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

by V.E. Schwab

“Love doesn’t keep us from freezing to death, Kell,” she continued, “or starving, or being knifed for the coins in our pocket. Love doesn’t buy us anything, so be glad for what you have and who you have because you may want for things but you need for nothing.”

Holland knew. He’d seen the attack coming, and he hadn’t stopped it. The instant before the metal struck him from behind, Holland had stopped fighting. It was only a second, a fraction of a breath, but it had been enough to give Kell the edge, the opening. And in the sliver of time after the metal pierced his body, and before he fell, it wasn’t anger or pain that crossed his face. It was relief.

Athos smiled grimly. “You are like Holland,” he said. “Do you know why he could not take the crown? He never relished war. He saw bloodshed and battle as means to an end. A destination. But I have always relished the journey. And I promise you, I’m going to savor this.”

Rhy wearing her talisman. Rhy flashing a smile that was too cruel and too cold to be his own. Rhy curling his fingers around Kell’s throat and whispering in his ear with someone else’s words. Rhy thrusting a knife into his stomach. Rhy—his Rhy—crumpling to the stone floor. Rhy bleeding. Rhy dying. Kell wanted to crush her for what she’d done. And

It’s really quite hard to kill Antari, he had once said. It appeared he was right.

Rhy laughed silently. “I apologize for anything I might have done. I was not myself.” “I apologize for shooting you in the leg,” said Lila. “I was myself entirely.”

Magic bent the world. Pulled it into shape. There were fixed points. Most of the time those points were places. But sometimes, rarely, they were people.