Scan barcode
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
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
csmall73's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Its a strange story. Quentin is swept into a magical world of breakbills and magical college essentially. His entire time at breakbills is encompassed in the first part of the book. There’s no threats or quests. Seems more like a diary of his time there.
Reading about some of the sexual encounters of his peers was odd and detached. I found Quentin’s and Alice’s fox encounter weird and borderline SA. I say borderline because it appears so but also he was unprepared for his animal brain at the time. Then the ensuing relationship seems detached like a friends with benefits but not?
All seem lost in fucking, philosophical discussion, wine and lack of real motivation. Like bunch of rich kids that never had a job or purpose in life. Existential crisis. Amidst this existential crisis Quentin cheats on Alice.
Fillory, keeps popping up in passing as well as other worlds but no real connection with the story other than a childhood fascination with the world. 300/402 pages with nothing insight. Then all of a sudden a forgotten side character happens upon a way to Fillory. Out of the blue. I don’t understand why penny would come to them specifically after having issues in school with one another and distancing himself from them specifically.
Alice is an underestimated queen. Quentin is a petty asshole about the breakup and the consequences that come his way.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
ksheathebrave's review
It’s abundantly clear what the author’s race/gender and corresponding perspective are within the first few pages of the book, and that perspective dominates at least the first third of the book. The way the author talks about women and POC is uncomfortable and gross to say the least. It’s too bad because the tv series is really great. Book Quentin‘s character may grow as does the TV Quentin but frankly the book is too bad to find out.
As for the writing, the story itself is fine, just slow. The author uses unnecessarily highfalutin language, which constantly takes the reader out of the story (using “gonfalons” instead of “banners” is just obnoxious and makes you sound like a tool).
Won’t be coming back to finish.
As for the writing, the story itself is fine, just slow. The author uses unnecessarily highfalutin language, which constantly takes the reader out of the story (using “gonfalons” instead of “banners” is just obnoxious and makes you sound like a tool).
Won’t be coming back to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
ireadinbed's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I cannot in good conscience give this book higher than a 3 rating. Despite definitely planning to read on.
Lev Grossman is a deeply weird person. There's way too many weird phrases about balls and people fucking animals. . .or being animals fucking. . .idk it's weird.
Also I fucking hate the main character. He's getting a bit more bearable at the end, and no one says the main character has to be likable(I love the poppy war and the main character is an insufferable drug addicted war criminal), but it's like reading catcher in the rye with magic and I can't explain how much I hated Holden in that book. They are the same.
I do however love some of the supporting cast and the way that the books never feel like they are going to let you see the point. The only dance around it. Interested to see where they go.
Lev Grossman is a deeply weird person. There's way too many weird phrases about balls and people fucking animals. . .or being animals fucking. . .idk it's weird.
Also I fucking hate the main character. He's getting a bit more bearable at the end, and no one says the main character has to be likable(I love the poppy war and the main character is an insufferable drug addicted war criminal), but it's like reading catcher in the rye with magic and I can't explain how much I hated Holden in that book. They are the same.
I do however love some of the supporting cast and the way that the books never feel like they are going to let you see the point. The only dance around it. Interested to see where they go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual harassment