Reviews

Sombras de Magia Vol. 2: La Noche de los Cuchillos, by V.E. Schwab

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elliot_the_enby's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

kiirocat's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-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

missprint_'s review against another edition

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3.0

Figured out my issue with the this series. The panels have no motion. Some of the most static comic illustrations I’ve ever seen.

I can’t decide if I would like these more if I read more marvel/DC. Between the muddy/static art and the action-heavy/dialog-thin plot I am sadly underwhelmed.

kathis_bookart's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot

5.0

checchsr's review against another edition

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5.0

I liked this volume better than the first one! Loved the Night of Knives concept!!

friedatweehuysen's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I'm not so keen on comics, I need the pictures written out for me.
These stories are good, though, and help explain the rest of the stories.

quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition

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4.0

Book Summary:

Fans of the Darker Shade of Magic series are aware of a universe containing four worlds. Four Londons. More specifically, they know all about a young prince and his antari brother. This is the story of their father before he took on the mantle of king – or father.

Prince Maxim has been banished to the Blood Coast of Verose. Even now that he's been called home, Maxim is determined to stay and prove himself. But first, he must gain the trust and loyalty of his soldiers. Easier said than done.

My Review:

Once again, I find myself surprised by the events of Shades of Magic Vol. 2. The first volume introduced me to a prince I hadn't expected, while this volume worked hard to show his change and development.

Overall, I liked this antagonist/plot better than the first. I'm still not overly fond of Maxim, but that's okay. I'm enjoying his story regardless and have found myself rooting for him to grow as a person.
On that note, the secondary characters could still use a bit of fleshing-out, but I enjoyed seeing them more in this volume. I'm glad they didn't just fade into the background in favor of a different plot.

The primary plot was fascinating, and it had one of those "how did I not see that?!" moments for me. So that was fun! No, really, it was fun. The whole concept of a magical tournament (of sorts) is still fascinating, and I almost wish more had been done around the Night of Knives. Oh well.

The artwork in Shades of Magic Vol. 2 is brilliant, especially when it comes to portraying magic. The Night of Knives is probably the highlight, given how much magic flows around the space.

Highlights:
Part of a Series – A Darker Shade of Magic
Magical World
Multiple Worlds
Struggle to Prove Oneself

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