break'-it does 'spring death.'" You'll laugh until you realize the joke is that this is exactly how school feels when your biggest test is whether the monster under your desk is hungry today. The book doesn't just critique school stress-it weaponizes it, turning the dread of finals week into a literal fight for your life. And El? She's not just surviving. She's making the school look like the bad student. Her power isn't a curse; it's the only thing keeping her from being the least interesting thing in a place where everyone's trying to outlive everyone else. By the time you reach the end, you won't just be rooting for El to survive-you'll be checking your own hallway for lurking shadows, wondering if your next coffee break might double as a final exam. And honestly? You'll be glad it's not your school.
Marbles
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Cross Thread
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Dark Horse
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Fire Sass
The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library. This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing.
Sprinkle Lovenuts
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Most Wanted
ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortless and enjoyable. ListenBook is a must-have for audiobook lovers. The auto-rewind feature ensures I never miss a word. I love the ability to customize the skip buttons. It’s so convenient.
PixelPilgrim
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Raggedy Ann
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Flotsams54
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Mafia Princess
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Scare Stone
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ZenZone
The ability to adjust the playback speed has made my commute even more efficient. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading such a natural part of my day. ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like having a library on my phone! I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Disco Thunder
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Buckshot
Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking. The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that has a big impact on my listening experience. I love it! I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks and this narrator is now in my top 5. Their timing and inflection were masterful. Never a dull moment in the entire performance.
Spider Fuji
ListenBook's audio filters are a fantastic addition, enhancing the sound quality of my audio files. I'm so grateful for this app – it's like having a personal storyteller wherever I go. ListenBook has turned my audio content into an immersive, personalized, and unforgettable experience. 📱 It's like having a personal audiobook library at my fingertips! This app's functionality is a dream come true for book lovers. 📚🔥
Ice
Managing my audiobook collection is a pleasure thanks to this app's usability. The app's compatibility with various sources for audio download is a true time-saver. ListenBook has become my go-to app for exploring a diverse range of audiobooks. It offers a wide array of features that cater to different preferences and needs.
Sassy Muffin
ListenBook's commitment to providing top-notch audio quality has taken my audiobook experience to a new level. This app has made multitasking a breeze – I can listen while I work, cook, or exercise. With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's pure bliss. 👩🍳 Turning cooking sessions into culinary adventures, complete with intriguing tales! 🍳🎧 ListenBook’s interface is beautiful and functional. It’s my favorite app for audiobooks.
Coma Stalk
ListenBook has redefined my audiobook journey, making it more enjoyable and convenient than ever before. This audiobook app is a true gem – it brings stories to life with every click. I love how this app turns even the dullest tasks into exciting storytelling moments. Navigating chapters is a breeze with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and seamless experience.
Athena Star
This app is my secret to staying ahead on my reading list, even during my busiest days. Audiobook pleasure at its finest! This app's sleek design and efficient organization ensure that every story is accessible and delightful. 📚👌
Firedog
Audiobooks have made long flights feel like a breeze – a true travel essential. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story. ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience