A Darker Shade of Magic

by V. E. Schwab

Rating: 5 stars

How was this book so good? How is it even possible to write a book this good? And why did I wait so long to read this?! Okay, I actually know the answer to that one.. It was marketed as adult, and that was scary. But honestly, I knew I would love this, so I was just being silly. And I do think I was also just as scared of the heartbreak that I still suspect this series will bring.

But seriously, this book is SO good! I won’t say that I fell in love with it from the first sentence… That would be wrong, the first sentence was good, but I didn’t quite fall in love. No that honour goes to the second sentence. Because while I can’t say that the first one hooked me all that much, by the time I’d finished reading the second sentence I knew I was going to love this book. No scratch that. By the time I’d finished reading the second sentence I did love this book.

I literally can’t find anything about this book I didn’t like. It was just too perfect.

I love the writing. I didn’t love Schwab’s writing style as much in Monsters of Verity, but for some reason it was different here. In A Darker Shade of Magic the writing was perfect. I can’t decide whether the style was different in this one, or whether it fit this book better, or if I just like it more now, but whatever it is, I adored the writing in this!

The plot is intense and twisty and incredibly well thought out. It’s never slow. Never boring. It had me on the edge of my seat constantly, needing desperately to know what was going to happen next.

I also love the world. Er… Worlds. Grey London isn’t really anything special, but I sort of love books set in historical England, so honestly I liked even Grey London. White London was creepy in the very best way, and I really enjoyed the few glimpses of it we got. And then there was Red London. Can I please live in Red London? I mean, maybe not during the events of the book, but before or after? When it’s peaceful? Please? I really loved Red London, can you tell? It was so unique and magical, and OHMYGOODNESSILOVEITSOMUCH!!! Can I at least visit Red London? Pleasepleaseplease?

And actual worlds aside, I love all the other aspects of the world building! The magic is fascinating, and so well developed! The Antari are so cool! And while elemental magic isn’t exactly original, this is a fresh new take on it, and it’s fascinating! I love the politics within the worlds, and the politics between the worlds, and every aspect of these words really!

The characters are absolute perfection! ALL of them.

• Kell is one of the best main characters I’ve read for a while. He’s well developed. He’s a good person, and he always tries to do the best he can. But he’s also very flawed. He makes mistakes. BIG mistakes. He’s very human. He longs to be loved. To belong. He’ll do anything for the people he loves. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t make mistakes that put them in danger. Mistakes that hurt them. He feels so real, and he suffers so much, and I JUST WANT HIM TO BE HAPPY!!!
• Lila is so sassy and awesome! I love her so much. I mean, what’s not to like? She’s a sassy pirate girl who manages to rob Kell and then convince him to bring her to another world. And yes, he wasn’t exactly in great shape at that point, but seeing as he’s one of the most powerful magicians of his time, that’s still pretty darn impressive.
• Rhy. Rhy is my darling. I love Rhy with all my heart! From pretty much the first scene he showed up, I knew I was going to love him! He isn’t actually in this book much, but something about him just captured my heart.
• Holland is creepy and villainous, but I felt incredibly sorry for him, and honestly I’m still holding out hope that he’ll turn out to be a good character. Even if he doesn’t… well, I still sort of like him.
• The Dane twins were also creepy and villainous. Unlike Holland however, there is absolutely no redeeming them. They were just plain evil. They maybe could have been a tiny bit more three dimensional, but honestly they don’t really need to be. What incredibly creepy villains.

Overall? This book is pure perfection! If you haven’t read it yet what are you even doing?!?! This series is an absolute must read if you even remotely like fantasy. It’s so amazing!