Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic

Hello, welcome back to my shelf!

In celebration of the third book in V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic releasing in less than a week and Valentine's Day, I thought I would re-post my review of the first book and relive how much a loved it.

I picked this book up having read This Savage Song . I loved TSS for it's characters and narrative as well as Schwab's ability to create a visual and visceral world. I don't usually backread (read something that isn't new, particularly a series), but I was SO glad I did. Kell and Lila were fantastic characters and Victoria(aka V.E.) created an awesome fantasy London for them to live in. Anyone who doesn't want to live in Red London is crazy! ;)

1 star For the adorable and charming Kell. He was easy to fall in love with. I'd say he has the whimsy of the 10th doctor with the swagger of Once's Hook. And something else I can't place my thumb on. He was such an interesting character.

2 stars The idea of 4 Londons was awesome and I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series takes us.

3 stars Every little vignette makes you question things. You wonder what might be important that you're missing and find yourself picking up what otherwise might have been a throwaway line. I cannot wait to see where the pirate-esque Lila ends up. 

4 & 5 stars This story was such an original idea to me. And I really enjoyed how caught up in the world I became. I decided to spend November 2016 reading Fantasy books (at the time YA, but this turned out not to be YA) as that's my weak area. They can be a little overwhelming and I have a hard time remembering characters, places, and other fantasy items. But not with DSoM. I was able to remember everyone, clearly picture the world, and found myself completely immersed. I loved how things surprised me as much as I loved that there were some thing I suspected early on. 

London is always a neat place for a story to happen and I really look forward to the next 2 books.*

Stay tuned to see what else I put on my shelf!

*Originally posted to Goodreads.