A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. SchwabMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This has been a book that has been in my TBR for the longest, but it was also one of those books that you just knew that I was going to read and end up loving. And I was absolutely right! I’ve always liked the whole parallel universe concept, and this book did not disappoint.
A Darker Shade of Magic is about Kell, one of the last Antari which is a special kind of magician that can walk between worlds. He’s the ambassador for the Maresh Empire with a dangerous habit of smuggling things between realms. When he’s tricked into smuggling a forbidden item, he takes the responsibility of trying to take back the item to where he belongs as he’s thrust into a dangerous cat and mouse game.
The Setting
Was absolutely fantastic! The book takes place in three Londons. There’s the Red London, where magic thrives; White London, a place where people fight to control magic and rule; and a Grey London, where there’s no magic. There’s also a Black London, but that place no longer exists. All three Londons are so intricately woven together. You can see the richness of each by the descriptions. There are subtle similarities, but they’re very interesting with interesting layouts, but what makes them even so is the way that they operate and how the people live.
The Characters
Were each colorful and intriguing. There’s Kel, who is stubborn and loyal, but also with a hint of a mysterious past that we still don’t know about. The same goes with Lila Bard. She was a wild card. Lila was a cutpurse with lofty aspirations. She’s a colorful and adventurous character that doesn’t take no for an answer. And like Kel, she has a past that we also don’t know about. She keeps the reader guessing. Then there’s Rhy and Holland, who I wish we had more of. Holland was an interesting character. We get some insight on who he is, which was intriguing enough, but it made me wonder more. Actually, I wanted to know more about each and every character. We get hints and clues, but in the end, we’re left with questions that make you want the next book.
The Plot
Was neither fast nor slow. It had its own pace that cannot be pushed. In other words, it’s evenly paced, but it’s also a fun ride. It keeps you guessing. You get enough information that you start to question what’s going on without getting frustrated or wanting to put the book down. The plot was good, but what really hooks the reader in is the writing.
What I Liked
Was the writing. I thought it was so well written. For a book that deals with parallel universes and takes place in three different versions of London, there’s so much information overload that could have happened, but Victoria Schwab writes enough to picture it in our heads without getting overwhelmed. She was able to build up three different world have them woven so perfectly. I absolutely captivated by the writing style, the characters, the settings, the magic, and everything inbetween.
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