The School For Good And Evil - Soman Chainani

Every four years, two children are kidnapped from the village of Galvaldon, and for many years no one knew why, who was kidnapping them or where they were being taken. 

Now, after the town has pieced together the puzzle, they realise that the children are being taken by the School Master, who runs the School for Good and Evil, one of the two children is good and the other evil. They begin their education in their respective wings of the school and then eventually graduate into fairytales. 

Sophie has waited her whole life to be stolen by the School Master, and she dreams of being a princess and can't wait to begin her schooling. 

Her best friend, Agatha, has entirely different ideas. She does not want to be taken at all, and wants to stay right in her graveyard home.

When the fateful night is upon the town, to both the girl's surprise and horror, they are both taken. And when they reach the school, things don't quite go as Sophie had planned it to be. 

Sophie is put into the Evil wing, and Agatha in the Good.

As they begin lessons, both struggle to fit into their new normal. 

All Agatha wants is to go home, and Sophie is busy scheming on how to prove to her teachers, and classmates that is truly Good and belongs on the other side of the shore. 

Throw in a bunch of magic, all kinds of creatures, enemy's, fights, King Arthur's son, and an upcoming ball - the girls experience so much.

Because sometimes, the princess and the witch don't have looks that match their personality's - and their fairytale is sure to be interesting... 

About The Author:

A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia University's MFA Film Program, Soman began his career as a screenwriter and director with his films playing at over 150 film festivals around the world. He has been nominated for the Waterstone Prize for Children's Literature, been named to the Out100, and also received the $100,000 Shasha Grant and the Sun Valley Writer's Fellowship, both for debut writers.

This American-Indian's debut series, The School For Good And Evil, has sold more than 3 million copies, been translated into 30 languages across 6 continents, and will be a major motion picture from Netflix in 2022.

Soman lives in New York City.

What I thought of the book: 

I really loved this book! 

It was a great read, and I learned a bunch of new words. It was written extremely well, and it was very engaging.

It took some time to finish it, but I am glad that I did!

The only one thing I wasn't so happy about was Sophie's character. She just seemed really annoying and bratty. And I was really surprised that Agatha could put up with everything Sophie did and said and remain friends with her.

Agatha was definitely my favourite character. At the beginning of the book she seemed kind of creepy, but a little bit into the book, her true colours started to show and she is a really amazing person.

Other than Sophie's persona, a great book! 

But the author's writing is so vivid and the way he describes his characters, it was amazing how I really had feelings for these characters. How irritated I was with Sophie, how I marvelled Agatha's bravery and forgiveness, I really feel like I know every single character in the book in real life!

The ending left me really excited for the next book. (It is a whole series)

This is definitely one of the best fantasy/fairy tale books that I have read.