A Darker Shade of Magic [Feb 10, 2018]

[Mel]

So things have finally gotten going, and Kell and Lila have their mission. I'm enjoying it more now that the two characters have met, but wow! I'm halfway through the book and it's only the end of the first act. I wonder about the pacing for the rest of it.

Also, I get that Lila is young and impetuous, but mostly I just find her annoying.

[Charlie]

Melissa wrote: "So things have finally gotten going, and Kell and Lila have their mission. I'm enjoying it more now that the two characters have met, but wow! I'm halfway through the book and it's only the end of ..."

I found Lila annoying too. I could have happily had the story without her.

[Mel]

Guys, I'm struggling to get through this. You know when you WANT to like a book, and so it takes you longer to realize how much you don't? Well, my charity only extends so far, and now my brain has gone full MST3K mode. Like, I got about 10 pages last night before Barron wakes up in the middle of the night and (view spoiler)[gets his throat slit. Great, the minor character I kind of actually like is dead. (hide spoiler)] Today I couldn't get more than 20 pages before clawing at my face because the writing is so baddddd. Like, emotional outbursts out of nowhere because it's convenient, I guess?

Unfortunately I think I'm ♪past the point of no return♪ and will push through.

[Brittany]

Melissa wrote: "Guys, I'm struggling to get through this. You know when you WANT to like a book, and so it takes you longer to realize how much you don't? Well, my charity only extends so far, and now my brain has..."

I understand some of your pain. I think this book is okay. I wouldn't say it is blowing my mind, but honestly I don't feel pulled to pick up this book, I don't have any compulsion to need to find out what will happen next. I have about 100 pages left and I feel pretty meh about this book and I figure I will finish it when I finish it, there really just isn't pulling me into this world or this story.

[Charlie]

Push through guys, its only short! I hate leaving books unfinished, I always feel I've wasted time reading if I don't finish.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Djokovic wrote: "Yay just finished. Unfortunately I agree with everyone disliking this. Really disappointed especially sincy I really liked the Unbound. Oh well.

Two things:
Was anyone else frustrated by the stone..."

I think that would have actually improved the book. Def more chemistry with Rhy than with Lila.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Djokovic wrote: "@Dianna oh I was wondering since you listened to the audiobook, how’d they pronounce Lila? I assumed since it’s short for Delilah that it was Lie-luh"

Yup. That's it.

[Brittany]

So I just finished this book and it was pretty average to me. It took me a lot longer to get through than I thought and I think it is honestly because I didn't really care what happened. There wasn't enough depth to almost anything to absorb me into the story. Certainly not a bad book by any means, but to me it felt pretty underwhelming, especially the end.

[Mel]

Finally finished it. I think that Lila improved somewhat in the second half. Still, it was a slog to get through. There were a lot of elements that could have been cut out entirely. A lot of set up, with a paltry payoff. And just... confusing plotholes.

I agree that it would have been more interesting to explore Kell and Rhy's relationship more. We're told about it more than actually see it. I think it would have been better if they had more scenes together to develop that chemistry and let the reader care for Rhy themselves.

[Charlie]

Brittany wrote: "So I just finished this book and it was pretty average to me. It took me a lot longer to get through than I thought and I think it is honestly because I didn't really care what happened. There wasn..."

I've heard books 2 and 3 get much better so I think I'll continue with this series at some point even though I didn't love book 1.

[Mel]

Djokovic wrote: "@Melissa Rhy was actually my favorite character and m..."

Yeah, I would have liked the same. We spend more time with Rhy's guards than him. Kell and Rhy have four pages together in the beginning. And even then (view spoiler)[This was after he received the pendant. So he's already possessed at that point? Why would you place the scene where he receives the gift first, so suspicion is thrown on him? The way he's written, he's foreshadowed as an ominous character, and the only proof otherwise is how he is described by Kell as a beloved brother. (hide spoiler)] Gah, there are so many elements just not thought out in this book. Bad writing. I'd rather not belabor myself picking apart every meaningless scene, but needless to say I won't be continuing with the series.

[Mel]

Okay, I lied. Can we just acknowledge the fact that the entire first chapter is spent with characters we NEVER SEE AGAIN? (Except for a brief cameo of Ned, who (view spoiler)[runs over Booth with his carriage.) That scene was pointless as well. What to do with this leftover magic sword? Let's possess a drunkard with it. You know, someone disposable, like prostitutes and guardsmen. Will he go on the attack so Kell and Lila have to face him? Nope. He gets run over by a carriage. All so Ned, who we don't care about, can ominously rub the magic dust on himself. (hide spoiler)] So much of the drag in this book is clumsy boring setup for future books in the series, and I just can't be bothered.