I have only recently stumbled across this series called “Shades of Magic” but it has quickly become one of the most exciting YA series that I’ve read. I must say the first book itself had me hooked onto the characters and the world within. This second book in the series has just built up the story so that the anticipation is at its peak when the book ends.
The story in this book starts off some four months later from where the first book left us. Kell and Lila had somehow managed to save the day but the repercussions from all that had happened is huge.
Right off the bat, we see Lila who has finally fulfilled her ambition of sailing away on a ship. I loved how the author started off the story with Lila smack dab in the middle of the ocean with her hands tied on a sinking boat. As usual, Lila has managed to find trouble! My god, it was exciting to see her in action. What does she do — you ask? Oh nothing much, except rob a pirate ship by poisoning/killing all of the ship’s inmates. Did I mention that she did it all by herself? Oh and that she did it to win a bet? Yeah, she’s amazing. I want to be her when I grow up!
She sails on the Night Spire, captained by Alucard Emery who’s a privateer for the Arnesian empire. So while she hasn’t yet fulfilled her dream of becoming a pirate, she’s having fun making everyone else aboard the ship afraid of her. No kidding, the inmates actually nicknamed her The Sarows, after a legendary myth. But not everything is going smooth. She still hasn’t forgotten what transpired four months ago in Red London. And she definitely hasn’t forgotten Kell. On the bright side, she has learnt magic!
Kell, who had previously only been made to felt like he was the Crown’s possession, now feels almost like a prisoner. While it was him who unknowingly started the unfortunate events that Red London suffered, he also managed to make things right — even saving the Crown Prince Rhy Maresh. Yet for all his efforts, he’s being guarded round the clock and even the small feeling of belonging to the royal family has been cut off for him.
Rhy is also struggling under the weight of all that’s happened. He still loves Kell like his own brother but their bond has become a lot more complicated. (No, I won’t explain why; it would give away the first book’s ending). What Kell had to do to save Rhy has changed both of them. They’re restless and the only way Rhy knows to help Kell is to sneak him in as a participant in the Elemental Games.
The Elemental Games is a legendary international competition between the three nations namely Arnes, Vesk and Faro. Twelve magicians each from these countries fight each other, with only one being crowned as the victor. Only elemental magicians are allowed to participate — not Antari as they are way more powerful. Yet Kell is intrigued by the idea of disguising himself and participating in the games.
Emery and Lila dock at Red London just in time for the games for even Emery is a participant. Lila never to be dissuaded from finding trouble also manages to enter disguised. But while secrets and magic is rife in red London something darker is gathering at the edges of the world.
Holland, the white London’s Antari is now its king. He’s being supported by a new Antari, Ojka. A little girl who Holland has managed to turn into his loyal knight. The white London has also changed drastically. While before it was slowly being destroyed by the use of magic, under Holland’s rule it has become prosperous!
But what price did Holland have to pay for his kingship? Has Holland done the unthinkable and fallen prey to dark magic? And how will it affect the other Londons? For one thing is sure, a new and darker enemy has come and it will not be so easy to defeat as the black London stone.
Entangled in between all the darkness are the even more complicated relationships between Rhy, Alucard, Lila and Kell. What happened 3 years ago between Alucard and Rhy? Why does Kell and Alucard hate each other so much? Are Lila and Kell in love? What kind of magician is Lila really? Because she’s way too powerful to just be an elemental! When love takes on different shades, will they be able to save not just themselves but their world too? So many questions, the answers to which are only slowly revealed, making us readers sit biting our nails and turning to the next page as fast as possible!
The book ends on a massive cliffhanger (just a heads up) and honestly, I’ve never reached for the next book in a series so fast in my life. It has been an exciting wild ride so far with Shades of Magic and I cannot wait to find out what happens next! Watch out for my review of the next book, A Conjuring of Light to know more!
