Adriana Mather

"A murder at an elite boarding school makes one new girl a target"--

Killing November

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch comes a thriller set at a secretive boarding school where students are trained to carry on family legacies that have built--and toppled--empires. November is trapped. At the mysterious Academy Absconditi, a school that's completely off the grid, there's no electricity, no internet, and a brutal eye-for-an-eye punishment system. Classes include everything from knife-throwing and poisons to the art of deception. And the other students? All children of the world's most elite strategists, in training to become assassins, spies, and master manipulators. November Adley doesn't know why she's been sent to this place, or the secrets that make up its legacy, but she'll quickly discover that allies are few in a school where competition is everything. When another student is murdered, all eyes turn to November, who must figure out exactly how she fits in before she is found guilty of the crime...or becomes the killer's next victim. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Adriana Mather comes a captivating thriller that will leave you breathless.

Merle Prager

Sven Test

Before Killing November, I hadn't read anything by Adriana Mather, but now I'm looking forward to more!

This story gives a different and refreshing take to YA Mystery involving a school to train spies and assassins. I was intrigued from the start, mainly because there aren't many details concerning November nor the school she's attending. She doesn't even know anything about the school, her family, the politics surrounding the students, etc. Since November woke up at the school, with no recollection of how she get there, she's instantly wary of everyone and gets on the wrong foot with a lot of the students. I have to admit, the story dragged on a little bit and at times, I wanted to stop reading, but I'm glad I didn't. The plot and the characters are quite unique. I loved how the author introduced every character in the story from the beginning. True, I had no idea what their role would be, which is what made the story more interesting.

The majority of the book is spent learning everything about the school and the politics surrounding it, which is needed to understand a lot of what happens, especially the killings. November, along with the few friends she made, start investigating who could be killing and what is their motive. Once the pace of the book started picking up, I couldn't stop reading! Mather's writing style is so descriptive and simple that I felt like I was watching a movie in my head. I also loved the witty conversations, the humor, all the sass and sarcasm coming from November and Ash. 

Overall, this was a surprisingly good YA Mystery! I loved the history that Mather added to the story. It kept things moving and super interesting with all the clues it would add to the story. I can't wait for the second book! While it didn't really end in a cliff-hanger, it did left an opening to find out more about what is going on with this academy, politics, history and the people involved with it.

Siena Grace

I don’t know why but assassin books just hit different.

Laura

"Historia est magistra vitae"
#1: Killing November ★★★★★

Sheila

4 stars. The premise of this book is completely ridiculous, but as soon as you say "boarding school" and "assassins" in the same sentence in my general vicinity I ACTIVATE. The romance that happens in this book is tepid for me, but everything else was SO much fun! I see the sequel has been published recently so I will need to read that ASAP!

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch comes a thriller set at a secretive boarding school where students are trained to carry on family legacies that have built--and toppled--empires. Think Umbrella Academy with teenage assassins. November is as good as dead. She just doesn't know it yet. At the international Academy Absconditi, there's no electricity, no internet, and an archaic eye-for-an-eye punishment system. Classes range from knife throwing and poisons to the art of deception. And the students? All silver-spoon descendants of the world's most elite strategists--training to become assassins, spies, and master impersonators. One is a virtuoso of accents--and never to be trusted. Another is a vicious fighter determined to exploit November's weaknesses. And then there's the boy with the mesmerizing eyes and a secret agenda. November doesn't know how an ordinary girl like her fits into the school's complicated legacy. But when a student is murdered, she'll need to separate her enemies from her allies before the crime gets pinned on her . . . or she becomes the killer's next victim. From New York Times bestselling author Adriana Mather comes the first book in a thrilling new series that will leave you breathless.

Spacey

Brilliant - murder mystery, romance, castles, knives. Everything I love. Ash and November's dynamic is simply adorable. 

Candyce Kirk

Absconditi est une académie secrète et ultra-élitiste réservée aux enfants des Clans, un ordre tentaculaire qui manipule dans l'ombre les destinées du monde. Cours d'empoisonnement, lancer de couteaux, vols en tout genre... les élèves sont formés aux métiers d'assassin, d'espion, d'escroc. C'est un endroit cruel où les amis sont rares et dangereux : chaque année, des pensionnaires y meurent dans d'étranges circonstances. November Adley ignore pour quelle obscure raison son père l'a placée là, tant elle semble inadaptée à cet environnement. Elle devra pourtant s'y faire, et vite. Pour survivre, il lui faudra fouiller dans son passé et trouver sa place sur l'échiquier des Clans...- 4ème de couverture.

Clara hash

J'ai adoré ce livre, beaucoup plus que je ne le pensais ! Même si certaines révélations étaient prévisibles ça n'a pas affecté ma lecture DU TOUT. L'évolution de November sur ces 400 pages est progressive et complètement crédible. Je crois qu'il n'y a pas un personnage que je n'ai pas aimé et ça c'est très très rare. Je met de ce pas le T2 dans ma wishlist parce-que je veux essayer de le lire rapidement, pour ne pas oublier les détails du T1.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Killing November

Author: Adriana Mather

Book Series: Killing November Book 1

Rating: 4/5

Publication Date: March 26, 2019

Genre: YA Thriller

Recommended Age: 16+ (secret socities, violence, murder)

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pages: 368

Amazon Link

Synopsis: It’s a school completely off the grid, hidden by dense forest and surrounded by traps. There’s no electricity, no internet, and an eye-for-an-eye punishment system. Classes include everything from Knife-Throwing and Poisons to the Art of Deception and Historical Analysis. And all of the students are children of the world’s most elite strategists—training to become assassins, counselors, spies, and master impersonators. Into this world walks November Adley, who quickly discovers that friends are few in a school where personal revelations are discouraged and competition is everything. When another student is murdered, all eyes turn to November, who must figure out exactly how she fits into the school’s bizarre strategy games before she is found guilty of the crime…or becomes the killer’s next victim.

Review: I thought this book was really good! The book did well in the world building and the character development. The book is also a fast paced read.

However, I felt like the book didn’t do well showing us what was happening, but rather told us what was going on. The book also felt a bit too out of the realm of realism for my liking.

Verdict: It was good!

Samantha Bass

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review:

I read Adriana's first book, How To Hang a Witch and liked it. After reading this new book from her, I loved it. I enjoyed the new take on private school education - like a deadlier "I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You". I loved the mystery aspect to this novel and the fact that November had as much of an idea what was going on as the reader does. Figuring out what is going on together is my favorite kind of mysteries. I also enjoyed the family set ups - it made a more dramatic view on Romeo and Juliet without sticking to the typical story plot. Overall, I really liked this book and I definitely want to read the sequel!

Lynn Braden

After spending most of her life in a small town called Pembrook, November's dad enrolls her in a private school for a couple of weeks while he helps her aunt after a break in at her home. While on the way, November blacks out and wakes up at Academy Absconditi, where there is no technology and everybody seems out to kill her. When she begins to take classes, November realizes that the games that her father and aunt played with her as a child were meant to prepare her for what she would face in this school as the stakes get higher by the minute. Learning more about her family's history and her mother's death makes her conscious of the fact that her problems are bigger than just what is happening in this school and that there is nobody she can trust.

Killing November combines aspects of both the Harry Potter and Hunger Games series. Student interactions are Machiavellian to the point of being absurd. Also, it is hard to believe that any father, especially one in this situation, would leave his daughter as unprepared as November's father does in this story. Other than November's frustration and disbelief in her situation, other emotions don't come through as clearly, making it difficult to care about the characters. Overall, this is a well developed plot with lots of twists and turns, but it is a little difficult to connect with the characters.

Killing November

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