The Magicians

Have you ever been so excited to start reading a book, then the more you read it, you think, why is this happening, the author is ruining the story!?!? Welcome to The Magicians. With a Harry Potter meets the Chronicles of Narnia storyline, it has such a promising start but then chaos ensues.

The book is divided into four sections. Part 1 introduces us to Quentin, a teenager living in New York who is just not satisfied with his life. He loves his best friend's girl and constantly feels like a 3rd wheel. Everything changes when he magically transports to Brakebills College, a Hogwarts-like school where magic is taught. He takes his entrance exam, is accepted, and begins his magical training along with Penny and Alice. Along the way, he meets Eliot, Janet, and Josh, other students at the school. Unlike the Harry Potter books, Quentin's 4 year education is only the first half of this story.

Part 2: After graduation, Quentin and his now-girlfriend Alice move to New York where their other friends are living. They have no responsibility and drink away their days and nights. Fanatic fans of a children's series about travels to a land called Fillory (enter the Chronicles of Narnia connection), the whole group gets excited when Penny shows up with a way to travel there.

Part 3: What ensues is not for the light-hearted. The group travels to a land, only to find it in a time of uncertainty. The group assumes the task of finding the crowns of Fillory (for just as in Chronicles, only humans can rule the land). After being led by two guides to the hiding place of the crowns, the group faces many obstacles. A battle ensues (of course) and there are casualties.

Part 4: Once Quentin makes it back to New York, he swears off magic. He gets a job, tries to be a mature adult and do the right thing. At the very end, old friends turn up with the proposition of returning to Fillory.

I can't decide why I didn't like the book.
a) It might have been Quentin's constant effort to remain unhappy and depressed. When something goes wrong, he easily blames everyone else but himself. When he's unhappy, thinks something will make his life better, and receives it, he remains unhappy. It is frustrating to read about a character that doesn't take responsibility for his life or actions.
b) It might have been the fact that I still had questions remaining once the story was over. Some of the events are neatly wrapped up in a magic explanation which feels like a cop out in the plot. Some characters' outcomes are left in question.
c) It could have just been the lack of happy ending that I usually prefer to a story. The book did have closure, but also ended with a perfect set up for a sequel, or even a series, and I admit, I will be reading on (if possible) to see if some of my questions might be answered in the future.

If you like happy little stories rolled up in a neat package, this book is not for you. If you like intrigue, suspense, and some action (and don't mind the vulgarity of a teenage mind), then you will enjoy this story. Just accept that it is filled with teenage angst and real-world cynicism.