A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Publication Date:  February 24, 2015
Publisher:  Tor Books
Pages:  398
Series:  A Darker Shade of Magic #1
Genre:  Fantasy
Synopsis:  Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit. 

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby 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 another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped.

Review:  I would like to steal V.E. Schwab's imagination for a day and take it for a whirl. What a book this is.  A Darker Shade of Magic lives up to the hype in more ways than one.

What a world this is, or rather, worlds.  Four of them, to be precise.  Black, Red, White, and Gray London, AKA, Dead, Kell, Creepy, and Dull London, according to Lila.  How incredibly inventive--I wanted nothing more than to visit them myself.

You know so little of war. Battles may be fought from the outside in, but wars are won from the inside out.

As for the magic, including the darker shade of it, it is brilliantly executed.  Magic in those worlds is not an object, but a living thing.  How you choose to interact with it can determine cultures, as is it ultimately does.  But only Antari, such as Kell, can control blood magic--the most temperamental and powerful sort, naturally.

V.E. Schwab weaves this magic into every aspect of the novel, her own writing included.  Intricate and addicting all at once.  The adventures she whisks you away on are all-consuming and brilliant.

There is so much, so many ideas to explore--and yet V.E. Schwab only delved into the shallow end on more than a handful of them.  It all went so quickly, with so much action, there was never a chance to breathe.  That is the one fault holding this book back from being absolute perfection.

Hesitation is the death of advantage.

As for the characters, I give my stamp of approval.  Kell is not ordinary, yet he is also not the typical hero.  He is arrogant, a bit bitter, and beyond clever.  In all honesty, he reminds me of a Doctor from Doctor Who.  Not one in particular, just the sort.

Let's not forget about Lila--cutthroat, thief, and desperate for an escape from the mundane.  While sometimes on the childish side and eternally stubborn, Lila grows on you--you have no choice in the matter.  And let us all take a moment to appreciate the lack of a romantic relationship between Lila and Kell.  A Darker Shade of Magic just goes to prove that a good book doesn't need sugar and fluff to keep it interesting.

The Dane twins, Holland, and Rhy are the most prominent side characters, all of whom have their of distinctive personalities.  Holland fascinated me the most.  Essentially a puppet for the Dane twins and the only Antari in existence other than Kell himself, he makes for an intriguing figure.

I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still.

The ending unsettles me for one reason--it takes a turn I did not expect and am still uncertain if I like.  Well executed, but I was dying for a different turn of events. However, this does not detract from the book in any way, as I have faith in the direction V.E. Schwab is bringing this in--hopefully toward Black London.

A Darker Shade of Magic is magical, if nothing else.  A story certain to steal your attention and run away with it.  I could not recommend it more highly and am anxiously awaiting the next installment.

4 Keys