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A review by queer_bookwyrm
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, descriptions of blood and gore, torture, self-harm, blood consumption, death/murder, slavery
A Dark Shade of Magic is book one in this trilogy. This is my fourth V.E. Schwab book, and I fall more and more in love with her writing every time! I love the way Schwab writes prose, it feels so rich and whole without feeling unnecessary or long winded.
We follow Kell, a magician from the magical alternate he calls Red London. Here magic is normal, even revered, and Kell has more magic than most since he is what is called an Antari, and is evidenced by his one completely black eye. Antari are the only people who can cross over to the different alternate Londons.
We also follow Lila Bard, a thief from magicless Grey London, and pick pockets Kell while he's drunk and injured. Of course Kell tracks Lila down and ends up having to explain that magic is real and demands the item back that she stole. The magical item is magic itself and takes the strength of the one wielding it. When Lila is attacked by the other Antari from brutal White London, Kell intervenes and the two become unlikely allies as they try to escape Holland and rid themselves of the dark magic.
I love Lila Bard! I get the hype now. I love that she is an aspiring pirate and perfectly capable. I have some predictions for Lila. I love the way Schwab writes villains and morally gray characters. She's just so brilliant at melding heroics with imperfect characters. And her villains are positively monstrous. The monarchs of White London are the stuff of nightmares. Obsessed with power and control, and are utterly sadistic. You want nothing more than for them to meet a violent death. These people have zero redeeming qualities.
Definitely looking forward to the next book and learning more about Lila. I hope we get to see more of Prince Rhy next book as well, because I'm sucker for a soft, charming, extroverted, spoiled prince.
A Dark Shade of Magic is book one in this trilogy. This is my fourth V.E. Schwab book, and I fall more and more in love with her writing every time! I love the way Schwab writes prose, it feels so rich and whole without feeling unnecessary or long winded.
We follow Kell, a magician from the magical alternate he calls Red London. Here magic is normal, even revered, and Kell has more magic than most since he is what is called an Antari, and is evidenced by his one completely black eye. Antari are the only people who can cross over to the different alternate Londons.
We also follow Lila Bard, a thief from magicless Grey London, and pick pockets Kell while he's drunk and injured. Of course Kell tracks Lila down and ends up having to explain that magic is real and demands the item back that she stole. The magical item is magic itself and takes the strength of the one wielding it. When Lila is attacked by the other Antari from brutal White London, Kell intervenes and the two become unlikely allies as they try to escape Holland and rid themselves of the dark magic.
I love Lila Bard! I get the hype now. I love that she is an aspiring pirate and perfectly capable. I have some predictions for Lila. I love the way Schwab writes villains and morally gray characters. She's just so brilliant at melding heroics with imperfect characters. And her villains are positively monstrous. The monarchs of White London are the stuff of nightmares. Obsessed with power and control, and are utterly sadistic. You want nothing more than for them to meet a violent death. These people have zero redeeming qualities.
Definitely looking forward to the next book and learning more about Lila. I hope we get to see more of Prince Rhy next book as well, because I'm sucker for a soft, charming, extroverted, spoiled prince.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Self harm, Gore, Torture, and Death