Fall of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Soman Chainani is back with another welcome glimpse into the magical world of his popular The School for Good and Evil series. Fall of the School for Good and Evil is the second and final book in a duology that precedes the original series. We are thrust straight back into the tumultuous events of the magical school and its immortal caretakers. Twin brothers Rafal and Rhian are still at odds, neither sure of the loyalty or motivations of the other. Their most talented students have fled the school with the dashing Captain Hook (of Peter Pan fame) and they are desperate to recruit replacements. So desperate in fact that, for the first time, they decide to allow non-magical students into the school. Enter Midas, a talented young man who soon makes his mark at The School for Good and Evil, and who both brothers want on their team. Interspersed with the events befalling the runaway students, who find themselves stranded in Neverland, the book plots the growing chaos and confusion in the magical realm. Overshadowing all of this is Rafal’s growing belief that he and his brother made a fundamental error when they originally chose sides. He is becoming more and more convinced that it is Rhian who should be the evil headmaster…and that his brother may be trying to kill him…

As with all of Chainani’s novels, Fall of the School for Good and Evil is a fun and fast paced fantasy adventure. It is a satisfactory conclusion to the story of Rafal and Rhian and an interesting background to both new and old fans of the The School for Good and Evil.

Themes: Fantasy, Action, Fairy Tales, Good vs Evil, Schools, Brothers, Identity.

Rose Tabeni