A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1) in The Sword and Laser

Nov 30, 2015 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lgbtq, fantasy, lgbtq-bi-pan-omni, 2015

4.5 Stars

As someone who adores reading fantasy novels as often as possible it’s always hard to find truly unique and standout stories, and A Darker Shade of Magic is one of those rare gems.

Schwab doesn’t stop at just giving us one vivid and detailed world, instead she gives us three. Grey London, Red London, and White London…a interesting multi-verse like arrangement linked by magic and doors only usable by those like Kell. One of my favorite things about books with magic is the possibility of a 4.5 Stars

As someone who adores reading fantasy novels as often as possible it’s always hard to find truly unique and standout stories, and A Darker Shade of Magic is one of those rare gems.

Schwab doesn’t stop at just giving us one vivid and detailed world, instead she gives us three. Grey London, Red London, and White London…a interesting multi-verse like arrangement linked by magic and doors only usable by those like Kell. One of my favorite things about books with magic is the possibility of a new magic system and how the author handles the use of it, and I really love what Schwab did with this one. Magic is portrayed as something entirely different in each world, and it was interesting to see how those differences of perspective lead to different social standings and life styles. Then we also have special magical beings like Kell, who are naturally capable of more and can use magic in ways others only dream of. This combined with the excellent world building (in triplicate) made for a rather beautiful and rich storytelling experience that has truly been a highlight this year.

Then of course comes the actual characters. I fell in love with Kell almost immediately, I loved his quiet unassuming nature and his desire to be independent despite his importance to the royal family. I also like that despite all his power he never has the really desire to abuse it a way that would put him ahead of others. But the real fangirling began when Lila Bard entered the scene. This woman is witty, street smart, has sticky fingers, and is prone to violence. She wants freedom more than anything else, and while it does lead her headlong into danger she’s smart enough to know how to handle the consequences (even if it means running) and brave enough to face even unlikely odds when needed to. I loved these two together and their unlikely partnership truly makes the story. His well mannered calm and her hot headed selfishness were just perfect together because if there is anything I like more than a witty character it’s seeing others scramble to adjust to them.

Overall, I think this was a complete and total win. It has plenty of action, spine-chilling tension, and so many feels! I have no idea where the next book is going to go, but I’m beyond excited to find out. ...more

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Apr 06, 2017 Melani rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alternate-earth

I am finding myself feeling rather lackluster about this book. I liked it, it was fine if predictable, but I think I was expecting a lot more and it’s just not there. This is going to be one of those reviews that sounds a lot more negative than I actually feel about the book. I did like it, I’m going to read the next books, but I can’t work up to the level of excitement that I feel has surrounded the book.

The premise of the book is that there exist four cities, all named London, in a kind of par I am finding myself feeling rather lackluster about this book. I liked it, it was fine if predictable, but I think I was expecting a lot more and it’s just not there. This is going to be one of those reviews that sounds a lot more negative than I actually feel about the book. I did like it, I’m going to read the next books, but I can’t work up to the level of excitement that I feel has surrounded the book.

The premise of the book is that there exist four cities, all named London, in a kind of parallel universe situation. These different cities are all very different, though they share some bare bones similarities in the form of geography, some physical structures (mainly where the author needed them to share structures), and of course the name. The four cities don’t even share a language, though English is considered the language of royalty in all other Londons but ours, the ‘grey’ and magic-less one. No real explanation given for why except that it is the language the four cities use to communicate and I guess since no one in our world knows about the other cities, English is the default. Included in these differences is the amount of magic and how the worlds use magic. Our London has so little magic its non-existent. Red London is in perfect balance, White London is starving (despite being second closest to the magic source? It is a huge plot point that feels very much like a plot hole). Black London is one no one speaks about, it became overrun with magic a few centuries ago and was sealed off, and is the reason the four cities are so separate from each other. So you have these four cities, and the only person who can travel between them (except Black London of course, that is completely sealed off) is a super rare kind of magician who is identified by having on black eye. Why exactly the remaining three Londons have kept in touch is never really explained. Like I said, all doors were closed and sealed off; but apparently the monarchs keep in touch for some reason. Because PLOT I guess. Kell is one of these magicians, one of our protagonists, and a smuggler. Lila is a thief from our world, and our other protagonist. Kell smuggles the wrong item (and evil stone) from one place to another and Lila steals it from him. This, of course causes, the two of them to get tangled up together and oh goodness can they stop the evil? It is all so very rote and predictable.

I just was not wowed or surprised by this book. The writing is perfectly serviceable, and the plot is very standard. The world building is interesting, but not really as unique as I was expecting. It also doesn't feel like a living breathing world. It's there to service the plot. Also, this is supposedly set during the last years of Mad King George in our world and that.... really doesn't come across at all. It's extremely modern feeling and I'm not sure why that arbitrary time was chosen. The characters are your basic standard YA protagonists; despite this being Schwab’s adult outing. In fact, it read very much like a standard YA fantasy with just a little more sex and violence thrown in to adult things up, if that makes sense.

As I said, it is a fine book. I will be reading the others though I am not dying to read them right away. I am not rushing out to recommend this to everyone I meet though. This is a solid two and a half star read, I'm rounding up to three, but depending on how the wind blows I could just as easily round it down to two. ...more

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Jun 28, 2016 Walt O'Hara rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, steampunkish, fantastic

Man, I really wanted to like this book. It has all the elements that I'm usually game to read from cover to cover instantly-- a touch of magical realism, set in vaguely familiar proto-steampunky, parallel universes, evil guys, good guys, cynical guys. A plucky heroine from the bad side of town, with a heart of gold. The setting is this sort of mystical micro-universe where there are four known variants of existence-- Grey London, Red London, White London, and a fourth, vanished Black London. Gre Man, I really wanted to like this book. It has all the elements that I'm usually game to read from cover to cover instantly-- a touch of magical realism, set in vaguely familiar proto-steampunky, parallel universes, evil guys, good guys, cynical guys. A plucky heroine from the bad side of town, with a heart of gold. The setting is this sort of mystical micro-universe where there are four known variants of existence-- Grey London, Red London, White London, and a fourth, vanished Black London. Grey London (of course) is the London we all know from THIS world, the one in Britain, at the time of George III. Magic is almost unknown there. Red London, a much funner place where magic flourishes, a good dynasty reigns over a country that is not-England (although London stays London in all of them). White London is a harsh place where two descendants of Vikings(?) rule by murder and coercion. Black London was destroyed in a magical cataclysm that sealed the worlds off from one another-- it is apparently the place where magic is sentient, seeking more power by devouring human hosts. I think? There are only two individuals that can transverse the boundaries of the Londons-- they are the 'Antari', depicted with one solid black eye and one normal eye. The Red London Anatari is Kell, who spends his time as an errand boy for the Red London Royalty, and smuggling artifacts from various Londons. In addition, he is the property of the Royal Family, and adopted brother to the Red London Prince (Rye). Of course, Kell is considered a bit of a rogue but responsible enough to be riding heard on his womanizing brother Rye. Rye is a familiar trope in fantasy, a rogue and a wastrel (they say, we don't see much of it) who is growing into the role of the future king who will one day have to take life seriously and blah blah blah. The other Antari is Holland, from White London (of whom, more later) Kell, the adopted Red Antari, is on a mission to White London (a nasty place with the Bad People in it) and he gets hoodwinked/set up/made a fall guy to pick up a package that turns out to have a half of a stone token from mythical (destroyed) Black London. He gets ambushed in Red London, flees to Grey London, and runs afoul of the OTHER Antari, the decidedly nastier Holland. Holland is apparently behind a conspiracy(?) to dominate? control? the other Londons, to open them up to conquest by proxy by White London, using the Wild Magic amulet (the Black Stone from Black London, which is a super magic weapon).

While Kell is hiding from Holland in Grey London, he encounters the other POV character, Lila Bard. Lila is yet another fantasy/steampunk trope, the plucky but lovable guttersnipe who dresses like a man and has the heart for adventure. She is a pickpocket, a cutpurse, and a girl makin' it on the mean streets of almost-victorian London (George III is on the throne, yet they have revolvers in common use? Whaaaaah?) Anyway, she's tough.. the author reinforces how tough as nails and bitter she is. Page after page. Awkward dialogue after awkward dialogue. We get it. Kell and Lila make an awkward alliance to bring the stone back to Black London where it will be safe, adventures transpire, lots of people get killed willy-nilly, and the vast extent of the betrayal of, well, you know, the bad guys, becomes clear. Except it doesn't. There were two things that bothered me about this book. I like the basic concept just fine, I love the parallel Londons idea.. but man, the execution was clumsier than a new born chick running a marathon. The dialogue was very hackneyed in places. I think if I had a nickel for how many times I read "Lila.. (dramatic pause)... RUN!" .. well, I'd have a mess o' nickels. And the motivation! What the heck? WHY do the bad guys do what they do? WHY? Sure, Holland is evil and twisted, but we never know what he thinks, he's just a creepy ciper. And the mega bad guy.. he's a monologing psycho from the old school, but what the hell made him so angry at Kell? Wasn't Kell useful to everyone who wanted to talk or trade between worlds, just a while ago? Aren't there only TWO of these guys? Why be angry at him? Just because you have an evil plan? So the Big Big Bad is hard to understand, therefore their motivations are murky and the plot and denouement kind are kind of a big muddle.

With that said, A Darker Shade of Magic did have some great, although not exactly original ideas, with the Red-Gray-White-Black London setting, the various flavors of magic, the Antari (all two of them) and how it all kind of lurched to an ending eventually. V.E. Schwab isn't what I would consider a great literary stylist but I'm sure this series (and it will be a series, I checked) will go down well with the Young Adult crowd. For me, it started out well but became a bit of a chore to get through, so I'll give it 3 stars. ...more

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Mar 20, 2018 Jason rated it really liked it

I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I will enjoy anything with magic. The only thing keeping this from 5 stars was there were a couple of times where things were just too convenient, plus I don't need exposition from a character (like in a movie) when the author could just tell me. Other than that, original and awesome. ...more

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Feb 18, 2018 Mechelle rated it liked it

I just couldn't connect with this book. I don't know why because it has everything I usually love. I just didn't /connect/ ok. It could be because I've been really sick? But whatever. ...more

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