Samantha’s Comments (group member since May 21, 2016)

Samantha’s comments from the The #Magicians16 Read-Along group.

I loved this book! I liked all the parallels between Quentin and Julia, and that this series still is surprising me. The ending...... It was an ending fit for this series but I'm still shocked by it.

I did like Alice but I definitely prefer Julia. I like that she is both the opposite and the same as Quentin. They learn about magic in totally different ways, but they both have the same depression and need for there to always be something more. I love learning about her past.

I also like how this book really doesn't seem to have a "big bad". Yeah, the realm is in danger and everything is going to come together in the end, but they aren't gearing up to face some horrible villain. They are just letting life give them what it will.

I'm really loving getting Julia's backstory. Also, I was really nervous that going back to Earth would slow down the pace like it did in the first book, but that has not been the case. The characters also annoy me way less in this book. Quentin still makes dumb choices but I don't get mad at him for it.

I'm already liking this book was more than the first one. The side characters are interesting and the plot is paced better. There are some recurring themes from book 1, which gives me the impression that as a whole the series will all fit together perfectly.

I'm so thrown off by the end of this book. I really enjoyed part 3 and found it to be the best paced. But the end of the book returned to the same weird pacing as the beginning. So much is just glossed over. And big things too! I know that that's probably the entire point but it does knock me off center when reading.

I continue to think that the later books in the series will be better and that it all will get tied together. Because so much of this book leaves me thinking "what's the point" while at the same time I KNOW there is a point, I just can't see it yet.

Yay! This part was finally interesting! I'm so glad we finally got to Fillory.

I actually didn't see the fact that The Beast was Martin coming at all. I also thought it was cool that The Watcherwoman was actually The Beast's enemy and has a button? What does that mean for her?

I had completely forgotten about Quentin's lack of discipline. It would be cool if he turned out to be adept at battle magic, especially with the fact that he hates physical violence and admits to being a coward.

I'm surprised they've all also used their cacodemons. You'd think they'd save those. But I also like that they used them so early, since a lot of other series save that type of thing for the final books.

I really like how this series uses common tropes and twists them around. It's very self aware and even points out those tropes.

I also hope Alice isn't dead. She's the only character I like so if she goes I have no one to root for

Finally Fillory!!!

Now I didn't mind Quentin before but what a colossal douche... And all the excuses he made after he cheated on her? Gross. And then he got mad at her for sleeping with Penny (which I really doubt her taste cuz Penny... Really?) but regardless they were broken up because he cheated!!! And he has the audacity to be mad?!?

What a sad miserable little human.

I definitely can't say whether I like this book or not yet. It's very subtle. The action is very glossed over, which is interesting. I definitely feel like it is written this way for a reason. Common tropes aren't "stolen", they are definitely included on purpose. Grossman is using these common and well known stories like HP, Narnia, and LOTR for a reason. I think it's one of those books that will all come together in the end.

As far as Quentin, I neither hate or love him. But I do find him and all of the other characters incredibly realistic. I like how normal and often unhappy all of them are. I love that Quentin is very much NOT a chosen one. I kinda love how unlikable and average he is. My favorite character is probably Alice.

Although this first half was slow, I'm hoping things pick up and it all comes together.