[5 Stars] Guys.... This was absolutely brilliant. Granted I don't think it is a book for everyone, it definitely ticked all the boxes for me, particularly after I let go of the fact that I really disliked most of the characters.

This story is about Quentin Coldwater who, after graduating from high school, gets admitting into Brakebills, a college where students study magic. The book then follows his life as he studies and struggles and eventually graduates to embark upon the journey that is life after academia. People have said this book is similar to Harry Potter, and I suppose because Quentin attends a school for magic it is, but that is where the similarities end. Other say this book is more like the Chronicles of Narnia, especially considering the introduction of the Fillory books which Quentin is so obsessed with. I, however, argue that this book isn't really like either of them and is instead for those of us who grew up reading fantasy books like Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, particularly Narnia. It is a book for those of us who dreamed of entering into those mystical lands and never coming back. That being said, let's talk about...

The Plot: The Magicians is a strange book. It isn't your typical magic or fantasy book in the least. It is gritty and the plot is odd and things happen which can leave you both confused and in wonder and just overall weirded out at times. That being said, it is pretty masterfully constructed. Once the book was over and I began to see the plot threads weave themselves together I was so excited. Lev Grossman knows how to write a book. That being said the plot isn't for everyone because 1. It's weird. 2. Some might find the transitions abrupt, even though I didn't. 3. Some may find it boring because this is in no way Harry Potter and we never truly get a sense of the magic and an understanding of it. 4. The plot is not a happy one. Regardless. I quite enjoyed the story. It was heartbreaking and perfect for those of us graduating from college and embarking on the real world. This is a book for those of us who are growing up right now. The plot spoke to me in a way that was truly heartbreaking, but also poignant and quite intriguing as a whole. I have yet to read a book like this and I loved it.

The Characters: This is also another point in the novel that people may not love because none of the characters are truly likeable, particularly your main character Quentin, but that is the point. These characters are not meant to be likeable. They are meant to be disillusioned wrecks and the ending was all the better for them being that way. It also leaves a huge redemption arc which I think we will get in later books. I don't love the characters, but I am curious to know if they will ever redeem themselves. However, the characters seem very lost and in that sense I did actually sympathize with them at times. I didn't find them to be anything like me whatsoever, but seeing them in their position was just really intriguing. The characters are a very distinct aspect of this novel, and to all the people who say they couldn't read this book because they hated the characters so much, just keep reading. You're not supposed to like them.

The Writing and World Building: Spot on, spot on. Lev Grossman knows his way around a sentence and it shows. I don't have much else to say that I thought the world building was perfect. Some will complain that they didn't get the entire gist of what goes on at school or who the teachers are or how the spells work, but that isn't really the point. At the end of the day this isn't really a book about the magic, more often than not magic actually causes the problems as opposed to saving the day. We shouldn't focus on how the magic works, but more on how the magic affects its users and what do they do with it. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

I didn't love this book initially, but after about 125 or so pages I was hooked and then read the book in practically one sitting. Haunting, heartbreaking, beautiful, despicable, and goodness knows I don't know. This book hits you in an interesting way, particularly to those of us who grew up reading fantasy. I think if you did grow up reading fantasy books, this book is a must read. I don't know if others will enjoy it as much, but in some ways I feel like you really do need to have a hint of that nostalgia for Narnia or Hogwarts or whatever to truly enjoy this book. Anywho, that is all. I loved this and it is a favorite now. Read it.