Shades of Magic
FICTION
Macmillan
February 23, 2016
Hardcover
512
Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift, and into Black London. In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games-an extravagent international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries-a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port. But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again-and so to keep magic's balance, another London must fall.
WrensReads Review:
There are spoilers from the previous book in this review.
..so proceed at your own risk
Narrator: Steven Crossley
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Narrator: Kate Reading
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I LOVE THESE NARRATORS. MOVING ON.
I don’t know who I love more: Kell? Rhy? Lila? Alucard?
Like how can you pick between a one-black-eyed master of magic who travels across worlds, a near-perfect prince who has risen from the dead, a cross-dressing-pirate girl who does impossible things or a ruggedly handsome and mysterious privateer who never lets anyone in on his master plan?
I feel as if the first book built up to this one, and this one is building up to the next one. A book series that has built such depth to its characters and has had such care with its world and has kept my attention from the first page is a book that I will forever rave about to anyone who has it. If I saw you in the park reading this, I would sit down next to you and talk to you about how much we both love this book because you will love this book and its series.
This one is centered around a game against magicians. Different countries (Red London) all come together and they have their best magicians play against each other to see who the victor is. It’s written in such wonder detail and woven in such a delicate way that you won’t be able to stop reading. This is the type of book that leaves you thinking about it and distracting you through out the day.
It isn’t just the magic that will draw you in though. The characters are very human. They all have their flaws and our main men, Kell and Rhy, really struggle with the aftermath of the last book. Kell feels like he is in a cage and Rhy feels like a burden to his brother. Their Rhy’s parents really give Kell a hard time and there is just such a build up to the explosion that is the end of this book.
WARNING: It is a cliff hanger, and it will not be okay.
But it’s okay kind of because we get more pirates. We get more cross-dressing. We get lots of chemistry between all four of the characters. We get equality. We get raw action. We get it all. The only thing this book needed was.. nope, it had everything I ever wanted in more in this book.
Now to wait a month for the already pre-ordered third book…
WAIT, A TELEVISION SHOW ADAPTION?
That makes me so incredibly happy yet nervous, but mostly happy because of some of the tweets V.E. Schwab said.
Seriously. I am here b/c you are here. I get to keep writing b/c you keep reading. I get to try new things b/c you believe in me.
— Victoria Schwab (@veschwab) February 3, 2016
I know readers have bothhope and fear when it comes to adaptation, so let me say: A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC will be done right, or not at all.
— Victoria Schwab (@veschwab) February 3, 2016
I can say that because my producer and I have been aligned on that at every. single. stage.
— Victoria Schwab (@veschwab) February 3, 2016
Also, the fact we have the opportunity to adapt the ADSOM for TV, where we can fully explore the worlds and stories, makes my heart sing.
— Victoria Schwab (@veschwab) February 3, 2016
No matter what happens, I am just clinging to the idea of this pilot getting cast so I can take a photo with Kell and Rhy and Lila.
— Victoria Schwab (@veschwab) February 3, 2016
EEEEEEEEEK!
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