Reviews tagging 'Classism'

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

22 reviews

mobymaize's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.5

A lovely romp through multiple Londons, similar to, but not the same as, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Super exciting and felt like a very well done HBO mini series in the best way possible :)
Planning on reading the sequels at some point!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Toxic friendship, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Police brutality, Rape, Classism, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Torture, Gun violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

Main character uses magic by through self harm. Just a heads up.

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death, Blood, Self harm, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Stalking, Medical content, Misogyny, Grief, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cannibalism, Alcohol, Excrement, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Genocide, and Sexual content

woolen_pigeon's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, and Gore

Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and Classism

kwichris's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

4.75

I've not read the first book from an author in a while that immediately had me hungry for more in some time. Schwab created a very interesting magic system that unfurls more as you and one of the characters (Lila) continue to explore the worlds with Kell. The way in which multiple realities (or worlds as they're referred to here) is tackled is quite unique in that there's a set limit but infinite possibilities in each depending on each world's relationship with magic. Schwab provides plenty of colorful imagery for the reader with plenty of room for imagining your own view of the world's she created. Seeing the worlds from multiple perspectives without feeling forced, helps the reader relate to our main characters and better understand their motivations and growth. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an unique take on magic as a concept and how different people use (or abuse) it, or how it may use them instead. Plus there's some interesting shenanigans with thievery, realm traveling, and tense fight scenes, so what's not to love?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, and Torture

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Grief, Confinement, and Classism

shaestrong's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

4.5

This is a pretty straight forward magic-as-power fantasy, with multifaceted characters who are challenged to grow or die as the adventure progresses. I could wish the world building included a little more detail on the "physics" of the magic system, but it was overall enjoyable and feels as if there is more story to be told in this world. Thankfully there IS more since this is book one of a series, and we can hopefully learn more about Kell and Lilah are faced with new dangers and intrigues.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Death, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, and Kidnapping

beeontoast's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Self harm, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury

victoriousbookworm's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Body horror, Murder, and Blood

Moderate: Classism and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault

atamano's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Confinement, Grief, and Xenophobia

sirenricobooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Self harm, Torture, Violence, War, Cursing, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Child death

stargazer_ley's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

I'm quickly finding Schwab to be an author I enjoy reading. After finishing the Villious duology and seeing the blurb for this book in Vicious, I decided I had to read this one and I'm glad I did. Kell and Lila are as compelling as the mystery of the black stone. I'm quite interested in reading the rest of the trilogy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, and Torture

Moderate: Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Classism, and Cursing