Shades of Magic is a captivating series of fantasy novels written by V.E. Schwab. The series follows the adventures of Kell, a powerful magician with the ability to travel between parallel worlds. In this captivating world, there are multiple versions of London, each possessing different levels of magic. The first book in the series, A Darker Shade of Magic, introduces readers to Kell and his remarkable abilities.
TL;DR: Just read this series if you haven’t done so already.
Grey London refers to our London, but instead of having the parts of the book set in Grey London occur in the contemporary, they occur in the early 1800s. Three Dimensional Characters I loved Lila Bard and Kell, but I also kind of had a soft spot for Holland, he did have a point with some of his speeches and his Fate Worse Than Death situation made him super sympathetic though it doesn t excuse all his actions.
The first book in the series, A Darker Shade of Magic, introduces readers to Kell and his remarkable abilities. As one of the last Antari, magicians capable of wielding this unique elemental magic, he serves as a messenger between the different versions of London. Through the course of the story, Kell becomes entangled in a dangerous plot that could have catastrophic consequences for all the worlds.
Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
Title: A Darker Shade of Magic (Book One in the Shades of Magic series)
Author: V.E. Scwab
Social Media: Facebook, Goodreads, Tumblr and Twitter
Publisher: Titan Books
Format and Price: Paperback at $12.74 and E-Book at $6.29
Rating: 5 out of 5
About The Author:
Victoria is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say “tom-ah-toes,” “like,” and “y’all.” She also tells stories.She loves fairy tales, and folklore, and stories that make her wonder if the world is really as it seems.
About The Book:
Kell is one of the last travelers–magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magical city.
There’s Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, and with one mad King–George III. Red London, where life and magic are revered–and where Kell was raised alongside Rhy Maresh, the roguish heir to a flourishing empire. White London–a place where people fight to control magic and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London. But no one speaks of that now.
Officially, Kell is the Red traveler, ambassador of the Maresh empire, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. It’s a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.
Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they’ll first need to stay alive
General Observations:
~Jumping On The Bandwagon: Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m rather late to the “Victoria Schwab is Awesome” party, but I figured better late than never, but it does give me the feeling that everything that could be said about this series has already been said.
~Plot and Structure: The plot is brilliant and the narrative pacing is fast and fluid but not so fast that I couldn’t figure it out and there were also slower introspective character-orientated moments (more on this later) that worked well as a contrast. I loved the political intrigue that was spread out throughout three similar but different worlds, after all Royalty acts similar regardless of dimension, however, I also love the very concept that a being like Kell, someone who could travel between dimensions, could exist and what kind of life that would be like.
~Three Dimensional Characters: I loved Lila Bard and Kell, but I also kind of had a soft spot for Holland, he did have a point with some of his speeches and his Fate Worse Than Death situation made him super sympathetic (though it doesn’t excuse all his actions). Holland’s position was easy to understand, Holland was certainly a product of his environment, but it was clear his hand was forced and he was the lesser of the two Evils the Danes twins represented, but even then, their motivations were also understandable (although their characters were reprehensible).
In conclusion, an excellent blending of intriguing plot and interesting characters, I’ve already begun to read A Gathering of Shadows and am looking forward to the third book coming out this year (or at least I think it’s coming out this year). I’m happy to recommend this series.
Available For Purchase From: Book Depository | Kobo Books | Amazon
The Shades of Magic Trilogy is written by the author V.E. Schwab, who somehow manages to be completely adorable (her IG stories are very sweet and I always love watching them), but also completely evil (she breaks my heart all the time). She’s been praised as being “Gaiman-esque”, and I have to agree – there’s something very classic about the Darker Shade of Magic series, and it feels like of the old traditional fantasy series – but better, with a fresh twist.
In the second book, A Gathering of Shadows, Kell faces new challenges and dangers. A magical tournament called the Essen Tasch is taking place, bringing together competitors from all over the various Londons. Meanwhile, a mysterious threat lurks in the shadows, forcing Kell to confront his own complicated past. Lastly, the series concludes with A Conjuring of Light, where Kell and his allies must face their greatest enemy yet. As darkness looms over all the Londons, Kell and his friends must find a way to save their worlds before it's too late. Overall, the Shades of Magic series is a thrilling and immersive journey through parallel worlds, with vivid descriptions and compelling characters. V.E. Schwab's writing style effortlessly transports readers into this enchanting universe, filled with magic, adventure, and complex relationships. The series has garnered a dedicated fanbase and offers a tantalizing blend of fantasy and action for readers to enjoy..
Reviews for "Exploring the Legacy of V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic Series"
1. John - 2 stars: I really wanted to like "Shades of Magic" by V.E. Schwab, but it just didn't live up to the hype for me. The concept of multiple parallel Londons with varying degrees of magic was intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was slow, and the characters lacked depth and development. The world-building also felt lacking, with many important details left unexplained. Overall, I found it difficult to connect with the story and was left feeling disappointed.
2. Sarah - 2.5 stars: While I appreciate the creativity behind "Shades of Magic," I couldn't fully immerse myself in the story. The writing style felt disjointed and confusing at times, making it hard to follow the plot. The characters, although with potential, were underdeveloped and lacked personality. The magic system, while interesting in theory, wasn't explored enough to fully understand its limitations and rules. I had high expectations for this book, but unfortunately, it left me feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied.
3. Alex - 3 stars: "Shades of Magic" by V.E. Schwab had an intriguing premise, but I found myself struggling to engage with the story. The pacing was uneven, with the action-packed moments abruptly interrupted by slow and tedious chapters. The world-building, although promising, lacked depth and failed to fully immerse me in the different Londons. Additionally, the characters felt one-dimensional and lacked the complexity I was hoping for. While it had some enjoyable moments, overall, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me.