‘A School for Good and Evil’ by Soman Chainani is a captivating fantasy novel that transports readers into a world where every fairy tale begins. It is a new and wonderfully dark take upon the twee fairy tales you once knew.

The story centers around two best friends, Sophie and Agatha, who are whisked away to a mysterious school. At the School for Good and Evil, the good souls are trained to become a hero or heroine, while the evil ones become villains. To their shock, the traditionally beautiful Sophie is placed in the School for Evil, and the dark, brooding Agatha is sent to the School for Good. The mix-up propels both girls on a thrilling journey as they seek to uncover their true destinies whilst trying to escape for fear of death.

The characters in ‘A School for Good and Evil’ are richly developed and full of complexities. Sophie, initially portrayed as the perfect candidate for the School for Good, faces an identity crisis when she is assigned to the School for Evil. Her struggle with vanity, ambition, and self-perception makes her a selfish character. Agatha, meanwhile, grapples with her own insecurities of herself as she navigates the School for Good. The secondary characters, including princes, witches, and schoolmasters, further thickens the plot, presenting readers with a fairytale world laced with the question ‘Who are you?’

‘A School for Good and Evil’ is an excellent read for fans of fantasy and fairy tales. It’s particularly appealing to young adults and middle-grade readers. Whether you’re a die-hard fantasy lover or someone looking for an adventurous escape, ‘A School for Good and Evil’ is well worth your time.

The Book Girl 📚