Scan barcode
A review by kairosdreaming
The Magician King by Lev Grossman
4.0
Ok, I won't say Quentin is quite fully redeemed in this book, but at least he was more tolerable, which I'll take. In all truth, I enjoyed this book much more than the first one. There's something about fantasy novels that take place on ships that just make them so much better. Maybe I should have been a seafarer...
This book is the second in the Magicians series. A very grown-up, somewhat dark story about magicians/wizards/whatever you want to call them in the modern world. With even allusions to popular other fantasy novels (Harry Potter, etc), it tells a fantasy story while at the same time making subtle jokes at the themes and tropes of the genre.
Tasked with quests, being that they are Kings and Queens now, life is a little more adventuresome for Quentin and company. However, this quest is a little more important, and can affect them all greatly if they do not complete their adventure in time. Add in the ship, a fearless swordsman, and a mapmaker, and you've got the makings of a good time. Add in your earthbound friends and their trials as well, well, that just adds detail.
I like the writing style. While it was as dark and moody as the first one, the characterization was better. You could sympathize (even if you didn't like them) with the characters a little more and daresay even root for them a bit.
I'm eager to see what the third book holds.
Review by M. Reynard 2022
This book is the second in the Magicians series. A very grown-up, somewhat dark story about magicians/wizards/whatever you want to call them in the modern world. With even allusions to popular other fantasy novels (Harry Potter, etc), it tells a fantasy story while at the same time making subtle jokes at the themes and tropes of the genre.
Tasked with quests, being that they are Kings and Queens now, life is a little more adventuresome for Quentin and company. However, this quest is a little more important, and can affect them all greatly if they do not complete their adventure in time. Add in the ship, a fearless swordsman, and a mapmaker, and you've got the makings of a good time. Add in your earthbound friends and their trials as well, well, that just adds detail.
I like the writing style. While it was as dark and moody as the first one, the characterization was better. You could sympathize (even if you didn't like them) with the characters a little more and daresay even root for them a bit.
I'm eager to see what the third book holds.
Review by M. Reynard 2022