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youngthespian42's review against another edition
2.0
This book really fell off a cliff in comparison to the first one. My favorite parts of the show are reduced a lot in the first book but it was interesting reading the original version of the story. This book goes ever further astray from where I left the show and it's just not interesting. I am happy this series is for some people and I do not think the writing is bad, but I left the series here, not going to be finishing the story with book 3.
kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
Second in The Magicians urban fantasy series for young adults and revolving around the four new rulers of Fillory.
My Take
It's such an odd combination of contemporary, medieval, and Alice in Wonderland with a bored Quentin eager for a quest, and he's not the only one who falls into the questing habit.
It's mostly a vehicle for Julia's back history. The ordeals she went through after she was rejected from Brakebills. Her determination to explore and learn about magic. It's a lucky chance for Quentin when the two of them get stranded on earth…without magic!!
I can't feel sorry for Julia. She's so pissy and angry that Quentin got into magic school, and she didn't. That she had to struggle s-o h-a-r-d… Sorry, babe, your choice. And maybe it's karma that caught up to her, after she ignored Quentin so much in high school.
Then poor Eliot gets pulled into the adventures as Fillory acts oddly with waterfalls falling down, literally, and that warning of impending doom.
It's adventure after adventure, even if some are on earth, of searching the world for the seven golden keys.
It's also juvenile, confusing, and all over the place with lame, shocking, and WTF adventures.
The Story
There's not much to ruling in Fillory. You'd really have to work at it to do poorly, and it's boring Quentin no end. As for Julia. She got messed up when she failed that exam. And she's only gotten worse and worse, less and less the brilliant, put-together Julia.
The quest seems a godsend until it sends Quentin and Julia back into their own world. One they're desperate to leave, to get back to Fillory. It will take all of Julia's skill and connections to provide that chance.
And the Neitherlands are falling apart, for the gods are taking magic back.
The Characters
Castle Whitespire is…
…where the kings and queens of Fillory live. Quentin Coldwater is a king of Fillory. Dauntless is his talking horse. Queen Julia (her online name is ViciousCirce) is a hedge witch with sharp jagged edges who has given up using contractions. Queen Janet Pluchinsky and the luxury-loving High King Eliot Waugh are fellow rulers. Jollyby is the Master of the Hunt and a were-lion.
Admiral Lacker is in charge of the Fillorian navy and is based on the Morgan Downs. The wrecked Muntjac, a fast and tough Deer class workhorse, is the ship Quentin insists upon. Abigail is the sloth, a psychopomp, who represents the magical animals of Fillory. Aral and Bingle are professional mercenaries drawn to the fight Quentin has set up. Benedict Fenwick is the cartographer in charge of maps. The Fenwicks are the most senior of the noble families. The Lorians are Fillory's neighbors to the north.
The Outer Island was…
…founded by Captain Banks. Elaine is the Customs Agent who tends the borders of Fillory and the five-year-old Eleanor is her daughter.
Venice, Italy, is…
…where Josh lives now. He's the fixer who took off with the button and explored the Neitherlands. Until it broke. Poppy is his friend who knows all about dragons; she's a graduate of Esquith, the Australian magic school in Tasmania.
Free Trader Beowulf is…
…an online support group for really depressed people who turn out to be based in Murs, France. Certified. Failstaff, the acidly sarcastic Pouncy Silverkitten who had been a successful day trader, Fiberpunk is a metamagician who draws a lot, Ivy League Iris likes to test people, and Asmodeus are magicians. Gummidgy is a dedicated psychic. Project Ganymede is an attempt to comb the world's religions and tales of gods for truths.
A tarasque dragon is a whiner while a holy man named Amadour claims to serve the goddess. Fen was the good guide from The Magicians who exists in the Underworld.
Brakebills is…
…the secret college of magic, which sounds rather like Hogwarts. Dean Fogg is in charge. Of the different groups, the four primary protagonists belonged to the Naturals. William "Penny" had been a fellow student with Quentin and Alice Quinn. Professor Melanie Van der Weghe and Penny explored travel between worlds. Professor Geiger can do portals.
The safe houses are…
…where wanna-be magicians come to learn magic. Jared, a linguist in Bed-Stuy, ran the first safe house. Alex and Warren, a wood spirit, are in charge of others.
The Neitherlands is…
…a made artifact which acts as a transfer station, a space between universes. The handless Penny joined the Order which cares for the Neitherlands.
Fillory is…
…the Narnia of the story. It was a supposed make-believe land written of by Chistopher Plover, who lived at Fowey in Cornwall. He wrote about the Chatwin children — you'll remember Jane and Martin Chatwin who got caught up in Fillory. Thomas is the son of the people who had bought the Chatwin house. The Watcherwoman's legacy is the clock-trees.
The Seeing Hare is one of the Unique Beasts of Fillory and can see the future of any person who catches it. More of the beasts include the Questing Beast which grants three wishes, the Great Bird of Peace that can stop battles, the Utter Newt, the Kind Wolf, the Parallel Beetle, and the Unseen Monitor lizard who can turn you invisible for a year. Ember is a ram-god.
Chesterton, Massachusetts, is…
…where Quentin's parents now live. Mrs. Coldwater is an amateur painter while Mr. Coldwater likes porn and crying. James had been Quentin's and Julia's friend back in Brooklyn, before Brakebills.
The Seven Golden Keys of Fillory are what they seek, for they may save magic.
The Cover and Title
The cover finds us inside the DARK cave, looking out of at the lunar eclipse, the moonlight shining down on the placid waters so still within the cave's mouth. The author's name at the top of the cover and the title below it are an embossed white outlined in a metallic silver.
The title is all about Quentin, The Magician King.
My Take
It's such an odd combination of contemporary, medieval, and Alice in Wonderland with a bored Quentin eager for a quest, and he's not the only one who falls into the questing habit.
It's mostly a vehicle for Julia's back history. The ordeals she went through after she was rejected from Brakebills. Her determination to explore and learn about magic. It's a lucky chance for Quentin when the two of them get stranded on earth…without magic!!
I can't feel sorry for Julia. She's so pissy and angry that Quentin got into magic school, and she didn't. That she had to struggle s-o h-a-r-d… Sorry, babe, your choice. And maybe it's karma that caught up to her, after she ignored Quentin so much in high school.
Then poor Eliot gets pulled into the adventures as Fillory acts oddly with waterfalls falling down, literally, and that warning of impending doom.
It's adventure after adventure, even if some are on earth, of searching the world for the seven golden keys.
It's also juvenile, confusing, and all over the place with lame, shocking, and WTF adventures.
The Story
There's not much to ruling in Fillory. You'd really have to work at it to do poorly, and it's boring Quentin no end. As for Julia. She got messed up when she failed that exam. And she's only gotten worse and worse, less and less the brilliant, put-together Julia.
The quest seems a godsend until it sends Quentin and Julia back into their own world. One they're desperate to leave, to get back to Fillory. It will take all of Julia's skill and connections to provide that chance.
And the Neitherlands are falling apart, for the gods are taking magic back.
The Characters
Castle Whitespire is…
…where the kings and queens of Fillory live. Quentin Coldwater is a king of Fillory. Dauntless is his talking horse. Queen Julia (her online name is ViciousCirce) is a hedge witch with sharp jagged edges who has given up using contractions. Queen Janet Pluchinsky and the luxury-loving High King Eliot Waugh are fellow rulers. Jollyby is the Master of the Hunt and a were-lion.
Admiral Lacker is in charge of the Fillorian navy and is based on the Morgan Downs. The wrecked Muntjac, a fast and tough Deer class workhorse, is the ship Quentin insists upon. Abigail is the sloth, a psychopomp, who represents the magical animals of Fillory. Aral and Bingle are professional mercenaries drawn to the fight Quentin has set up. Benedict Fenwick is the cartographer in charge of maps. The Fenwicks are the most senior of the noble families. The Lorians are Fillory's neighbors to the north.
The Outer Island was…
…founded by Captain Banks. Elaine is the Customs Agent who tends the borders of Fillory and the five-year-old Eleanor is her daughter.
Venice, Italy, is…
…where Josh lives now. He's the fixer who took off with the button and explored the Neitherlands. Until it broke. Poppy is his friend who knows all about dragons; she's a graduate of Esquith, the Australian magic school in Tasmania.
Free Trader Beowulf is…
…an online support group for really depressed people who turn out to be based in Murs, France. Certified. Failstaff, the acidly sarcastic Pouncy Silverkitten who had been a successful day trader, Fiberpunk is a metamagician who draws a lot, Ivy League Iris likes to test people, and Asmodeus are magicians. Gummidgy is a dedicated psychic. Project Ganymede is an attempt to comb the world's religions and tales of gods for truths.
A tarasque dragon is a whiner while a holy man named Amadour claims to serve the goddess. Fen was the good guide from The Magicians who exists in the Underworld.
Brakebills is…
…the secret college of magic, which sounds rather like Hogwarts. Dean Fogg is in charge. Of the different groups, the four primary protagonists belonged to the Naturals. William "Penny" had been a fellow student with Quentin and Alice Quinn. Professor Melanie Van der Weghe and Penny explored travel between worlds. Professor Geiger can do portals.
The safe houses are…
…where wanna-be magicians come to learn magic. Jared, a linguist in Bed-Stuy, ran the first safe house. Alex and Warren, a wood spirit, are in charge of others.
The Neitherlands is…
…a made artifact which acts as a transfer station, a space between universes. The handless Penny joined the Order which cares for the Neitherlands.
Fillory is…
…the Narnia of the story. It was a supposed make-believe land written of by Chistopher Plover, who lived at Fowey in Cornwall. He wrote about the Chatwin children — you'll remember Jane and Martin Chatwin who got caught up in Fillory. Thomas is the son of the people who had bought the Chatwin house. The Watcherwoman's legacy is the clock-trees.
The Seeing Hare is one of the Unique Beasts of Fillory and can see the future of any person who catches it. More of the beasts include the Questing Beast which grants three wishes, the Great Bird of Peace that can stop battles, the Utter Newt, the Kind Wolf, the Parallel Beetle, and the Unseen Monitor lizard who can turn you invisible for a year. Ember is a ram-god.
Chesterton, Massachusetts, is…
…where Quentin's parents now live. Mrs. Coldwater is an amateur painter while Mr. Coldwater likes porn and crying. James had been Quentin's and Julia's friend back in Brooklyn, before Brakebills.
The Seven Golden Keys of Fillory are what they seek, for they may save magic.
The Cover and Title
The cover finds us inside the DARK cave, looking out of at the lunar eclipse, the moonlight shining down on the placid waters so still within the cave's mouth. The author's name at the top of the cover and the title below it are an embossed white outlined in a metallic silver.
The title is all about Quentin, The Magician King.
kivt's review against another edition
2.0
The only reason this book isn't 1 star is that I really liked Julia's story, and the reason it's not 3 stars is because of how Julia's story ends. It's an unpleasant and largely pointless book.
m4ferglez's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
Tw for somewhat explicit rape scene near the end (p. 375)
You can probably skip most of it and not miss much of the plot progression.
Writing a good sequel can be hard, but Grossman absolutely stuck the landing on this one.
A lot of my issues with the first in the series were solved here, namely Quentin is a lot less annoying and seems a lot mor proactive on this one. I found Julia to sometimes fall into the same overly melodramatic depression Quentin seems to keep falling into in The Magicians, but her storyline is interesting enough to put up with her.
Really good stuff, if you liked the first in the series you’ll love this one.
You can probably skip most of it and not miss much of the plot progression.
Writing a good sequel can be hard, but Grossman absolutely stuck the landing on this one.
A lot of my issues with the first in the series were solved here, namely Quentin is a lot less annoying and seems a lot mor proactive on this one. I found Julia to sometimes fall into the same overly melodramatic depression Quentin seems to keep falling into in The Magicians, but her storyline is interesting enough to put up with her.
Really good stuff, if you liked the first in the series you’ll love this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Rape
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
deathmetalheron's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.25
The Magician King starts off much slower than its predecessor. It splits the narrative between POVs of Julia and Quentin. Julia's parts are all very interesting and worth reading, and in the first quarter of the book are the real incentive to continue going. Quentin's sections in the first 100 pages are quite dull and seem to be very repetitive in regards to his stasis at the beginning of the first book--it feels very retread, and there isn't enough world-building and (necessary) characterization of Julia to continue going.
However, once Julia and Quentin and thrown back to Earth the stakes are immediately raised and they continue going farther and farther, and The Magician King ramps up the same level of introspection and satire that made the first Magicians so lovely. Gone are the Harry Potter analogues, as the group is firmly in Narnia territory. Grossman's sardonic and sarcastic prose sits very well and his consistent references make it truly powerful.
About three-quarters in this book becomes near impossible to put down--Julia joining the Free Trader Beowulf culminates in the reader's realization that just as much as Brakebills, the underground magic scene is just as conceited and loopy and will guarantee Julia nothing. The climax--while unbelievably tragic and graphic--sends home the fact of Dean Fogg's assessment that magic pretty much ruins everyone.
The ending of this book is actually chef's kiss. In a complete send-up of fantasy endings, Quentin achieves all and loses everything. It is so beautifully funny and ironic that I was literally busting up laughing.
If this book were a duology or simply an 800 page story, this ending would be succinct. I know the trilogy will continue but if it ended here--I truly think it would've been a powerful story.
However, once Julia and Quentin and thrown back to Earth the stakes are immediately raised and they continue going farther and farther, and The Magician King ramps up the same level of introspection and satire that made the first Magicians so lovely. Gone are the Harry Potter analogues, as the group is firmly in Narnia territory. Grossman's sardonic and sarcastic prose sits very well and his consistent references make it truly powerful.
About three-quarters in this book becomes near impossible to put down--Julia joining the Free Trader Beowulf culminates in the reader's realization that just as much as Brakebills, the underground magic scene is just as conceited and loopy and will guarantee Julia nothing. The climax--while unbelievably tragic and graphic--sends home the fact of Dean Fogg's assessment that magic pretty much ruins everyone.
The ending of this book is actually chef's kiss. In a complete send-up of fantasy endings, Quentin achieves all and loses everything. It is so beautifully funny and ironic that I was literally busting up laughing.
If this book were a duology or simply an 800 page story, this ending would be succinct. I know the trilogy will continue but if it ended here--I truly think it would've been a powerful story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gore and Death
Minor: Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Vomit
guppyur's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going to be including a bit of discussion about The Magicians, the predecessor to this book, during this review. I am assuming that anyone reading the sequel has read the first volume, such that that discussion will not constitute spoilers for anyone.
_______________________
Not sure I know what I think of this one. It's the followup to the widely acclaimed (but polarizing) The Magicians, which to me was an exercise in genre subversion. I thought the first book did a lot of interesting things, but I also found it depressing.
Before I go on, I should add that I probably don't have the appropriate literary grounding and my opinions should likely be disregarded. I am reliably informed that The Magician King is designed to directly parallel The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis' third Narnia book, which I haven't read as I didn't like the first one as a kid. So it's quite possible that I'm missing important allusions that would make it more akin to the first book.
The Magician King takes place some time after the end of The Magicians, with Quentin and his friends ruling over Fillory. It's split into two different perspectives: Quentin's, in the present, and Julia's, in a retelling of how she learned to do magic without attending Brakebills. Both have their high points; Julia's was the more interesting to me for much of the book.
Magicians seemed determined to hammer home the idea that life isn't a fairy tale and things aren't always fair and don't always work out well. Some of that tone is left in King, but a number of the sharp edges have been sanded off.
Immediately after reading it, I felt I "enjoyed" The Magician King more than its predecessor -- I found The Magicians quite depressing -- but that The Magicians was the book that did more interesting things. After sleeping on it, I'm not sure that's fair, as King still does plenty of heavy lifting; it's probably impossible for it to make as strong an impression as the first book, since its assault on the genre is already known.
_______________________
Not sure I know what I think of this one. It's the followup to the widely acclaimed (but polarizing) The Magicians, which to me was an exercise in genre subversion. I thought the first book did a lot of interesting things, but I also found it depressing.
Before I go on, I should add that I probably don't have the appropriate literary grounding and my opinions should likely be disregarded. I am reliably informed that The Magician King is designed to directly parallel The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis' third Narnia book, which I haven't read as I didn't like the first one as a kid. So it's quite possible that I'm missing important allusions that would make it more akin to the first book.
The Magician King takes place some time after the end of The Magicians, with Quentin and his friends ruling over Fillory. It's split into two different perspectives: Quentin's, in the present, and Julia's, in a retelling of how she learned to do magic without attending Brakebills. Both have their high points; Julia's was the more interesting to me for much of the book.
Magicians seemed determined to hammer home the idea that life isn't a fairy tale and things aren't always fair and don't always work out well. Some of that tone is left in King, but a number of the sharp edges have been sanded off.
Immediately after reading it, I felt I "enjoyed" The Magician King more than its predecessor -- I found The Magicians quite depressing -- but that The Magicians was the book that did more interesting things. After sleeping on it, I'm not sure that's fair, as King still does plenty of heavy lifting; it's probably impossible for it to make as strong an impression as the first book, since its assault on the genre is already known.
tabatha_shipley's review against another edition
2.0
What I Did Like:
+The backstory for Julia is (mostly) excellent! It contrasts wonderfully with the tale of the Brakebills crew and adds a layer of realism to the idea of magical training. I will say it takes a terrible and lazy turn though.
+Quentin’s ending works. I liked the sort of unexpected twist and what that may do to the story. It’s one of those endings where you didn’t see it coming but then you look back on everything you know and realize you probably should have seen it coming. I like those.
Who Should Read This One:
-If you really loved the first book and characters, you may enjoy the way their journey continues even more than I did.
My Rating: 2 Stars
For me the unlikeable main character, odd pacing, and graphic unnecessary scene made the entire book problematic.
For Full Review:
https://alltherightreads.com/2023/07/17/2023-book-review-the-magician-king/
+The backstory for Julia is (mostly) excellent! It contrasts wonderfully with the tale of the Brakebills crew and adds a layer of realism to the idea of magical training. I will say it takes a terrible and lazy turn though.
+Quentin’s ending works. I liked the sort of unexpected twist and what that may do to the story. It’s one of those endings where you didn’t see it coming but then you look back on everything you know and realize you probably should have seen it coming. I like those.
Who Should Read This One:
-If you really loved the first book and characters, you may enjoy the way their journey continues even more than I did.
My Rating: 2 Stars
For me the unlikeable main character, odd pacing, and graphic unnecessary scene made the entire book problematic.
For Full Review:
https://alltherightreads.com/2023/07/17/2023-book-review-the-magician-king/
beefygordito's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
sinestrogirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.25
s_h_a_r_i's review against another edition
2.0
What a horrible book. The plot was even more all over the place than in the Magicians, the characters were... What exactly? Background noise? Hard to tell, since they hardly related to one another.
And then, of course, comes the-oh-so-essential (NOT) rape scene of the one strong (or remotely intetesting) female character in the entire book. That really was the last straw for me, in an already ridiculous book. I suppose male writers just cannot help it. They HAVE to rape their female characters, and for some reason think of that as a "learning experience" for them, from which they grow. What a load of BS. Fuck that.
Such a fine example of how one shitty bit in a book turns it into a complete waste of time for me. I hope there is never a third book in this series and if there is, i hope to be wise enough not to bother.
And then, of course, comes the-oh-so-essential (NOT) rape scene of the one strong (or remotely intetesting) female character in the entire book. That really was the last straw for me, in an already ridiculous book. I suppose male writers just cannot help it. They HAVE to rape their female characters, and for some reason think of that as a "learning experience" for them, from which they grow. What a load of BS. Fuck that.
Such a fine example of how one shitty bit in a book turns it into a complete waste of time for me. I hope there is never a third book in this series and if there is, i hope to be wise enough not to bother.