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Much love <3 p="">Raychelle

Book review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Magic, Intrigue, Princes, and Thieves all come together in the intricate setting of London for this high-stakes fantasy adventure perfect for anyone who loves to get lost in a great read. 

The old saying "Never judge a book by it's cover" has been repeated so many times we almost believe it. Thankfully, the team at Tom Doherty Associates developed the PERFECT cover for ADSOM. Not only is it eye-catching, it is also very reflective of the story it holds within. 

Kell is an Antari, one of only two remaining who can travel between worlds. It takes a bit of blood magic to create a door between one London and another; however, once a door has been made, it will always remain and then only a few spoken words and a call bit of blood are necessary to complete the travel. Kell comes from Red London, where magic thrives, and there is also a Grey London, which does not have any magic and is very similar to our London; White London which has very little magic remaining and due to a power struggle; and Black London which is presumed destroyed after corrupt magic consumed it, although no one has tried to enter since. 

Transference of items between the worlds is forbidden and anyone caught doing so would be a traitor; however, Kell has created a business out of meeting collectors and enthusiasts of magical artifacts and selling items from Red London. When he is deceived into taking a dangerous item, he runs into Delilah Bard. Thinking Kell an easy target, Delilah pickpockets him and secures her role in saving their worlds. Delilah is perhaps my favorite character with her witty, no-nonsense attitude and her kick-butt antics. She is sharp, quick, and stubborn to her core, but she is also true to herself which allows her to remain open to learning and growing.

While we are only introduced to parts of each London, there is great world-building throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I felt immersed in the story and attached to the characters. Kell and Delilah are not typical hero and heroine so I was able to go into the story without feeling like I knew the direction it would go. The magic system created by the author was well developed so I was able to follow along and not feel pulled out of the story while trying to understand how it worked. I did have high expectations for this book since it is by Victoria Schwab and it received so much hype. I have to say that for me, it totally hit the mark.