Reviews

The Magician's Land by Lev Grossman

calfaile's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

victorianicole's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

thedekya's review against another edition

Way better than the first 2 books. It almost could be read stand alone. The annoying MC in the 1st two books had grown and it showed.

e_moynihan22's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

p_wong's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

madmadmaddymad's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Excellent and well worth the read. I’m a big fan of the Syfy show, and I was expecting some of the beats in this book, but it still had enough twists to surprise me. 

We kind of don’t get to hang out at Brakebills as much, but I kind of like that. This book lets its magical boy grow up. This book lets college be just a small part of life’s adventure. This book really encompasses the whole life of a magician, and made me feel like I was along for the journey. 

I especially liked this book’s treatment of Quentin’s minor mending speciality - and how it turned out to be more essential and meaningful to him than the way the show treated it. Both are emotional moments, but the book really had me on my toes! 

Killing a god has no consequences in the novel. In fact, killing god is the right thing to do - and I wonder, did Asmodeus go on to inherit divine powers? Did she join Julia on the other side of the world? I like that it was left a little up in the air. Hell yes. 

Oh, and Julia? You’re still my favorite. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Death

Moderate: Violence

Minor: War

cameliaiantuc's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

rjmaupin's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

Much better than the last two, in my opinion

keen23's review against another edition

3.0

I certainly didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either. I think I'm just burned out on these pretty unlikeable characters.

yaakovakiva's review against another edition

4.0

This was by far the best book of the three and I really enjoyed the dramatic transformation/return mid-way-ish through, and the description of what that was like for that character. There were some plot issues that didn't get resolved and some concepts that remained baffling throughout the trilogy, but overall I loved the ending and the characters and where they all ended up.