The main adventure/quest plot left something to be desired for me but I enjoyed most of the subplots and characters introduced. 

The Magician King picks up with characters we thought may have been abandoned for good in the last book, and we’re offered Julia’s point-of-view starting from when she was first introduced which I loved. 

Again, the characters and themes definitely carried this book for me a lot more than the plot!

Better than the first one. Comes dangerously close to passing the bechdel test. 

not as good as the first… but still addictive 

the ending is a huge let down, but not in a terrible way.

I suppose the series doesn't promise to have a happy ending, so I can't be mad at that. But I am sad for how it ends for Quentin. 

I think because I know there is a 3rd book, I am comforted that there will be more to the overall story. I was pleased with the character growth that I saw compared to the first book. While the ending was unexpected, I think it came with a good/realistic subtextual message.

Also, in the edition I read, chapter 25 is where most of the graphic action happens. editing to add that I agree with the main criticism that the rape scene was unnecessary

Third Read, 2022.

I'm too attached to the show to give up on this series. I liked this book a lot better divorced from the first one. It still has some misogyny (and other harmful -isms) but significantly less than the first. The addition of Julia's perspective was a nice upgrade from only Quentin's.

I still have a lot of issues with the use of

rape as character development

in Julia's plot. I detest the message that comes along with that choice and

especially the choice to both remove Julia's shade and start her transformation into a goddess with it, which felt like a type of commentary on the outcome of sexual assault in terms of personal growth (as if to say, sure, it breaks you, but it also makes you into a better form of yourself?) which just wasn't Grossman's to make in the first place.

 

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Second Read, 2021.
Made it fifty percent through before tiring of having my filter for blatant misogyny constantly on. There are better books to put my energy into. DNF.
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First Read, 2015.
Ugh. Why did I finish this.