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jmeier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, and Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
sarah2438's review against another edition
1.0
**Spoilers**
If I wasn't reading this to impress the guy I'm seeing, I would've DNF'd on page 11 when Quentin says "Unpretty women were so much easier to deal with in some ways-- you didn't have to face the pain of their probable unattainability." (For context: he literally just met this paramedic, who is currently working over a corpse.) Quentin is an insufferable misogynist that gives strong incel-vibes. (His hide-a-coin type magic tricks at the beginning did NOT help that image and honestly made me cringe.) All of his thoughts about women are how attractive they are and how they can serve his own needs, whether that's stroking his ego or being a sexual object. It was honestly disgusting and never seemed to improve. When he wasn't around women, Quentin did have funny moments-- I like a sarcastic douche. But he also spent most of the pitying himself, which got tiring. And yeah, he was obviously struggling with things, like disillusionment, depression, and lacking a sense of purpose. But none of those are valid excuses to cheat on your girlfriend with a threesome, and then have the nerve to be upset with her when she dumps your ass and sleeps with someone else. And when you play a stupid prank that results in major trauma to everyone in the school and the murder of a classmate, just own up to it, and don't move on after a week. God I just really hate this man and did not see any redeeming qualities in him.
Might still read the next book if this guy will let me near it after seeing my thoughts on the first one.
**Edit: He dumped me so I'm lowering my review from 2.5 to 1 star cause let's be honest, that's what it deserves. Don't curve your book review for a man, if he's recommending a bad book then take that as the red flag that it is.
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
doriandelioncourt's review against another edition
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
loochysue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
laurenleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexism, Sexual content, and Medical content
Minor: Ableism and Sexism
lauralintunen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug use, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexism
loppylolly's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
0.25
Minor: Sexual content
archaicgambit's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
-Quentin is a huge misogynist in book 1. His character is completely straight. His relationship with Eliot is a friendship that’s kind of homoerotic If u squint, rather than a full blown relationship where they raised a son together. He continually bullies Penny for exhibiting autistic traits. His behavior improves slightly in book 2, where the exploration of his depression is also written better, but the character is still not the kind-but struggling person Show fans loved & mourned.
-Alice is the only decently written female character in book one. But the bar is on the floor.
That said, there IS still some good prose and trolling of JKR. There are a lot of moments where I felt like lev was enjoying how he structured it as a writer even though I didn't enjoy it as a reader, I could like, sort of respect it?
Also the commentary on Narnia that forms the basis for the show is pretty solid. The base elements of what makes the show great are there, they just seriously needed to be fixed (and they were for the most part!)
The new The Magicians comics are being written by a trans woman, so I'm glad it seemed like Lev's learned to respect women since then.
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
Minor: Gore
deals mainly with themes of mental illness, be careful!cjcrowbro's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This book has a zany cast of absolute poopheads. Each incredibly unlikable in their own special way. Except maybe Alice. Alice is fine I guess. Quentin is the worst. He's not the worst because he's flawed or depressive, those things are fine, he's the worst because he's a complete a**hole.
My main issue with this book is that it creates an interesting and and wonderous world, and then proceeds to not explore the world really at all. Instead having us explore the mind of a main character who's basically Holden Caulfield but without any of the charm.
Anyways, I can see why people would enjoy this. It subverts a lot of tropes in magical fiction and is very well written. I just didnt like it.
Last thing: this book has the ABSOLUTE WEIRDEST sex scene I've ever read. Like maybe the books I read just keep it real vanilla, but good gravy this one is a doozy. I was wildly uncomfortable.
Moderate: Sexual content
azebrareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Grief