The Magicians-Lev Grossman

     For a fantasy tale, this novel was very grounded in concepts of reality. Magic is not as simple as the flick of the wrist, but rather something to be pain-painstakingly studied.  As I read on I couldn't help but compare Brakebills to Hogwarts, but I soon discovered that the latter was much different. The idealized world of Hogwarts sends you a pretty invitation and magic is something that all the students can do no matter what their level of knowledge is. At Brakebills, a test must be taken in order to prove your worth before you can even hope to dabble in magic. So instead of being a part of the elite, a preselected group that is allowed to do magic, Brakebills only lets in those who pass individualized standardized tests. This hits all too close to home, having taken tests, creating portfolios, and accomplishing all the work that came with college applications.

     The scene where the Beast suddenly appears, after Quentin made someone falter in his incantation, was pretty frightening. To go from a dull, class lecture to a kid being gobbled up by this creature was quite an engaging shift of pace in the book. It was scenes such as this, although quite horrid, that were even more out of the ordinary than a school of magic.

     There is a clear influence of The Chronicles of Narnia throughout the book. Instead of the god-figure being a lion, Fillory had two rams, which feel less intimidating. Kids travel to this otherwordly land that is assumed to be a paradise, only to discover they don't truly belong there. One of them, Martin Chatwin, refuses to believe this and remains as an intrusion in the land. Because really who wouldn't want to stay in a magical land such as that? Later in the story, Ember, one of the rams, brings up a great point, that the human kids don't belong in Fillory and only see the place as a source of entertainment. The repercussions of greed are clearly shown in Martin, who has distorted himself into a monstrous being. The Watcherwoman revealing herself as Jane, one of the Chatwin children who had arrived to Fillory long ago, was a good twist. Her rewinding time and going through multiple, and different scenarios to end her corrupt brother, Martin.

     I had competing emotions while I read this novel. On one hand, I appreciated the fact that it touched upon the grim aspects of reality, unlike previous fantasy stories I have read. I knew from the beginning that this book would delve into the dark side of fantasy, but even still there were just too many scandals for my liking. This book had a grave tone, from the grueling labor of studying magic to the explicit drug use. I think too many Disney movies have engraved into my mind the desire for a happy ending, so I was a bit disappointed by this novel's ending. But overall it was an engaging work of fantasy, and very memorable.