#29: Lev Grossman, The Magician's Land (The Magicians #3)

[kareila]

There is definitely an arc to this trilogy outlined by the character development of the protagonist. In the first book Quentin is an insufferable asshole, in the second book he is a bit wiser and starting to take responsibility for the consequences of his actions, and in the third book he is a fully mature, empathetic adult who has put away childish things - except for one huge item of unfinished business hanging over him. Meanwhile, Quentin's friends, the kings and queens of Fillory, are tasked with preventing an apocalypse in their world.

This book wasn't as compelling to me as the second one. It had the disadvantage of working with less Julia (my favorite character) and more Janet (my least favorite character), and introduced a new sidekick, Plum, who was weakly drawn. Plum seemed to exist mostly as someone for Quentin to confide in, and as someone who could occasionally look at old relationships with new eyes; in terms of personality, she was practically indistinguishable from Poppy. But on the plus side, the book didn't have any horrifically violent scenes (unlike both previous installments) and it tied everything together pretty nicely.

Comments

[whatisthegood]

Oh good. Now I can discuss "Magician's Land" with you, probably over in email instead because of massive, massive spoilers.

:)

I really liked Janet

[whatisthegood]

It may not surprise you to learn that I really liked Janet. The clincher for me was the story about the desert, how she won the axes, and Elliot's reaction. Her anger really does go all the way down... It's not just a front or facade. She sees what she wants, and she goes for it.
Mind you, I rather doubt she would like me. But I was taken with her. She was my second favorite character, Quentin being the first.

Quentin also feels very much like Holden Caulfield (sp?), the protagonist of _Catcher in the Rye_. So that's strange, since I couldn't stand that book, and Mom adores it. I've been disaffected, angry youth wandering aimlessly, and I didn't care for that position, much less reading about that. Yet I found Quentin compelling, though I'm not sure why.

Lastly, no horrifically violent scenes, but I was much more disturbed by the scenes with the niffin in the land beyond. (Carefully avoiding spoilers here.) Suspenseful and unnerving.

Mack