Reviews with content warning for Body horror - Una magia más oscura

I think I would have rated A Darker Shade of Magic higher had I not gone into it expecting more. Both too little and too much knowledge was the cause of my lack of enjoyment. I expected something fantastical, with rich world building and I did get that, but I didn't expect it to feel so young, or for the characters to be quite so hard to love.

My final quibble is quite petty, but there were a fair few Americanisms that threw me out of the book a bit. I know that many of the Londons weren't 'my' London, and the time period ought to allow for some differences in vocabulary, but still I found it a little jarring.

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kryzysowa_narzeczona's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.25

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inkfingers's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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booksandcat's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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

3.5

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readinglikesappho's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

4.0

I really liked this book, the world & magic systems were right up my alley and the aesthetic is everything I've ever wanted.
It took me a while to get through it but it was no fault of the book itself and rather my own reluctance to finish it in case it didn't live up to its hype.
Other than Lila being very "I'm not like other girls" at certain points (as well as her discrediting Kell's feelings about his home life simply because he didn't grow up poor) I liked all the characters and could very clearly see each one's personalities and motives. I don't even hate Lila at all, I think she's strong, independent and fearsome and if she gets over her "I'm not like other girls" thing as the series goes on she could become a fave character of mine.
I'm excited to continue on with the series and hopefully read more of Schwab's work in the future.

tw// blood, blood magic, depictions of dead bodies, murder, body horror, more blood (there is a lot of it), violence, sexual assault, mentions of attempted sexual assault of a minor

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angel_kiiss's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Not much to say other than it’s a good book with a good premise that keeps the pages turning well into the night.
Both protagonists are complex, flawed, and lovable characters who don’t feel like props or objects to be pushed around. Lila, the girl protagonist, is not pushed around by the plot but in fact, dictates how the plot will happen. Most, if not all, of her decisions, have significant effects on the story and change the male protagonist's path several times.
Personally, Kell took a bit to get used to; I didn’t connect with the character initially and naturally leaned toward Lila, but as he came into his own he revealed characteristics that I identified with. Once with him - and once the plot really began to thicken - I couldn’t put this book down. I drank it down like sweet tea, I had to know what happened. And even then, at every point the book could have thrown trouble in their way, it did, and the slow realization that the protagonists were never safe only fueled the fire.
I read a review that argued this was a ploy for a screenplay, and let’s be clear - I agree, but I don’t see anything wrong with that. Let people movie-bait. Let women write just as cheesy as men.
Lila also seems to be a derisive character in that many people find her annoying. To that, I ask: is she annoying or are you still working through internalized misogyny? Do you always find cutthroat characters only out to save themselves hard to connect to? Or is it a subconscious belief that aggressive women characters are annoying? Either way, I loved her and would prefer to read about how her life of conquest and adventure unfolds.

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jackiepreston's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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