The Witch Cat Squishmallow is a popular plush toy that has gained popularity among both children and adults. This cute and cuddly toy features a black cat with a pointy hat and a magical wand, making it an adorable addition to any stuffed animal collection. Squishmallows are known for their soft and squishy texture, making them perfect for cuddling and snuggling. The Witch Cat Squishmallow is no exception, with its plush exterior that is both comforting and huggable. Its small size makes it easy to take with you on the go or display on a shelf. The Witch Cat Squishmallow is not only a fun and whimsical toy, but it also has a unique appeal for fans of all things witchy and magical.
In a world where there are four Londons (Red, Grey, White, and Black), Kell has the rare ability to travel between the different worlds. Kell is also a smuggler and when an exchange goes wrong, he meets Delilha Bard, a thief From Grey London. This sets off a series of events that will change each London forever. V.E. Schwab weaves together four very unique worlds to explore in this book full of magic, intrigue, politics, twists, turns, and more twists and turns.
The Magicians is if Harry Potter went off to University, took a long shot of whiskey, and went through a clock into a very, very dark and twisty version of Narnia. If Kell s blood were to run black, it would be an indication that he s gone okay, I m just going to say dark side for our shorthand because everyone always knows what that means.
The Witch Cat Squishmallow is not only a fun and whimsical toy, but it also has a unique appeal for fans of all things witchy and magical. With its hat and wand, it captures the spirit of Halloween and witchcraft, making it a great gift for those who have an affinity for the supernatural. Like all Squishmallows, the Witch Cat Squishmallow is made of high-quality materials that ensure durability and longevity.
'Darker Shade' Paints A Fantasy World Rich In Depth And Color
One of the most compelling things about V.E. Schwab's second adult novel, A Darker Shade Of Magic, is how long it takes to develop a plot. Once the main arc finally slips fully out of the shadows, it turns out to be fairly standard for a fantasy novel: Evil scheming magicians, cursed and forbidden item, dark magic ready to consume everything it touches.
But Schwab takes her time in getting there. She builds a setting elaborate and unfamiliar enough that it matters once the familiar tropes start threatening it. The book could have been compulsively readable even without a major conflict — like Katherine Addison's recent standout fantasy novel The Goblin Emperor, A Darker Shade Of Magic is set in a world idiosyncratic enough that it doesn't need to be threatened to be compelling.
Schwab's backdrop involves four parallel worlds with four parallel Londons, each with a different history, ruler, and society. Only the Antari — the increasingly rare people born with magic in their blood — can naturally traverse these worlds, so they serve as liaisons between the rulers of the three surviving Londons. The book's opening protagonist, an Antari named Kell, thinks of them by color: Grey London, a mundane place where magic is scarce; Red London, his home, a warm place of copious magic; White London, a brutal world starving for resources, magic included; and Black London, an obliterated world consumed by greed for magic.
Kell is an appealingly complicated character, part put-upon functionary, part natural resource for the London rulers who see him, variously, as an exotic visitor, a useful tool, or a potential pet. There are elements of Diana Wynne Jones' nine-lived magician Chrestomanci in the way Kell revels in his magic while despairing over his duties, and the way he tries to carve out a personal life for himself, including illegally collecting little otherworldly tokens. He's accorded a deep respect in Red London, but he has little freedom, and few true connections. Dangerously, his self-pity doesn't leave him enough room to pity other people in worse situations, like his White London counterpart Holland, a soul-shackled slave of that world's sadistic tyrants. But his sense of responsibility and morality drag him into helping when he might rather sit home and brood over his knickknacks.
V. E. Schwab is also the author of Vicious and The Near Witch. Courtesy of Tor Books hide caption
toggle caption Courtesy of Tor BooksV. E. Schwab is also the author of Vicious and The Near Witch.
Courtesy of Tor Books
His opposite in every way is the book's other focus: Delilah Bard, an amoral Grey London pickpocket scrabbling to survive in poverty, but with all the freedom she wants, and a few more emotional connections than she'd like. Lila and Kell don't even meet until more than a quarter of the way through the book.
Up to that point, Schwab isn't just world-building, she's four-worlds-at-once building. In particular, she has to establish her peculiar and subtle rules of magic, equal parts manipulation of blood, will, and subtler factors like respect. (At one point, Kell accomplishes a difficult magical task essentially by begging the stones of a wall to cooperate.) But more significantly, she spends time with Kell, Lila, Holland, and their separate worlds, in no particular rush to tie them all together.
Her characters make the book. Just as Kell has layers, Lila is a satisfyingly rich invention: Single-minded, selfish, often unsympathetic, Lila would rather be a swashbucking pirate queen than a hero's arm-candy. Kell and Lila are as much rivals as allies, and when a dangerous smuggled artifact threatens all the remaining Londons, she's refreshingly interested in stealing it rather than destroying it. The plot comes late, but it comes naturally and easily, born out of the tensions between Holland's compulsions, Kell's reluctant sense of duty, and Lila's ambition.
Schwab also wrote the 2013 superhero deconstruction novel Vicious, and she writes young-adult and mid-grade fiction as Victoria Schwab. A Darker Shade Of Magic reads with the ease of a young-adult novel, with short paragraphs, quick-moving prose, and plenty of action. But it's grimmer even than the current bout of post-Hunger Games YA. Likeable characters die, badly. Torture, for pleasure or gain, happens frequently. The villains are monstrous, and the stakes are high, threatening all the worlds. But the stakes feel higher because Schwab takes the time to make a world worth getting lost in. Darker Shade Of Magic resolves its plot thoroughly, but still feels like it could be the seed of a lengthy series. With so many worlds on the map, there's plenty left to discover.
Tasha Robinson is a senior editor at The Dissolve.
The big set up of this chapter is learning how the average denizen of Red London thinks of Kell, which is that he’s pretty darned special, and they’re all kind of amazed by and afraid of him. So much for trying to enjoy the local nightlife in peace.
It is machine washable, allowing for easy cleaning and maintenance. The attention to detail in its design and craftsmanship adds to its overall appeal. Overall, the Witch Cat Squishmallow is a delightful toy that brings joy and comfort to both children and adults. Its cute and magical design, along with its soft and squishy texture, make it a beloved addition to any stuffed animal collection. Whether used as a toy, a decoration, or a snuggle buddy, the Witch Cat Squishmallow is sure to bring a smile to its owner's face..
Reviews for "The Witch Cat Squishmallow: An Unexpected Collectible"
1. Sarah - 2 stars- I was really disappointed with the Witch cat squishmallow. The quality was subpar and it felt like a cheap knock-off compared to the other squishmallows I own. The stitching was uneven, and the material was not as soft and plush as I expected. Additionally, I found the design of the cat to be somewhat creepy rather than cute. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this particular squishmallow to anyone.
2. Mark - 1 star - I regret purchasing the Witch cat squishmallow. It was advertised as being squishy and huggable, but it turned out to be anything but that. The filling inside the squishmallow was lumpy and uneven, making it uncomfortable to squeeze or cuddle. The colors on the design were also too dull and washed out compared to the online images. I expected better quality for the price I paid.
3. Emily - 2 stars - The Witch cat squishmallow did not meet my expectations. The material felt very rough and scratchy, which made it uncomfortable to touch and play with. The stitching was also poorly done, with loose threads sticking out from multiple areas. On top of that, the squishmallow had a strange smell that didn't go away even after airing it out. I would not recommend this particular squishmallow to anyone looking for a soft and cuddly toy.