The New York Times bestselling novel about a young man practicing magic in the real world, now an original series on SYFY“The Magicians is to Harry Potter as a shot of Irish whiskey is to a glass of weak tea. . . . Hogwarts was never like this.” —George R.R. Martin “Sad, hilarious, beautiful, and essential to anyone who cares about modern fantasy.” —Joe Hill “A very knowing and wonderful take … fantasy.”
—Joe Hill
“A very knowing and wonderful take on the wizard school genre.”
—John Green
“The Magicians may just be the most subversive, gripping and enchanting fantasy novel I’ve read this century.”
—Cory Doctorow
“This gripping novel draws on the conventions of contemporary and classic fantasy novels in order to upend them . . . an unexpectedly moving coming-of-age story.”
—The New Yorker
“The best urban fantasy in years.”
—A.V. Club
Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A high school math genius, he’s secretly fascinated with a series of children’s fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory, and real life is disappointing by comparison. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite, secret college of magic, it looks like his wildest dreams have come true. But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment, and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. . . .
The prequel to the New York Times bestselling book The Magician King and the #1 bestseller The Magician’s Land, The Magicians is one of the most daring and inventive works of literary fantasy in years. No one who has escaped into the worlds of Narnia and Harry Potter should miss this breathtaking return to the landscape of the imagination.
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Loved the books but don’t like the show. The book’s are more enjoyable.
Outstanding characters and, although the premise isn’t totally original, the way the story is told is quite new.
The “inspirational” part might only apply if you like to write fantasy stories in an urban/modern setting, but that definitely describes me so there you have it…
This book, or more accurately, set of three books, were incredible to me. They took a premise, quite like the Harry Potter books, and turned it on it’s head, making magic both real and better than that, realistic – too much of the Harry Potter universe seemed “too too” – too easy, too unreal, which is, by the way, why they are wonderful books for …
Not a big fan of the writing style. But like the story concept. Started out with watching the TV series and then picked up one of the books.
Didn’t hold my interest
The first in the series of books from which came the TV series. Great characters and writing that takes your imagination on a great journey.
Don’t watch that shitty TV adaptation.
Outstanding. I fell in love with the story so much that I was glad to know that there was a second in the series to jump into when I finished the first book. I actually remember where I was when I first started reading this series
I found out about this book in a list of what to read after Harry Potter. It was billed as Harry Potter for adults and in a way, I guess so, but there’s no overriding theme of love conquers all and happily ever after isn’t on at all. Instead I found relatable characters whose ideas of magic and the real thing don’t match and the reality at times, …
It’s a lot of fun reading the book,especially with magic in it!!
Over-rated with no likeable characters. Only one good chapter in the whole trilogy.
Looking for something to read after Harry Potter that will satisfy? Check this book out
personally, i did not think much of this series. i read books one and two and then quit. never finished them because i just didnt like them. some people may like them a lot.
This is a great book which I have often have read unfair comparisons to Harry Potter. Having read both now, I can say that this stands on its own and apart from that series. It is a great, easy read aimed at the late teenage/early adult age group or if your just the young at heart it is a thoroughly entertaining novel. I am looking forward to …
Did not care for the characters.
Reads like the Rick Riordan books I used to read when my kids were younger so I could talk with them about the books. The sex scenes make the books inappropriate for kids, but the plots and story telling are frustrating and lack substance.
I did not finish it. Poor character development and no real plot as far as I got, which was about half way.
I watched the Syfy series and then searched for the books rather than the other way around as so many reviewers. The books are better/deeper but I still love the show as well. As many have said: This is no Harry Potter series…this is more Narnia discovers sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The characters are dark, twisted, and troubled and they have …
I loved this book – I had to get the 2nd one and will get the 3rd when I finish. It also inspired me to watch the TV show.