** spoiler alert ** 
 I have mixed feelings about this book. There was excessive use of vulgar and college-life cliches: binge drinking, sexual experimentation, orgies, etc. I found all but one character highly unlikeable and unsympathetic. The one character I did like was killed off. Some reviews I've read how Grossman "gave a nod to" J.K. Rowling and C.S. Lewis; but I think this was just a sorry rip-off, combination of Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia. Towards the end of the book when things were finally getting good for some reason the story really just didn't hold my attention. I don't understand why the journey to Fillory is at the end of the book and less a part of the overall plot.