A review by kyriross
The Magicians by Lev Grossman

dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The story itself is amazing. The magic system is well realized, the elements of the story are wildly creative, and the prose is exceptional.  The themes and morals of the story are clear, but masterfully woven throughout so that they aren't obnoxious or pedantic. 

The issue is primarily with the pacing. The rapid shifts between chapter-long detail of one event and single-sentence passage of time tends to give a reader whiplash. There also just wasn't enough- of Brakebills or
Fillory
. The other sections were good and valuable, but I wish we had more time in those places. 

The characters are also extremely non-diverse, and uniformly unlikeable. It would have been nice to have at least one character who isn't deeply unlikable. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings