★★★★★ A gritty story of flawed characters

The Magicians

Lev Grossman

I read The Magicians 11 years ago (21-Dec-2011). Actually I listened to the audiobook for the entire series as I worked out every day over the course of a month or two. I know these books are far from universally loved. Indeed, my best friend didn't like them at all.

I think I understand why that is. The story is *complicated*. I don't mean that it is complicated in the sense of having a complex plot and lots of things going on, although that is also true. It is morally complicated. You're never quite sure who to root for, or what you want to happen. Indeed, you are usually far from sure that you can cheer for anyone.

That begins in this, the first book, with Quentin. Quentin is not a good person. In fact, he's an asshole. It was fairly obvious to me when I began reading that Lev Grossman's intention was to give Quentin room for character growth. And that does indeed happen as the series goes on. You may never entirely like Quentin, but you'll probably find him less of a heel in the fourth book than the first.

For me that is all a recommendation. I like a challenge. I like complex, ambiguous characters.

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