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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
I can't remember the last time I read a fantasy book I liked so much.
For me, this book lived up to the hype and it is the adult Harry Potter you heard it was. Harry Potter feels more "fated" than this book. Don't get me wrong, I love that about Harry Potter and it works for that series, but the "real" feeling of The Magicians makes it more exciting to me now. Relationships develop and unravel in a slow, meandering fashion. No relationship is ever perfect, and weird tension is always lying under the surface. The relationships are interesting, but the real treat of this novel is Quentin.
Quentin is cynical, snarky, but optimistic deep down inside (somewhere). His hidden optimism makes him easy to like and real, but every time he opens his goddamn mouth you hate him a little bit. But also relate to him. Quentin's friends are also snarky and disillusioned as hell, but by being inside Quentin's head and experiencing his inner optimism, you keep that in mind while looking at everyone else. Quentin's actions, thoughts, and spoken dialogue combine to create a love-hate character at the center of a bunch of cool magical stuff. Sorry, not very eloquent, but that's basically it. There are some really intense narrative moments, but there's also a lot of meandering around, contemplation, drinking, swearing, and self-discovery. Harry Potter feels scripted and rehearsed. Magicians feels like you're chilling inside a complicated character's head as he moves through this weird-ass, fleshed out world. I wanna give examples of some really good Quentin moments, or just some thoughts I had about who he ~~really~~ was, but I don't wanna spoil anything. Pick it up, watch Quentin, and laugh at the weird adult fantasy antics.
For me, this book lived up to the hype and it is the adult Harry Potter you heard it was. Harry Potter feels more "fated" than this book. Don't get me wrong, I love that about Harry Potter and it works for that series, but the "real" feeling of The Magicians makes it more exciting to me now. Relationships develop and unravel in a slow, meandering fashion. No relationship is ever perfect, and weird tension is always lying under the surface. The relationships are interesting, but the real treat of this novel is Quentin.
Quentin is cynical, snarky, but optimistic deep down inside (somewhere). His hidden optimism makes him easy to like and real, but every time he opens his goddamn mouth you hate him a little bit. But also relate to him. Quentin's friends are also snarky and disillusioned as hell, but by being inside Quentin's head and experiencing his inner optimism, you keep that in mind while looking at everyone else. Quentin's actions, thoughts, and spoken dialogue combine to create a love-hate character at the center of a bunch of cool magical stuff. Sorry, not very eloquent, but that's basically it. There are some really intense narrative moments, but there's also a lot of meandering around, contemplation, drinking, swearing, and self-discovery. Harry Potter feels scripted and rehearsed. Magicians feels like you're chilling inside a complicated character's head as he moves through this weird-ass, fleshed out world. I wanna give examples of some really good Quentin moments, or just some thoughts I had about who he ~~really~~ was, but I don't wanna spoil anything. Pick it up, watch Quentin, and laugh at the weird adult fantasy antics.
For so many reasons this book is just not for me. I didn’t even remotely like a single character. I was over half way through the book and it felt like absolutely nothing of importance had happened. The way the author describes sex and woman felt cringy and gross at times. The fox scene? Ew.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wished all those negative reviews were wrong. I really did.
And the thing is, this book wasn't bad, it was interesting and fun at times. But you know what it was? Pointless. I was over halfway through the book and NOTHING had happened. No mystery, no conflict, nothing. It was boring me to the point of insanity.
The fact that the last hundred pages have action and conflict does not make up for the fact that the first 300 pages are wandering back story on magic and people. None of it was necessary for the finale. None of it.
This book left me irritable because I really wanted to enjoy it, I really did!
And the thing is, this book wasn't bad, it was interesting and fun at times. But you know what it was? Pointless. I was over halfway through the book and NOTHING had happened. No mystery, no conflict, nothing. It was boring me to the point of insanity.
The fact that the last hundred pages have action and conflict does not make up for the fact that the first 300 pages are wandering back story on magic and people. None of it was necessary for the finale. None of it.
This book left me irritable because I really wanted to enjoy it, I really did!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was recommended by a friend. It was a fun read, although the antagonist was a bit trying at times. I believe that my friend described Quentin as a "man-child" and after that, I really could see him no other way. Quentin finds out that he is a Magician and enters into a secret school to learn magic skills. Not much focus on the actual schooling/tasks, more on the relationships he forms there. After graduation, he finds out the mythical land, Filory, that he has learned about in books from his childhood, that he revisited every chance that he got, is real! He and his friends travel there to save the world! Reviews compared it to "Harry Potter in college", it reminded me more of Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. I plan on reading the other books in the series and will probably check out the show.
I have a tough time enjoying a book when I really dislike all the main characters.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was depressing from the start to the end. I'm upset I read it at all
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced