There is no doubt this novel struck a lot of the wrong chords with me. For one thing I can see why it has been dubbed as a grown-ups Harry Potter adventure; books which I have nothing but negative comments for, and novels which should not be emulated, no matter what. This however does draw some influence from Rowling's crapulent series, but it also draws some of its subject matter from other urban fantasies - too many to list - and its content and subject matter, though redolent with a tweeness that metastasizes into a darker plot, one so unbelievable that it will stretch the strained hoping-this-book-will-improve-soon plotline down a rabbit hole that some reader's won't bother chasing. However, I did, and I can happily say this : it does not contain any of the schmaltzy Harry Potter saccharine cliched absurdities with regard to its plotline.

After finding out that his admittance to an ivy league school is to be temporarily derailed the novel's central protagonist, a sullen, brilliant, socially awkward teenager takes a turn down a dirty alley and ends up being escorted to a school for magic. He passes an introductory test and from this point his life is one filled with learning magical texts laden with spells while the world he knew fades into the background; and I never really cared for this young man's journey. Quentin bored me. He is fleshed out with all the usual hate and hormones of any pubescent male. Uninteresting material no matter how well shined remains as it is. He excels at his work, all this while this prestigious school with all its secrets is never given any tangible being for it existence or function - it simply caters to gifted students who show a proficiency in magic - and nothing exciting happens. I lie, a monster from another realm makes a surprise visit one quarter of the way into the novel and after its visit leaves the corpse of a young woman: the school is on heightened alert. Everything becomes so quotidian within the pages. Quentin studies, excels, makes friends, is rewarded for his endeavor by being skipped ahead a year, not much in the way of adrenaline pumping action there. But perhaps this novel has some subtle notes I missed, it is possible.

This novel is broken up into four books. Book one deals with Quentin and a cast of minor characters, all flawed and possessed with novel ideas of who and what they are and do. They are well portrayed but nothing special. The years at Brakebills simply fly by and as the graduation day approaches this magical motley clique faces returning to a world where magic is not visibly practiced. They dread its approach, and bask in is ineffability. Book two sees the clique meeting up, partying, performing magic, and biding their time ... oh and how their hour approaches. Book three is where the novel threw me for a spin. They are all to visit a land that was popularized in a children's fantasy series, one which they have all read, because one of their number discovered a loophole, a non magical entrance (in the magician's eyes) to Fillory. That's right, the infrequent reminisces that Quentin had of his favourite childhood novels' is actually real, and he, like all his fellow magicians, is unprepared for what is to be done. Book four has the magicians seeking adventure in a land that should not be.

Surprisingly, the more I read this book the better it became, it took a long time coming, but it was worth it, so of. This very much reads like a young adult novel aimed at an adult audience. People die in this novel, the use of magic is a very dangerous affair, and the on campus affairs do get a little heated and steamy. But, I believe these novels have had their time in the sun. They really do not offer anything new. The tropes used are stalwarts of fantasy, but so what! I, and a lot of other people, have moved on.

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