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taryn_g's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death
guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
chronicacademia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death
kari_f's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You know how when you find a series you adore, you can come back to it over and over and find new things to love about it each time? And you wish that there was more to devour, but you also worry that any continuation might not live up to the magic of the original?
I’ll admit I felt just a smidge of that, because The Shades of Magic trilogy was my gateway into fantasy and has remained my favorite fantasy series. With each read I love it even more, and diving back into this world of four Londons felt a bit like coming home. When I found out there would be a continuation series in this world, I felt all of the above. That tiny, niggling worry was pretty much immediately squashed once I started reading, though, and I was sucked into just as I had been before!
The world-building Schwab is known for continues to blow my mind, as well as the layered cast of characters, plot stories, and threads (see what I did there?) that will tie into the upcoming books. Not only do we get more of our favorite characters from the previous series, but we are treated to several new ones across the Londons, who will become important as we continue. I was a bit worried that our favorite four would be relegated to side character status in the new adventures of this series, and I was so glad to see that each of them plays an important role throughout the book. Each new character perfectly complements the storyline, and the addition of new people in no way diminishes the storytelling. In fact, I think that since we got the opportunity to know each one of the original four so well in the original series, adding new characters to the cast was a perfect writing choice here. I love that Schwab trusts her readers to think and remember instead of spoon feeding us character details like many other fantasy authors tend to do.
There are several references and nods to the first three books, with allegiances and rivalries of the past becoming important plot points in the present. I’m not sure if this continuation was always a plan, or if the idea for it came much later, but the way the two parts have come together feels altogether seamless.
The magical system is as whimsical and complex as always. I really love the blending of technology, science, and magic that was explored through this book. I’m very excited to see how this progresses down the line, especially considering the ethical dilemmas that tinkering with magical limits will pose.
All in all, the only complaint I have is that I’ll have to wait who-knows-how-long for the next installment! If you loved the Shades of Magic series, you’re going to want this book for your collection!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Trafficking