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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
Hm. I love the Magicians books, and I love the Magicians show, but I have to say this book was a little bit disappointing in a world where the Magicians show exists and has done so much to flesh out the women characters. This is ostensibly Alice's story but there's hardly any content here that isn't in [b:The Magicians|6101718|The Magicians (The Magicians, #1)|Lev Grossman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1313772941l/6101718._SY75_.jpg|6278977]. Like we're getting Alice's narration but still on scenes that revolve around Quentin. Ehhh. The art is good though.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This promised a "new chapter" so I didn't look anything up, but it's just a retelling of the first book from Alice's first-person perspective.
If someone were reading this story for the first time, this book might be an interesting way to do it. As somebody who's read the books multiple times, it fell flat.
If someone were reading this story for the first time, this book might be an interesting way to do it. As somebody who's read the books multiple times, it fell flat.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Don't read this until you've read the Magicians books, because it has spoilers for the story as it plays out in the books. The graphic novel retells events from Alice's perspective. It's well executed, but doesn't really add a whole lot, IMHO. Still, fans of the books will like seeing this different angle.
I love Grossman's Magicians trilogy, and the show loosely based on them. Quentin, however, is not the most likeable character, so it's great to see the events of the first novel from the point of view of another character. Alice is a character that I've always wished got to stay around for more of the story, and I really liked getting her perspective.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As someone who has read the novels, reading this comic feels like they did a Spark Notes version of the story. In some ways this makes sense because it focus is on Alice's part of the first novel. However, for someone who may not be familiar with the novels or the TV adaptation, this may feel like a rushed or incomplete journey.
What it does extremely well is focus on Alice's motivations. It's extremely introspective, with much of the caption boxes focusing on Alice's reactions or emotional turmoil. However, sometimes the author--Lilah Sturges-- seems too bound by original Magicians author Lev Grossman, to the point that it becomes clear that Alice didn't get her due in the novels. Quentin is flawed for much of The Magicians, and doesn't become complete until the very end of the book, and arguably by the end of the trilogy. This means that Alice as a protagonist in this graphic novel has to deal with an awful, juvenile and selfish romantic interest before the climax and denouement of this story. I can't say more without spoiling the book, but it means that structurally things end very abruptly in an odd place, and without Sturges able to take liberties with the story to make it narratively sound.
Pius Bak, the artist, does a good job on visuals. As a self taught artist, his work is admirable in that it's not always as refined or polished as an industry legend, but I really enjoyed it for that same reason. His work shows great expressions and makes great use of body language.
Overall, a pretty strong adaptation that could have benefitted from a longer page count. If you haven't read the novels, read the first one before reading this. Then read the next two, especially the third, to see the end of Alice's story. If you have read the novels, you'll really enjoy this for giving Alice her due with a little more time and a bigger spotlight.
What it does extremely well is focus on Alice's motivations. It's extremely introspective, with much of the caption boxes focusing on Alice's reactions or emotional turmoil. However, sometimes the author--Lilah Sturges-- seems too bound by original Magicians author Lev Grossman, to the point that it becomes clear that Alice didn't get her due in the novels. Quentin is flawed for much of The Magicians, and doesn't become complete until the very end of the book, and arguably by the end of the trilogy. This means that Alice as a protagonist in this graphic novel has to deal with an awful, juvenile and selfish romantic interest before the climax and denouement of this story. I can't say more without spoiling the book, but it means that structurally things end very abruptly in an odd place, and without Sturges able to take liberties with the story to make it narratively sound.
Pius Bak, the artist, does a good job on visuals. As a self taught artist, his work is admirable in that it's not always as refined or polished as an industry legend, but I really enjoyed it for that same reason. His work shows great expressions and makes great use of body language.
Overall, a pretty strong adaptation that could have benefitted from a longer page count. If you haven't read the novels, read the first one before reading this. Then read the next two, especially the third, to see the end of Alice's story. If you have read the novels, you'll really enjoy this for giving Alice her due with a little more time and a bigger spotlight.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood
I expected more from this. I was hoping to delve deeper into Alice's perspective and learn something that the original series didn't touch on. Overall, I'm disappointed.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The justice Alice deserves.
"Nobody at Hogwarts had to contend with stress diarrhea. Just one of the myriad ways in which reality is consistently disappointing compared to Y.A. literature."
"The probability of what has already happened, darling, is always one hundred percent."
"The probability of what has already happened, darling, is always one hundred percent."