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

medium-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

The concept for this book sounded so interesting and I really liked the cover art, so it's a shame it didn't pan out.  For one, I got confused more than once about which London Kell was in/who was in each London.  Part of this could have been pandemic brain, but at a couple of points in the book I literally went back a few pages for cues about which London we were in and was still confused. 

I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters and while the plot was fine, it wasn't anything special.  The big bad at the end sort of felt like a letdown, honestly, and I'm sad we didn't get to see Black London at all.

Additionally, while (I think?) there was a bi character in this book, it was just....really, really straight.  Does someone want to tell the author that just because you have a girl character and a boy character doesn't mean they have to kiss? 
The first time it happened I rolled my eyes because I figured we were getting into a romance I wouldn't care about.  That didn't happen, but somehow that made it worse.  And then the other character reciprocated down the line?  For no reason? What is going on?
 

I don't plan to read the sequel to this one.

Recommend? Maybe if you're really, really into all sorts of fantasy, but mostly no. 
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