The Magicians

My Review (Spoiler Free)

The Magicians is the perfect combination of The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter for adults. It follows Quentin Coldwater who is selected to attend an exclusive, hidden magical school in upstate New York, Brakebills. At school Quentin learns magical arts and becomes friends with a few other magicians, but there is a tragic event that takes place during Quentin’s first year at Brakebills that affects the way that he and his friends continue to see the world as they move forward. The whole book follows the friends as they progress through the usual events of college and deal with the problems of post-college life, before they turn their attention to the potential of visiting the allegedly mythical world of Fillory. As the group follows this lead, they are confronted with increasingly difficult events and strains on their relationships and the friends come out the other side forever changed.

While Quentin is not a particularly likeable character, he is an excellent antagonist for the story. He lives the life that many of us may have wished we lived as children, that of the Pevensies and Potters. The way he moves through life illustrates that it is not always what is or isn’t in our lives that makes us happy. Quentin pined for a magic filled life, got it and wasn’t happy. He wanted to live in the land of Fillory, got his wish and wasn’t happy. Wanted a girlfriend, got her, lost her, and wasn’t happy throughout the whole experience. His attitude is an example that life isn’t always better when we keep looking for the next thing. In the end, The Magicians filled the void of magical childhood stories and provided a look at what life might look like as an adult going through those same experiences.