Review: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book, supposedly Harry Potter for adults, is plagarism and idea stealing 101.



The novel is set, in the majority, at a College of magic called “Brakebills” which can only be reached by those who are enrolled in the school and have access to the secret entry points. In the garden is a maze, which changes its pattern every semester. There is a game played called “welters” which has similarities to Wizard’s Chess. Throughout the book, there are three main friends, always two males and a female. The families are similar to those of Harry, Ron and Hermione.


The novel features a magical land called “Fillory” resembling strongly, Narnia and access comes via magical portals; mirrors and clothes cupboards. There are also talking beavers, a faun, a satyr, a talking tree, elves, which resemble Orcs and a final evil, very similar to Sauron.


The novel also features two powerful rams, who act as the gods of Fillory and desire to have humans on the four thrones of the country; two males and two females. The rams refer to the human characters as Sons and Daughters.


What concerns me most, is that the estates of Tolkien and Lewis and the lawyers for Rowling, have not queried or challenged Lev Grossman.


“Lev Grossman’s novel The Magicians may just be the most subversive, gripping and enchanting fantasy novel I’ve read this century.” —Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing

“This is my ideal escapist fantasy read, a Harry Potter book for grown-ups … I can’t imagine any lover of well-written classic fantasy, from C. S. Lewis’s Narnia books to the works of Diana Wynne Jones, who won’t absolutely adore it.” —Lisa Tuttle, The London Times


It is even more of a concern when reviewers call it subversive, best of the century, ideal escapist fantasy and compare it directly to the people that have been ripped off intellectually. I find it even more worrying that other authors like and promote this book.


I have rated this book with a 2 out of 5 because it was written with a nice flow but there was not an independent or original idea within this book. If you have read Harry Potter, the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, please do not soil your mind with this book. It is not worthy of the praise it has received.