Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

This refreshingly original novel helped restore my faith in high fantasy after so many D&D McFantasyland adventures. It’s set in London and London and London, three different Londons in parallel universes with differing amounts of magic in each, the most familiar of which being “Grey London” which was in our universe in 1811.

The main character is named Kel, and while he’s not a very dramatic character, he’s f a foil around which the more interesting characters interact. His step-brother prince Rye is a happy-go-lucky party boy, and his counterpart (he’s of some magical race with one jet-black eye) is the laconic and soulless Holland. Kel encounters Lila, who is an immoral, ambitious cutpurse who relishes danger and seeks adventure. The red king and queen didn’t seem very interesting, but the white king and queens were creepy bad guys.

Kel lives a life of royalty, though he doesn’t really feel like he belongs with his adoptive family. He’s a secret smuggler of objects between worlds, and the fact that he doesn’t really need to do it for any financial reasons makes him seem like a famous actress with a self-destructive shoplifting habit. The major act which sets the plot in motion doesn’t happen until quite a few chapters into the book. Kel smuggles something which can destroy worlds if it gets into the wrong hands, and the wrong hands are actively grasping for it.

Kel and Lila struggle against the lure of and the taint of the dark magic that can threaten their world. It’s a lot like the One Ring of Sauron in that it’s both a very dangerous thing that needs to be destroyed and a very powerful thing which is so tempting to use (though it corrupts.) I loved the plot as Kel and Lila careen from one disaster to the other, attempting to avoid or defeat their enemies.

Besides the well-drawn characters and fast plot, the worldbuilding really lent a lot to my enjoyment. Each of the different Londons has a distinctive feel to it, both familiar and exotic, which is kind of why people like me want fantasy in the first place. I think their interactions felt plausible, and there was enough chemistry between them that I’m keen to listen to the next book in the series. I recommend this book for high fantasy fans who want something a little different.




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