The Magicians by Lev Grossman

I chose this book because of fabulous blurbs on the cover, as well as a 'coming to Syfy' label.  The story follows Quentin Coldwater, a talented loner, as he is accepted into a secret college for magicians. But his new powers don't satisfy his yearning for a more purposeful existence.  Then he and several friends find their way into Fillory, the magic land described in his favorite children's books.  While Fillory is a thin disguise for Narnia, Quentin and friends find that it is a much darker and more dangerous place than they bargained for.  While I found the premise and plotting to be quite original, the characters are mostly very self-absorbed and I found it hard to care very much about them.  This is the first of a trilogy, also coming to TV.  402 pages