The Magician’s Land: A Novel (Magicians Trilogy)

Quentin Coldwater, former Brooklyn honors student, former King of Fillory, and now former Brakebills faculty member, suddenly finds himself back where he started — alone in the real world, in need of a purpose, and in need of a job. Fortunately, as happens so often, a job presents itself to him. Quentin finds himself in a gang of thieves, hired to steal a priceless (and unstealable) object. He accepts the job, just for the opportunity for it to take him somewhere and, hopefully, back to Alice.

This is the final installment in the Magicians trilogy, and just like in book two, where Quentin’s magical journey takes a back seat to Julia’s story, Lev Grossman develops another character’s story. Plum, a fifth-year undergraduate at Brakebills and the president of the ominous “The League,” is expelled from school during her last term and takes up a position as Quentin’s assistant (no, they’re not sleeping together — “Why does literally everyone think that?”), while Quentin pulls off a world-changing spell, which he thinks may allow him to finally save Alice.

This is a stunning conclusion to a heart-breaking coming-of-age-story, often described as “Harry Potter for adults.”