This one took me on a ride, quite literally!
The series by V. E. Schwab just completely redefines our sense of magic and the world, in my opinion. I had randomly put up a story on IG about which book I should read next and almost everyone voted for this one! So obviously I knew that something exciting was in store but Oh. My. God was I shook!
From the world to the plot to the characters — I loved every freaking bit of this book. So let me tell you a bit about it!
This book is based on a world where magic plays a prominent role. But wait, it’s not the kind of magic that we’re used to reading about. The magic is as alive as you and me. The people who possess it has to actively communicate with that entity in order for it to work. But what’s most interesting is that here, the story revolves around 4 Londons.
- The Black London — which has imploded because the darkness of magic proved too strong. Long ago, magic overpowered the will of the people and consumed everything.
- The White London — where magic is used as a weapon. The strongest magicians rule the kingdom and royalty changes when one rules usurps another. Here the people believe magic is something to be subdued and controlled. Magic has thus coated this world in white — it is bleak and monotone.
- The Red London — where magic and humans have a tenuous balance. This is the London of our main character Kell. Kell and the people of Arnes, as Red London is commonly known, worship magic.
- Then lastly, there’s the Grey London — where magic has been forgotten and only very few even care about it. The home of Delilah Bard — badass thief and wannabe pirate.
Kell, hailing from Red London is an Antari — one of the so called blood magicians who can travel between worlds and command elements. They’re a dying breed and now only two remain — Kell and Holland who comes from White London. Blood magic and elemental magic is different. Almost everyone can have a bit of command over some or all of the elements but the Antari, besides being masters of wielding elemental magic can also use their blood to perform more intricate magic. The blood magic is the most powerful and difficult to perform. Which is why both Kell and Holland are so valued in their respective worlds. They’re literally the possessions of whoever rules their world because no one can afford to have the Antari free of control. While Kell at least has the illusion of being family to the Royals of his world, Holland doesn’t even have that.
They’re totally opposite characters. One portrayed as good while the other as bad. But even then the author takes care to create them in shades of gray.
Kell, the so called good Antari still works as a smuggler. He smuggles innocuous pieces like music boxes to and from the different Londons which is illegal by the way. Holland, while shown to be dark and dangerous is actually helpless and way too vulnerable than visible at first. How, you ask? Well, read the book to find out! While these two are aware of magic, Lila is the one who’s thrust into this world suddenly, finding herself in the middle of danger, adventure and quite literally in a different world.
Kell unknowingly smuggles a dangerous stone from White London to Red London and is now being hunted. The stone itself belonged to Black London — filled with its evil magic that slowly begins to corrupt the people of Red London too. Kell escapes to Grey London to hide from the people who would kill him to possess the stone,which is where he meets Lila. Kell realises his mistake and prepares to send the stone back to where it came from and Lila offers to go with him. Though they start off on the wrong foot, it’s interesting to see how their relationship evolves throughout the story.
Holland is the one who’s hunting Kell — on the orders of the White London’s rulers — the unscrupulous(and total jerks, in my opinion) brother-sister duo — Athos and Astrid. It was them who made Kell a pawn in their dark games to bring about the end of Red London. They chase each other through Grey, Red and White London — because even an Antari has to travel through them to get to Black London. Along the way there are a lot of events that happen, all of which makes it even more tricky for Kell and Lila to complete their mission.
With Athos and Astrid hell bent on destroying Kell’s Red London, and Holland creating problems for them at every turn, can Kell manage to restore the balance between the worlds? Or is the fate of Black London now going to befall the other worlds too? Why is Lila so interested in magic? Is it because she’s an Antari herself? What kind of a man is Kell’s adopted brother Rhy, the crown prince of Red London? Is he just a spoilt Prince or more? There are a lot of questions — some of which are answered in this book, some of which that keep us wondering what next?
I’ve read a lot of YA fantasy books. I fell in love with magic when I met Harry Potter and his friends. The love has only grown with every book I’ve read.
This one though, puts a whole new twist on a magical world. That’s where the author wins. She keeps us on the edge of our seats, biting nails and anticipating what problems will next befall our protagonists. For someone looking for a breath of fresh air in the world of fantasy literature, A Darker Shade of Magic is a great bet. I, for one, can’t wait to pick up the sequel — A Gathering of Shadows — and find out what happens next. Wait for my next review to know!
