A Darker Shade of Magic is an adult fantasy novel by American author V.E. Schwab, published by Tor Books in 2015. It is the first installment of the Shades of Magic trilogy and is a blend of drama, tension, and romance, including LGBTQ+ elements. The novel features multilayered characters such as Kell, a smuggler, who must dispose of an object that has been stolen.
The novel is rated 4.0/5 stars and falls within the Young Adult genre, ranking 0/5 on the spicy scale. However, it is praised for its unique writing style, with Addie Larue’s writing style being more indulgent and mellow. The novel also features elemental magic, alternative worlds, humorous dialogue, and a small romance sub-plot that doesn’t take up too much space.
The series has some PG-13 level steamy moments and “fade to black” style sex scenes, but it is considered appropriate for middle schoolers. The novel has elements of magic, alternative worlds, humorous dialogue, and a small romance sub-plot that doesn’t take up too much space.
A Darker Shade of Magic is tagged as fantasy, magic, urban fantasy, and has some of the best characters, such as Lila Bard, a thief who wants to be a pirate. However, the novel leaves a bad taste in the reader’s mouth, with some readers stating that if they hadn’t read Children of Blood and Bone, they would have enjoyed the series more.
📹 A Darker Shade of Magic | Book Review | Vlogmas 2017 Day 21
For Vlogmas 2017 Day 21, this is A Darker Shade of Magic | Book Review. Book 1 of the Shades of Magic series.
Is the darker shade of magic spicy?
The author recently concluded reading Darker Shade of Magic and found it an enjoyable experience, despite the absence of a compelling narrative.
What are the content warnings in a darker shade of magic?
The text presents a comprehensive analysis of various forms of violence, including slavery, attempted rape, self-harm for magical purposes, the depiction of blood and gore, torture, and knife violence.
Is a darker shade of magic appropriate?
The rating for A Darker Shade of Magic is moderate due to the presence of strong language and occasional instances of mild and moderate language. The novel contains minimal references to sexual content and a greater prevalence of violence and gore. The depiction of the brother-sister king and queen of White London as sadistic and cruel contributes to the rating.
Can a 12 year old read A Darker Shade of Magic?
Ashley Marayah inquired about the age minimum for reading A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, 1), which is recommended for adults. The book falls under various genres such as art, biography, business, children’s, Christian, classics, comics, cookbooks, ebooks, fantasy, fiction, and more. It is also suitable for readers of fiction, graphic novels, historical fiction, horror, memoir, music, mystery, nonfiction, and poetry.
Is there LGBT in A Darker Shade of Magic?
The protagonists of the narrative are not a gay couple, but rather a cross-dressing thief and a royal prince who is bisexual. This presents a divergent portrayal of London and introduces a distinct set of stigmas. In a subsequent volume, a further significant character is revealed to be homosexual. Rhy Maresh, operating within a context of privilege, does not exemplify a trope because he is not explicitly identified as gay.
Is A Darker Shade of Magic YA or adult?
A Darker Shade of Magic is an adult fantasy novel by V. E. Schwab, published in 2015. It follows Kell, a young Antari magician with the rare ability to travel between four parallel Londons: Red, Grey, White, and Black. Kell serves as an ambassador for the Royal Family of Red London, The Maresh Empire, delivering important messages. However, he also has a secret life as a smuggler, offering people glimpses of magic for a fee, posing risks and consequences.
Is there any romance in a darker shade of magic?
A Darker Shade of Magic is a book that balances romance with action and mystery, making it a satisfying read. The characters are focused on the world’s end and their relationship, which is a common issue in YA books. The plot is slow at first, but it is well-done. The author sets the scene and events, but it is difficult to make connections. Around a quarter of the way into the book, the action begins, and the book is filled with mystery and twists and turns. The characters are focused on the world’s end and their priorities are clear, unlike in other YA books where characters engage in romantic or sexual activities.
Why is a darker shade of magic adult?
This adult fantasy book is rated a little more Y. A. due to scenes of torture, fantasy violence, and adult characters. It could be a great bridge between readers who have read mostly Y. A. fantasy and those who want to start reading adult fantasy. The world building is intricate, with pacing being faster than most other adult fantasy novels. The banter between characters is more humorous. However, the plot falls flat, with a linear and straightforward structure.
The author believes that the book was originally written as a standalone, with no unfinished arcs. They believe that due to its success, they signed on for two more books. The plot is fairly linear and straightforward, with little character growth. However, the author enjoys Kell and Rhy, their brotherly love and joint sarcasm. Lila is enjoyable, but she still smacks of “not like other girls”. The sarcasm is enjoyable, but the characters don’t evoke as much emotion as they did the first time. The author hopes that they evoke more feelings in the second book.
Is A Darker Shade of Magic adult fantasy?
A Darker Shade of Magic is an adult fantasy novel by V. E. Schwab, published in 2015. It follows Kell, a young Antari magician with the rare ability to travel between four parallel Londons: Red, Grey, White, and Black. Kell serves as an ambassador for the Royal Family of Red London, The Maresh Empire, delivering important messages. However, he also has a secret life as a smuggler, offering people glimpses of magic for a fee, posing risks and consequences.
Can a 13 year old read A Darker Shade of Magic?
Ashley Marayah inquired about the age minimum for reading A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, 1), which is recommended for adults. The book falls under various genres such as art, biography, business, children’s, Christian, classics, comics, cookbooks, ebooks, fantasy, fiction, and more. It is also suitable for readers of fiction, graphic novels, historical fiction, horror, memoir, music, mystery, nonfiction, and poetry.
📹 A Darker Shade of Magic – Spoiler Free Book Review
Kell travels between worlds on behalf of the Royal crown, and Lila lives on the streets and wants to escape her world.
I don’t think I’ve seen one negative review for this book yet! I especially appreciated what you said about urban fantasy/high fantasy. I’m used to high fantasy, but urban fantasy is something I know nothing about. Looks like I’m going to have to read this one come 2018. Wow, the year’s not even here yet and I feel behind. I already have a small list of books! (I rarely do TBR lists. I’m a 1 or 2 book at a time sort of reader, depending on what catches my eye at the time.) Anyway, thank you. And Merry Christmas!
P.S. Does this one end on a cliffhanger to set up for Book 2? Or is it more or less contained? I don’t want one of those situations where I end up waiting a year or more for the next installment. By that time, I’ll forget most of what happened! If so, then perhaps it would be smarter to save this series for later in the year, to be closer to the 3rd book. I’m not one of those who is going to buy a $25-30 hardcover.
I haven’t read any V E Schwab and I own this one. I was recommended it as one to start with for her books and I am really excited to get to it. I didn’t know what it was about exactly besides magic and different Londons. I really enjoyed this article. You were able to set it up without spoilers and I liked hearing you talk about the writing style. You have made me more excited to get to this book for sure. This was very well said and great review! -Christeena