This is a intricately crafted world where there's a fucked up system that pit the students against each other. A deadly school where you would die if you couldn't graduate, and everyone is looking behind their shoulders in fear of monsters and peers. I think Novik did a great job of creating a school like a living thing, who was trying to kill you while getting you your education at the same time. Though the beginning of the book was definitely bumpy, as there were too many info-dumping to my liking. Iirc, almost the entirety of the first and second chapter were world-building with almost no plot. Which laid a solid foundation to the world, but it was hard to get through. I really enjoy Galadriel, our main character. She is snarky, powerful and witty. And she really observes the system that was set up, how it made all the students hostile towards each other but no one was entirely in the wrong; that was just how it works and it was fucked up. And the male main character was an excellent counterpart to her; two sides of the same coin. I also love the journey we have with her, seeing her going from a lone wolf to making friends and allies. The book also explores the concept of privilege. Everyone is suffering, scared that they would be killed tomorrow. Everyone has to work hard, but some has to work harder. A very good demonstration of privilege. I very much look forward to seeing how El would navigate this system, both within the school and outside.