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mieshka's review
Didn't think this would be my first (quasi)review on this site, but I guess this one disappointment is louder than the many beautiful moments I had with other books.
I DNF'd this many years ago because the main character annoyed me. Then, I watched the TV adaptation and enjoyed it. As part of that experience, I realized that most of my complaints about Quentin were actually intentional character flaws that were the whole point of the story.
So I decided to give it another shot. I went in with the intent to interpret every ick in the narration as belonging to the main character, but so much feels like it's been summarized that it's hard to think of it as anything but a prose problem. The narration is somehow both pretentious and dull, and all the characters feel absolutely flat.
I was planning to finish this book and just not continue the series, but then I realized I was dreading my regular reading time and decided to call it instead.
I DNF'd this many years ago because the main character annoyed me. Then, I watched the TV adaptation and enjoyed it. As part of that experience, I realized that most of my complaints about Quentin were actually intentional character flaws that were the whole point of the story.
So I decided to give it another shot. I went in with the intent to interpret every ick in the narration as belonging to the main character, but so much feels like it's been summarized that it's hard to think of it as anything but a prose problem. The narration is somehow both pretentious and dull, and all the characters feel absolutely flat.
I was planning to finish this book and just not continue the series, but then I realized I was dreading my regular reading time and decided to call it instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
morgnicole's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fucked up and depressing. Loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Grief
latsin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
emilycharter's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A mix of “Harry Potter” and “Narnia” but with adult characters who make much worse decisions. Compelling story-telling, easy to keep reading for the most part, a couple slow sections. None of the characters endeared me to them very much. This first book of the series covers at least 6 years of time, which made it feel like some parts were rushed. Will still likely read the rest of this series to find out what happens next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content
Spoiler for description of violent injury:crosbyjaye's review
I just couldn't get into it. None of the characters are likable, the first half of the book spans several years wherein nothing feels like it carries any weight to the story. It didn't feel like it was building to go anywhere, it just felt like the characters were all miserable and nothing mattered. Every time it seemed like something was going to happen, we'd jump 6 months to a sex scene.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
robynsuchy3's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I really wanted to like this book but I just really didn’t. There were some interesting elements but I didn’t really find a plot to latch on to; we were just following a fairly self-centered teenager through his magic school. I kept waiting for there to be a twist or hook, and it looked like there might be for a minute, but it’s barely a blip at the end of the day.
Additionally, I know this is a slightly older book but there were several moments or word choices that had me raising my eyebrow (not in a good way). Overall, the book doesn’t really go anywhere, doesn’t dive very deeply enough into any secondary characters to feel like they develop significantly beyond troupes, and there’s no real conflict of purpose to the story for me.
Additionally, I know this is a slightly older book but there were several moments or word choices that had me raising my eyebrow (not in a good way). Overall, the book doesn’t really go anywhere, doesn’t dive very deeply enough into any secondary characters to feel like they develop significantly beyond troupes, and there’s no real conflict of purpose to the story for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Sexual content
lauraew333's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Complete waste of time, honestly. The author doesn't do anything to world build, character build, or plot build. I found the characters flat and uninteresting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
emoryjoy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.0
This never happens... The show is better. That may be in large part due to the fact that in the show, you don't get Quentin's inner monologue. If this is what the average man's thoughts are like, then you can have me down as a certified man hater. He is a very sad man who needs more therapy than he would ever be willing to pursue.
I've listened to this book twice now, (it's my cousin's favorite and I really tried to like it-) and I hated it both times. I will say this though, this book accidentally kicked me out of my reading slump. It was so awful that I needed a pallet cleanser and so I checked out all of my favorite childhood series and then was able to start reading all of these other things that had been on my list. I'm updating this review about 2 years later and I have not slowed down my reading since then. So it gets an extra star for that.
I've listened to this book twice now, (it's my cousin's favorite and I really tried to like it-) and I hated it both times. I will say this though, this book accidentally kicked me out of my reading slump. It was so awful that I needed a pallet cleanser and so I checked out all of my favorite childhood series and then was able to start reading all of these other things that had been on my list. I'm updating this review about 2 years later and I have not slowed down my reading since then. So it gets an extra star for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
anna_valdi's review against another edition
Takes too long to get to the point, wich I couldn't care less cos it seems to go nowhere. Sexualizing girls when it's not needed at all. I like the characters. They are real people making mistakes and doing shit but reading I feel like i'm constantly waiting for something to happen, idk, something to care for, and there is none.
Future me, if you try to read it again: there are too many books out there, fantastic books. Do NOT waste your time with this one. If you want to know what happens, just watch the series.
Future me, if you try to read it again: there are too many books out there, fantastic books. Do NOT waste your time with this one. If you want to know what happens, just watch the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content