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theplanthouse's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
raspberrycordial's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
prufrockcoat's review against another edition
4.0
This book made a bad first impression on me. The beginning felt like it was horribly tacked on to the end of the last, and Quentin seemed extra-frustrating in the same way that Holden Caulfield frustrates me (though it says something about me that I related strongly to Quentin's what-the-hell-do-I-do-now ennui in the middleparts of The Magicians, particularly now that I am finished with my undergraduate education).
At some point I might give this a longer review.
At some point I might give this a longer review.
elsie2110's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
4.25
deestie's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't like how every other chapter went into Julia's past. Yes, we needed that information, but we should have gotten it all when Quentin did, and not piece meal. It broke up the narrative too much. The next book is doing that also, stop switching the narrative around so much!
bentheoverlordsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I think this will be a 4 star, I was really loving this book apart from a few big caveats. I did not like the pacing during part 2, and I did not like how the book handled one character towards the end of the book, that choice was not great.
That being said I liked the continuation of Quentins story, seeing him be the same old shite all over again. I also loved his interactions with his new allies that he makes over the book, and his relationships to the people from book 1. I could have used more time with our book 1 gang, but the new folk like Poppy were really really great.
I also love the expansion of the lore, and the exploration of Filliree.
Very excited to see where book 3 goes though.
That being said I liked the continuation of Quentins story, seeing him be the same old shite all over again. I also loved his interactions with his new allies that he makes over the book, and his relationships to the people from book 1. I could have used more time with our book 1 gang, but the new folk like Poppy were really really great.
I also love the expansion of the lore, and the exploration of Filliree.
Very excited to see where book 3 goes though.
booksarebetter's review against another edition
5.0
Actually rating it 4.5 ⭐. It's still fun being in Fillory. I may binge the TV show again, just for the nostalgia.
crloken's review against another edition
5.0
At the end of The Magicians Quentin and his friends got their childhood fantasy and became the kings and queens of Narnia Fillory. Quentin, being Quentin, isn't satisfied with this and soon goes on a quest. Quests in Fillory seem to mostly start as quests and get purpose later. His attempts to find adventure just get him sucked back to Earth.
In my review of the first book I tried to only talk about the way the book itself made me feel, but because I'm writing these a couple years after reading the whole series its not entirely possible for me to separate the series into individual parts. The bulk of Quentin's actual growth comes in this book, where he learns more about how much of a self-absorbed pain he had been in the past. He starts to realize throughout it how much of life he had written off without even attempting to experience it.
The real highlight of this one though is Julia's story which is told through flashbacks to events that would have happened concurrently with the events of the first book. Julia failed the entrance exam and had her memory erased, only to soon realize what had been done. While Quentin was studying at prestigious universities, Julia was learning magic through forbidden books and hedge witches.
This is easily the darkest book of the series, but not in the usual second book way. It isn't that the characters are plunged into darkness only to pull out of it in the next one. It's more that we most clearly see the darkness of the world in this one.
In my review of the first book I tried to only talk about the way the book itself made me feel, but because I'm writing these a couple years after reading the whole series its not entirely possible for me to separate the series into individual parts. The bulk of Quentin's actual growth comes in this book, where he learns more about how much of a self-absorbed pain he had been in the past. He starts to realize throughout it how much of life he had written off without even attempting to experience it.
The real highlight of this one though is Julia's story which is told through flashbacks to events that would have happened concurrently with the events of the first book. Julia failed the entrance exam and had her memory erased, only to soon realize what had been done. While Quentin was studying at prestigious universities, Julia was learning magic through forbidden books and hedge witches.
This is easily the darkest book of the series, but not in the usual second book way. It isn't that the characters are plunged into darkness only to pull out of it in the next one. It's more that we most clearly see the darkness of the world in this one.
las2912's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25