The Magicians - Lev Grossman

Like everyone else, precocious high school senior Quentin Coldwater assumes that magic isn't real, until he finds himself admitted to a very secretive and exclusive college of magic in upstate New York. There he indulges in joys of college-friendship, love, sex, and booze- and receives a rigorous education in modern sorcery. But magic doesn't bring the happiness and adventure Quentin thought it would. After graduation, he and his friends stumble upon a secret that sets them on a remarkable journey that may just fulfill Quentin's yearning. But their journey turns out to be darker and more dangerous than they'd imagined. Psychologically piercing and dazzlingly inventive, The Magicians, the prequel to the New York Times bestselling book The Magician King and the #1 bestseller The Magician's Land, is an enthralling coming-of-age tale about magic practiced in the real world-where good and evil aren't black and white, and power comes at a terrible price.

 

They didn't lie when they said this one was like Harry Potter for adults. Actually, I'd throw in Narnia. This is like Harry Potter goes to Hogwarts, graduates, and goes to Narnia. For adults.

 

I feel like there were two major parts to this book--while Quentin is at school and after he leaves school.

 

The first part I absolutely loved. I'd always wished there was more time in Harry Potter exploring Hogwarts and what life at the school must be like. As such, I really enjoyed seeing Quentin discover his magic and go through the schooling process.

 

After this part, I lost some interest and read a few other books; nonetheless, the Narnia part (as I will think of it as) was still fun to read. I'll still remain a die-hard Harry Potter fan, but I enjoyed seeing Quentin and his friends exploring new territory.

 

I really appreciated the perspective on life this had though. Quentin's perpetually looking for something more, for something happier, for something more than this. And I relate. And that was powerful for me.

 

A lot has been said about this book, that I won't reiterate. Nonetheless, if you enjoyed stories with fantastical elements as a child or an adult, you should enjoy this book.