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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
I loved the beginning and end of this book, I really hated the people the character became in the middle but I couldn't turn away. Which has me excited to read the rest of the series.
The narrator/protagonist is a self-centered jerk in this novel populated by very bright people learning magic at a college dedicated to the study of the occult arts.
Despite Quentin's forays into utter unlikability the narrative moves along well, mostly. The characters sometimes read more like glosses than actual characters, but that very well could be an artifact of the narrator's voice.
Despite Quentin's forays into utter unlikability the narrative moves along well, mostly. The characters sometimes read more like glosses than actual characters, but that very well could be an artifact of the narrator's voice.
I just adored it from start to finish. It's sweet and clever and beautifully written. Gorgeous.
This is a great book for anyone looking to upgrade from series like Harry Potter (especially considering J.K. Rowling's disgusting views and such) while staying in the genre. The main characters are often annoying, though it is apparent that they are meant to be stuck-up about their academic prowess. This would not be as much of an issue for me if the book weren't quite so long.
If you want to read this book because you like the tv series, probably don't. There are some things that were skimmed over in the first season that the book clarifies but this is a case where I think the adaptation really improved the story overall. The show is fun and magical with a loveable cast of complicated characters with their own desires and motivations while the book is a slow march through several years of watching Quentin drift aimlessly, hoping that the next thing he stumbles into will cure his perpetual dissatisfaction and his life will finally begin. I don't think it's a bad book necessarily, but if you're craving more from the show I'd suggest some fanfiction instead. (And if you haven't seen the show, go watch it!)
Reviews for this book stated it as Harry Potter for adults. While it took some liberty with actually incorporating death and tragedy that I wish J.K. would have used (especially in the last book), it was fairly predictable but random with some twist. Somewhat exciting and original, but in the end fairly hoo hum.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Clearly inspired amidst the Narnia and Harry Potter craze, this is the reality check. Quentin is deeply flawed and at many times so pretentious and unlikeable, almost Holden Caufield levels of sad boy, just with magical abilities. The fact that every woman’s breasts were described felt a little overkill, even for a teenage boy narrator.
I enjoyed the story and was moved, even when it was depressingly realistic. This is not cozy, it is not a simple and just happy ending. It delves into the grey areas. Maybe all the Harry Potter adults should read this.
This quote really has stuck with me, “Stop looking for the next secret door that is going to lead you to your real life. Stop waiting. This is it: there's nothing else. It's here, and you'd better decide to enjoy it or you're going to be miserable wherever you go, for the rest of your life, forever.”
I enjoyed the story and was moved, even when it was depressingly realistic. This is not cozy, it is not a simple and just happy ending. It delves into the grey areas. Maybe all the Harry Potter adults should read this.
This quote really has stuck with me, “Stop looking for the next secret door that is going to lead you to your real life. Stop waiting. This is it: there's nothing else. It's here, and you'd better decide to enjoy it or you're going to be miserable wherever you go, for the rest of your life, forever.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
What an odd little story. I am not sure how I feel about this book. It seemed to start off slow and then changed style completely as it neared the end. The main character is fairly uninteresting and inexplicably morose. There is little depth to his character. In fact, I found little depth in almost every single character. It felt like a young adult book. I found myself skimming through some of the more uninteresting parts to get to the juicy ones and then being disappointed once I got there.
Meh.
That being said, I was fairly entertained. I love the whole "hidden magic in the real world" thing. I might give other books in the series a try.
To be honest, I watched a few episodes of the show before I started the book. The character development in just the few episodes I saw was far superior to the character dev in the book.
Meh.
That being said, I was fairly entertained. I love the whole "hidden magic in the real world" thing. I might give other books in the series a try.
To be honest, I watched a few episodes of the show before I started the book. The character development in just the few episodes I saw was far superior to the character dev in the book.
I wanted so much to stick with this and like this but I just couldn’t. The writing was so terrible, and the characters had absolutely no depth. So annoyed because I loved the premise of this!