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theintrovertsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Police brutality
Minor: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
unholytrinaty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Gore and Blood
mirnda's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, and Self harm
Minor: Sexism
ekatayama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
saricostanzo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
sealbrecht's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Rape and Kidnapping
winterwoodbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Still I loved to stumble through this world and adventure and enjoyed it :3
Felt a little like Mistborn x Six of Crows
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Blood, and Death of parent
ryankaybee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A Dark Shade of Magic is book one in this trilogy. This is my fourth V.E. Schwab book, and I fall more and more in love with her writing every time! I love the way Schwab writes prose, it feels so rich and whole without feeling unnecessary or long winded.
We follow Kell, a magician from the magical alternate he calls Red London. Here magic is normal, even revered, and Kell has more magic than most since he is what is called an Antari, and is evidenced by his one completely black eye. Antari are the only people who can cross over to the different alternate Londons.
We also follow Lila Bard, a thief from magicless Grey London, and pick pockets Kell while he's drunk and injured. Of course Kell tracks Lila down and ends up having to explain that magic is real and demands the item back that she stole. The magical item is magic itself and takes the strength of the one wielding it. When Lila is attacked by the other Antari from brutal White London, Kell intervenes and the two become unlikely allies as they try to escape Holland and rid themselves of the dark magic.
I love Lila Bard! I get the hype now. I love that she is an aspiring pirate and perfectly capable. I have some predictions for Lila. I love the way Schwab writes villains and morally gray characters. She's just so brilliant at melding heroics with imperfect characters. And her villains are positively monstrous. The monarchs of White London are the stuff of nightmares. Obsessed with power and control, and are utterly sadistic. You want nothing more than for them to meet a violent death. These people have zero redeeming qualities.
Definitely looking forward to the next book and learning more about Lila. I hope we get to see more of Prince Rhy next book as well, because I'm sucker for a soft, charming, extroverted, spoiled prince.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
zannayo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism