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  • Shades of Magic
  • A Darker Shade of Magic

A Darker Shade of Magic

Shades of Magic #1 / 3
by V. E. Schwab
A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V. E. Schwab
★ 7.00 / 15
1213454647589110

Prepare to be dazzled by a world of parallel Londons — where magic thrives, starves, or lies forgotten, and where power can destroy just as quickly as it can create

Kell is one of the last Travelers — magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes — as such, he can choose where he lands.

There’s Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, with one mad king — George III. Red London, where life and magic are revered — and where Kell was raised alongside Rhys Maresh, the rougish heir to the throne. White London — a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London... but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, amdassador of the Maresh empire, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, he's a smuggler, a dangerous, defiant hobby to have — as proven when Kell stumbles into a setup with a forbidden token from Black London.

Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, who first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.

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Fantasy
Release date: February 18, 2015
Reviews and Comments (1)

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V. E. Schwab

V. E. Schwab

V. E. Schwab, the pseudonym of Victoria Schwab, is a writer whose stories blur the lines between the fantastical and the deeply human. Under her pseudonym, Schwab crafts compelling adult fantasy and speculative fiction that is as thought-provoking as it is immersive. Known for her ability to build intricate worlds filled with morally complex characters, Schwab’s work often explores themes of identity, power, and the cost of immortality.

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Her books, including A Darker Shade of Magic, Vicious, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, have captivated readers worldwide with their seamless blend of magic, emotion, and intrigue. Whether writing about parallel Londons, vengeful anti-heroes, or an immortal woman struggling to be remembered, Schwab’s novels always offer a unique twist on the genre, delving into philosophical questions and creating characters whose journeys resonate long after the book is closed.

Schwab’s writing is deeply influenced by her own experiences—raised in the American South and educated in Scotland—giving her stories a mix of Gothic atmosphere and modern sensibilities. She has the rare ability to create worlds that feel both intimately human and larger than life. Through her work, Schwab invites readers to question what it means to live, love, and leave a legacy in a world where the rules are constantly shifting.

Her writing is a delicate dance between the lyrical and the sharp, capturing the magic of the unknown while remaining rooted in the emotional and moral complexity of her characters. Under the name V. E. Schwab, she has redefined what it means to write adult fantasy, creating stories that challenge both the imagination and the heart.

Shades of Magic

Shades of Magic consists of three books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Related series The Threads of Power

A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1)
★ 7.00 / 15
A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2)
★ 6.84 / 6
A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3)
★ 7.76 / 4

Reviews and Comments

08/22/2015
aca avatar
aca
12 books, 3 reviews
★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8 / 10

Good stuff - fun world-building throughout with the multiple Londons divided by magic and colour. I enjoyed Kell and Delilah's interplay and it was interesting to see that she seemed to have a bigger character arc ahead of her than the MC, Kell. (Which is in no way a bad thing either.) Smooth writing and some great minor characters in there too. If I'd wished for one thing from 'A Darker Shade...' it would have been a little more time spent with the villains. But I'll still be grabbing book 2, that's for sure.

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