The Last Graduate

As the novel’s protagonist, El Higgins is a talented wizard who is described as tall, dark-haired, and alluring, with a skin tone that reflects her Indian heritage. El is a dynamic character whose development undercuts traditional fantasy archetypes. Rather than slowly coming into her power as a force for good, El begins the novel as a powerful wizard who is afraid to use her powers to their fullest extent because she is haunted by her grandmother’s prophecy that she has the potential to work great harm. The other major influence in El’s life is her mother, Gwen Higgins, who consistently teaches her that selflessness and generosity are counterbalances to the prophecy—as long as El practices mindfulness and self-control. Gwen also raises El to be strict-mana, which means that El generates all of her magical energy on her own and refuses to use malia (magic derived from stripping mana from unwilling victims). Caught between these contradictory expectations, El is initially an isolated loner who relies upon sarcasm and rudeness as a show of strength, rejecting most overtures of friendship.

However, El’s transformation inner begins when she shifts from an isolationist stance and assumes a new leadership role in her altruistic efforts to save everyone in the school.