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.
