Hoo Wants to Read About a Darker Shade of Magic?
In this fantasy story we leap into the life of Kell a mysterious traveler as he ventures to visit King George in medieval London. As the story progresses we find out that our hero isn't just any traveler, but one that is capable of opening portals to different worlds. All of which have grand cities in the same location as London, yet each city possesses a different name associated with different colors as well as magical characteristics. Kell's home is in Red London which is a far more magical and grand kingdom in comparison to King George's Grey London, named so due to its lack of magic, and he lives under the care of the king, queen, and prince.
Though Kell lives under the care of the King and his family, he is one of them in almost all aspects, and Kell and the prince are as close as real brothers. Yet, Kell always feels like an outcast, a part of the royal collection, due to his abilities and his appearance. Which isn't too unreasonable as I think most people would feel like an outcast if their right eye were completely black, a symbol that had always marked him as other, and if they were guarded due to being the last of two of their kind to exist. The last of two blood mages with the power to travel between Londons that is.
Even though Kell can travel between Londons, he is unable to travel between all of them. He can easily travel between his Red London and Grey London, and he can also travel to White London, a world being sucked dry by magic, even though he prefers not to. However, he can't travel to the fourth London named Black London. The reason being is that the London had been completely sealed off as magic consumed all life in the realm. Some people might think that a world consumed by magic sounds like a wonderful whimsical place like Neverland. Yet, in V.E. Schwab's world magic wants to be the last thing in existence, and it will stop at nothing to take over everything and everyone until it controls all. After Black London was sealed off from the other Londons, except clueless Grey London, destroyed all traces of Black London in their realms, and they also went to Grey London to destroy theirs as well. They did this to make sure that none of the magic from that realm could destroy theirs as it did to Black London. However, Kell comes across the last remaining piece of the realm, and has no choice but to find a way to destroy it while also avoiding contact with his home as he is now a wanted man and considered treasonous. Kell must undergo an impossible task as the only known way for him to get rid of the piece is to dump it back into the sealed off Black London, yet thankfully he finds help along the way.
As I read through the book I found myself wanting more. The story reads smoothly, and the magic aspects you'd want from a fantasy book are all present. There are many creative magic artifacts, such as a box that contains different elements to test a persons magical affinity, different lands, and different forms of magic and magical users. The story takes on a different fantasy tone as it doesn't have much of an Enchanted Forest or Middle-Earth kind of feel, yet it still offers its own world in a somewhat familiar setting. The description given by V.E. Schwab are fantastic, yet not overly complicated which allows you to read through the story and stay enveloped in its illusion. She also offers witty dialogue between her characters, and each one has a unique personality. Also, as a side note I think the cover art is amazing. I'll definitely be grabbing the second book to this series called A Gathering of Shadows as soon as I can!
My Rating: 9/10 Stars
+ Great detail
+ Creative Plot
+ Unique Characters
Thank you for reading and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions, or if you would like to discuss what I've written and compare it to how you read the book. Just send me a hoot!
