** spoiler alert ** 
 The book was overall good, but the writing style was kind of strange. Q and Alice are the only 2 of their group left behind for their final year and it was over in a few pages, but the author goes on and on about random curtains. It would be good if he was consistant, but it's like he just skimmed over the bits that were important, but weren't interesting to write. 
 A lot of people are all over Q, but the problem with this is that Q is a mental patient with recurring issues. They didn't think he was crazy because he could do magic. He didn't have brain problems because of magic. He was sick, and then later discovered he could do magic. Everyone else in the book has their own problems, but Q is honest to goodness legitimately sick, and it's told from his point of view. 
 The thing with Q, though, is he knows he's sick. He isn't fooling himself. He cheats, it hurts Alice, and he thinks all sorts of dark thoughts to justify his actions, but they never come out of his mouth because he knows he's wrong and all of his anger comes from self loathing. 
 I think a lot of people expected this to be a 'oh, you think you're mental, but you're really a magician and perfectly normal!' type book, when it isn't. There is nothing normal about Quentin, and he does not get better because it would make an easier read. 
 Honestly, as someone with mental illness it was a breath of fresh air. It wasn't sugar coated or 'fixed.' Sure, he's doing magic in a fantastical place, but he's still got his own crap to deal with. It didn't get left behind or forgotten.