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A review by levendir1021
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
5.0
Rating: 4.5
(The only reason it isn't 5 is because I've heard that the second book might be even better)
I am slowly coming to the conclusion that there is nothing better than a VE Schwab book when you don't really feel like yourself and just want some first class escape from the real world.
First of all, the world building is superb and I am really, REALLY picky when it comes to my fantasy worlds. But this one... Honestly, Schwab could have just taken me by the hand and walked me through red London for the entire book and I'd been absolutely fine with it (and yes, a lot of the book was indeed world building but very much so without info dumping). I don't want to say more because I think this has to be experienced.
Next, characters, and omg yes, VE Schwab has been one of the best authors for writing attractive male protagonists I have come across so far (We will not mention Victor Vale here... Nope... (He's the best though)) Kell is sexy, cool, witty, stylish and insanely loyal all at the same time. I am a sucker for really well written non-romantic friendships or similar and there is an element of this here as well! As for Lila, I really disliked her at the start and some things she did made me facepalm but she did grow a lot throughout the book without loosing what made her her.
If the villains hadn't been... More than one... they would have been a bit one-dimensional. I like my villains to be well fleshed out and there were so many questions I had in this book but I do think it added to the mystery of the various places we travel to. I'm surprised that that out of all people I'm the one to say that I really didn't mind that in this book at all, the main characters had more than enough charm to make up for it!
As mentioned before, the story is a bit overwhelmed by the world building at times, which I really did not mind at all. The story is solid and sets up for the possibility of so much more while being a conclusive story in itself (no cliffhangers, this book definitely works as a standalone despite being the first of a trilogy).
Writing style-wise, Schwab just hits that perfect spot for a more simplistic writing style. It reads fast and is not too flowery, which is usually not my style but she makes it work. I got absorbed in the story and read about 3/4 of book in one sitting, which, I am sure, is due to the writing style. In a way, it almost reads like a film (it would make a great film, as would all her books I have written so far, I'm just so afraid they would screw up the casting of the protagonists).
I would say, if you want something light to read that can completely pull you into a different world, read this. But then the book is not really light, it is very much adult fantasy. What I mean is that it is not the book that will make you think deeply about life. Actually, maybe it will make you ponder if Schwab is Antari and we have, in fact, all just been born in the world of gray London.
(The only reason it isn't 5 is because I've heard that the second book might be even better)
I am slowly coming to the conclusion that there is nothing better than a VE Schwab book when you don't really feel like yourself and just want some first class escape from the real world.
First of all, the world building is superb and I am really, REALLY picky when it comes to my fantasy worlds. But this one... Honestly, Schwab could have just taken me by the hand and walked me through red London for the entire book and I'd been absolutely fine with it (and yes, a lot of the book was indeed world building but very much so without info dumping). I don't want to say more because I think this has to be experienced.
Next, characters, and omg yes, VE Schwab has been one of the best authors for writing attractive male protagonists I have come across so far (We will not mention Victor Vale here... Nope... (He's the best though)) Kell is sexy, cool, witty, stylish and insanely loyal all at the same time. I am a sucker for really well written non-romantic friendships or similar and there is an element of this here as well! As for Lila, I really disliked her at the start and some things she did made me facepalm but she did grow a lot throughout the book without loosing what made her her.
If the villains hadn't been... More than one... they would have been a bit one-dimensional. I like my villains to be well fleshed out and there were so many questions I had in this book but I do think it added to the mystery of the various places we travel to. I'm surprised that that out of all people I'm the one to say that I really didn't mind that in this book at all, the main characters had more than enough charm to make up for it!
As mentioned before, the story is a bit overwhelmed by the world building at times, which I really did not mind at all. The story is solid and sets up for the possibility of so much more while being a conclusive story in itself (no cliffhangers, this book definitely works as a standalone despite being the first of a trilogy).
Writing style-wise, Schwab just hits that perfect spot for a more simplistic writing style. It reads fast and is not too flowery, which is usually not my style but she makes it work. I got absorbed in the story and read about 3/4 of book in one sitting, which, I am sure, is due to the writing style. In a way, it almost reads like a film (it would make a great film, as would all her books I have written so far, I'm just so afraid they would screw up the casting of the protagonists).
I would say, if you want something light to read that can completely pull you into a different world, read this. But then the book is not really light, it is very much adult fantasy. What I mean is that it is not the book that will make you think deeply about life. Actually, maybe it will make you ponder if Schwab is Antari and we have, in fact, all just been born in the world of gray London.