Ve Schwab's Shades of Magic Book 4 is an intriguing addition to the popular fantasy series. In this installment, Schwab continues to explore the world of the four Londons, each with its own unique magical properties. The story follows our beloved protagonist, Kell, as he navigates the complex web of political intrigue, dangerous alliances, and personal dilemmas. One of the central themes in this book is the balance between power and responsibility. Kell, as one of the last Antari, possesses immense power that could potentially reshape worlds. However, he is also burdened with the responsibility of maintaining order and safeguarding the fragile balance of the Londons.
Langdon is brought back to the Satanist church, where they’re performing a haunting hymn by the churches’ All Sinners Choir. They’re preparing to perform a human sacrifice on people who bring good to the world — a social worker and a member of Doctors without Borders. Langdon steps in and takes the knife from another new member, who is hilariously a former Gawker staffer. He kills the good people and the congregation falls to its knees at the display of his Antichrist prowess.
Stumbling lost through the back alleys of Los Angeles, he comes upon a Satanist church led by the hilarious Sandra Bernhard, who makes fun of the congregation for their boring sins. He stays in the circle for four days until he begins to see visions of angels trying to offer him salvation and Mead condemning him for letting her die.
However, he is also burdened with the responsibility of maintaining order and safeguarding the fragile balance of the Londons. Schwab brilliantly weaves this moral dilemma into the narrative, forcing Kell to confront his inner demons and question the true nature of his powers. Another fascinating aspect of this book is the exploration of new characters and their intricate relationships with the existing ones.
'American Horror Story: Apocalypse' recap: Surprise, witch!
Ever since he arrived on the American Horror Story scene in a carriage drawn by dark, boil-covered horses, the precise nature of Michael Langdon has been a tantalizing mystery. Who, or what, is this man? (Apart from the proud owner of the most fabulous hair in the apocalypse, of course.)
In the cold open, we get our first hint of what lurks behind Langdon’s pretty, pretty face: something ancient, demonic, and on a very specific mission to remake the world in his image. As we open, the young man is questioning the survivors one by one. There are interesting revelations in each moment — including that Langdon and Dinah Stevens know each other from before the end of the world — but the biggest comes from Mallory, who has hidden depths and hidden talents. As Langdon questions her, she confesses that she feels like there’s someone inside her, trying to get out. A moment later, she tries to leave, and Langdon grabs her arm.
“Let me go!” she screams, and the room briefly erupts in flames as Langdon suddenly appears in the firelight not as a hunky young Fabio look-alike, but a thousand-year-old demon in desperate need of some moisturizer. Then it’s over, and:
“Who are you?” he asks her, shaken.
“Who are you?” she counters.
And not to get ahead of ourselves, but might Mallory be the first strand of this season’s long-awaited Coven crossover? The answer is coming, and it’s a surprise… bitch.
But that’s for later. When we return, Langdon is cutting himself and seeking clarity in a pentagram drawn from his own blood. “I thought I destroyed them all, but one survived!” he hisses, begging for guidance from his “father” as the blood begins to boil and writhe. Snakes erupt from the five-pointed star, and it looks like Langdon’s prayers have been answered by dear old demon dad. But how much of what happens next is the machinations of the devil — and how much is a different kind of sorcery, or simply happenstance?
For the next big twist, we’ll put our money on the latter: out in the wasteland beyond the compound, a familiar figure emerges from the mist. His eyebrows are gone and his hairline is a travesty, but we’d recognize him anywhere: Coco’s erstwhile husband, Brock, has survived the nuclear blast and is searching for her in the post-apocalyptic hellscape where former reality cooking show contestants are bickering with other radiation-scarred survivors over the best way to roast a human leg. Lucky for Brock (or is this the devil at work?), he manages to hitch a ride on a horse-drawn carriage bound for the hidden hideaway. When the carriage arrives, Venable and Mead find that it contains a trove of fresh, red apples — and don’t notice the stowaway clinging to the underside.
Meanwhile, Mead is coming to terms with the truth: she’s an android, and all her memories have been nothing but a Westworld-style backstory. Unlike some other robots, however (ahem, Dolores Abernathy), she doesn’t waste any time having a crisis about it. She remains loyal to Venable and declares the arrival of the apples a gift from God. (Extremely meta side note: What is a robot’s concept of “God”? Do they worship their creator, or their creators’ creator, or the ghost of Nicolas Tesla? Discuss.) Together, Mead and Venable come up with a new, nefarious plan: to kill off everyone in the compound, including Langdon, and make their way to the Sanctuary together.
The murder plot is a serious mashup of various fairytale tropes: poisoned apples, a masquerade ball, and even a Cinderella figure yearning for greater things in the background. While Gallant teases Coco’s hair into a Marie Antoinette-style atrocity, Mallory muses about the weird pyrokinetic moment she had with Langdon, wondering if the radiation from the world-ending blast turned her into a mutant. Coco sneers at her, ugly stepsister-style, and sends her away to start working on a costume. Cut to the party, where everyone looks fabulous and eager for a fun night — including Timothy and Emily, who I guess never bothered to go through with that plan to escape the compound together, and also never wondered why Mead didn’t die after they shot her in the heart, and also seem remarkably unconcerned about the fact that they were sentenced to death for fornicating like, less than twenty-four hours ago? Well, let’s just go with it.
The main event of the evening is a Halloween classic: bobbing for (poisoned, remember!) apples. But first, the guests are invited to dance, and Coco sways and chats with a masked man who she thinks is Langdon. Her monologue ends with a remarkably explicit offer, even by American Horror Story standards (side note: is this the first time anyone has said the word “analingus” on network TV?), and the two waltz off to her bedroom — where her masked partner, of course, turns out to be Brock. A happy reunion? Nah. He stabs her! Right in the brain! And it’s RIP, Coco, but also everyone else, because the poison plot goes off without a hitch. Coco’s exit is cleanest by far; the rest of the guests eat their apples and promptly barf themselves to death, as Venable and Mead watch, grinning, from above. All that’s left is to kill Langdon, which Venable still intends to do even though he compliments her on her mass homicide. Mead aims the gun — “I wouldn’t do that,” Langdon warns — and fires.
Venable, shot through the heart, falls dead.
And that’s how we learn that Langdon is Mead’s original programmer (and also probably the Antichrist) arrived to entice the compound’s survivors to do their worst to each other — which they did! A mere three episodes into the season, pretty much every character is dead.
…Which makes it the perfect time for a few new (old) faces to arrive. Outside in the mist-enshrouded world, the gates open to admit three hooded figures: Cordelia Goode, Madison Montgomery, and Myrtle Snow. Awwww, yeah: what’s up, witches?
“Find our sisters,” Cordelia says, and three corpses are brought out: Coco, Mallory, and Dinah. Cordelia closes her eyes — and all three dead women sit up. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a Coven in the house. And Madison, striding forward, crouches in front of Mallory as the camera closes in.
“Surprise bitch,” she says. “I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me.”
…Which makes it the perfect time for a few new (old) faces to arrive. Outside in the mist-enshrouded world, the gates open to admit three hooded figures: Cordelia Goode, Madison Montgomery, and Myrtle Snow. Awwww, yeah: what’s up, witches?
Schwab introduces new allies, such as Lila Bard, whose fiery determination and unconventional methods bring a fresh perspective to the story. These new dynamics create a captivating synergy and add depth to the overarching plot. As with the previous books in the series, Schwab's writing style is vivid and immersive. She masterfully transports readers into the complex and magical worlds she has created, making us feel like we are right alongside the characters, experiencing their triumphs and tribulations. The pacing is relentless, with non-stop action and unexpected twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. While "Shades of Magic Book 4" presents a satisfying conclusion to the series, it also leaves room for future exploration. Schwab expertly ties up loose ends and provides closure for many character arcs, but still leaves the door open for potential spin-offs or further stories set in this enchanting universe. In conclusion, Ve Schwab's "Shades of Magic Book 4" is a must-read for fans of the series and fantasy enthusiasts alike. With its compelling characters, intricate world-building, and thought-provoking themes, this book delivers a captivating and satisfying conclusion to an epic saga. Schwab's ability to blend magic, adventure, and complex human emotions makes this installment a truly remarkable addition to the fantasy genre..
Reviews for "Inside the Mind of a Master: Ve Schwab's Writing Process for Shades of Magic Book 4"
- Jenna Smith - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Ve Schwab Shades of Magic Book 4." The plot was incredibly slow and lacked the excitement that the previous books had. The characters also felt one-dimensional and their development was lacking. Overall, it felt like this book was just a filler to extend the series, rather than adding any meaningful depth to the story.
- Michael Johnson - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Ve Schwab Shades of Magic Book 4," but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of nothing happening and then sudden bursts of action that felt forced. Additionally, I felt that the ending was rushed and left a lot of loose threads, making me question if this was really the conclusion to the series. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and a letdown.
- Sarah Thompson - 1 star
I was quite dissatisfied with "Ve Schwab Shades of Magic Book 4." The writing style felt lazy and lacking the engaging descriptions that made the previous books so captivating. The plotline was convoluted and difficult to follow, with unnecessary twists and turns that didn't contribute much to the overall story. I struggled to connect with the characters and their motivations, making it hard for me to fully invest in the book.