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A review by themelodyofspring
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
5.0
This is by far, hands down, the best book about magic that I've read. The magic exists but it's not overpowering. We have people who can do elemental magic, blood magic, people trying to bind what little magic they have left, and then there's people who've lost the ability to do magic.
A world where magic thrives, another where magic is dying, a third where magic is dead and a fourth where the magic consumed the world. Then we have two rare people- Antari, who can travel between said worlds but are bound by the rulers of their worlds and forbidden to travel without permission as they're considered precious and dangerous.
This book was more than just fancy spells and charming magicians. The characters were so complicated. Each struggling with their own demons, inside and out.
The book described Lila more than Kell. Her want to run away and find an adventure, to not be attached, to feel alive and to be free of places and people that bind you was something I felt myself relate to.
Holland's whole backstory was tragic. Made me feel bad for him and compare him to Kell who is at least surrounded by good people. How circumstances can make or break you. A person who can exercise his free will but is not allowed to and feels like a prisoner. While on the other hand the second person is an actual prisoner, spell bound and soul bound, and both trying to be free in their own ways.
The idea of all 4 Londons existing side by side in a straight line was novel, instead of randomly jumping between them. You had to traverse in a line. That's why it makes sense that Red London survived and flourished, while Grey lost it's magic and White had to struggle all on its own.
And it didn't end on a cliffhanger. Read it like a standalone book. This book will now be the baseline for all magical books. Also, love Kell's coat. I want it! It seems like the coat has a mind of its own as new sides keep appearing and old unused ones disappear. And how Kell keeps losing things in the pockets of his coat. 😆
A world where magic thrives, another where magic is dying, a third where magic is dead and a fourth where the magic consumed the world. Then we have two rare people- Antari, who can travel between said worlds but are bound by the rulers of their worlds and forbidden to travel without permission as they're considered precious and dangerous.
This book was more than just fancy spells and charming magicians. The characters were so complicated. Each struggling with their own demons, inside and out.
The book described Lila more than Kell. Her want to run away and find an adventure, to not be attached, to feel alive and to be free of places and people that bind you was something I felt myself relate to.
Holland's whole backstory was tragic. Made me feel bad for him and compare him to Kell who is at least surrounded by good people. How circumstances can make or break you. A person who can exercise his free will but is not allowed to and feels like a prisoner. While on the other hand the second person is an actual prisoner, spell bound and soul bound, and both trying to be free in their own ways.
The idea of all 4 Londons existing side by side in a straight line was novel, instead of randomly jumping between them. You had to traverse in a line. That's why it makes sense that Red London survived and flourished, while Grey lost it's magic and White had to struggle all on its own.
And it didn't end on a cliffhanger. Read it like a standalone book. This book will now be the baseline for all magical books. Also, love Kell's coat. I want it! It seems like the coat has a mind of its own as new sides keep appearing and old unused ones disappear. And how Kell keeps losing things in the pockets of his coat. 😆