A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab -- Restarting December 11th 2023

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

I'm 30% in and I can't stop reading .. (view spoiler)[this is multiple POVs (some very random) but the main characters Kell and Lila are really mysterious and interesting..

she's like the female Zorro/Robin Hood and he has to uncover his heritage and the stolen memory.. intriguing!!

I think they're going to work together seeing as both mention/have maps.. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Unfortunately I haven't been able to start yet. :( I will be today though!

[C.P.]

15% Man, this book doesn't want me to put it down. (view spoiler)[The different London's are really interesting. And I wonder where Kell came from and what the k l stands for...<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Courtney wrote: "15% Man, this book doesn't want me to put it down. [spoilers removed]"

It is soooooooooo addiction (view spoiler)[there's many questions that I need answers to and that is one of them.. (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

50% (view spoiler)[awwwwwwwww that kiss .. they're really perfect & I feel bad about Kell trying to let himself in the black London without coming back (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

85% It's so good (view spoiler)[Holland just chooses the most inappropriate times to stop them *ugh* .. I LOVED how Kell used Holland's trick on Athos.. That was awesome (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Ending (view spoiler)[he figured Astrid wasn't Lila when she said please LOL! that was funny.. and I'm so happy Kell didn't go to Black London himself and threw Holland there instead..

the end: my heart says WHY DID THEY PART WAY? my mind says I AM SO HAPPY LILA IS GOING AFTER HER DREAMS .. but I LOVE it. It leaves the door open for more

"what are you" "stubborn" << favorite line <333 (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

33%(view spoiler)[Who wants that stone and is willing to hurt Kell for it? Does Rhy have anything to do with this, I wonder. And now Lila has stolen it...<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥ wrote: "I'm 30% in and I can't stop reading ..

(view spoiler)[I'm very interested to see where things are going with Kell and Lila. This should be fun.<\spoiler>

It looks like you really enjoyed this! I wish I had been able to start earlier and keep up, but I'm very intrigued with the story so far. (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

sorry I outpaced you but I felt emotionally glued to it.. The second I put it down I start craving it xD

(view spoiler)[yeah, I'm interested to know where this Lila/Kell going.. I also sensed undertones of Rhy/Kell thing going on.. especially when Kell carried him after he was about to die and Rhy said "such a sweet voice" or something.. Idk if you sensed it as well (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

No worries! Im just trying to read too many books at once. I get a lot done, but none of them very quickly individually.

[C.P.]

53% (view spoiler)[Such an interesting story. Holland is creepy. Not as creepy as the rulers of white London, but creepy. And I felt bad that Barron was killed. He seemed like a good guy.<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Courtney wrote: "53% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I know, I really liked Barron :( (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

75% (view spoiler)[Man, that must be rough for Kell. Being beaten up by the body of your brother and knowing that it's not actually him but unable to get to him. Not pleasant.<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

88%(view spoiler)[So Lila is antari...That makes sense. (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

Could one of the mods change the date for June 9th?

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting June 12th 2015. Happy Reading ☺

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[Tati]

At around 27%

It's a bit hard to keep track of the all the different Londons.

And (view spoiler)[ I'm curious about Kell's past, and thinking that the Red royal family is not as nice as they seem (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

I don't know if it was because I was still hung over from The Wrath And The Dawn, but I found this book pretty unremarkable...

(view spoiler)[ the idea of the different Londons was really original, though the language kept distracting me a bit (I mean, essen means to eat in German)

The very ending was a bit confusing, and I'm sure Holland was not dead, so he'll cause some trouble on the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting July 10th 2015. Happy Reading ☺

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[Twila]

I'll join this :D
I've read a little and so far I think the story is very interesting and the writing is really good.

[Sibil]

You're welcome! *_* I'm very excited about this book and I hope to start it very soon!!! :)

[Melanie]

I'm really liking this so far. The first few chapters were very interesting.

[Rachael]

I'll be joining too :) is one of my favorite series so I'm excited for this one by the same author (I think?)

[Berit☀️✨]

I'll be joining you all! Probably won't get to it until Monday, fingers crossed.

[Melanie]

Yay!!! More buddy readers.

[Twila]

VIII: An arrangement I (view spoiler)[ I hope no sort of romance happens between Kell and Lila. She annoys me (hide spoiler)]
X: One white rook II (view spoiler)[I wonder why Kell doesn't just tell his family what he's really doing. Would it be that bad? And he's acting weird. It's like he's never planning to come home. (hide spoiler)]
XI: Masquerade V (view spoiler)[ Did Rhy just die? OMG (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I really enjoyed this. The world building was beautiful. I'm glad no romance happened and I won't really be sad if Kell and Lila don't reunite for book 2. And I want to see more of Rhy in book 2! I'm glad I picked this up :) (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

Berit wrote: "I'll be joining you all! Probably won't get to it until Monday, fingers crossed."
We're waiting for you! :) And there's no hurry! :)


Rachael wrote: "I'll be joining too :) is one of my favorite series so I'm excited for this one by the same author (I think?)"

Yes, she's the same person, and I'd like to read The Archived series. I read and I like it very much! :)

Melanie wrote: "I'm really liking this so far. The first few chapters were very interesting."

I agree! :)

First and second part (view spoiler)[ I love the world building! I think is original and intriguing, and I'm in love with Kell. I know that's it's too early, but I find him compelling! And I want to know more about his past! (hide spoiler)]

[Sibil]

III The Grey Thief (view spoiler)[I think I love Lila! I love thieves and I love pirates, so how can I not love her? And Barron? Ok, maybe it's just the name because it's very similar to Barrons, the main character of the Fever Sseries by Moning, but I think I like him anyway! (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

I will also be joining starting tomorrow.

[Sibil]

Jackie wrote: "I will also be joining starting tomorrow."

You're welcome! :)

VI-V (view spoiler)[The meeting between Lila and Kell was intersting! (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

Through Part VI (view spoiler)[ This is interesting so far.. The world and the magic is very unique and well thought out. Kell is really mysterious and witty and I like him as a main character. Who set him up though?? Possibly Holand or one of the rulers from White London? (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

Sibil wrote: "III The Grey Thief [spoilers removed]"

I like Lila too.. She's very bad ass

[Berit☀️✨]

OK guys, I started this but I think I'm going to have to go back and re-listen to some of it, I might've been spacing out, doesn't mean I don't like it just means I was facing out ;-)

I do understand there are three London's, but I really want to understand it completely, so I'll be back in a bit to report :-)

[Rachael]

Haha that happens to me all the time with audio books!!

[Berit☀️✨]

Here's my problem, it's an English accent and it is a man, and somehow I zoned out on those, more than other books, not quite sure why :-)

[Berit☀️✨]

OK, so glad I pretty much started over, I'm really enjoying this, he just got back from gray London(view spoiler)[ I like the three different London's, I'm enjoying the magic, I like Kale and how powerful he is, interested to see where this goes (hide spoiler)] I haven't met Lila yet, now I can't wait ;-)

[Sibil]

Berit wrote: "OK, so glad I pretty much started over, I'm really enjoying this, he just got back from gray London[spoilers removed] I haven't met Lila yet, now I can't wait ;-)"

(view spoiler)[The three different Londons are an original idea and I like them too! :) (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

Berit wrote: "Here's my problem, it's an English accent and it is a man, and somehow I zoned out on those, more than other books, not quite sure why :-)"

I'm listening to the audiobook too and I have the same problem! I usually listen at x3 speed but this is on 1x

[Berit☀️✨]

It's getting better, because I'm getting more into the story, and I do like Lila!!!
I'm listening at 1.25 which is working for me, but I can never listen to anything at 3 :p

[Rachael]

I listen to simple love story books on 3x.. Ones where there is no world building or imagination necessary.

[Rachael]

Through Part X (view spoiler)[ I'm excited for the Masquerade and Kel & Lila's reunion.. I feel the love building between them! (hide spoiler)]

[Berit☀️✨]

Through part XI(view spoiler)[Loving Lila, a protagonist who isn't whiny, got a love that! What a mess this all is, magic doesn't seem all that fantastic RN ;-) (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

I'm on part 4 and it's really good and Lila seems like she's going to be my favorite character so far and I want to know more about Kell's past.

[Berit☀️✨]

I'm finished! And yes Lila kicks utt! Anyone else who's finished do you think (view spoiler)[ her glass I was black? Will we find that out in the next book? I'm thinking so! b (hide spoiler)]

[Berit☀️✨]

Got to love AutoCorrect ;-) I meant Kik butt!

[Twila]

Berit wrote: "I'm finished! And yes Lila kicks utt! Anyone else who's finished do you think [spoilers removed]"

I never thought of that!
Maybe!"

[Berit☀️✨]

This is why I think this(view spoiler)[ remember when they were down in the tunnels, and the priest asked her about how she lost her eye ? And he knew she had magic in her, also the fact that CAL didn't know she had a glass eye (hide spoiler)]