A Darker Shade of Magic is a fantasy novel written by V.E. Schwab. The story takes place in multiple parallel versions of London, each referred to by a color. There is Grey London, the city without magic, where King George III reigns; Red London, a vibrant and magical city where the balance of power is maintained; White London, a city that has practically consumed all its magic and is ruled by sadistic control; and Black London, a city that was consumed by magic and no longer exists. Kell, the main protagonist, is one of the last Antari, a rare breed of magician who can travel between the different Londons.
What happened in A Darker Shade of Magic? (Shades of Magic #1)
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Ratings
4.4 stars on Amazon
4.04 stars on Goodreads
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***** Everything below is a SPOILER *****
Kell, the main protagonist, is one of the last Antari, a rare breed of magician who can travel between the different Londons. He works as an ambassador for the Maresh empire in Red London and secretly smuggles artifacts from one London to another. During a trip to Grey London, Kell encounters Lila Bard, a cunning thief, and the two are drawn into a dangerous adventure when they accidentally come into possession of a magical artifact from Black London.
What happened in A Darker Shade of Magic
Kell has been traveling between the worlds of London since he was a boy. There are four Londons: Gray London (non-magical), Red London (rich with magic), White London (sick with magic) and Black London (already fallen to black magic). Kell lives in Red London and only Black London is closed to him. Kell has the mark of a blood magician: one blue eye and one completely black eye and this makes him an Antari. There are only two known to exist. Antari can make doors of magic that only they can pass through (while holding a relic from the destination London). They are the only ones that can travel between the Londons.
Kell often visits a particular tavern, which is the one place that is always present in all of the London’s, though it has a different name in each. He is famous even in Gray London, where the tavern is called the Stones Throw. The owner there is called Barron and people come to see Kell, the magician, and trade other-London artifacts with him.
Rhy is Kell’s “brother” and a Prince of Red London. Kell is adopted into the royal family. Kell doesn’t remember much of his childhood or where he came from. He was brought to the palace when he was young and when he was twelve he first noticed the memory rune on his arm. He suspects his adopted parents put it there.
Holland, the other Antari, and property of the twin rulers of White London, gives Rhy a pendant as a birthday gift and says it is for strength. Rhy is about to have a birthday party to celebrate his 20th year.
Lila Bard, wanted thief and pickpocket, lives in Gray London. She dreams of being a pirate and possesses a beloved map that she thinks of as the map to anywhere. Due to a fire, she is forced to go back to Barron at the tavern.
White London is in decay being so near to Black London. Red London is partially responsible because they sealed themselves off so long ago after Black’s fall.
Kell takes a letter to Astrid one of White London’s rulers. Kell is asked to join them for a drink and he has a bit too much. Later he stumbles to the tavern and a strange woman convinces him to take a letter and payment with him back to Red London.
Kell goes to deliver the letter in Red London but someone is waiting for him. He has been set up. He runs but the payment he was given contained a magic stone and a tracking rune. He is chased until cornered. The person perusing him is being manipulated and carries a sword of the royal guard. The stone gives Kell extra strength to stop time when fighting the man. The stone is rough on one side and smooth on the other as if it has been broken. The magic that Kell and the stone used to defeat the hired cut-throat creates a shell around him which later breaks apart and is absorbed into his body. His eyes turn pitch black.
Kell gets away from other pursuers by retreating to Gray London. There is an engraving on the smooth side of the stone that says “Vitara” which is the word for magic in the magic language. He runs into Lila and she robs him of the stone so he follows her to her rooms at the Stone’s Throw tavern. He tells her that it is magic and she is able to use the stone to create a sword. Kell is realizing just how powerful it is.
Kell leaves and Lila throws the black sword out the window. Later another man finds it and keeps it. The sword makes him stab himself and then dissolves into his body through the wound. When he wakes up he has two black eyes and black veins run under his skin.
YOU MIGHT LIKE:Holland tracks Lila down and forces her to call out for Kell. To her surprise, Kell comes to her rescue. Lila runs away and Kell and Holland battle it out. Kell becomes chained with magic but Lila (feeling guilty) returns, disarms Holland, and helps the injured Kell get away. She brings him back to the Stone’s Throw where Barron helps her tend to him. Later Holland kills Barron as he searches for Kell and Lila.
Kell agrees to allow Lila to come with him on his self appointed mission to take the black stone back to Black London where it belongs. Using the magic of the stone for Lila, they are able to successfully travel to Red London together.
The dark magic continues to spread from person to person using host bodies, turning their eyes pitch black.
Kell and Lila visit a shopkeeper named Fletcher to find a White London trinket, a white rook, that will allow them to travel on. Unfortunately Fletcher alerts the royal guard. Lila is able to conceal herself using the stone and she hangs back while Kell goes with the guard back to the palace. After they leave, Lila sees one of the guards slit Fletcher’s neck before leaving.
At the palace during Rhy’s birthday party, Astrid has taken over Rhy’s body with magic and Kell is the only one that knows. Astrid wants to completely open the doors between worlds and she wants her and her brother, Athos to rule. She also reveals that there is another half to the stone. Lila shows up to help and Astrid realizes that she has the stone. Astrid stabs Rhy and is able to take over another person’s body. Anyone that holds her pendant (Rhy’s gift from Holland) is taken over. Kell and Lila attempt to escape with the unconscious but healing Rhy.
They pass through a secret door that takes them to one of Kell’s childhood sanctuaries. Rhy dies but Kell uses the stone to bring Rhy back and bind his body to his own. They both now have a mark branded on their chests. The stone attaches itself to Kell. While here, the priest asks Lila about her glass eye. Most people don’t notice. She says she doesn’t remember. She was told she lost it as a baby.
They plan to travel together to White London but Kell is stopped by Holland and remains in Red London and Lila ends up in White London by herself. She feels threatened by some men and shoots one of them.
Holland tries to take the stone from Kell but Kell ends up stabbing him. Kell thinks he allowed him to do it. Holland looked relieved to be meeting death. Afterwards Kell won’t leave his body and takes him to White London where he finds Lila cutting her way through several men.
This artifact, known as the Stone of Undoing, has the power to destroy the barriers between the Londons and unleash chaos upon the worlds. As Kell and Lila race against time to return the Stone of Undoing to Black London, they face numerous obstacles and enemies, including Holland, a dangerous magician from White London who is bound by a powerful and dark force. Throughout their journey, Kell and Lila develop a complicated and unexpected alliance, with both characters discovering new abilities and truths about themselves. They must navigate the treacherous politics and power struggles of each London, all while trying to prevent catastrophe and protect the balance between worlds. A Darker Shade of Magic is a thrilling and fast-paced novel that combines elements of magic, adventure, and suspense. The vivid and atmospheric world-building, as well as the complex and morally ambiguous characters, make it a captivating read for fans of fantasy and urban magic..
Reviews for "A Darker Shade of Magic: A Summary of Power and Betrayal"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "A Darker Shade of Magic" to be incredibly slow and lacking in depth. The characters were one-dimensional and the world-building felt half-baked. The plot was predictable and there were no real surprises or twists. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. David - 1 star - "A Darker Shade of Magic" was a complete waste of time for me. The writing was mediocre at best, with repetitive descriptions and lackluster dialogue. The concept of multiple parallel universes was interesting, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was incredibly slow and there was little to no character development. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
3. Emma - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "A Darker Shade of Magic" but was ultimately let down. The magic system was confusing and underexplained, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The main characters lacked depth and I struggled to connect with them. Additionally, the romantic subplot felt forced and unnecessary. Overall, this book fell short of its potential and I would not recommend it to others.
4. Michael - 2 stars - "A Darker Shade of Magic" had an interesting premise, but that's where the positives end for me. The writing style was flat and lacked any kind of emotion or resonance. The plot felt disjointed and at times, convoluted. I found myself struggling to follow along and care about what was happening. The world-building was also lackluster, leaving me feeling uninvested in the story. I was disappointed with this book and would caution others before picking it up.