A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1) in Between the Pages (CLOSED)

Apr 12, 2014 Mary rated it it was amazing

If Kell and Lila don't become a couple...

When was the last time you realized WHY you loved reading? When was the last time a possible couple in a book made you jump and squee and hope they fell in love and became a couple? And when was the last time a book sucked you in-completely?

Better than Vicious.
I have read Miss Schwabs other works, The Archived and Vicious but NEVER have I really went WOW!!! Vicious was great-don't get me wrong, but A Darker Shade of Magic made me remember why I love readi ...more

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Mar 10, 2017 Susan rated it it was amazing

Oh my god I need more

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Jun 05, 2016 Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

This wasn't a love at first page book, and it seemed to take me a while to get into and find my groove. However, I should note that despite not feeling immediately gripped by the story, my curiosity was still immediately captured, which is what prompted me to continue reading. I knew that there had to be more to this book and that things would have to start making sense eventually, and they did! It seems fairly complicated at first, but trust me whe Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

This wasn't a love at first page book, and it seemed to take me a while to get into and find my groove. However, I should note that despite not feeling immediately gripped by the story, my curiosity was still immediately captured, which is what prompted me to continue reading. I knew that there had to be more to this book and that things would have to start making sense eventually, and they did! It seems fairly complicated at first, but trust me when I say that it will somehow all come together as you read, and you'll begin to understand.

A Darker Shade of Magic has somewhat traditional fantasy elements at its basic structure, but it is such a new concept that it's unlike anything I've ever read. The multiple Londons is one of those ideas that I would have never thought of or been able to develop a story about, but Schwab is apparently a genius and did a wonderful job creating the overall setup and nuances of having such a complex setting.

I also need to talk about this magic system, which is insane (in a good way). I haven't felt this interested in a particular magic system in a while, so that made me extremely happy. Although the nature of the magic in this world (or worlds?) was rather mysterious, it was still understandable in a weird way. I liked that the magic itself was this ever-powerful force that could become too much for someone and basically overtake and destroy them - or, you know, a city.

Kell is an awesome protagonist. He was real. He wasn't some exceptionally badass, fearless guy - he had perfectly human fears and didn't pretend he was any stronger or better than he actually was. This made him feel extremely understandable and relatable and is part of what kept me drawn to the story. I also enjoyed his interactions with the prince, Rhy, because I felt it really helped to develop his overall character by showing what he cared about.

Lila is also an interesting character and I'm still somewhat on the fence about her. I loved her fierceness, independence, and overall sense of being a badass, - pretty much the opposite of Kell at times - but sometimes she grated on me somewhat. It was mainly her attitude that drove me crazy: her stubbornness, in particular, frustrated me. I know that stubborn characters are a favorite of authors - how else would anything move forward in the plot if there's not a bullheaded character who refuses to go with the norm? It just annoyed me when Kell would specifically explain to her why he needed her to give her something (vague in case of spoilers), and she just wouldn't do it. I know and understand that that is a big part of her character, how her and Kell interact, and how she ends up traveling with him, but it got on my nerves. I will say, though, that throughout the course of the book she did begin to grow on me, and I see positive potential for her character in the upcoming books. Overall, she's a strong character and I think she will continue to grow on me with subsequent books, but I'm not just automatically in love with her for being a strong female lead.

Overall, I'm completely torn about how to rate this. On the one hand, I can't help but want to give it anything other than a five star, but on the other hand I don't quite feel like it absolutely hit that five-star note for me. As a result, I have decided to give A Darker Shade of Magic four-and-a-half-stars, and I recommend to this just about anyone, especially those who love adventures and want something new. ...more

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Dec 12, 2023 Dana rated it it was ok

This book had excellent pacing and I was so relieved that V.E. Schwab is not afraid to kill people off. Some aspects of this book were great as a fantasy novel, particularly the world-building. I felt, however, that the magic system was a bit under-developed. It felt as though the magic operated in a very hand-wavey manner, like there were arbitrary reasons why certain things would or wouldn't work. For example, why would a spell not work for the entire book but suddenly work in the 11th hour?

T ...more

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May 12, 2015 Elisabeth rated it liked it

Shelves: good-not-great, just-ok

This book was good at times and had a hard time keeping my interest at other times. I wanted to like this book for so many reasons, yet didn't love any character in particular. There were times, especially in the middle of the book it dragged some for me, and felt like the author was repetative on the different Londons. It was a fine book, and will read the next one, but just not a favorite. ...more

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Nov 10, 2024 Salma rated it liked it

Shelves: cover, middle-of-the-road

Fascinating world. I think one thing V.E Schwab excells at is original world-building.

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May 30, 2019 Angelica Cindy rated it it was amazing

I have never read a book like this before and I have to say that I LOVED it!!! I have heard so much about this series and I have been wanting to read it for so long and I am so glad I finally picked it up! This book was a very unique experience that I enjoyed immensely. I LOVE the unique characters and the plot and I can't wait to see the adventures of the characters in the next books!! ...more

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