less offensive than HP

The Magicians – Lev Grossman

College students, college graduates, magic, psychological, science fiction, fiction.

Rating 5/10

Quentin should be happy for living a good normal life but he isn’t happy that nothing exciting ever happens to him. Inside his beloved favorite novel series, there is always adventure and Quentin craves adventure. When he and his friends go to this man’s house for an interview with him, they find the resident dead. The ambulance woman hands Quentin something and he leaves in a rush to see the contents. After he sees the contents inside he manages to find a door that opens up to this other place. He soons to find himself at a Magical Academy. He never expected that magic was real and the hard work to learn to wield it isn’t as easy as the fiction books had outlined. During this time, he makes both friends and enemies. An incident occurs where it changes his life forever. 

I was curious about the book because the premise was interesting. The novel is a bit fast paced for my personal standards. Maybe others not so much. I felt that the plot was rushed. The character developments were alright. Not my cup of tea honestly. This was way less offensive and more mature than Harry Potter. Time transitions are not easy to spot.

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A Different Type of Circus

The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern

Magicians, circus, games, circus performers, contest, rivalries, romance, fiction

Rating 10/10

This is not a usual circus story that has been told never before until now. Two individuals, Celia and Marco, both trained in the art of magician manipulation in different ways are prepped from a young age for a game in their adulthood. To battle each other in who is best in tricks. Slowly Marco and Celia begin to fall into another dangerous game, love. Sadly, only one wins to be head magician of the Night Circus. Everything is at stake for Marco and Celia as well as for those around them because two power houses can’t be in the same place without severe and devasting consequences. Only one can be the last man or woman standing.

I have always loved this book and have re-read it so many times. Its one of those books where one can’t get tired of the story. I love the dynamic and Morgenstern really has a page turning characteristic in this novel that doesn’t allow the reader to “simply” put it down. I just can’t further describe how much I love this novel. I wish that this was a series to follow what is to come after the aftermath of the competition. Or any other stand alone novels about the other characters because they’re pretty interesting as well as the two protagonists. Sadly, I am not the author so maybe one day, Morgenstern might do just that.