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muckl3t83's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed the first book of the series. The sequel was a bit boring in comparison. It had its moments that I enjoyed but most of it just seemed kind of pointless and I just never cared about any of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Alcohol
auntiejamie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Rape
dtsuji92's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Quentin Coldwater is unlikeable as a main character again in book 2 of 3. The world is magical and complicated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Rape
leordanete's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.25
The Magician King is so much better than The Magicians! I actually enjoyed Quentin's voice and perspective and being able to finally see him grow as a character. I also enjoyed the change in POV and time between Julia in the past & Quentin in the present. I missed Eliot in the beginning but glad he comes into the story as well! The characters are enjoyable and complex-- especially Julia. I also appreciated Grossman's writing style more in this book and liked when he got more lighthearted and funny, but there was still some foul language that I found unnecessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, and Rape
medini_l's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Vomit
annorabrady's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I read the Magicians years ago and finally decided to try my hands at its sequel. Maybe the flaws are more pronounced in this book or I've grown enough as a person since reading the first book that I'm more aware or the flaws but either way I could not like this book even if I tried.
The characters are all pretentious, self-righteous, judgmental people who don't grow out of those qualities. Rather they seem to prefer and seem to be giving the message that that's how one achieves greatness.
And even when they have the chance for the chance for any marker of true friendship (compassion, trust, respect, etc), it's only acted on when all other options are exhausted and only as a means to an end.
Also incredibly sensitive subjects like SA are handled so indelicately and with the obvious faults that derive from men writing women without input from women. The author even went so far as to say the victim enjoyed the violence against her and that without said violence she would have never achieved the level of greatness she did.
When it came to the actual plot, everything came too easily or resolved itself without any real character work. A lot of the real challenges seem to have occurred off-page and we the readers are just vaguely told about what happened. No one earned the keys or the saving of magic. There wasn't even a real representation of the magic being lost. Just a general idea that it could happen. We aren't even really given an example of why humans should even have magic since all of it is used for selfish reasons. I can't think of any moment in the book where magic was used for a purpose that was even a small benefit for the rest of the world.
The characters are all pretentious, self-righteous, judgmental people who don't grow out of those qualities. Rather they seem to prefer and seem to be giving the message that that's how one achieves greatness.
And even when they have the chance for the chance for any marker of true friendship (compassion, trust, respect, etc), it's only acted on when all other options are exhausted and only as a means to an end.
Also incredibly sensitive subjects like SA are handled so indelicately and with the obvious faults that derive from men writing women without input from women. The author even went so far as to say the victim enjoyed the violence against her and that without said violence she would have never achieved the level of greatness she did.
When it came to the actual plot, everything came too easily or resolved itself without any real character work. A lot of the real challenges seem to have occurred off-page and we the readers are just vaguely told about what happened. No one earned the keys or the saving of magic. There wasn't even a real representation of the magic being lost. Just a general idea that it could happen. We aren't even really given an example of why humans should even have magic since all of it is used for selfish reasons. I can't think of any moment in the book where magic was used for a purpose that was even a small benefit for the rest of the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic friendship, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
starsnotshadows's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the ending is a huge let down, but not in a terrible way. I suppose the series doesn't promise to have a happy ending, so I can't be mad at that. But I am sad for how it ends for Quentin. I think because I know there is a 3rd book, I am comforted that there will be more to the overall story. I was pleased with the character growth that I saw compared to the first book. While the ending was unexpected, I think it came with a good/realistic subtextual message.
Also, in the edition I read, chapter 25 is where most of the graphic action happens. editing to add that I agree with the main criticism that the rape scene was unnecessary
Also, in the edition I read, chapter 25 is where most of the graphic action happens. editing to add that I agree with the main criticism that the rape scene was unnecessary
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really, really enjoyed this (as expected). It got its hooks into me because I finished this over a week ago and I am *still* angry about the ending. It's a great ending in a writing sense - I was so wrapped up in everything else the possibility didn't occur to me. But it's strong and dramatic and sets up *so many* questions for the next book and in that way, it's brilliant. I haven't seen much of the show, so the content is still new and exciting for me!
My biggest qualm is the way Julia's story was handled. There's an aspect to the general journey that I understand, but her critical moment was absolutely unnecessary and could have been handled without sexual violence.
Otherwise, this book had a great sense of urgency, a lot of appropriately frustrating moments that kept me engrossed as a ready, and the right balance of magic and not to be compelling without feeling impossible (in its setting).
My biggest qualm is the way Julia's story was handled. There's an aspect to the general journey that I understand, but her critical moment was absolutely unnecessary and could have been handled without sexual violence.
Otherwise, this book had a great sense of urgency, a lot of appropriately frustrating moments that kept me engrossed as a ready, and the right balance of magic and not to be compelling without feeling impossible (in its setting).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Grief, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Violence
Minor: Classism and Terminal illness
thatbookishwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
Moderate: Death and Violence
unlifeira's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Gore
Minor: Death