The Magicians - REVIEW

I liked the Easter eggs from literature that I found in this book. And the fact that she pulled me in - I absolutely wanted to know what would happen next. Unfortunately, I read this at a time when I wasn't ready to read about screwed up high stakes (long before GoT). So I got into a gloomy mood, didn't like the protagonist and (as far as I remember) hated the ending. Even if I could see that there are more parts - I probably would not reach for them. Now, these years later, I'd probably be able to handle it all. Thanks for reminding me of this book.
Have you seen the show? Have a nice one :)

This is honestly one of my favorite books. I thought that the magic system was really well done and I liked the darker tone of the books. I actually heard about the books listening to the radio and catching part of an inverview with Lev. He sold me on his book! lol

Yep yep yep read the sequels

I decided to read this book based on your video and I am over halfway through and I am just not feeling it. Is it bad to quit and DNF?

Maybe ill give the book a shot. i watched the first season of the show a while back and it left a bad taste in my mouth with its treatment of the people of color( black man gets horribly murdered, brown man gets horribly crippled, white man is pretty much okay), The women get horribly maimed or experience sexual assault WITH horrible murder. Im being nice by not going into specifics.

Will you do the review for 2nd and the 3rd book?

Pleeeeeaaase read and review the 2nd and 3rd book. They are than the first and the character arcs are just so damn good!!!

I could not stand any of the characters, I was bored at points, it felt too long, and I was not a fan of the nihilistic view I felt from it.

I live the books the only hard part was reading it from Quentins pov cause he is an asshole

It's also got a great found family aspect throughout the series if people in the comments are looking for that!

Wasn’t for me. Don’t read to feel negative, there’s enough of that in reality. Can understand why people could like it though.

The strength of a book I've found is how it stays with you long after you've read the final page. This book has stayed with long, long after I finished it. It took me a long time to understand that Quentin is in fact me. He is all of us who deal with depression. The Magicians is so much more than just a book. It is also an exercise in self reflection

Quentin isn't depressed, he's a narcissist. His experience is the experience of boredom and ennui, not depression. He's arrogant, entitled, and bored with existence. He doesn't doubt himself on any deep level, he doesn't deal with a lack of motivation, he's not sad, he doesn't have any deep, ruminating thoughts, he doesn't feel like he's missing out on life, he doesn't harbor guilt or a sense of responsibility for others. He's self congratulatory, competitive, elitist, and shallow. These are the symptoms of narcissism, not depression.

I have to say, the first two books were good, but for me they were not great. I had to read the third book to be truly drawn into the story and appreciate it. After the third book this story became one of my favorites of all time. I also recommend the TV show! It’s quite different, but also truly wonderful.

Book 1 (never read the others) has some good scenes but for me it was a bit of an slog because the school years are speed through but still take up most of the book. So too little detail for me to find it all that interesting, but too much detail to get through it fast.

I really loved this book the show was great but still the book is something else.

DUDE THERE'S A SHOW! Season 1 is good but towards the end and leading to season 2 is eh..

Hated the book, loved the show.

Hey I finished see the série the last week and started read the books I see very many differences in relation of personality but I love the adaptation in certain respect.
I love much the fantasy theme, Tolkien Jk Gaiman are My favourite authors still not meet the work of Grossman but I have liked to read.

I need recommendations asap I didn't know man, and does anyone have any like the show? But completed?

Are you going to review parts 2 and 3?

Agree, it's absolutely nothing like Harry Potter. There's very few similarities beyond it being a school that teaches magic. The only think I can think of is some people have read the blurb and gone, "Oh yeah. Magic school. Must be like those famous movies I've seen." I'm not a big fan of Harry Potter. I did like the magicians though. I think the fact they made the characters so flawed actually was a refreshing take on things.

Just as an aside, I thought the TV adaption was absolutely awful in the first 1-2 seasons, to the point if I hadn't read the books I would have abandoned the series entirely. It seemed to be trying to do shock for shock's sake, really poorly handled some sensitive concepts and seemed to think it could be adult by cramming as much nudity in there as possible. It does improve in later seasons though.

I personally hated the books. And in the rare occasion FUCKING LOVED 😍 ❤️ the TV show. I just really did not enjoy reading the books. It had something g to do with the way the story flowed or something I'm not sure. But when I watched the show it was like a whole new world opened up to me.

I like your rainbow watch

I watched the show first and then read the book and I wish I had done it vice versa. It was like Narnia but more realistic and it scratched the itch Narnia left well into my adult hood. The consequences of Quinten’s actions and those around him were sobering. The second books very much so as well. I’ve read the first one twice and in my second read of the second. Though the first and second book can be triggering at times it’s such a great read. Haven’t read the third but its in it’s way to my house as I type this!

:)

I saw and loved the series first. Read the books because I wanted more. It felt so tame compared to the show and all the aspects and scenes I loved were missing. I probably would have enjoyed it if I read it on its own but unfortunately I keep only seeing what it wasn't.

I read it when I was 17 and re-read it when I was 22, I think. This was the first series I liked (when I read this series I hadn’t read Harry Potter). I remember liking the atmosphere of the setting, the dismal characters, the dichotomy of the idea of fantasy and reality. The dangers that lurked in this book also intrigued me.

Good analysis I love these books glad you're on aboard!

i read a review saying they story is different then from the show but they liked both just as much so im just going to take it as 2 different time lines :)

Hey Daniel, I know you don't like Quentin, but Grossman manages to give him an incredible arc where by the final book of the trilogy, The Magician's Land, he actually redeems himself and grows so much, actually becoming a hero you can cheer for. It's really a master course in character development. I think you would be surprised with how much you end up liking Quentin after completing the series.

You're a handsome dude.

I've only seen the show and idk why everyone hates Quentin... Is he this superman goodboi? No. Is he trying his best in a world he never actually became familiar with? You're goddamn right.

One of the things I liked most about this was that the Magic System was complex...and based on different cultures and what they would have discovered about magic on their own

I hate Quentin to the core, but apart from that its a good book and tv show

the show is so ridiculously good, man I'm gonna read the books now

These kids have no ambition or drive in their own lives so they go on a quest in a world they don't belong in, for a cause that isn't theirs, against an overpowered enemy that wasn't threatening them.

The novel was horrible for several reasons... posted a full review on Goodreads.

I didn’t read it but gave up half way through season three tv series.
By that time there seemed to be no development or character arcs at all. It was just about how shocking and whacky they could be. That gets old really fast.

One experiences this story through the eyes of a depressed, alcoholic, drugged out POS teenager (and his mostly equally awful friends). I am not sure how anyone actually enjoys living in that headspace. It's awful.

It's too bad, because there's an otherwise interesting story being told. Substance abuse and self-destructive behavior are not interesting as a main exploration point (to me, of course).

i enjoy your content but for the love of god iron your shirt.. or put it in the dryer for like 5 min...

Great review

I really really appreciated your thoughts I watched the show a while back it is one of my favorites. I have tried a. few times to read this book and having a hard time. I'm trying to pick it up again and this was my pep talk. Margo ( Janet in the book) and Q are my favorite characters. but now that I think about it that's my 2 personalities. haha

I loved this show

Read book 2! Do it for Julia! You must learn about what she went through!

Will magic solve your depression ? Well magic cause more problems, has limitations, comes from pain . You run from your everyday problems to magical problems now. And other magicians doesn’t have higher moral ground they act like regular humans. So at the end you think to yourself „cool i can cast fire balls but whats the point of that ? „

I thought the book writing was horrible. I just couldn't get into the series. There were parts that I liked. But overall, the book series was written great in my opinion.

I don't know why people barely mention these series. I am from Spain and got the first book many years ago, maybe more than 10 years ago and it was amazing. Back then we weren't biased by internet booktuber's opinions, we just grabbed what we saw in the book store and read it

Main character is kinda a bag of ass but I like it for that reason? That's weird but eh.