From the Bookshelf of The Elite Readers…

A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)

V.E. Schwab,

Victoria Schwab

Start date: June 1, 2015

Finish date: June 30, 2015

Discussion: June || A Darker Shade of Magic

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 6 topics — 25 comments total

June || A Darker Shade of Magic

Happy Summer Reading! BookGiveaway for filters a novel is ending soon on July 15th!
By Deborah · 1 post · 10 views

last updated Jun 13, 2016 03:14PM

Final Thoughts || A Darker Shade of Magic
By court ౨ৎ libr… · 2 posts · 34 views

last updated Jun 13, 2015 08:33AM

What Members Thought

Apr 22, 2015 Nanna rated it it was amazing

GAH!!! 500 FABULOUS STARS FOR THIS FABULOUSLY PERFECT BOOK!

Oh my. I'm a puddle of happy emotions. This woman writes books so so well. I feel as if I just finished watching an incredible movie rather than a book. It's so action-pack and the descriptions kill me because they're so good. The entire idea is awesome.

A little to get you to read it. The MC is Kell, an Antari, a magic (in their blood) person. They're very rare, basically Kell and one other exist. They have one normal eye and the other ...more

74 likes · Like · see review

Dec 29, 2014 Maria Angelica rated it really liked it

Shelves: tenho, lido-2016

3.5
Eu gostei bastante dessa estória. Adorei a construção do mundo e o sistema de magia. Esse esquema das três Londres é bem legal e o próximo livro trará mais aventuras por causa dos acontecimentos desse. Adorei o andamento do enredo, praticamente ação atrás de ação. Tivemos pouquíssimos momentos de pausa e gostei muito da execução das transições entre capítulos. A VE Schawb definitivamente tem talento com as palavras.
Minha única reclamação com o livro é que não há nenhum desenvolvimento de pers ...more

45 likes · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2014 Elesia rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-releases, love-love-loved

Maybe more like 4.5 stars... Review to come!!

30 likes · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2015 lookingforabura rated it it was amazing

Wow. I'm literally exhausted but relieved after reading this book. That was such an epic journey!!!

[full review to follow] ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Jul 12, 2017 Nina ✿ Looseleaf Reviews ✿ rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, high-fantasy, fantasy, 2010-2015-release

I have been gloriously and spectacularly underwhelmed.

I think this was largely a case of an amazing plot in an underwhelming story. As a basic premise, you have a multiverse world where four London's sit on top of each other, each one sitting further from the universe's original source of magic. Black London, a city of legend that was destroyed generations ago, was consumed by the magic, while White London, Red London, and Grey London sealed themselves off from each other. Only two people alive I have been gloriously and spectacularly underwhelmed.

I think this was largely a case of an amazing plot in an underwhelming story. As a basic premise, you have a multiverse world where four London's sit on top of each other, each one sitting further from the universe's original source of magic. Black London, a city of legend that was destroyed generations ago, was consumed by the magic, while White London, Red London, and Grey London sealed themselves off from each other. Only two people alive possess the type of magic--blood magic--that allows you to travel between worlds.

Cool, right? Sure, if anything happened with it.

Our main character is one of the two blood magicians named Kell. He was adopted by the Red royal family when he was five and had nothing but a knife with the letters KL. Kell. Invented his own name right there. Ladies and gents, we've got an edgelord here! But in all honestly, Kell wasn't an awful protagonist, just a rather bland one. He's somewhat mysterious. Somewhat attractive. He's got some moral ambiguity going, but he's generally a good guy. For a 400 page book with next to no plot going, I need something more than "kinda cool" from an MC.

Lila on the other hand was just intolerable. Badass crossdressing lady pirate wannabe with a troubled past? I thought we were over that trope in like 2000. 2005 if we're pushing it. She just doesn't want to be a lady and dreams of the open seas and just loves stabbing things. Short of some cliffhangery suggestions at the end, she doesn't even serve a real purpose in the plot aside from stabbing the people that Kell doesn't get to first and being edgy.

There were some cool side characters I guess? I get the impression from talk of these books that Rhy is a bigger character next book. Then you've got the other blood magician, some inn keepers, Kell's mentor, et. al. who truly don't do anything. Several times I think I was supposed to be sad that someone died, but it's hard when they were only introduced 20 pages ago.

Am I setting the bar too high? Probably. I was just expecting to love this and yet I practically DNF'd halfway through. What am I missing that got everyone raving? ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Dec 30, 2014 Natalie rated it liked it

Shelves: bookclub

Omg I finally finished this book. It took me six months but here it is. I honestly just couldn't connect with any of the characters and the plot was really boring and confusing to me at first. The climax was good though. I'm still deciding if I'll keep reading. The characters have grown on me. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

May 08, 2014 Krispy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, recommended, writing-crush, adult

OH MY GOODNESS, you guys, I loved this book! I adored Kell and Lila, and the world-building was so incredibly well done. I CANNOT WAIT for the next book! Love love love.

3 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2019 Michelle (Bookaholic Banter) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: to-buy

A great start to a series. I wasn't quite sure if it would be my thing, but I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to read the rest of the books on this series!
I recently started watching Game of Thrones-another show I wasn't sure if I would enjoy-and it is fantastic! This book gave me some of those vibes. If you love GOT you will enjoy this series as well.
Memorable characters, great world building and full of adventure!
This is one creative fun-filled adventure! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 24, 2017 Amanda Rose rated it really liked it

I did the audiobook of this narrated by Steven Crossley. He gave the characters such life. These characters already had great personalities he just brought them more to life.

This story was unique and different. We follow Kell in his version of London as he's just doing his own thing when adventure just kind of jumps out on him. A mysterious stone with powers beyond imagination. It seems to call out to Kell in a dark evil way. Kell is fascinated by the stone when a pick pocketer steals it from r ...more

Like · see review