Kell is a daring traveler where Rhys is more the daring ‘playboy’. Maybe if Rhys could go to the different worlds that Kell can, he wouldn’t have such an exotic taste in lovers (probably not). He probably would not tempt fate by smuggling trinkets from those worlds the way Kell does.
A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria E. Schwab is truly a study in contrasts and complements. Whether it’s magic, people, places or proclivities, the story in this book arranges them before our eyes tempting us to choose one or just sample many.
The people from these worlds run the gamut from dishwater gray to blindingly brash scarlets. Since Kell has the unique ability to travel among these world by color (Red London, White London, Gray London and Black London). The scenes and settings do a wonderful job of evoking the overall mood of each London. Hue and tone do much to tell us about the atmosphere and history of each setting without getting bogged down in over-intricate descriptions. The same can be said for most of the population of each, as well.
One of my favorite points to pick at when it comes to a world building in the genre of fantasy is: the magic system. Some come off too complex while others are seem to have no rules whatsoever. This story does well by slowly lifting the veil from what it shows yet, leaves us wanting to find out more about what was not revealed. I believe it's one of the elements that shows this story could do well as a series.
There are some exceptions to that rule in each of the worlds. I won’t go into those so that I can avoid potential spoilers. I will say the characters we get the most acquainted with have the feeling of real people even if they are from bland or exaggerated worlds. There are two notable exceptions that I believe was on purpose. I won’t go into why I think so (spoilers!)
A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria E. Schwab is a very entertaining and thought provoking book. It has wonderfully colorful settings and characters and a very interesting system of magic. It does address some mature situations about sex and sexuality and there is some occasional rough language. That along with the violence has me putting this in the PG13 zone.
It sounds likea good fantasy book
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of multiple worlds but it can be messy if it isn't well explained
anyway, great review
Ruty @Reading…Dreaming
V.E. Schwab is such an amazing writer, her stories are always so intense and I absolutely love everything that she writes. A Darker Shade of Magic was such a great beginning to what I believe will be an amazing series!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruty! This is one of the stories with multiple worlds that actually makes sense the way they are. It's not some cheesy SyFy movie where the people in the other world have mustaches :{|
ReplyDeleteIt's very well done here and integral to the story.
I'm with you, Andrea! I sent her a link to this post so, I hope she checks it out and hears our pleas for more from the Londons of the various colors :)
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