Review: A Darker Shade of Magic

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this as part of a buddy read. It seemed like a good time. This has been sitting on my tbr for ages because I absolutely loved Vicious. I also have it on audio, which always makes the read a little more fun.

This is no exception.

Imagine London. Grey, rainy, and maybe even a bit dull--but only because it's grey.

Now, imagine another London layered on top of that London, that Grey London. We'll call this second layer of London Red London. We'll do this because it has a red hue about it. We'll do this because it's brighter and more magical than Grey London. We'll do this because they embrace their magic.

Are you still with me? Good. Imagine another London atop Red London. This is White London. White London is much different. White London is full of magic and cutthroats and backstabbing. White London is a survival of the fittest London.

Can we take it a step further and layer one more London? A Black London? A London who let the magic corrupt their very essence and tried to take over all the many layers of London? Imagine that Black London as an empty space full of dark magic just trying to escape.

It's all in A Darker Shade of Magic. It's all there and it is there for you to imagine. VE Schwab does a great job detailing the many layers of London, the magic needed to travel between these 4 worlds, the magic that is rare and unique and all of the things magic should be.

Delilah Bard is just a thief in Grey London. Her only goal is to be free. She's cunning and strong and she's a wanted man.

Kell is magical. He can travel between the Londons--and he's only one of two people who are capable of this.

What happens when these two meet? How is it possible that a simple girl from Grey London can help a magical man such as Kell?

I'm a believer of magic. I'm a believer of luck and fate and magical cities that are within our grasp if only the magic was available to everyone. We all have a little magic in us, right?

Follow Kell and Lila on their journey through Grey, Red, White, and Black London. See what no one else can see. Live like the others can't live. Protect yourself from dark magic.

View all my reviews