Mark Bramhall’s gruff narration suits this fantasy, the sequel to THE MAGICIANS. Quentin is one of the kings of Fillory, but when an adventure goes awry, he is unceremoniously returned to Earth. His attempt to find his way back is wound around the tale of how Julia found training in the brutal magical underground when she was unable to train in magic with Quentin and his friends. 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. Familiarity with THE MAGICIANS will contribute to the full enjoyment of this book. J.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
In the final installment of the trilogy that began with The Magicians, Quentin Coldwater faces a test, a heist, and a last chance at an otherworldly realm.
I love stories about magic and magicians. (My bio offers a clue why…) One of my favorite novels is Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel (now a TV series), and one of my favorite films is The Prestige (based on the book by Christopher Priest). However, it’s rare for magician books to feature women in any capacity beyond love […]
Easter is upon us, bringing its usual associates: egg hunts, little girls in frilly white dresses, Peeps, and, of course, the Easter Bunny, hop-hop-hopping along. A Google image search for this confusing figure produces an array of unsettling illustrations and photos, including a manic-eyed bipedal rabbit with teeth that extend over the lower half of its […]
For nearly two decades, Jim Killen has served as the science fiction and fantasy book buyer for Barnes & Noble. At the end of each month, he’ll be sharing the lists of B&N’s bestsellers in the genre, from new hardbacks, to trade paperbacks, to mass markets and media tie-ins, to graphic novels and manga. These are the […]
Each month we ask a panel of our bloggers to suggest a book based on what they’re reading right now. Here’s what we think you should read this month! Nicole: Johannes Cabal the Necromancer, by Jonathan L. Howard The release of the fourth installment of the necromancer’s misadventures prompted me to take a look back […]