Scan barcode
mienreads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
3.5
3.5 ⭐️ The plot and the world building is interesting, but the characters fell flat for me. I think my problem with Schwab’s writing is she normally doesn’t create characters that I feel connected to or want to root for. I will probably finish the series, but Lilah’s eye makes it pretty obvious the direction the story is heading in.
evitax's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It was good. The first half of the book was a little slow but then it sped up as the two main characters started to develop and got to know each other. The last few chapters had me wanting to continuously read, each leaving at a cliffhanger.
yara_adorablebooks's review against another edition
4.0
Heel leuk en sterk verhaal! Origineel ook. V.E Schwab heeft een superfijne schrijfstijl. En, wat een badass hoofdpersoon is Lila. Ik ben wel benieuwd hoe de andere delen zijn
agnela's review against another edition
I'm so sorry but this was too boring for me, I couldn't connect with the characters or care about them. At all. I'm too old to struggle to finish books I don't like.
pyurk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
goldrushx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
dreaminthepast's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ketutar's review against another edition
4.0
I think Victoria had some interesting ways of solving problems.
I like the characters and I like the story.
I know a lot of people would say Delilah is a marysue, but she doesn't fulfill my requirements :-D That all the good characters love her, and all the villains hate her; and that she was born having the skills and knowledge necessary to save everyone :-D In my mind she was born extraordinary, but everything she did, she had learned during her life and adventures. (On the other hand, how she couldn't brush away the three urchins in Grey London, but managed to stay alive in White London doesn't make much sense, but - uh. One can't bother about every little detail :-D)
Also, I'm not happy about the... hmm... what to call it... the ending felt rushed. A bit as if this was a serial, and needed to end quicker than Victoria was prepared to end it. On the other hand, it might have been a writing trick - start slowly and increase the beat to the end, to make readers stuck :-D
I know I have been reading this book for a year, and I listened to the last 3 hours last night :-D
I like the characters and I like the story.
I know a lot of people would say Delilah is a marysue, but she doesn't fulfill my requirements :-D That all the good characters love her, and all the villains hate her; and that she was born having the skills and knowledge necessary to save everyone :-D In my mind she was born extraordinary, but everything she did, she had learned during her life and adventures. (On the other hand, how she couldn't brush away the three urchins in Grey London, but managed to stay alive in White London doesn't make much sense, but - uh. One can't bother about every little detail :-D)
Also, I'm not happy about the... hmm... what to call it... the ending felt rushed. A bit as if this was a serial, and needed to end quicker than Victoria was prepared to end it. On the other hand, it might have been a writing trick - start slowly and increase the beat to the end, to make readers stuck :-D
I know I have been reading this book for a year, and I listened to the last 3 hours last night :-D
xenchiaa's review against another edition
3.0
„Kell wore a very peculiar coat.
It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible“
A world with four different versions of London.
One destroyed. One dying. One flourishing. And one forgetting.
Only anataris, gifted magicians, are able to travel through the worlds. The only two left, work towards very different objectives. In the middle of it all, a artefact capable of destroying the worlds.
“I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still.”
The worldbuilding was intriguing.
The characters felt fleshed out and alive.
The story not so much.
Hear me out, I went into this expecting a fast story, when in reality it felt slow.
The story paled in comparison to everything else in this book, ESPECIALLY the characters. The characters were the one thing that really hooked me. I wanted to finish the book because I wanted to know about the characters, their development and relationships, and not because I wanted to know about the story.
A darker shade of magic is not a bad book. It just wasn’t what I expected it to be.
But because there are two more books in the series, I hope the story will develop.
I honestly have no idea where Schwab will take it in the next two books, but I‘m here for it.
„I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen it."
"Seen what?"
Her smile widened. "Everything.”
It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible“
A world with four different versions of London.
One destroyed. One dying. One flourishing. And one forgetting.
Only anataris, gifted magicians, are able to travel through the worlds. The only two left, work towards very different objectives. In the middle of it all, a artefact capable of destroying the worlds.
“I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still.”
The worldbuilding was intriguing.
The characters felt fleshed out and alive.
The story not so much.
Hear me out, I went into this expecting a fast story, when in reality it felt slow.
The story paled in comparison to everything else in this book, ESPECIALLY the characters. The characters were the one thing that really hooked me. I wanted to finish the book because I wanted to know about the characters, their development and relationships, and not because I wanted to know about the story.
A darker shade of magic is not a bad book. It just wasn’t what I expected it to be.
But because there are two more books in the series, I hope the story will develop.
I honestly have no idea where Schwab will take it in the next two books, but I‘m here for it.
„I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen it."
"Seen what?"
Her smile widened. "Everything.”
rmr172's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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? No
4.0