mariebrunelm's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Kell is a thief by choice. Lila is a thief by necessity. The former can travel across different Londons, turning his manifold coat on the side relevant to the place to blend in or stand out. The latter is stuck in her Grey London, looking for one thing: escape. Of course the two were bound to meet. But what happens when they do might very well change the destinies of both.
This book was objectively excellent. I love V.E. Schwab’s way with words. She can turn a phrase as delightful as Leigh Bardugo and the two are equally good at crafting a narrative that will hook you but also leave many hints that you will or will not get.
In A Darker Shade of Magic, it’s not really about who’s good and who’s bad. It’s all a matter of perspective, really, and the real baddies (because yes, there are a couple of truly awful people) are not the antagonists. This is one of the things the author highlighted in her video series that serves as a readalong, and I loved that distinction. I love that big phrases such as “villains” or “saving the world” aren’t relevant in this book. The focus is on the intricacies of characters’ motivations and relationships, and it makes for a much more delectable reading experience in my opinion.
I’m so sad that I didn’t get the spark of a favourite book when reading this one, because I cannot find any fault in it. I loved every aspect of it. Maybe that’s just a matter of the moment I read it, when I was craving a different type of book, with less magic. But this book is still excellent and I highly recommend it.
Rep: the vibe is very queer without any label assigned to the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault
av0universe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This surprised in a good way. I was expecting to like it but it altered my brain chemistry in a sense. I felt like throwing up with some parts, but I'll like to continue with the series.
I've read some reviews here that say that they don't like Lila but I genuinely understand her and even like her. And Kell was a hell of a main character. I enjoyed reading about them a lot.
On the other hand, a friend that read it before me said that it could have been a standalone and I do agree, but let's see what happens on the second book.
I've read some reviews here that say that they don't like Lila but I genuinely understand her and even like her. And Kell was a hell of a main character. I enjoyed reading about them a lot.
On the other hand, a friend that read it before me said that it could have been a standalone and I do agree, but let's see what happens on the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Self harm, Violence, Gore, and Gun violence
Minor: Rape
chronicacademia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Abandonment, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Cursing, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
Minor: Kidnapping
cskye's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, Violence, Child death, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Death, Misogyny, and Torture
Minor: Sexual assault and Self harm
tsar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“You know so little of war. Battles may be fought from the outside in, but wars are won from the inside out.”
Seeing that my first Schwab introduction was less than a stellar experience, I was quite skeptical to pick up her Shades of Magic series despite its immense popularity. Yet, they are surprisingly more pleasant to follow as if they're written by different authors instead of one and the same.
The first book of the trilogy, A Darker Shade of Magic, recounts the concept of multi-verses where the main character has the ability to travel different alternate universes of one country or one city. Since the multi-verse fascination is quite foreign to be brought upon young adult fantasy series due to the fixation over building one giant universe, it could be said that it has the risk for Schwab being unable to gauge distinctive interests that could differentiate each world from the culture to its other capacities. Alas, despite the distilled simplicity visible for the readers to the characters, Schwab manages to swat these worries by creating a unique distinction that makes readers curious to see more of their creation; how these worlds could tightly intertwine with one another while having such different flair of themselves that could be said as either good or bad through different eyes.
As the main characters of the novel, Kell Maresh and Lila Bard couldn't be called boring characters at all. Sure, they may have fallen to these tropes: the grumpy and the temperamental energy, much of the echo of the characterization in Schwab's Monsters of Verity duology, but the chemistry of these main characters is much more palpably endearing to witness as if they are two peas in a pod despite the stark differences of their personality. Often their banters act as a neutralizer to the more heavyweight conflict filled with suspicion and mystery. May they share some kisses inside the narrative, but Schwab never clears the air whether they could work as romantic lovers. Instead, the skinship shared between both of them looks more like a release, a kind of beneficial companionship that accidentally unites during one of the most unexpected moments in Kell's regular mission.
While the tight-knit yet slowly heartbreaking brotherhood between Kell and Rhy is equally mushy as the chemistry between Kell and Lila, the setup of the villains may not be one of the best moments of the narrative. In a world where treachery lives amongst different universes, the staging of the Dane twins as villainous foil instead of a true enemy is as obvious as it gets. Their presence starts out interesting but quickly dwindles to draw Holland into the spotlight of mischief, which renders the twins to be dismissable. Sure, the more positive outcome is how fast the conflict is resolved and how the White London is swiftly restored to its more stable situation, but the lasting impression of them is almost nonexistent to its core.
Nonetheless, A Darker Shade of Magic is a fun ride to read. Schwab achieves beyond my expectation to build a distinctive universe and cultured bodies inbetween the seas of fantastical narratives. It's safe to say that I am not disappointed in giving her another chance as her work is as distinguishable as it's written to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, and Death
Minor: Rape
theintrovertsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Blood, Physical abuse, Confinement, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, Death, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault and Police brutality
Minor: Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Abandonment, and Alcohol
sammykay25's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was so fun and I loved all of the characters. I'm so excited to keep going with the series and see where it goes! I've read V.E. Schwab before and while sometimes I feel her writing is a bit on the nose, it's always a lot of fun.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Sexual assault
winglesswarrior's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood
dododenise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Schwab writes beautifully. Truly, her writing style sweeps me away every time.
Unfortunately, this story wasn’t for me. While it has a great construction and the pieces are put together masterfully, they didn’t sweep me away. I didn’t care about the plot. The characters didn’t catch me interest. Kell bored me and Lila annoyed me.
I simply didn’t enjoy myself all that much while reading, although I really hoped to love it. Alas, this book wasn’t able to make me care about its story.
Unfortunately, this story wasn’t for me. While it has a great construction and the pieces are put together masterfully, they didn’t sweep me away. I didn’t care about the plot. The characters didn’t catch me interest. Kell bored me and Lila annoyed me.
I simply didn’t enjoy myself all that much while reading, although I really hoped to love it. Alas, this book wasn’t able to make me care about its story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Minor: Torture
madmadmaddymad's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the best book I’ve read all year. I know it’s only April, but wow!
I have a funny story about why I chose to read this book. I’ve been obsessed with ACOTAR for a little over a year, in fact, the first fanfiction I read from the fandom had an author who was also writing fanfiction for this series. I enjoyed their fic so much I figured I ought to check out their other work, but I wanted to read the actual book first. LOL!
Anyway this book is nothing like ACOTAR. It’s intense, and magical, and mundane, and dark, and spooky, and I absolutely DEVOURED it, because somehow it was exactly what I wanted to read. I love the world building and the characters, Kell, and Rhy, especially Lila! Lila is a treasure, and deserves to be the star of her own show.
The villains were VILLAINS. I hated them and loved the impact they left on the story.
Just an incredible plot! Distinct, totally unique world building, and not in a confusing way. It’s kind of like Howl’s Moving Castle meets Marvel’s Dr. Strange with an ounce of The One Ring from LoTR. I love this book and kind of feel like immediately reading it again. 10-out-of-10.
I have a funny story about why I chose to read this book. I’ve been obsessed with ACOTAR for a little over a year, in fact, the first fanfiction I read from the fandom had an author who was also writing fanfiction for this series. I enjoyed their fic so much I figured I ought to check out their other work, but I wanted to read the actual book first. LOL!
Anyway this book is nothing like ACOTAR. It’s intense, and magical, and mundane, and dark, and spooky, and I absolutely DEVOURED it, because somehow it was exactly what I wanted to read. I love the world building and the characters, Kell, and Rhy, especially Lila! Lila is a treasure, and deserves to be the star of her own show.
The villains were VILLAINS. I hated them and loved the impact they left on the story.
Just an incredible plot! Distinct, totally unique world building, and not in a confusing way. It’s kind of like Howl’s Moving Castle meets Marvel’s Dr. Strange with an ounce of The One Ring from LoTR. I love this book and kind of feel like immediately reading it again. 10-out-of-10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault