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grovess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ecoop82's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This book felt like coming home to a world I’ve dearly missed.
The development for the old characters was amazing and I love Tes. Her energy and voice made me so happy to read.
The development for the old characters was amazing and I love Tes. Her energy and voice made me so happy to read.
danielamejia's review against another edition
5.0
** 4.75
that last third of the book was so insane agh victoriaaaaa why must you leave me like this. kell and lila carried HOWEVER their communication was so frustrating but unfortunately in character. also, ren was the sweetest baby angel she brightened up every scene i loved her. im so excited for the next books and to see more of tes (fav new character) bc she was so real and went through sm shit
that last third of the book was so insane agh victoriaaaaa why must you leave me like this. kell and lila carried HOWEVER their communication was so frustrating but unfortunately in character. also, ren was the sweetest baby angel she brightened up every scene i loved her. im so excited for the next books and to see more of tes (fav new character) bc she was so real and went through sm shit
kivacorent1ne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.5
kalarusso's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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? No
4.0
lyssaczernek's review against another edition
5.0
Being back in the Shades of Magic world was so much fun. It felt like coming home while still getting to meet new characters and see new worlds. Getting to read about Kell, Lila, Rhy, and Alucard again was definitely a highlight throughout this story. We got to see their relationships progress and develop despite there being a seven-year time jump. However, nothing felt belabored either. It was a perfect mix of a refresher and a new plot.
The development of White London was well executed and I want to know more immediately. I think we got a small taste of what the queen is willing to sacrifice for her city and I can see her playing a major role in future books. Shwab's ability to expand on an already well-developed world and magic system deserves applause. The way she also played around with magic devolving in Red London makes me think a lot of crazy things are about to happen in the next couple of books.
And the new characters all had their time to shine. Tes was an amazing introduction to the series. Her magic provides a whole new sense of expanding the world building in this series and her perspective was so interesting to read. Rhy's wife was also an interesting character. I don't like her, but she adds a new personality to the main group of characters and I see big plots ahead for her.
The development of White London was well executed and I want to know more immediately. I think we got a small taste of what the queen is willing to sacrifice for her city and I can see her playing a major role in future books. Shwab's ability to expand on an already well-developed world and magic system deserves applause. The way she also played around with magic devolving in Red London makes me think a lot of crazy things are about to happen in the next couple of books.
And the new characters all had their time to shine. Tes was an amazing introduction to the series. Her magic provides a whole new sense of expanding the world building in this series and her perspective was so interesting to read. Rhy's wife was also an interesting character. I don't like her, but she adds a new personality to the main group of characters and I see big plots ahead for her.
librarian88's review against another edition
Good book but too long and complex for me to fully get into right now. Will return!
faerietale_princess's review against another edition
I really enjoyed the ADSOM series! But this is painfully slow. I’ve warmed up to long and slow books over the past couple years. I used to be kind of intimidated by them, but a book being slow won’t necessarily turn me away from it.
But this is slower than slow. I felt like I was trudging through molasses. All those flashbacks and updates on the previous series’s characters were kind of unnecessary. And it just shoved Tes and Kosika to the background of their own book.
Also, I do not buy a child holding court and conducting affairs of state. Sorry but there is no way a ten year old goes toe to toe with a middle aged dude about why he didn’t follow the tithe (I especially don’t believe a kid would order a tithe 💀) and starts debating on how to restore London. Yeah, yeah, four dimensions and magic exists, okay, sure suspension of disbelief and all that. But I can’t suspend my disbelief enough for that.
But this is slower than slow. I felt like I was trudging through molasses. All those flashbacks and updates on the previous series’s characters were kind of unnecessary. And it just shoved Tes and Kosika to the background of their own book.
Also, I do not buy a child holding court and conducting affairs of state. Sorry but there is no way a ten year old goes toe to toe with a middle aged dude about why he didn’t follow the tithe (I especially don’t believe a kid would order a tithe 💀) and starts debating on how to restore London. Yeah, yeah, four dimensions and magic exists, okay, sure suspension of disbelief and all that. But I can’t suspend my disbelief enough for that.
swagmargaux's review against another edition
3.0
Slow at first and a bit all over the place in my opinion but by half way through I was grasping for pages. Highly recommend reading the shades of magic trilogy before picking up this one. 3.5⭐️