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thysparklyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I really enjoyed this. I could feel the beginnings of a reading slump before I started this and now it's completely gone. It seemed fast paced because there was always something going on but not in a confusing way. I loved the premise and world building, all of the characters felt important and developed enough considering their relevance to the story and despite it being the start of a trilogy, it could've easily been a standalone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
sunflower7skull's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
I really enjoyed it!! A bright spot was the worldbuilding for sure - even the languages seemed well-fleshed out and understandable. The characters were fun to follow and the magic system was very interesting. A good read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Violence
gailcarroll's review against another edition
A little too graphic and gorey on the blood side for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gore
cozy_tea_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Body horror, Murder, Grief, and Blood
Minor: War, Torture, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Self harm, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Gun violence
yilliun's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Torture and Injury/Injury detail
reasek'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence
kirstym25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
robin_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
5.0
Nothing I thought would happened, did happen. This was amazing, dark and twisted and intense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
adventurous
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
I am totally intrigued by this twist on the multiverse that Schwab has put together in Darker Shade of Magic. She doesn't necessarily have any particularly unique themes, but maybe it is more so that she has put them together in a unique way. I picked up some Narnia vibes (Magician's Nephew not The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) and although it has been many years since I've read it, it reminded me of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials as well. Regardless, I am absolutely wrapped up in the main characters' lives, rooting for them and dying to find out where they go from here.
I guessed early on that there might be something extra special about Lila. I was a little disappointed to not get an answer in this first book, especially when I thought it was quite obvious and wasn't being very well hidden. But I'm invested in her story and love how eccentric she is. As much as Kell has a bit of moral greyness about him from being a smuggler, he's quite straight-laced overall and Lila is definitely his personality foil which makes the book more fun.
I also seem to be on a kick lately with my fantasy books where they all have cliffhanger endings on the first book of a series. I kind of miss books that finish their major plot line for the book and just continue an overarching theme from then onward. Not to say that I disliked the ending, it was certainly a logical stopping point but it definitely didn't feel "finished".
I guessed early on that there might be something extra special about Lila. I was a little disappointed to not get an answer in this first book, especially when I thought it was quite obvious and wasn't being very well hidden. But I'm invested in her story and love how eccentric she is. As much as Kell has a bit of moral greyness about him from being a smuggler, he's quite straight-laced overall and Lila is definitely his personality foil which makes the book more fun.
I also seem to be on a kick lately with my fantasy books where they all have cliffhanger endings on the first book of a series. I kind of miss books that finish their major plot line for the book and just continue an overarching theme from then onward. Not to say that I disliked the ending, it was certainly a logical stopping point but it definitely didn't feel "finished".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
alienistdorah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so good that I'm already on book 2! This book starts a bit slow [for world-building, learning how the magic works] and then it PICKSSS UPPPPP! I was clutching my pearls ya'll. I was stressed out. If you love dark adventures, mystery, thieves, and magic this is for you! [There is a TINY bit of romance, TINY!] My favorite character is Rhy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Blood