Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

I’d rather die on an adventure than live standing still

I finally finished reading A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, after it has been on my shelf since it’s release. I have very mixed feelings about this book. I hope to find out by telling you about it.

Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Rating:


Title & Author: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Release Date: February 24 2015
Series: Shades of Magic
Publisher: Tor Books

Synopsis

Kell is one of the last Antari, a rare magician who can travel between parallel worlds: hopping from Grey London — dirty, boring, lacking magic, and ruled by mad King George — to Red London — where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire — to White London — ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne, where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back — and back, but never Black London, because traveling to Black London is forbidden and no one speaks of it now.

Officially, Kell is the personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see, and it is this dangerous hobby that sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to take her with him for her proper adventure.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save both his London and the others, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — a feat trickier than they hoped.

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