The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Published by Penguin on 2009-08-11
Genres: Fiction, Literary
Pages: 416
Goodreads 
The New York Times bestselling novel about a young man practicing magic in the real world 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.
I did not read all of Harry Potter, although I know it is a wonderful series and loved by many. Why is that important during this review? I’m glad you asked.
The Magicians had a distinct feel of a crossbreed of Harry Potter and Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, but was written with adult situations intermingled. If the book had perhaps stuck with the innocence of children just budding from childhood to adulthood without the added profanity and adult situations it may have been more enjoyable to me.
Unfortunately this read like a bad fan fiction. Don’t get me wrong I have no problem with fan fiction, obscenities or adult situations. However, these things just didn’t seem to work in this “mash up.”
I have a dark sense of humor and laughed at all the wrong things in this book. So it was not completely a failed attempt at being entertaining. I think the author may have not been sure who he wanted to speak to with the book. It is for that reason that I would be hard pressed to tell others that they should read this book. If I can’t see that a story would fit in with what I’ve been told is interesting to them I can’t in good conscience recommend something that doesn’t fit.
I know this is a harsh review, and this is by far not the worst book I’ve read, but it’s up there. If I could reach out and speak to the author I would sit him down and say “who are you trying to relate to? If you figure that out and stay on course your end product will hit its mark much better.”
I want to be an author and my one hope in succeeding would be that people enjoy my writing and want to share it with others. A million one off buys of a product does generate money, but a million buys that recommend to 10 friends each to buy it too really makes solid financial sense.
Again this book was not a lost cause, but it’s not easily recommended as mainstream material….
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