A review by gigirs
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I am still unsure if I want to give this book a 3.0 or a 2.5 star. The writing wasn’t bad and I was hooked from the beginning but as the book went on the plot was predictable and unoriginal and the characters became grating. Kell is a fine enough main character and I found him interesting but all he does is make one stupid decision after another. Lila is the most insufferable annoying character, can we stop with the sassy badass characters please, so rarely do they land and feel like real people. She kept acting like a 12 year old messing up everything in her wake, I am completely not looking forward to any romance blossoming between her and Kell. Also take a shot every time she “flashes a sharp grin” literally what does that mean. I found Rhy interestesting as well as Holland but I am not sure if I will continue with this series, many people say the second book is better but that the third is a let down. Overall very basic magical system and worldbuilding and very basic characterization as well.