dadu's review against another edition
DNF-ed at 50%.
You know what's a good sign that a book is just not for you - you start looking at it with disdain. Reading The Magicians is like hanging out with your pretentious group of friends from college you promised yourself to never seen again, but here you are.
Meet Quentin. He's an upper-class Brooklyn bred white male, surrounded by loving family, friends, destined for Princeton, but of course - he's unhappy. Because Quentin cannot "deal" with the human emotions of anxiety or uncertainty in life, he would rather go to Fillory. You heard me, this young man wants to go to Narnia because he still keeps wondering if it's real. Things speed up and he ends up in a school for magicians, because somehow Quentin is "special" and can do things with cards. More things happen, yet do not happen at the same time. It felt like I was treading water the entire time wondering if I could ever actually get to swim to a destination. Who knows, maybe I should have stuck it out as we like to say, because surely the book will get better. Probably not, and who knows, maybe when I'm 90, tired and have ran out of books to read, I'll pick this one up again.
You know what's a good sign that a book is just not for you - you start looking at it with disdain. Reading The Magicians is like hanging out with your pretentious group of friends from college you promised yourself to never seen again, but here you are.
Meet Quentin. He's an upper-class Brooklyn bred white male, surrounded by loving family, friends, destined for Princeton, but of course - he's unhappy. Because Quentin cannot "deal" with the human emotions of anxiety or uncertainty in life, he would rather go to Fillory. You heard me, this young man wants to go to Narnia because he still keeps wondering if it's real. Things speed up and he ends up in a school for magicians, because somehow Quentin is "special" and can do things with cards. More things happen, yet do not happen at the same time. It felt like I was treading water the entire time wondering if I could ever actually get to swim to a destination. Who knows, maybe I should have stuck it out as we like to say, because surely the book will get better. Probably not, and who knows, maybe when I'm 90, tired and have ran out of books to read, I'll pick this one up again.
tallyvauthor's review against another edition
2.0
Thank god I'm finally finished this. It felt like the longest book I have ever read with the worst pacing imaginable. It follows almost the exact story line as the show but the show actually added so much more detail, all the book really tells you in that Quintin is a terrible person inside his head.
If you watched the show, don't bother with the book.
If you watched the show, don't bother with the book.
aly_docious's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.75
skogsnymf's review against another edition
2.0
OK, so I watched the show thinking "wow the books must be amazing" and in the end I was very disappointed. This was such a slow read, except for the last part of the book. The TV series made some smart choices regarding the characters - they are way more likeable on screen. I loathed Quentin from the beginning. I get irritated when reviewers explain his awful behavior with the fact that he is depressed, as a person with experiences from the diagnosis I didn't relate to his worldview at all. Also, he is sexist.
caitajk's review against another edition
1.0
This was the most boring book I have ever read in my entire life. I only stuck with it because my partner asked me to.
I feel that anyone who compares it with HP clearly hasn’t read HP.
This book is almost entirely composed of bland filler and all the characters are unlikeable 2d messes. Despite it being set in a world where magic and faux Narnia is real, it completely lacks charm and fails to invest the reader.
Everyone is sad all the time then they all have furry sex in the snow. How wonderful.
I feel that anyone who compares it with HP clearly hasn’t read HP.
This book is almost entirely composed of bland filler and all the characters are unlikeable 2d messes. Despite it being set in a world where magic and faux Narnia is real, it completely lacks charm and fails to invest the reader.
Everyone is sad all the time then they all have furry sex in the snow. How wonderful.
dlberglund's review against another edition
2.0
It's like an overdone, underedited Harry Potter/Narnia fanfic with Catcher in the Rye undertones. While I was amused by a character's comment that he was going to go get his Quidditch robes, it just drew too heavily on what has already been done (well), with extra sex and drinking thrown in.
I thought Q had promise in the beginning, but he only grew more annoying and self centered, rather than actually growing. This book felt like it was too big in scope, and whole years were skimmed over while trying to rush us toward the final section. Holes were left wide open, and I don't even care if they are answered in the other books of the trilogy. I found parts repetitive (I swear I read those sentences already!) and also found actual typos. I may have typos in this review, but this is only draft one, I have no editorial staff, and I'm not being paid for it. Did I mention it was like Narnia/HP fanfic? I did? Oh well.
I thought Q had promise in the beginning, but he only grew more annoying and self centered, rather than actually growing. This book felt like it was too big in scope, and whole years were skimmed over while trying to rush us toward the final section. Holes were left wide open, and I don't even care if they are answered in the other books of the trilogy. I found parts repetitive (I swear I read those sentences already!) and also found actual typos. I may have typos in this review, but this is only draft one, I have no editorial staff, and I'm not being paid for it. Did I mention it was like Narnia/HP fanfic? I did? Oh well.
fktkaye's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
burstnwithbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Well then. Wasn't that just... interesting. I had so many problems with this book but the las 50 pages were rather intriguing. AGH. I might have to write a full review on this one, heaven knows I have enough feels for it.
Also. Should I continue on with the series?? I've heard it gets better, and I'm rather curious.
Also. Should I continue on with the series?? I've heard it gets better, and I'm rather curious.
sandraagee's review against another edition
4.0
Kind of Narnia meets Harry Potter, but with lots of alcohol thrown in. In a good way. Also lots of delightfully dry humor. It's an interesting way of exploring the themes of moving into adulthood, escapism, and (of course) magic.
Honestly, everything and nothing happens in this book. It doesn't follow the usual sort of story progression; instead things are kind of episodic. It's all very interesting, but there where times when I (like main character Quentin) just wondered, "what's the point?" The last four disks or so (I listened to this on audio - maybe that's about 100 pages?) are really where the plot is at and set up very well for a sequel. The rest is all fascinating foreshadowing.
Honestly, everything and nothing happens in this book. It doesn't follow the usual sort of story progression; instead things are kind of episodic. It's all very interesting, but there where times when I (like main character Quentin) just wondered, "what's the point?" The last four disks or so (I listened to this on audio - maybe that's about 100 pages?) are really where the plot is at and set up very well for a sequel. The rest is all fascinating foreshadowing.
sadiecass's review against another edition
3.0
Really tough to like a book where you don't give a flying fig about the main character. There were parts I liked, so that brought the rating up some, but overall it was a no for me.