Book Review: Killing November by Adriana Mather

**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Genre: YA, Mystery
Release Date: March 26, 2019 
Description:

" 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."

Well, I gotta say, this could be made into an epic TV show. Not only is the story interesting with great characters, but it's made to be engaging to the reader, as it easily integrates an underlying sense of suspicion through every event that occurs. 

November, or Nova, is sent to a school that is completely off the grid, which is filled with students with a rather unique set of skills. Nova is a great MC, because of the way she handles the situation. She has no idea why her dad suddenly sends her to the school or the political battle that she has somehow landed herself in. Although she is a new student who is completely unaware of the situation she has been placed in, I'm glad that she is still able to take care of herself, but not in an OP kind of way. She still has her faults and she quickly tries to learn to adapt to her new life. She's not dumb in any way, just naive, but that's not a bad quality, in fact, she encompasses many qualities that many students lacked. From an outside perspective, she probably looked like a ball of sunshine compared to the rest of the tense cocky students. This is further shown through her relationship with Layla and Ash, who you can tell have thawed their cold exterior from being around her. Her perspective was also great to read, as the way Nova navigates her way through the mess is always accompanied by her touch of snarkiness/humor and sympathy. 

The overall plot was pretty easy to follow as it was really interesting. We literally learn everything through Nova because she equally does not know anything that is going on 😂. I'm glad she voices my exact frustration. Aside from this, the mystery surrounding the deaths that occur in the story keeps you engaged, as you begin to doubt the actions and words of every character, which I've been doing since the very beginning of the story because... sketchy sketchy. 

Overall, this is a great YA mystery novel. Plus it's set at a mysterious boarding school...who doesn't love that? I don't really have any complaints other than wishing there was some epilogue of some sort because I really wanted to know just a bit more on what happens after the big events at the end of the story. 

Overall rating:  4/5