The Magician King (Magician, Bk 2)
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Book Type: Hardcover
Bruce -
Helpful Score: 1
"The Magician King" picks up where the first installment ended: with Quentin and crew ruling Fillory as Kings and Queens. This novel employs two main storylines, one involving Quentin on a heroic quest and the other filling in the back story of Julia.
Julia's story revealed her journey through the world of magic after having been rejected by Brakebills. She embodies the depressed, angry angst that Quentin exhibited in the first novel. Her story is an interesting one but is often tedious and weighed down by too many details. It lacks the spark and energy of Quentin's tale until the storylines come together. There is one violent (and wholly unnecessary) scene that I would have preferred had been edited out of the book.
Quentin's story was much lighter and action-packed and served as the engine that drove the book. Quirky and fun, it was really an adult fairy tale that brought forth the Narnia-like magic the first book only hinted at. I thought Grossman was very inventive and excelled at creating the many events Quentin endured on his quest, like his meeting at Venice's Grand Canal as just one example.
I thought this book was much better than the first and I would have rated it higher had Julia's story been a little less of a drag on the pace of the story. This novel did have a great ending and I'm eagerly awaiting book 3.
Julia's story revealed her journey through the world of magic after having been rejected by Brakebills. She embodies the depressed, angry angst that Quentin exhibited in the first novel. Her story is an interesting one but is often tedious and weighed down by too many details. It lacks the spark and energy of Quentin's tale until the storylines come together. There is one violent (and wholly unnecessary) scene that I would have preferred had been edited out of the book.
Quentin's story was much lighter and action-packed and served as the engine that drove the book. Quirky and fun, it was really an adult fairy tale that brought forth the Narnia-like magic the first book only hinted at. I thought Grossman was very inventive and excelled at creating the many events Quentin endured on his quest, like his meeting at Venice's Grand Canal as just one example.
I thought this book was much better than the first and I would have rated it higher had Julia's story been a little less of a drag on the pace of the story. This novel did have a great ending and I'm eagerly awaiting book 3.
