A Darker Shade of Magic

Antari could speak to blood. To life. To magic itself. The first and final element, the one that lived in all and was of none. "As Travars," he said. Travel. * * * * * 5 / 5 This book is simply stunning. It epitomises what fantasy fiction should be about: wonder, intrigue, deception, and most of all, magic. Every time I have read this I am enthralled by Schwab's characters, writing, and the delightful universe that she has crafted. "As Travars," he said. The wall gave way and the traveler and the thief stepped forward and through" I had the fortune to first read A Darker Shade of Magic back when it was first published (I bought in on March 28th, 2015 to be exact) and before V. E. Schwab become popular. In fact I'm reasonably sure I happened upon the book by chance on Amazon, whilst searching for something else to buy to get my basket total high enough to qualify for free shipping. I mention this because I had the luck to read this book before it was surrounded by hype, so I was free to read it without expectations. Because it is a marvellous, wonderful, original, magical book and hype is a dangerous and wicked thing. I am, however, absolutely thrilled that Schwab's writing is getting the recognition it deserves. I write this review having read it again in preparation for the release of A Conjuring of Light, and having now read some of Schwab's other work (specifically Vicious and This Savage Song). The Shades of Magic books are, in my opinion, definitely her best - the most original, the best writing, the most tantalising characters and setting. The premise is simple, in four overlapping universes there exists a London, differing yet the same. Black London was devoured, consumed by magic and the people that used it, but the other three still stand and can be traversed between. Each has its own character and levels of magic. "Grey for the magic-less city Red, for the healthy empire White, for the starving world" Enter Kell, an Antari - one who can walk between the worlds, in one of the most delightful entrances since the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. He's a risk-taker, a charmer, and a powerful mage, but he's terrible in combat, privileged and has an angry streak. He's also got a coat with many sides. Kell is officially an ambassador, bringing correspondence between the rulers of the Londons. Unofficially, since his privileged and thrilling life clearly isn't exciting enough for him, Kell is a smuggler of goods, breaker of the ancient law that no magical (or mundane) items may pass between the worlds. It is this deliciously naughty habit that launches Kell into the path of Delilah Bard, thief and cutpurse. "Lila Bard lived by a simple rule: if a thing was worth having, it was worth taking" The first of numerous things that I love about Delilah is her name, most likely because I'm exceedingly fond of the song Delilah by Florence + the Machine, and I play a bard/minstrel type character in lots of MMO's. The second thing I love about Lila is her wanderlust. Nineteen years old and yearning for the seas, for the winds that will bear her to freedom, and the song of the sea that calls her to adventure. She's exactly the kind of woman I'd have liked to be if I'd have learned that there existed a Red London: stubborn, daring, and determined to live to see it. She sets ships ablaze, steals knives, and has good taste in men's clothes. "They disrespect me," said Rhy with a dry smile. "The earth beneath your feet does not care you will be king." Rhy Maresh is the Crown Prince of Arnes, Kell's adoptive brother, and the royal flirt. He likes his fair share of debauchery but is also a kind, just man, if a little dense. Astrid and Athos Dane rule White London, an ash-coloured world forcibly drained of magic. They are vicious, totalitarian rulers, born and bred and raised in a city that struggles for power. Holland is the Antari of White London, bound against his will to the service of the Danes. The cast of A Darker Shade of Magic is varied and vibrant in character. Schwab has the wonderful talent of writing gorgeous, understated prose. Her writing is elegant but not overly metaphorical, dramatic, or flowery, or any of those things that have a tendency to wear upon readers. For example: Despite the city's soot and dire, its clutter and its poor, it had something Red London lacked: a resistance to change. An appreciation for the enduring, and the effort it took to make something so. This is absolutely the kind of writing that I love and if you thought that was a few well written sentences then you'll adore Schwab's style. It complements the plot perfectly: magical, enticing, and full of wonder. We follow Kell and Lila through the worlds, through conspiracies and forbidden magical artifacts in a book that is wondrous and captivating until the very last page.

"I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still" Oh gosh, I loved this so much!! THE PLOT: {NOTE: I reference a lot to the the londons here, so just know that there are 4 londons: Grey, White, Red and Black London) So basically this book follows our main character Kell who is an antari, who are a rare breed of species who can travel between worlds (Londons to be specific) which are otherwise closed for others. So, Kell is like a messenger for the worlds who delivers the message from his London(Red London) to the kings and queens of the others. But what most don't know about Kell is that he is a smuggler who smuggles stuff from his own London and sells it to the buyers in the other Londons (which by the way is illegal). We also follow another character Lila Bard who is a cutthroat and a thief (a very good one at that), She basically minds her own business, picking pockets of the Rich and has her face on the wanted posters all over her London (Grey London) and is also an aspiring pirate. Now remember that Kell is a smuggler, so one day when he went to deliver a message to White London, he unwillingly brings an item quite dangerous to Red London, but the worst part about it, he knows that the item should not exist.... Kell and Lila cross paths and after that the main story starts. THE WORLD: V.E. Shwab builds such an atmospheric and intricate world which makes it so much fun and interesting to read about. There are 4 versions of London, Red London in which people live peacefully with magic, Grey London, a world without magic where the people have forgot all about magic, White London, a dying London where people fight to keep every last bit of magic and the magic fights back and once there was Black London which is now destroyed. In simpler words *quoting Lila*, "There is Kell London, Dull London, Creepy London and Dead London" It may seem a little complicated but once you start reading its really not. THE CHARACTERS: Honestly my favorite part of any book! Ok so lets start with Lila Bard she was very well written while being a very strong female character and overall just absolutely amazing. Kell was also a very nice character and deserves so much love. Rhy is so precious. FINAL THOUGHTS: This was a fast paced fantasy/thriller with characters that you will fall in love with and a world that is so intricately woven throughout the story all with a backdrop of a very intriguing plot. Also this book is perfect for character-based readers and those who have loved Six of Crows!!

Dévorer en quelques jours, la mythologie du monde est passionnante, l'univers et les personnages sont bien recherchés, avec un système de magie qui change.

Welcome to the magical world of London. Actually, welcome to the magical worlds of Londons. Confused yet? Don’t be. A Darker Shade of Magic is like stepping in to the Twilight Zone. Schwab will immerse you in to a world of parallel Londons, full of magic, danger, and intrigue. Are you ready? “In truth, the cities themselves bore little resemblance to one another…” (Schwab, 15). The Plot: A Darker Shade of Magic will take you in to a world where four Londons exist in parallel. Our main character, Kell, keeps these worlds separated in his mind by calling them Red London, White London, Grey London, and Black London. As an Antari, a rare magical being, he is one of the only two people in the world who can travel between these parallel Londons, due to a struggle with magic and power from long ago that resulted in the doors between Londons being shut. Among his journey between Londons, to keep the peace between their rulers, he discovers something powerful and dangerous that could destroy the balance he tries so desperately to keep. He meets an unlikely ally in the fierce, spunky, independent Delilah Bard, and has to make a deadly decision that could affect the future of the parallel Londons and their rulers. Can he save his precious London, the parallel Londons, and Lila? “Only those few who could move among the Londons needed a way to keep them straight. And so Kell-inspired by the lost city known to all as Black London-had given each remaining capital a color.” (Schwab, 15). A Darker Shade of Magic is a story that is rich in mystery, magic, and intrigue. I found myself quickly turning each page to find out more about Kell, Lila, and the amazing parallel Londons. I was under Schwab’s spell and densely immersed in to this bizarre world where magic runs rampant through the cities. The world building in this one was incredible, and though the character building may have lacked just a hair, that only added to the mystery and enchantment of the story. I loved the idea of parallel cities and enjoyed the different characters. Kell was such a mystery to me. I enjoyed reading his character, and yet felt that I hardly knew him at all. He was so hard to picture in my mind, but that added so much intrigue to his past and his involvement in the story. I hope to find out more about him in the next books. “As an Antari, Kell was made of both, balance and chaos…” (Schwab, 44). Lila was such a fun character! I LOVED her! To make a well known comparison for readers, I pictured Kiera Knightly and her Pirate of the Caribbean character as Lila! She was brave, strong, feisty, and self-sufficient in her life. Even though she was a thief, she had a good set of morals and I think she paired well with Kell. “Lila Bard knew in her bones that she was meant to be a pirate.” (Schwab, 64). The rest of the characters, Holland, Rhy, and the rulers of each London, were developed just enough to make fine supportive characters. I feel like Holland was a good contrast to Kell and Rhy was quite entertaining to read. I would love to learn more about the Grey King and am certain we will learn more of Rhy in the next books. If you enjoy magic, mystery, intrigue, and a great “Twilight Zone” like story, then A Darker Shade of Magic is for you. I would rate this book 4 stars. I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

Sono DAVVERO DAVVERO felice di aver dato una chance a V.E. Schwab (più conosciuta, tra i lettori del genere YA come Victoria Schwab). Dopo essere stata delusa molte volte da video di youtube che elogiavano libri mediocri, difficilmente mi fido e decido di leggere un libro dopo che lo vedo sparso su tutto il reame booktubiano. Ma questa volta ho fatto decisamente bene. Partendo da una premessa interessante, che ricorda un po' un misto tra Il Castello Errante di Howl (Howl's Moving Castle, di Diana Wynne Jones) e Nessu Dove (Neverwhere, di Neil Gaiman), siamo trasportati nel mondo di Kell, un esponente della famiglia reale della Londra Rossa e uno degli unici due Antari viventi. Il suo lavoro ufficiale è quello di emissario, dal momento che gli Antari sono gli unici che possono viaggiare tra le diverse Londre, grazie al fatto che sono in grado di utilizzare la magia del sangue. Ufficiosamente, è un contrabbandiere di oggetti provenienti dalle diverse città: attività, questa, illegale e che sarà la causa di molti suoi problemi. Mi dispiace davvero che Victoria Schwab non sia ancora pubblicata in Italia: seriamente, che state aspettando? Questo libro è tutto ciò che si può volere da un fantasy: il mondo è costruito alla perfezione, e l'approccio alla magia è sicuramente nuovo. La magià è un'entità viva e forte, e pervade tutti gli esseri del mondo creato dall'autrice. I personaggi sono realistici, abbastanza misteriosi per essere interessanti, ma non troppo, in modo tale da essere credibili. E la narrazione scorre che è un piacere: si viene trasportati in questo mondo senza troppe difficoltà, i momenti descrittivi sono ben bilanciati dalle scene d'azione. Non è un libro complesso come può essere la saga de Le Cronache del Ghiaccio e del Fuoco, ma è ben scritto e ben orchestrato. Come stile di storia/narrazione ricorda molto Neil Gaiman o anche la saga di Bartimeus (che è meravigliosa), quindi se vi piace quel genere di libro sicuramente apprezzerete questo!