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kp_hobbitreads's Reviews (686)
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
A Darker Shade of Magic is my first V.E. Schwab book, but it definitely won’t be my last. I absolutely love her writing style- and I adore the characters she’s created.
“Kell wore a very peculiar coat.
It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible.”
Kell is one of the last of his kind – a magician with the ability to travel between parallel worlds. From Grey London (a world without magic – much like our own), to Red London (Kell’s home where magic is revered), to White London (where magic is fought and killed for). There was once a Black London, too. But it was destroyed by magic – and sealed off from the other lands.
“Sure I do,” countered Lila cheerfully. “There’s Dull London, Kell London, Creepy London, and Dead London,” she recited, ticking them off on her fingers. “See? I’m a fast learner.”
Kell travels between words as the behest of the Maresh Empire as he carries correspondence between the royals. But, he moonlights as a smuggler, carrying trinkets from one London to the next for those willing to pay. It’s a risky occupation (and considered treason in Red London). When Kell bumps into Delilah Bard, a professional thief in Grey London, she robs him – and then saves him. And, this chain of events makes them partners of sorts in an adventure neither of them were expecting.
The world in ADSOM isn’t exactly ground breaking. The idea of parallel words is pretty common ins SFF. And, while the magic system is interesting, it’s not extremely well-developed. However, for a first book in a series, it does what it needs to do: it introduces us to the world and makes us want more. But, the real heart of this series isn’t the plot, it’s the characters. They are wonderful, and flawed, and I couldn’t help but to root for them.
Kell has been raised as a member of the royal family, and he considers Prince Rhy to be his brother. But, there is no blood-relation, and Kell knows nothing of his past or his family – nothing before the age of 5. So, he struggles with his identity both within the royal family and the world at large.
“I’m not truly a Maresh, for all that the king and queen have offered me that name. I feel more like a possession than a prince.”
But, the best part of this book is without a doubt – Delilah Bard. She is smart, and tough, and unbelievably feisty. Delilah is a street-wise cut throat who steals partly to survive, and partly because it’s what she does best. She doesn’t even hesitate to follow Kell into the unknown just for the possibility of an adventure. Because dying doesn’t scare Delilah Bard – complacency does.
“I’m not going to die,” she said. “Not till I’ve seen it.”
“Seen what?”
Her smile widened. “Everything.”
While the world building isn’t lacking is some areas, Schwab does a great job setting the scene. Grey London feels drab and boring, White London is terrifyingly dangerous, Red London is enticing and magical – and Black London is a riddle you want to solve. This first installment in the Shades of Magic trilogy holds so much promise. We meet some fantastic characters, and get a taste for where the series is going. And I for one, can’t wait to continue.
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A Darker Shade of Magic is my first V.E. Schwab book, but it definitely won’t be my last. I absolutely love her writing style- and I adore the characters she’s created.
“Kell wore a very peculiar coat.
It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible.”
Kell is one of the last of his kind – a magician with the ability to travel between parallel worlds. From Grey London (a world without magic – much like our own), to Red London (Kell’s home where magic is revered), to White London (where magic is fought and killed for). There was once a Black London, too. But it was destroyed by magic – and sealed off from the other lands.
“Sure I do,” countered Lila cheerfully. “There’s Dull London, Kell London, Creepy London, and Dead London,” she recited, ticking them off on her fingers. “See? I’m a fast learner.”
Kell travels between words as the behest of the Maresh Empire as he carries correspondence between the royals. But, he moonlights as a smuggler, carrying trinkets from one London to the next for those willing to pay. It’s a risky occupation (and considered treason in Red London). When Kell bumps into Delilah Bard, a professional thief in Grey London, she robs him – and then saves him. And, this chain of events makes them partners of sorts in an adventure neither of them were expecting.
The world in ADSOM isn’t exactly ground breaking. The idea of parallel words is pretty common ins SFF. And, while the magic system is interesting, it’s not extremely well-developed. However, for a first book in a series, it does what it needs to do: it introduces us to the world and makes us want more. But, the real heart of this series isn’t the plot, it’s the characters. They are wonderful, and flawed, and I couldn’t help but to root for them.
Kell has been raised as a member of the royal family, and he considers Prince Rhy to be his brother. But, there is no blood-relation, and Kell knows nothing of his past or his family – nothing before the age of 5. So, he struggles with his identity both within the royal family and the world at large.
“I’m not truly a Maresh, for all that the king and queen have offered me that name. I feel more like a possession than a prince.”
But, the best part of this book is without a doubt – Delilah Bard. She is smart, and tough, and unbelievably feisty. Delilah is a street-wise cut throat who steals partly to survive, and partly because it’s what she does best. She doesn’t even hesitate to follow Kell into the unknown just for the possibility of an adventure. Because dying doesn’t scare Delilah Bard – complacency does.
“I’m not going to die,” she said. “Not till I’ve seen it.”
“Seen what?”
Her smile widened. “Everything.”
While the world building isn’t lacking is some areas, Schwab does a great job setting the scene. Grey London feels drab and boring, White London is terrifyingly dangerous, Red London is enticing and magical – and Black London is a riddle you want to solve. This first installment in the Shades of Magic trilogy holds so much promise. We meet some fantastic characters, and get a taste for where the series is going. And I for one, can’t wait to continue.
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1. Assassin's Apprentice: ★★★★
I really liked Assassin’s Apprentice. I loved Royal Assassin. Hobb’s writing is just so damn compelling.
“The man who must brag for himself knows that no one else will.”
Royal Assassin picks up right were Assassin’s Apprentice left off. Fitz has survived his trip to the mountains, but just barely. He vows to turn his back on his oath to King Shrewd and remain in the mountain kingdom. But, he’s pulled back to Buckeep by feelings of love and a sense of duty. Upon his return, Fitz is entangled in court politics and plots against the King while helping Verity fight against the Red-Ship Raiders and the forged ones.
“To finally confront the worst there is, to look it squarely in the face and say, “I know you. You have hurt me, almost to death, but still I live. And I will go on living.”
Like the first book, Royal Assassin is a slow-paced, character driven story. But, also like the first book, the narrative is all the better for it. Hobb’s methodical approach to this story and her masterful prose really pull you in. You truly care about these characters – you feel their joy, and rage, and sorrow, and resentment. In this installment, we get to see Fitz’s relationships with all the side characters develop. We see him interact with the major side characters Burrich, Verity, Kettricken, Patience, Molly, The Fool, Chade, and King Shrewd. And we see how each of these relationships effect Fitz and the choices he makes – for good or for ill. And, of course, the shining star of this novel – Nighteyes. Nighteyes adds so much depth to this story, and I loved watching his bond with Fitz develop. Nighteyes has this frank and unapologetic view of the world that provided a nice balance to all the scheming, and his steadfast loyalty was heartwarming. People don’t deserve wolves (or dogs).
"Nighteyes, my brother. How do I thank you?
Stay alive. A pause. And bring me ginger cake.”
There is some seriously dark shit in this book. Hobb took the stakes from the first book, and she raised them. But, it keeps you invested. You need to know what happens, how it all ends, and who makes it out. This story pulls at your heartstrings, and you just want to pull Fitz in a hug and tell him that everything is going to be okay. Even though you know it absolutely isn’t. This may not be a fast book, but it is a gut wrenching one.
“It was possible to be homesick for a time, and to be lonely for the only other person who could recall it.”
This is a book about strength and weakness, and making the hard choices because somebody has to. It’s about being there for the people you love when they need you most, and what happens when you aren’t. There is love and loss and grief and bitterness. There are relationships that grow and those that wither. There are secrets and revelations, twists and turns. And I was invested in this story from the word go.
I am so excited about book 3. But, I’m also super nervous because I know they aren’t all going to make it out alive, and I don’t know if my heart can take it.
Trigger Warnings: torture, abuse, death of a child, depictions of seizures, talk of miscarriage, talk of suicide
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I really liked Assassin’s Apprentice. I loved Royal Assassin. Hobb’s writing is just so damn compelling.
“The man who must brag for himself knows that no one else will.”
Royal Assassin picks up right were Assassin’s Apprentice left off. Fitz has survived his trip to the mountains, but just barely. He vows to turn his back on his oath to King Shrewd and remain in the mountain kingdom. But, he’s pulled back to Buckeep by feelings of love and a sense of duty. Upon his return, Fitz is entangled in court politics and plots against the King while helping Verity fight against the Red-Ship Raiders and the forged ones.
“To finally confront the worst there is, to look it squarely in the face and say, “I know you. You have hurt me, almost to death, but still I live. And I will go on living.”
Like the first book, Royal Assassin is a slow-paced, character driven story. But, also like the first book, the narrative is all the better for it. Hobb’s methodical approach to this story and her masterful prose really pull you in. You truly care about these characters – you feel their joy, and rage, and sorrow, and resentment. In this installment, we get to see Fitz’s relationships with all the side characters develop. We see him interact with the major side characters Burrich, Verity, Kettricken, Patience, Molly, The Fool, Chade, and King Shrewd. And we see how each of these relationships effect Fitz and the choices he makes – for good or for ill. And, of course, the shining star of this novel – Nighteyes. Nighteyes adds so much depth to this story, and I loved watching his bond with Fitz develop. Nighteyes has this frank and unapologetic view of the world that provided a nice balance to all the scheming, and his steadfast loyalty was heartwarming. People don’t deserve wolves (or dogs).
"Nighteyes, my brother. How do I thank you?
Stay alive. A pause. And bring me ginger cake.”
There is some seriously dark shit in this book. Hobb took the stakes from the first book, and she raised them. But, it keeps you invested. You need to know what happens, how it all ends, and who makes it out. This story pulls at your heartstrings, and you just want to pull Fitz in a hug and tell him that everything is going to be okay. Even though you know it absolutely isn’t. This may not be a fast book, but it is a gut wrenching one.
“It was possible to be homesick for a time, and to be lonely for the only other person who could recall it.”
This is a book about strength and weakness, and making the hard choices because somebody has to. It’s about being there for the people you love when they need you most, and what happens when you aren’t. There is love and loss and grief and bitterness. There are relationships that grow and those that wither. There are secrets and revelations, twists and turns. And I was invested in this story from the word go.
I am so excited about book 3. But, I’m also super nervous because I know they aren’t all going to make it out alive, and I don’t know if my heart can take it.
Trigger Warnings: torture, abuse, death of a child, depictions of seizures, talk of miscarriage, talk of suicide
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This was so heartfelt and adorable.
Also, it made me cry for like the last third of the book. But, in the best way.
Also, it made me cry for like the last third of the book. But, in the best way.
My track record with Star Wars novels is pretty hit or miss. But, I love this world so much, so I still want to read as many of them as I can. Luckily for me, Queen’s Shadow was a pleasant surprise, and I enjoyed this even more than I was hoping to.
“They’ll stall you,” Organa said. “I know it’s a horrifying situation, but you can’t fight every evil in the galaxy.”
“Evil? ” Padmé said. “I’ve fought evil and it was easy: I shot it. It’s apathy I can’t stand.”
Queen’s Shadow is the first canon novel about Padmé Amidala Naberrie. It takes place between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. After stepping down as Queen, Padmé is planning to step away from the spotlight and focus on a cause that is near to her heart. But, after the Queen approaches her about being a Senator, Padmé realizes that she can’t say no. Luckily for her, Padmé has a double/best friend in her handmaiden Sabé who volunteers for the mission allowing Padmé to essentially be in two places at once.
While Sabé takes off for Tatooine, Padmé is thrust into political landscape of Coruscant. Padmé learns to navigate in her role as senator while dealing with the media outlets (the news articles included in the book were a great addition to the story), the distrust of her fellow senators, and her reputation as someone who goes around the senate to get what she wants. We see her interacting with characters we know and love like Bail Organa, R2-D2, and Mon Mothma as she attempts to establish a new identity outside of her time as Queen.
“We could do so much more if people would listen,” Padme said.
“People are listening,” Bonteri said. “They’re just not paying attention.”
One of the major focuses of this novel is the genuine friendships between Padmé and her handmaidens. It’s amazing to see the bond these women have developed over their years together. In the movies we see the handmaiden’s (specifically Sabé ) acting as decoys, but the book sheds more light on that – the way they used clothing, hair-styles and make-up to achieve the switches. And I really appreciated that care that went into describing these things, and that they aren’t written off as frivolous, but rather they are Padmé’s form of armor. They have a functional purpose, and they use them strategically.
“We are brave, your highness.”
In many ways this is such a quiet novel – it’s not an action packed book full of battle sequences. It’s introspective and focuses on the less flashy kind of strength of these amazing female characters. In the movies we see Padmé being a thoughtful and passionate voice for the people, but we never really knew her. (Padmé is a much better character than the prequel movies showed – I’ll always be a little salty about that). This novel seeks to change at least some of that. It allows us to see her get started on her path. We see her struggling with moments of self doubt and frustration with the slowness of senatorial politics. We see the heart of her character – not only her idealism and hope of creating a better world. But, also her fierce loyalty to the people she loves.
“You are an idealist,” Bonteri said. “That’s not a bad thing.”
“I know,” Padmé said. “I have worked very hard at it.”
Even though we already know how Padmé’s story ends, the Epilogue kinda came out of left field. But, if Johnston was using that as a segue to a future Sabé focused novel, I’m not mad about it.
If you are a Padmé fan, then this is a must read. If you’re a fan of the Clone Wars animated series, you will love how seamlessly this book ties into the Padmé we see in those episodes.
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“They’ll stall you,” Organa said. “I know it’s a horrifying situation, but you can’t fight every evil in the galaxy.”
“Evil? ” Padmé said. “I’ve fought evil and it was easy: I shot it. It’s apathy I can’t stand.”
Queen’s Shadow is the first canon novel about Padmé Amidala Naberrie. It takes place between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. After stepping down as Queen, Padmé is planning to step away from the spotlight and focus on a cause that is near to her heart. But, after the Queen approaches her about being a Senator, Padmé realizes that she can’t say no. Luckily for her, Padmé has a double/best friend in her handmaiden Sabé who volunteers for the mission allowing Padmé to essentially be in two places at once.
While Sabé takes off for Tatooine, Padmé is thrust into political landscape of Coruscant. Padmé learns to navigate in her role as senator while dealing with the media outlets (the news articles included in the book were a great addition to the story), the distrust of her fellow senators, and her reputation as someone who goes around the senate to get what she wants. We see her interacting with characters we know and love like Bail Organa, R2-D2, and Mon Mothma as she attempts to establish a new identity outside of her time as Queen.
“We could do so much more if people would listen,” Padme said.
“People are listening,” Bonteri said. “They’re just not paying attention.”
One of the major focuses of this novel is the genuine friendships between Padmé and her handmaidens. It’s amazing to see the bond these women have developed over their years together. In the movies we see the handmaiden’s (specifically Sabé ) acting as decoys, but the book sheds more light on that – the way they used clothing, hair-styles and make-up to achieve the switches. And I really appreciated that care that went into describing these things, and that they aren’t written off as frivolous, but rather they are Padmé’s form of armor. They have a functional purpose, and they use them strategically.
“We are brave, your highness.”
In many ways this is such a quiet novel – it’s not an action packed book full of battle sequences. It’s introspective and focuses on the less flashy kind of strength of these amazing female characters. In the movies we see Padmé being a thoughtful and passionate voice for the people, but we never really knew her. (Padmé is a much better character than the prequel movies showed – I’ll always be a little salty about that). This novel seeks to change at least some of that. It allows us to see her get started on her path. We see her struggling with moments of self doubt and frustration with the slowness of senatorial politics. We see the heart of her character – not only her idealism and hope of creating a better world. But, also her fierce loyalty to the people she loves.
“You are an idealist,” Bonteri said. “That’s not a bad thing.”
“I know,” Padmé said. “I have worked very hard at it.”
Even though we already know how Padmé’s story ends, the Epilogue kinda came out of left field. But, if Johnston was using that as a segue to a future Sabé focused novel, I’m not mad about it.
If you are a Padmé fan, then this is a must read. If you’re a fan of the Clone Wars animated series, you will love how seamlessly this book ties into the Padmé we see in those episodes.
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