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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
3+ Sterne.
Ich mag die Charaktere sehr, vor allem Kell, Rhy und Holland. Ansonsten muss ich sagen, dass ich noch nicht vom Hocker gefallen bin, was Plot, Schreibstil und Worldbuilding angeht. Aber Charaktere sind mir eigentlich auch immer mit am wichtigsten, ich hatte Spaß und freue mich auf die Fortsetzungen.
Ich mag die Charaktere sehr, vor allem Kell, Rhy und Holland. Ansonsten muss ich sagen, dass ich noch nicht vom Hocker gefallen bin, was Plot, Schreibstil und Worldbuilding angeht. Aber Charaktere sind mir eigentlich auch immer mit am wichtigsten, ich hatte Spaß und freue mich auf die Fortsetzungen.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I absolutely loved this one way more than I thought I would! I really enjoyed the ending too! I can't wait to read the other books in the series!
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab is a captivating fantasy that expertly blends adventure, intrigue, and a fascinating system of magic. The novel introduces us to the concept of parallel worlds, each with its own version of London—red, gray, white, and black—each world offering a unique exploration of magic, politics, and danger. Schwab’s world-building is one of the book’s strongest elements, with each world feeling distinct and fully realized. The layers of worlds are not just a backdrop; they are central to the conflict and character development, and the differences between them are skillfully conveyed.
The magic system is brilliant. Schwab takes a fresh approach to magic, intertwining it with the fabric of each world, and the magic users' powers are tied to specific colors of London. Red London thrives with magic, Gray London is devoid of it, White London struggles to control it, and Black London is a dangerous, nearly forgotten place. This intricate connection between magic and the worlds creates a natural tension and adds depth to the story, making magic feel like both a gift and a burden. The idea that magic can be a living, breathing entity that can be both a force of creation and destruction is thought-provoking and well-executed.
The protagonist, Kell, is a charming and complex character. A "Traveler," he has the unique ability to move between these worlds, a responsibility he does not take lightly. His relationship with Lila Bard, a pickpocket from Gray London who becomes an unlikely ally, brings a grounded, human element to the novel. Lila's fierce independence and her desire for adventure make her an excellent foil for Kell, and their dynamic adds a layer of warmth and humor to the story.
The pacing is well-balanced, with Schwab carefully layering action with moments of introspection and character development. The plot moves quickly, but not at the expense of depth. There are twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, and the stakes are raised at just the right moments. What stands out is how Schwab handles both the larger world-building and the smaller, more intimate moments between characters—both are given equal weight, making the novel feel both grand and personal.
One of the book’s standout qualities is the sense of mystery and danger that pervades each of the Londons, particularly Black London, which looms like a dark and ominous presence throughout the narrative. Schwab’s ability to create such distinct worlds and weave them together into a cohesive, thrilling story is impressive.
The only reason I’m not giving this a full five stars is that there are moments where the pacing can feel a bit uneven, particularly in the middle of the novel. While it doesn’t detract too much from the overall experience, there are sections where the plot could have moved a little faster.
Overall, A Darker Shade of Magic is an incredibly imaginative and engaging read. Schwab’s ability to create a multi-layered world of magic, danger, and adventure is impressive, and her characters are rich with depth and personality. Fans of fantasy with strong world-building and a unique magic system will find this novel to be a rewarding read. Solid 4.5 stars.
The magic system is brilliant. Schwab takes a fresh approach to magic, intertwining it with the fabric of each world, and the magic users' powers are tied to specific colors of London. Red London thrives with magic, Gray London is devoid of it, White London struggles to control it, and Black London is a dangerous, nearly forgotten place. This intricate connection between magic and the worlds creates a natural tension and adds depth to the story, making magic feel like both a gift and a burden. The idea that magic can be a living, breathing entity that can be both a force of creation and destruction is thought-provoking and well-executed.
The protagonist, Kell, is a charming and complex character. A "Traveler," he has the unique ability to move between these worlds, a responsibility he does not take lightly. His relationship with Lila Bard, a pickpocket from Gray London who becomes an unlikely ally, brings a grounded, human element to the novel. Lila's fierce independence and her desire for adventure make her an excellent foil for Kell, and their dynamic adds a layer of warmth and humor to the story.
The pacing is well-balanced, with Schwab carefully layering action with moments of introspection and character development. The plot moves quickly, but not at the expense of depth. There are twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, and the stakes are raised at just the right moments. What stands out is how Schwab handles both the larger world-building and the smaller, more intimate moments between characters—both are given equal weight, making the novel feel both grand and personal.
One of the book’s standout qualities is the sense of mystery and danger that pervades each of the Londons, particularly Black London, which looms like a dark and ominous presence throughout the narrative. Schwab’s ability to create such distinct worlds and weave them together into a cohesive, thrilling story is impressive.
The only reason I’m not giving this a full five stars is that there are moments where the pacing can feel a bit uneven, particularly in the middle of the novel. While it doesn’t detract too much from the overall experience, there are sections where the plot could have moved a little faster.
Overall, A Darker Shade of Magic is an incredibly imaginative and engaging read. Schwab’s ability to create a multi-layered world of magic, danger, and adventure is impressive, and her characters are rich with depth and personality. Fans of fantasy with strong world-building and a unique magic system will find this novel to be a rewarding read. Solid 4.5 stars.
This was good. Better than good. 4.5 stars good. Like I'm going out today to get book #2 in the series. Yep. That good. It was more fantasy than sci-fi and I don't normally like fantasy but this was awesome. I'm all in.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
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:
No
Fantasy - 3.15 🌟
Overview - The first installment in a trilogy, this book has an “old school” fantasy vibe that I can’t quite describe but which felt very nostalgic. The plot is fairly straightforward, but the setting & magic were interesting. Despite the characters occasionally feeling younger than they are, the tone of the book is fairly dark.
Unfortunately one of the characters bothered me enough that I won’t be continuing this trilogy, but I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys Alternate Universe fantasy settings & despicable villains.
Plot&Pacing - 3.25 🌟 - Premise: Kell is Antari, one of the few individuals gifted with the unique magic that allows him to cross between worlds. Although Kell loyally serves the Crown of Red London, he also acts as a smuggler of inconsequential items between the various Londons. When Kell comes into possession of an illegal & dangerous magical object, he finds himself hunted across worlds. He crosses paths with Lila, a cynical pickpocket who dreams of grand adventures, and the two form an unlikely team.
The book has a slower start, with the protagonists not meeting until about a quarter of the way into the novel. The first quarter was actually my favorite part of the book, however, as I think it does a good job establishing the different Londons, the characters, and the marvels & limitations of magic. The set up was so promising, but I felt the follow-through was not as good as I would have hoped.
Setting - 4 🌟 - There are multiple worlds that are connected by a single point: a city named “London.” I liked the details the book gives about the different nations, languages, technologies, & cultures across the various worlds. The magic itself was interesting: both how humans are able to access & utilize it, and the different philosophy that each London has towards magic & how that shapes their society.
Characters - 2 🌟 - The antagonists are the most interesting characters in this book, and I honestly wish we saw more of them. I also liked several minor characters, but I struggled with the two protagonists.
Kell feels kind of generic as a protagonist, but the opening scenes, especially with his brother Rhy, do a good job establishing Kell’s virtues & vices. Even if he is at times a bit naive, he has a good heart, and I found myself rooting for him. Kell also grows as a character: when challenged by Holland or Lila about his privilege, he considers their words and reflects both on his life and on how the historical actions of his home city negatively impacted the other Londons.
On the other hand, we have Delilah (Lila) Bard. I was intrigued when her character was first introduced; I liked the idea of a non-magical but clever & more worldly protagonist to balance Kell. Seems like the makings of a fun dynamic duo. Except I COULD NOT STAND Lila! I don’t think that characters have to be likable to be well-written, and I admit I can see how Lila (in theory) complements Kell in both perspective & skills, but it felt like her whole personality was just, “I like knives and stealing. I’m so badass!”
I know Lila had a hard life, and I wanted so badly to be on her side, but we learn that she had people who cared about her, and she rejected that because “Lilah would rather steal a thing outright than be indebted to kindness.” Also, Kell confesses to her that he’s essentially a SLAVE to the royal family of Red London and her response is, “Oh boo-hoo. What do you want from me, pity?” Lilah is the WORST kind of “strong female protagonist,” and I was honestly in disbelief that her character was written by a woman.
Themes - 3.5 🌟 - The corrupting influence of magic/ power is the main theme of the novel. While I don’t think the conclusion of the story did anything unique or astounding with this theme, I did really like how the different Londons, and the characters who call those cities home, have different philosophies on magic/ power, leading to conflict between characters who might otherwise have been allies.
Personal Enjoyment - 3 🌟 - It’s been a while since I’ve felt like I was dragging myself across the finish with a book. I usually DNF if I get to a point where I’m not enjoying it, but this was a shorter book & I enjoyed the first quarter of it so much, I really wanted to give it a chance. In the end, I felt like it was just fine. I liked some things about it, heavily disliked others, and then was ambivalent about the rest. I admit, I’d heard a lot about this series and was disappointed. I don’t think it’s a bad book, necessarily, but it’s just not a book for me and I won’t be continuing the series.
Overview - The first installment in a trilogy, this book has an “old school” fantasy vibe that I can’t quite describe but which felt very nostalgic. The plot is fairly straightforward, but the setting & magic were interesting. Despite the characters occasionally feeling younger than they are, the tone of the book is fairly dark.
Unfortunately one of the characters bothered me enough that I won’t be continuing this trilogy, but I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys Alternate Universe fantasy settings & despicable villains.
Plot&Pacing - 3.25 🌟 - Premise: Kell is Antari, one of the few individuals gifted with the unique magic that allows him to cross between worlds. Although Kell loyally serves the Crown of Red London, he also acts as a smuggler of inconsequential items between the various Londons. When Kell comes into possession of an illegal & dangerous magical object, he finds himself hunted across worlds. He crosses paths with Lila, a cynical pickpocket who dreams of grand adventures, and the two form an unlikely team.
The book has a slower start, with the protagonists not meeting until about a quarter of the way into the novel. The first quarter was actually my favorite part of the book, however, as I think it does a good job establishing the different Londons, the characters, and the marvels & limitations of magic. The set up was so promising, but I felt the follow-through was not as good as I would have hoped.
Setting - 4 🌟 - There are multiple worlds that are connected by a single point: a city named “London.” I liked the details the book gives about the different nations, languages, technologies, & cultures across the various worlds. The magic itself was interesting: both how humans are able to access & utilize it, and the different philosophy that each London has towards magic & how that shapes their society.
Characters - 2 🌟 - The antagonists are the most interesting characters in this book, and I honestly wish we saw more of them. I also liked several minor characters, but I struggled with the two protagonists.
Kell feels kind of generic as a protagonist, but the opening scenes, especially with his brother Rhy, do a good job establishing Kell’s virtues & vices. Even if he is at times a bit naive, he has a good heart, and I found myself rooting for him. Kell also grows as a character: when challenged by Holland or Lila about his privilege, he considers their words and reflects both on his life and on how the historical actions of his home city negatively impacted the other Londons.
On the other hand, we have Delilah (Lila) Bard. I was intrigued when her character was first introduced; I liked the idea of a non-magical but clever & more worldly protagonist to balance Kell. Seems like the makings of a fun dynamic duo. Except I COULD NOT STAND Lila! I don’t think that characters have to be likable to be well-written, and I admit I can see how Lila (in theory) complements Kell in both perspective & skills, but it felt like her whole personality was just, “I like knives and stealing. I’m so badass!”
I know Lila had a hard life, and I wanted so badly to be on her side, but we learn that she had people who cared about her, and she rejected that because “Lilah would rather steal a thing outright than be indebted to kindness.” Also, Kell confesses to her that he’s essentially a SLAVE to the royal family of Red London and her response is, “Oh boo-hoo. What do you want from me, pity?” Lilah is the WORST kind of “strong female protagonist,” and I was honestly in disbelief that her character was written by a woman.
Themes - 3.5 🌟 - The corrupting influence of magic/ power is the main theme of the novel. While I don’t think the conclusion of the story did anything unique or astounding with this theme, I did really like how the different Londons, and the characters who call those cities home, have different philosophies on magic/ power, leading to conflict between characters who might otherwise have been allies.
Personal Enjoyment - 3 🌟 - It’s been a while since I’ve felt like I was dragging myself across the finish with a book. I usually DNF if I get to a point where I’m not enjoying it, but this was a shorter book & I enjoyed the first quarter of it so much, I really wanted to give it a chance. In the end, I felt like it was just fine. I liked some things about it, heavily disliked others, and then was ambivalent about the rest. I admit, I’d heard a lot about this series and was disappointed. I don’t think it’s a bad book, necessarily, but it’s just not a book for me and I won’t be continuing the series.
Too long for the plot to develop
Action starts kinda in the middle
I love Lila definitely she is a good character
Action starts kinda in the middle
I love Lila definitely she is a good character
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated