Friday, July 29, 2011

Friday Freebie: The Magician King by Lev Grossman


Congratulations to Kelli Beck, winner of last week's Friday Freebie: The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace.

This week's book giveaway is The Magician King by Lev Grossman, the sequel to his 2009 bestselling novel The Magicians.  The books are like a modern Narnia, an adult Harry Potter, and a Lord of the Rings without any hairy Hobbit feet.  Here's the publisher's jacket copy for The Magician King:
The Magicians was praised as a triumph by readers and critics of both mainstream and fantasy literature. Now Grossman takes us back to Fillory, where the Brakebills graduates have fled the sorrows of the mundane world, only to face terrifying new challenges. Quentin and his friends are now the kings and queens of Fillory, but the days and nights of royal luxury are starting to pall. After a morning hunt takes a sinister turn, Quentin and his old friend Julia charter a magical sailing ship and set out on an errand to the wild outer reaches of their kingdom. Their pleasure cruise becomes an adventure when the two are unceremoniously dumped back into the last place Quentin ever wants to see: his parent's house in Chesterton, Massachusetts. And only the black, twisted magic that Julia learned on the streets can save them.

And here's the opening paragraph to the novel:
Quentin rode a gray horse with white socks named Dauntless. He wore black leather boots up to his knees, different-colored stockings, and a long navy-blue topcoat that was richly embroidered with seed pearls and silver thread. On his head was a platinum coronet. A glittering side-sword bumped against his leg--not the ceremonial kind, the real kind, the kind that would actually be useful in a fight. It was ten o'clock in the morning on a warm, overcast day in late August. He was everything a king of Fillory should be. He was hunting a magic rabbit.

If you'd like a chance at winning a copy of The Magician King, all you have to do is answer this question:

Grossman is also the book critic for a major news magazine.  Name that magazine.  (The answer, if you don't already know it, can be found at the author's website.)

Email your answer to thequiveringpen@gmail.com

Put FRIDAY FREEBIE in the e-mail subject line.  One entry per person, please.   Please e-mail me the answer, rather than posting it in the comments section.   Despite its name, the Friday Freebie runs all week long and remains open to entries until midnight on Aug. 4--at which time I'll draw the winning name.  I'll announce the lucky reader on Aug. 5.

2 comments:

  1. My books came today, I am so excited to start reading! Thanks, David!

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  2. An excellent modern take on fantasy. More gritty and realistic than usual with lots of interesting social commentary and reflection on personal development in early adulthood. Best book I have read this year.
    I like this site :: SEO Austin Don Allen website

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