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The Magician King: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
Return to Fillory in the riveting sequel to the New York Times bestseller and literary phenomenon, The Magicians, now an original series on Syfy, from the author of the #1 bestselling The Magician’s Land.
Quentin Coldwater should be happy. He escaped a miserable Brooklyn childhood, matriculated at a secret college for magic, and graduated to discover that Fillory—a fictional utopia—was actually real. But even as a Fillorian king, Quentin finds little peace. His old restlessness returns, and he longs for the thrills a heroic quest can bring.
Accompanied by his oldest friend, Julia, Quentin sets off—only to somehow wind up back in the real world and not in Fillory, as they’d hoped. As the pair struggle to find their way back to their lost kingdom, Quentin is forced to rely on Julia’s illicitly learned sorcery as they face a sinister threat in a world very far from the beloved fantasy novels of their youth.
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"I read this back to back with The Magician, and I was a little sad with the ending of this one - after the first book takes such care to wrap up the story and show you Quentin's next steps, the ending here feels abrupt. Still a fun read and a great successor to a (hopefully growing) fantasy series."
— Kyle (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“In this page-turning follow-up to…The Magicians, Grossman takes another dark, sarcastically sinister stab at fantasy, set in the Narnia-esque realm of Fillory.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“Grossman expands his magical world into a boundless enchanted universe, and his lively characters navigate it with aplomb.”
— New Yorker -
“A serious, heartfelt novel [that] turns the machinery of fantasy inside out.”
— New York Times -
“Quentin is no Harry Potter. The other humans in Fillory are not the Pevensie children. This isn’t a book for the kids. It’s not your father’s Narnia or your older sister’s Hogwarts. Something sadder and more sinister has entered this fantasy: the modern world.”
— Washington Post -
“The Catcher in the Rye for devotees of alternative universes. It’s dazzling and devil-may-care…Grossman has created a rare, strange, and scintillating novel.”
— Chicago Tribune -
“The Magician King is a rare achievement, a book that simultaneously criticizes and celebrates our deep desire for fantasy.”
— Boston Globe -
“Grossman has devised an enchanted milieu brimming with possibility, and his sly authorial voice gives it a literary life that positions The Magician King well above the standard fantasy fare.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“The Magician King, the immensely entertaining novel by Lev Grossman, manages to be both deep and deeply enjoyable.”
— Chicago Sun-Times -
“Readers who have already enjoyed The Magicians should lose no time in picking up The Magician King. For those who haven’t, read both books: Grossman’s work is solid, smart, and engaging adult fantasy.”
— Miami Herald -
“A funny and innovative follow-up.”
— Barnes & Noble, editorial review -
“A spellbinding stereograph, a literary adventure novel that is also about privilege, power, and the limits of being human. The Magician King is a triumphant sequel.”
— NPR -
“Lev Grossman’s The Magician King is a fresh take on the fantasy-quest novel—dark, austere, featuring characters with considerable psychological complexity, a collection of idiosyncratic talking animals, and splendid set pieces in Venice, Provence, Cornwall, and Brooklyn.”
— Daily Beast -
“Grossman’s stylish sequel to The Magicians smoothly fuses adventure fantasy, magic realism, and mythic fiction…Grossman effortlessly injects innumerable pop culture and literary references into the fantastical storyline. Mainstream fiction and fantasy fans alike will find this fairy tale for adults rewarding.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Fabulous fantasy spiked with bitter adult wisdom—not to be missed.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“Mark Bramhall—who read the previous installment—is back, picking up where he left off with breathy, sonorous narration that will delight listeners.”
— Publishers Weekly (audio review) -
“Mark Bramhall’s gruff narration suits this fantasy, the sequel to The Magicians…Bramhall’s characterizations animate both the light and dark sides of the characters. His judicious use of accents and his empathy for the characters enhance their relationships and intensify their adventures.. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile -
[A] serious, heartfelt novel [that] turns the machinery of fantasy inside out.
— The New York Times (Editor’s Choice) -
A spellbinding stereograph, a literary adventure novel that is also about privilege, power, and the limits of being human. The Magician King is a triumphant sequel.
— NPR.org -
[The Magician King] is The Catcher in the Rye for devotees of alternative universes. It’s dazzling and devil-may-care. . . . Grossman has created a rare, strange, and scintillating novel.
— Chicago Tribune -
The Magician King is a rare achievement, a book that simultaneously criticizes and celebrates our deep desire for fantasy.
— The Boston Globe -
Grossman has devised an enchanted milieu brimming with possibility, and his sly authorial voice gives it a literary life that positions The Magician King well above the standard fantasy fare.
— San Francisco Chronicle -
Grossman expands his magical world into a boundless enchanted universe, and his lively characters navigate it with aplomb.
— The New Yorker -
Grossman is brilliant at creating brainy, distinct, flawed, complex characters, and nearly as good at running them through narrative gauntlets that inventively tweak the stories that generations have grown up on.
— The Portland Oregonian -
The Magician King, the immensely entertaining new novel by Lev Grossman, manages to be both deep and deeply enjoyable.
— Chicago Sun-Times -
Readers who have already enjoyed The Magicians should lose no time in picking up The Magician King. For those who haven’t, read both books: Grossman’s work is solid, smart, and engaging adult fantasy.
— The Miami Herald -
Now that Harry Potter is through in books and films, grown-up fans of the boy wizard might want to give this nimble fantasy series a try.
— New York Post -
Lev Grossman’s The Magician King is a fresh take on the fantasy-quest novel—dark, austere, featuring characters with considerable psychological complexity, a collection of idiosyncratic talking animals (a sloth who knows the path to the underworld, a dragon in the Grand Canal), and splendid set pieces in Venice, Provence, Cornwall, and Brooklyn.
— The Daily Beast -
In this page-turning follow-up to his bestselling 2009 novel The Magicians, Grossman takes another dark, sarcastically sinister stab at fantasy, set in the Narnia-esque realm of Fillory.
— Entertainment Weekly -
The Magician King is clearly the middle book in a trilogy, but it’s that rare creature that bridges the gap between tales and still stands on its own. And just as the first book showed that growing up is hard no matter how much power you have, it shows that becoming an adult involves far more than just reaching the right age.
— The A.V. Club -
Fabulous fantasy spiked with bitter adult wisdom—not to be missed.
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
Fans of The Magicians will find this sequel a feast and will be delighted that a jaw-dropping denouement surely promises a third volume to come.
— Booklist
Awards
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A 2011 Kirkus Reviews Top 25 Book for Fiction
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Selected for the August 2011 Indie Next List
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A New York Times bestseller
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An Amazon Best Book of the Month, August 2011
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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A 2011 New York Times Editor’s Choice
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A Publishers Weekly bestseller
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A 2011 Washington Post Notable Book for Fiction
The Magician King Listener Reviews
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Ash Cooper, 7/1/2022
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" I wasn't sure what to expect from this second book, and it definitely went in some unexpected directions. I enjoyed it very much. Again, I'm left with the feeling that, if I say anything, it'll be too much and spoil things for other readers. "
— Jen, 2/7/2014 -
" Much better then the first one but still way too long and oh so deriviative of so many better books. "
— Mairzi, 1/29/2014 -
" So much better then the first. "
— Drew, 1/25/2014 -
" Much like book 1, shit goes down at the end. Quentin is still central, but this book really digs into Julia's story which is just awesome and tragic. Recommended, and very good. "
— Justin, 1/20/2014 -
" I enjoyed it but can't really recommend it because of some very questionable content (I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who will read it anyway). "
— Greg, 1/19/2014 -
" "The magicians" was superior. But Julia's story was fascinating "
— Elizabeth, 1/15/2014 -
" At least as good as the first one. I could see this one as being the end but I think he's writing a third. "
— Jason, 1/6/2014 -
" On par with the first book, but there's too much complaining. The characters are all emo and can be annoying at times. "
— Andrew, 1/1/2014 -
" Second book to The Magicians! I had a hard time with this one. I'm not sure why. Maybe because I started it, restarted it, and read it in small chunks over a long period of time. I think that's probably a sign that this book, while well written, was not as engaging as I thought it would be. "
— Shana, 12/9/2013 -
" Interestingly enough, Quentin was much more likable the second time around! Huge surprise (since I couldn't stand him in the first book). I also liked Julia's story arc...what a tragic story. "
— Francine, 11/13/2013 -
" So much better than the first one, but still too much of a rip-off of other series "
— Taryn, 9/12/2013 -
" So much better than the first one, is all I can say. "
— Efrat, 9/9/2013 -
" Bit of a bummer, this. Growing up is painful, and Grossman spares nothing in showing us just how painful it is for Quentin. Next book please. "
— Alison, 6/3/2013 -
" This, the second installment to Lev Grossman's Magicians novels, was even more enthralling than the first. The only downside is that now we must wait or the next book. "
— Ryan, 2/17/2013 -
" So much better than the first in the series. Quentin has finally matured, and his quest to be a hero has some insightful moments as well as adventure. A few sections lacked the magic of the others, but overall it was a wonderful ride. "
— Karine, 2/7/2013 -
" I cannot see where this series is going. "
— Brigid, 1/24/2013 -
" This was a much more adult book than The Magicians (which was already quite adult in themes!). I liked it, but the ending left me disquieted. It's serious yet fantastical. I think I'll have to read something very frothy after this book as a palate cleanser. "
— Heather, 7/16/2012 -
" Didn't like this book as much as The Magicians. Heavy on the exposition and some sections felt as if the author was trying too hard, like he didn't completely buy into the world or characters he created. "
— Corinne, 7/8/2012 -
" This one is hard to rate. Compared to most books, I would give it 5 stars. But it still wasn't as good as the first in the series, so 4.5 stars. Excited to see what the third and final book will hold! "
— Sarah, 6/5/2012 -
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Renee Redick, 4/25/2012
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" I will definitely be re-reading this series. Very "out-there" and great because of it. "
— Martin, 1/14/2012 -
" Another installment of Grossman's self-aware fantasy saga, set in a world that's like Harry Potter meets Brideshead Revisited meets hipsters. Amazingly fun! "
— Thomas, 11/7/2011 -
" Better, and less sad in many ways, than the very good previous book. "
— Mike, 11/6/2011 -
" This is how fantasy should read. The "real world" of urban fantasy and the loveliness of C.S. Lewis and the tragedy of Tolkien. Didn't think there'd be a second in this series (which started with "The Magicians") but now I hope there's a third. "
— Curt, 11/4/2011 -
" This book is even better than 'The Magicians'. The narrative structure is fantastic. "
— Sean, 11/4/2011 -
" I read this when it was first released in August, but I'm reading it again already because it's just that incredible. "
— Karen, 11/4/2011 -
" I liked it better than the magicians. i kind of hate the Quentin character, but I really like the books. "
— Errin, 11/3/2011 -
" I basically hated this book. Maybe I'm stupid, maybe there's some grand analogy I haven't figured out and I'm too lazy to Google, but honestly, I'm sick of all the whining. Why can't they all just shut up and get on with it, especially Quentin, the ungrateful man-child. Blah. "
— Sarah, 11/3/2011 -
" Again, you just want to smack these characters because sometimes they're just mean and bitchy. I could've used more backstory on Julia and the ending was unfair...but leaves room for sequels! "
— Anne, 11/3/2011 -
" I'm not sure if a agree with the ending. "
— James, 11/2/2011 -
" The Magicians was better but Lev Grossman is THE man when it comes to cutting edge fantasy. This is an enchanted epic journey, rich in imagery with characters that we love who continue to grow and seek when they have reason and opportunity to rest on their laurels. "
— Martha, 11/2/2011
About Lev Grossman
Lev Grossman is a senior writer and book critic for Time magazine. His books have been New York Times bestsellers, and in 2011, he was awarded the John W. Campbell Award from the World Science Fiction Society. A graduate of Harvard and Yale, he lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters.
About Mark Bramhall
Arthur Morey has won three AudioFile Magazine “Best Of” Awards, and his work has garnered numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed him as a finalist for two Audie Awards. He has acted in a number of productions, both off Broadway in New York and off Loop in Chicago. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has won awards for his fiction and drama, worked as an editor with several book publishers, and taught literature and writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.