Name: The magician king
Rating: 4.071428571428571 (7 reviews)
ISBN: 9780670022311

Lev Grossman

The magician king

Yeah, I don't think I really like this series. It goes slow and then builds up so quickly that emotional moments are just completely missed and don't have the impact they should. Writing is great, but the plot is just so wild that it's like...wtf? Grossman also just heavily leans toward telling not showing which kind of takes you out of it. This one is better than the first one, though! Characters do kind of fall flat....and there's just like....random trauma porn moments. 

(Bre)anne✨

TW to be added later

Yeah, I don't think I really like this series. It goes slow and then builds up so quickly that emotional moments are just completely missed and don't have the impact they should. Writing is great, but the plot is just so wild that it's like...wtf? Grossman also just heavily leans toward telling not showing which kind of takes you out of it. This one is better than the first one, though! Characters do kind of fall flat....and there's just like....random trauma porn moments. 

Fraser Simons

I always like how the fiction in this most resembles the real world. Things are always more impactful when writers put themselves out there on paper. It’s a little messy sometimes, but I prefer it. 

Once again, since everything is either from Quinton or Julia’s perspectives, both, at times, can be unlikeable. There’s no filter at all. Even the surface bullshit thoughts nobody voices are there in this method and can be off putting. 

But I find it refreshing. The world isn’t fair by a long shot. Traditional notions around the hero are examined. It has something to say in a unique voice, in a take-it-or-leave-it way.

It’s a lot less literary/contemporary than the first book and has a capital p plot, grounding the narrative, which is both good and bad for expectations. There’s a lot more self awareness and humour that doesn’t do much for me. But the ending really hits for me—even on this reread when I knew what was going to happen. It’s a polarizing book yet again; for different reasons than the first, though. 

It’s one of my favourite fantasy series because it’s way of connecting with the reader is unlike anything I’ve read. I care about the characters in ways I rarely do in others, and as I say, the guy puts himself out there in the work. For me, it’s fantastic. 

Be warned though. Much more Heavy subject matter in this one. Self harm, sexual assault. The tone shifts. It’s not always dark, but it’s never what I’d call a casual, super fun casual fantasy read (as I wouldn’t call the first either).

The magician king

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