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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
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“Grossman expands his magical world into a boundless enchanted universe, and his lively characters navigate it with aplomb.”
— New Yorker
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“A serious, heartfelt novel [that] turns the machinery of
fantasy inside out.”
— New York Times
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“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
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“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
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“The Magician King
is a rare achievement, a book that simultaneously criticizes and celebrates our
deep desire for fantasy.”
— Boston Globe
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“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
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“The Magician King, the immensely entertaining novel by Lev Grossman, manages to be both deep and deeply enjoyable.”
— Chicago Sun-Times
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“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
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“A funny and innovative follow-up.”
— Barnes & Noble, editorial review
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“Fabulous fantasy spiked with bitter adult wisdom—not to be missed.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“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)
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“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