Reviews

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

iwojte's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

erikajoy's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

tenridia's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No

3.0

Fascinating world building with multiple London's stacked on top of each other like a wedding cake with a magical gooey center.
The characters are sadly forgettable and not given enough time to build a connection with the reader. This is due to the book spending it's time presenting the world that only near the end do you finally start getting personality and then it's over.
Curious to see what happens in the next book.

ladyars's review against another edition

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2.0

Great setting wasted in a predictable plot and no sense of time. Characters just change their minds or shrug critical wounds in the space of minutes.

freitasrclara's review against another edition

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adventurous funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

srkb's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

zopro95's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

soteriae's review against another edition

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3.0

Very mild spoilers ahead

This is my first Victoria Schwab book and by this point I’ve heard so many bashes and gushes over the series that staying relatively objective is no small feat. I’ll give it my best shot though.

I have to admit that the world drew me in almost from the first page to the point where I could not stop reading. I like premises for most of Victoria Schwab’s books and Londons delivered, I must say.

Jumping back and forth through the doors, delivering political correspondence and smuggling occasional trinket or two proved to be highly entertaining and engaging.

That said, the world often felt like a hollow image of what it might’ve been. I longed for some world development, but, alas, we got non, apart from cursory introduction to three Londons.

I wish I could’ve said something great about character development. Well, not today. Kell and Rhy are a promising pair but I would’ve liked more family dynamics from them and some backstory, even in the form of childhood anecdotes. Lila was on a completely another level. How is she even a plausible person I do not understand. Taking even most life-altering and unimaginable changes in a stride never loosing swashbuckling attitude. It seems like nothing can faze her, and I really do not appreciate it. All in all I would’ve liked to see a bit more pensive attitude towards moral relativism at least from all three leads, and hints at romantic relationship at the very end threw me off on top of everything else.

The last thing I want to say is that I will be definitely continuing with the series, but I do expect more. More world building, more character development and especially more political intrigue.

bradleyallen's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mssgiinny's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Una historia con muchos Londres es ideal para los días de otoño y para los que pensamos que uno nunca se cansa de esa ciudad, como decía Samuel Johnson (gracias, Irati, por darme a conocer esta referencia). Y es que Schwab nos plantea una historia con tres (o más) Londres, muy iguales pero muy diferentes en tanto a geografía, política, y magia. Una magia muy oscura que te atrapa metafórica y literalmente, al menos a los personajes.

Es el segundo libro que me leo de la autora, y aunque no me ha fascinado tanto como el primero (La vida invisible de Addie LaRue, que explora la psique y el miedo a morir y hacer algo en la vida de una forma increíble), tengo ganas de continuar con esta trilogía.

Me quedo con curiosidad sobre qué hará Lila ahora que es libre, en qué líos se meterá el príncipe Rhy (un personaje que espero que se explore un poquito más en general, porque me ha parecido algo plano y muy arquetípico en el sentido de "niño rico que se aburre y liga con todo lo que se mueva"), y por supuesto, qué ocurirrá con Kell.