Review: The Magicians

Posted by Kate on Monday, November 4, 2013. Filed under: , , , ,


The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Published by: Viking
Our source: Our local library

What it’s about (from Goodreads):

Quentin Coldwater is brillant but miserable. He's a senior in high school, and a certifiable genius, but he's still secretly obsessed with a series of fantasy novels he read as a kid, about the adventures of five children in a magical land called Fillory. Compared to that, anything in his real life just seems gray and colorless. 

Everything changes when Quentin finds himself unexpectedly admitted to a very secret, very exclusive college of magic in upstate New York, where he receives a thorough and rigorous education in the practice of modern sorcery. He also discovers all the other things people learn in college: friendship, love, sex, booze, and boredom. But something is still missing. Magic doesn't bring Quentin the happiness and adventure he though it would.


Our thoughts:

John Green recommended this to fans of Harry Potter. I have to respectfully disagree. For me, the magic of Harry Potter made no appearance. Instead, it had drugs and sex - and also a bit on the creepy side.

I really wanted to like this, but there were so many things that annoyed me. The large time jumps, for one, and the fact that Grossman squeezed at least 5 years into one book. It often felt too broad and over-viewy when I wanted more details.

Also, Quentin is one of the most unlikable main characters I've ever come across. He was spoiled, entitled and his inability to really care about anything grated on me to no end. I'm fairly sure that if I hadn't been reading this for my book club, I would have given up it.

We would recommend this to:

People who are looking for an edgier Harry Potter

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