What the community thinks
summary of 12222 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
Graphic
Violence (13 reviewers), Blood (12 reviewers), Torture (8 reviewers), Death (7 reviewers), Self harm (6 reviewers), Gore (4 reviewers), Murder (2 reviewers), Slavery (2 reviewers), Sexism (1 reviewer), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), and Emotional abuse (1 reviewer)Moderate
Violence (8 reviewers), Sexual assault (7 reviewers), Death (7 reviewers), Torture (3 reviewers), Child death (3 reviewers), Blood (3 reviewers), Gore (2 reviewers), Cursing (1 reviewer), Self harm (1 reviewer), Child abuse (1 reviewer), Murder (1 reviewer), Slavery (1 reviewer), Gun violence (1 reviewer), and Body horror (1 reviewer)Minor
Torture (3 reviewers), Cursing (2 reviewers), Sexual violence (2 reviewers), Misogyny (1 reviewer), Sexual content (1 reviewer), Kidnapping (1 reviewer), Sexual assault (1 reviewer), Self harm (1 reviewer), Rape (1 reviewer), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), Murder (1 reviewer), Blood (1 reviewer), and Gun violence (1 reviewer)Moods
dark 55%
mysterious 52%
tense 31%
emotional 14%
funny 14%
challenging 5%
lighthearted 5%
hopeful 4%
inspiring 4%
relaxing 2%
sad 2%
reflective 1%
Pace
fast 41%
slow 6%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 51% | Plot: 37% | Character: 10%Strong character development?
Yes: 58% | No: 26% | It's complicated: 14% | N/A: 1%Loveable characters?
Yes: 72% | It's complicated: 16% | No: 10%Diverse cast of characters?
No: 43% | Yes: 38% | It's complicated: 14% | N/A: 3%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 66% | No: 18% | It's complicated: 11% | N/A: 3%Average rating
Buy A Darker Shade of Magic
United States
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Other countries
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Blackwell's
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A Darker Shade of Magic, from #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab
Kell is one of the last Antari--magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black. Kell was raised in Arnes--Red London--and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand. After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.Buy A Darker Shade of Magic
United States
Bookshop US
Other countries
Bookshop UK
Blackwell's
The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. We earn commission on any purchases made.
A Darker Shade of Magic, from #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab
Kell is one of the last Antari--magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black. Kell was raised in Arnes--Red London--and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand. After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.What the community thinks
summary of 12222 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
Graphic
Violence (13 reviewers), Blood (12 reviewers), Torture (8 reviewers), Death (7 reviewers), Self harm (6 reviewers), Gore (4 reviewers), Murder (2 reviewers), Slavery (2 reviewers), Sexism (1 reviewer), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), and Emotional abuse (1 reviewer)Moderate
Violence (8 reviewers), Sexual assault (7 reviewers), Death (7 reviewers), Torture (3 reviewers), Child death (3 reviewers), Blood (3 reviewers), Gore (2 reviewers), Cursing (1 reviewer), Self harm (1 reviewer), Child abuse (1 reviewer), Murder (1 reviewer), Slavery (1 reviewer), Gun violence (1 reviewer), and Body horror (1 reviewer)Minor
Torture (3 reviewers), Cursing (2 reviewers), Sexual violence (2 reviewers), Misogyny (1 reviewer), Sexual content (1 reviewer), Kidnapping (1 reviewer), Sexual assault (1 reviewer), Self harm (1 reviewer), Rape (1 reviewer), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), Murder (1 reviewer), Blood (1 reviewer), and Gun violence (1 reviewer)Moods
dark 55%
mysterious 52%
tense 31%
emotional 14%
funny 14%
challenging 5%
lighthearted 5%
hopeful 4%
inspiring 4%
relaxing 2%
sad 2%
reflective 1%
Pace
fast 41%
slow 6%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 51% | Plot: 37% | Character: 10%Strong character development?
Yes: 58% | No: 26% | It's complicated: 14% | N/A: 1%Loveable characters?
Yes: 72% | It's complicated: 16% | No: 10%Diverse cast of characters?
No: 43% | Yes: 38% | It's complicated: 14% | N/A: 3%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 66% | No: 18% | It's complicated: 11% | N/A: 3%Average rating