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A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)

V.E. Schwab,

Victoria Schwab

Start date: May 1, 2016

Finish date: May 31, 2016

Discussion: Series

Why we're reading this: Won the poll for the series BOTM
[close] Won the poll for the series BOTM

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Series

* Continuing Series- Nightbane
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last updated Aug 12, 2025 07:32AM

* New Series- The Princess Trials
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What Members Thought

Jun 14, 2019 Noelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, read-2019, fantasy

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on this series so I went in not really knowing what to expect. But, MAN, I enjoyed this one. Maybe I'm just a messed up individual, but my favorite character in this first book was Holland. He was just so interesting. I've also heard a lot of polarizing things about Lila, but I really didn't mind her in this. I found her to be quite fun. And Kell. I just loved him. His and Rhy's brotherly bond really made me happy.

I found the magic system to be super interestin ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Feb 16, 2017 Colleen Scidmore rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: currently-on-my-computer, currently-on-google-drive, books-read-in-2017, young-adult, historical-fiction, dark, part-of-a-series, fantasy, tales-of-england, drama

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I thought the author was so imaginative to come up with 4 Londons that exist all at once but are totally different in the way they live. The only thing they have in common really is magic. Grey London, named because it is so dull in life and color, has very little magic and only a select few know of the other 3 Londons and are always on the lookout to purchase items from the other cities, even though is against the law and a very serious offense. Red London is a city full of magic and seems to b I thought the author was so imaginative to come up with 4 Londons that exist all at once but are totally different in the way they live. The only thing they have in common really is magic. Grey London, named because it is so dull in life and color, has very little magic and only a select few know of the other 3 Londons and are always on the lookout to purchase items from the other cities, even though is against the law and a very serious offense. Red London is a city full of magic and seems to be thriving and the most healthy. Red London actual has a red glow of magic that comes from Grey Londons version of the Thames River. White London is a city that is also full of magic, but it is dying and the people there are dangerous and desperate to get magic from anything and anyone. It is named White London because it is absent of color and actually is a shade of white. And last but not least is Black London that is now sealed and no one can enter. Black London was a source of powerful dark magic that took control and turned it citizens into crazed people that ran amuck giving into the darkness.

Kell the Main Character, is one of the only two Antaris (Blood Magician) left and they alone can move between all of the London's excluding Black London. But his residence is in the palace of Red London. Kell is such a likable character but he has one serious flaw that triggers a chaotic series of events because he succumbs to the thrill of smuggling items from one London to the other.
When Kell is trying to avert the danger that befalls him he flees him home and transports himself into Grey London where he crosses path with Lila Bard. Lila is a wanted thief and robber who has had to take care of herself since she was a young child. She lives life on her own terms with no rules, pushing boundaries, thinking only of herself and always looking for a way out of London and on to a life of adventure.
After Kell realizes that he cannot evade the danger and discovers Lila has stolen the one item he needs to set things right they come to a shaky alliance that allows Kell to retrieve the item in exchange for taking Lila with him into the other Londons.
From this point on Kell & Lila are on a whirlwind mission to save their Londons and only have each other to rely on and keep each other alive.

This was quite a good story. I knew right away I was going to enjoy this book. Sometimes you can just tell after a couple of chapters and this was one of them. The book was really fast paced and kept me on my toes at all times. It's a story of magic, treachery, betrayal as well as loyalty and friendship.
I really liked Kell and Lila both. Kell was really a pretty honorable man, except for the smuggling part, who had such a big place in his heart for Rhy that really endeared him to me. And Lila was such a spit fire, I loved that she could take care of herself on the mean streets of London especially being a girl. She is tougher than most men. Her character really grew as the book went on, I got to see glimpses of some warmth and humanity in her and it was a wonderful transformation.
(view spoiler) ...more

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Jul 28, 2021 aikaterine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: heroines, series-started, physical-read

A Darker Shade of Magic , the book I've had on my shelves for about 4 years but never before read. I know how hyped people are about this series, and it always intimidates me a bit when I'm reading a book so many people love. And, even if it's not my favorite book or anything, I ended up enjoying this story so much.

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ADSOM revolves around Kell, a powerful magician who can travel between the 3 Londons, Red, Grey and White, and Lila, a cross-dres ...more

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Jan 11, 2017 Megan rated it it was amazing

“Looking for trouble, he'd say. You're gonna look til you find it.
Trouble is the looker, she'd answer. It keeps looking till it finds you. Might as well find it first.
Why do you want to die?
I don't, she'd say. I just want to live.”

I was hesitant about this book. You see, I have had a long string of "sci-fi/fantasy" books that have been complete busts. I really enjoy stories where the author has to create completely new worlds, and sometimes it just doesn't work for me. It can get too complicated “Looking for trouble, he'd say. You're gonna look til you find it.
Trouble is the looker, she'd answer. It keeps looking till it finds you. Might as well find it first.
Why do you want to die?
I don't, she'd say. I just want to live.”

I was hesitant about this book. You see, I have had a long string of "sci-fi/fantasy" books that have been complete busts. I really enjoy stories where the author has to create completely new worlds, and sometimes it just doesn't work for me. It can get too complicated where I have no idea what I'm reading or they spend so much time painting the world for you, they lose the story. After having this book in my "to read" shelf on Goodreads, I decided to finally give it a try.

Oh my goodness it was much better than I expected it to be. The world building was spot on and there was still a story that I couldn't get enough of. This story is set in a place where 4 different Londons exist. Grey, White, Red and Black. Each have different qualities and have different levels of magic. The story focuses on 2 main characters. Kell from Red London, who is an "Antari" (basically a person who possess magical powers) and Lila from Grey London, a thief who wants so desperately to be a pirate who is constantly on adventures.

Red London has a King and Queen and so does White London. Except White London is ruled by a crazy, power hungry twin brother and sister who are extremely powerful. Kell comes to posses a stone from Black London (which has fallen, or so they say) and it causes a bunch of problems everywhere. The rulers of White London are trying to take control of this stone

Now that I'm writing this it sounds way more complicated than I remember it being. It was slightly difficult to keep the different Londons straight, but once it all clicked it was incredible. It has magic, with a bit of adventure and phenomenal world building. Definitely an author I need to read more from.
Likes: The world. I like that she took a real life place and added her twist to it.

Dislikes: I honestly can't think of anything. It kept me up late at night reading and I instantly wanted the next book when I finished.

10/10

For more reviews: https://soulmeetsbooks.wordpress.com/ ...more

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Apr 08, 2021 Katerina rated it it was amazing

5/5
ko-fi • Instagram • TikTok

Magic ✔️
Plot focused ✔️
Amazing world building ✔️
Magic that seems to have it's own entity and emotions ✔️
Characters you want to gobble up ✔️

So this book has literally been sitting on my shelf for almost 6 years now, and all I can think to myself is "Kat what the hell were you thinking for putting this master piece off!!!!?" Not only that but this was my first VE Scwab book ever and so many people told me she was a queen at writing plot and characters you can't get eno ...more

3 likes · Like · see review