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

Title: A Darker Shade of Magic
Author: V.E. Schwab
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor Books, February 24, 2015
Genre: Fantasy
Source/Format: Won, UK Paperback Edition

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

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...

My Thoughts:

Going into this book I was already familiar with V.E. Schwab’s work. I’ve read Vicious and two of her young adult novels. So it should come as no surprise that I absolutely loved A Darker Shade of Magic. It was a fantasy novel that I enjoyed.

From the very first pages the overall concept is presented well. I loved the multiple depictions of London across varying worlds that had minor similarities yet were vastly different from one another. Each world was given a respective color, and I have to say that they fit with the descriptions of each place. The setting was vivid and I could imagine what the places looked like, and it tied in nicely with the world building, which was done beautifully. The parallel worlds seemed to be places of their own, but it all worked together and served as an interesting backdrop to the plot.

The story follows Kell, a traveler from Red London, as he gets mixed up with magic he shouldn’t have. I liked Kell’s character, and I could understand his conflicting emotions concerning his situation. Some of his actions weren’t smart, in fact they were downright reckless, but it was all part of the story and I liked seeing how things played out. Kell’s path crosses with Delilah Bard and I have to say that I truly enjoyed Delilah’s character. Her interactions with Kell were priceless and I liked how the two managed to work together despite…differences.

Another aspect that I enjoyed was the magic. I liked how it was thoroughly explained, the system set up in a way that it seemed to be a part of the world, rather than conflicting with it. The way it was written made it seem natural. The plot was equally nice and overall I just enjoyed the story. I believe that this is the first in a trilogy, so I look forward to seeing what happens next with Delilah, Kell, and the various London settings in A Darker Shade of Magic.

5/5

Review: Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Hello readers of Reading on the Rocks. From this day forward I will be blogging here! Hooray! *throws confetti on everything* So, yeah, this is my first review on this site and it happens to be Vicious by V.E. Schwab—enjoy! :D Title: Vicious Author: V.E. Schwab Publisher/Publication Date: Tor, September 24, 2013 Format/Source: Hardcover, Purchased Amazon Barnes & Noble Goodreads Synopsis Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Read More My Thoughts Vicious by V.E. Schwab is a wonderfully twisted novel filled with characters that walked the thin line between superhero and villain. To say that this is my first try with V.E. Schwab’s writing, I can officially say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. To say the least, Vicious is one of my favorite books of 2013. Vicious follows the story of Victor Vale, a man who spent ten years locked in prison, for crimes he may or may not have committed. While Eli Ever walked free, and seemingly convinced everyone of Merit that he was a hero. Both Eli and Victor were wonderfully complex characters, and it was hard not getting wrapped up in their story. Then there were the Clarke sisters, Serena and Sydney. Serena was a bit of a mystery—that was solved in due time—and throughout Vicious I had a hard time really understanding her motives until it was revealed at the end. Although, I didn’t like her any more than I did because of what she’d done. Sydney was a nice addition to the story, and I found that her power was a big part of the plot. I would say more about the characters, but then I might end up spoiling something, so, moving on. Oh the plot. Vicious was one of those rare books that kept me hooked till the very end, and wishing that there was a sequel. From the first page, we are presented with a world filled with EOs, lies, and murder. And old friends now turned enemies. I really felt like the end result was fitting for Eli and Victor. To say the least, I am giving Vicious 5 stars! Rating 5/5 And don't forget to check this awesome trailer!

Trailer: Vicious by V. E. Schwab

 

It's here, the trailer for V.E. Schwab's Vicious!  Take a look at it above.  Isn't it delightfully eerie?  I think it pretty much captures the tone of the book and only begins to hint at things to come.  Hmmmm, it makes me very curious.  Tell me what you think about it.