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

The beginning of mid week today has been a frustrating and annoying one so far. Too many strangers have given me some unwanted opinion or advice, and nothing that was helpful. I really wish I had that Black London stone to escape into Red London for a bit or even better, I wish I had Delilah/ Lila Bard’s spunk and cleverness to shut up all of these people! Haha

Now, back to the book. I think everyone knows what Victoria Scwab’s ‘Shades of Magic’ series are about and if you don’t have a clue or are a newbie like me, then ‘What the hell are you waiting for?’ Please pick up a copy now and start reading it 😀 It will hardly take 2 days of your time, even if you’re a slow reader. That’s how interesting I found the first book in the series. If you still want to know a bit more, then you can read a short synopsis here on Goodreads. You’re welcome 🙏

I had ordered the collector’s version for the second book in the series too, but I decided last night that I didn’t want to wait that long, and so am getting the original hardback for the second book. Yay! Maybe, once I’m done with the series, I’ll buy the collector’s editions and give away the original hardbacks to someone lucky (since I’m a Bookfairy, and everyone deserves a magical book)

So, here are a few things that I loved about the first book – A darker shade of magic:

• The world building was so extensive and yet so simple to follow. There were different descriptions of the cities in all of the Londons (Red, Black, Gray and White), different architecture, different languages, different money and aristrocacy.. it was all very novel, brilliant and yet simple
• This is my second Victoria Shcwab book. The first being a middle grade book that was released last year – City of Ghosts. And I’ve realised that I really enjoy her writing style. Her characters are well thought of, refreshingly real and sort of badasses in their unique way. The relationships she shows between characters makes you want to be one of the group too and she doesn’t rush into any of the friendships unless they’re blood relations I guess. But my favourite part about her writing is her appetite for the macabre and the gory. I don’t know of many female writers other than Mary Shelley or Shirley Jackson, who can write up characters and describe a place or a mood with such a knack for the eerie or not be repulsed by writing about violence and blood. There’s a trigger ⚠️ warning about that then – not the book for you if you’re not a fan of dark and blood 😈
• This book introduced me to another splendid addition to my list of feisty and awesome literary heroines – Delilah Bard. I want to be on that ship with her and take classes from her on ‘how-to-be-cool-and-brave’ at the same time! I read that for a lot of people, their favourite character was Holland, I mean I get the Snape like references from the first book about Holland.. but I felt there wasn’t enough about him in the first book for me to make him a favourite. Maybe as the series moves on, I’ll change my mind
• The book is very fast paced and you don’t want to put it down really until you’ve finished it. The good thing is that it’s so simply written that the book can be easily finished in a day👍😊
• I’m glad there was no love or attraction at first sight kind of romance between the lead protagonists, Kell and Lila. It’s not clear whether they will embark on a romance later or not, but I really loved their playful partnership in the first book 💖😊

So after gushing about all that, there were a few things that umm, well, weren’t as mind blowing:

• The plot or the story line. I guess I’m so used to all the massive twists and turns from other books or TV shows that when the book ended, and that too without a cliffhanger, I was like, ‘Wait, it’s over? That seemed pretty straightforward!’ The story was so straightforward, that it was actually unexpected hahah
• Also, did anyone else feel some similarity (or maybe it was an inspiration), with the powerful yet dark Ring from Lord of the Rings and the Stone from this book? 🙂

I really enjoyed reading the first book and will be reading the second book in the series next month for sure 😊 On that note, I need to transfer myself back to the mundane world of work now .. sigh .. As Tascen 😉