A Darker Shade of Magic Collector's Edition: A Novel (Shades of Magic, 1)
A Darker Shade of Magic, the first book in V.E. Schwab's New York Times bestselling Shades of Magic trilogy, is now available in a special collector's edition.
With a revamped, metallic ink detailed cover and reading ribbon, this edition will also feature the following bonus material:
*End papers featuring fan art
*A glossary of Arnesian and Antari terms
*An interview between author and editor
*Original (never before seen!) tales from within the Shades of Magic world
"A Darker Shade of Magic has all the hallmarks of a classic work of fantasy...a gem of a tale. This is a book to treasure." ―Deborah Harkness, New York Times bestselling author of the All Souls trilogy
Kell is one of the last Antari―magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.
Kell was raised in Arnes―Red London―and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.
Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.
After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.
Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.
Shades of Magic series
1. A Darker Shade of Magic
2. A Gathering of Shadows
3. A Conjuring of Light
Reviews (185)
Fantastic series starter for fans of fantasy - YA OR adult!
This book was my first ever Schwab read, and I went into it a little bit apprehensive, because she is so widely loved that I wondered if this series would live up to the expectations I had for it. I picked it up for the Life & Lit June group read, and ended up putting it off until the last possible minute because I was so wary, but my nervousness was entirely unfounded. This book was phenomenal! KELL ➳➳ What can I even say? Kell is one of the most lovable male MCs I’ve seen in a really long time. He’s so loving and protective, despite his ongoing self-identity crises regarding his family. He loves his brother Rhy with a fierceness that I couldn’t get enough of, and he’s just so genuinely good in his heart that I couldn’t help but root for him. He’s one of those MCs that makes me afraid to continue the series because I can’t handle anything terrible happening to him. LILA ➳➳ I didn’t really know what to make of Lila at first, because to be frank, her excuses for thievery kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Like… you’re just going to steal from all of these people because you can? I wouldn’t have minded so much if she just stole food or whatever, but trinkets? (I revisited this annoyance a few times later in the book, too.) Overall, though, I really enjoyed her sassy attitude and the way she refused to let anyone tell her what to do or hold her down. I loved that she insisted on going on an adventure, even if it meant risking her life, and her interactions with Kell were just adorable. RHY ➳➳ Adorable. Absolutely adorable. He actually made me cry a few times because he just is so pure and innocent and golden. HOLLAND ➳➳ Holland honestly gave me the sketchiest vibes ever from the beginning, but I think he’s a fantastic character and I pitied him more often than not. I know some stuff went down, but I really hope we get to learn more about him later in the series. PLOT & WORLD ➳➳ I thought the plot, as well as the world-building, were absolutely incredible. I loved the idea of these parallel cities that the Antari could travel between, and I thought the magic system was beautifully built up. Too many books ignore the foundation for their magic systems and you’re kind of left just going, “oh, well, it’s magic and that’s that,” but Schwab didn’t do that at all in this book. The idea of these Antari being sort of the chosen ones who could control blood was just really cool, and I really hope that Kell and Holland aren’t actually the only ones left. WRITING ➳➳ Like I said, this was my first time ever reading anything by Victoria Schwab, so I had no idea what to expect. My very first impression from the opening segment, "Kell wore a very peculiar coat. It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible." was that her writing reminded me a great deal of Tolkien, circa The Hobbit. As I got further into the book, I did find that Victoria’s voice is very much her own, but I enjoyed it to no end. It was the perfect balance of straightforward and flowery prose, and it painted a splendid picture while never wasting too much time on the details. FINAL VERDICT ➳➳ Overall, I thought this book was a fantastic beginning to a series and I cannot wait to continue with book #2. I gave this an easy 5/5 stars and would recommend it to anyone who likes three-dimensional high fantasy read, full of a delightful set of characters and a terrifically intriguing world.
A new favorite!
This is, by far, one of the most hyped books I have on my shelves, which is something that would normally scare me off. However, this book beyond lived up to the hype. It promised action, thrilling adventures through parallel worlds, and of course, plenty of magic. Victoria Schwab once again proves herself to be one of the most brilliant and talented writers out there. She is resourceful and exceedingly unique in every detail that she writes. Between her beautiful writing, intricate descriptions, and skilled characterization, she has created a vivid and heart-pounding journey through the magic of London. In this novel, we follow two main characters—a traveler named Kell and a thief named Delilah “Lila” Bard. Kell, hailing from Red London, is an Antari (one of two) who possess potent blood magic that allows him to cross through the doors between each of the three Londons—the regal and magical Red London, the dimmed and magic-less Grey London, and White London, rendered colorless and menacing by its abuse of magic. Red London lives in harmony with its magic, respecting it as much as it does them. White London sees it as something to be controlled, turning it into something ugly and terrifying. However, this pales in comparison to the magic of Black London, the world that has been locked away, hidden and mute—that is, until a remaining piece of it’s dark past, in the form of a stone, unexpectedly falls into the hands of Kell. The only remnants of a history preferred to be forgotten, it sets off a chain of horrible events as Kell struggles to contain it and return it to its proper place, even if that means sacrificing himself in the process. Along the way, he obtains an unusual companion, the tough and courageous Lila Bard, who becomes involved after she pickpockets the Black London stone off of Kell when they encounter each other in the streets of Grey London. Always seeking adventure, she forces Kell to take her along on his journey to return the stone and save the three remaining Londons from this all-consuming dark force. What starts for Kell as a reluctant pairing turns into a surprisingly strong partnership as they navigate treacherous obstacles on their quest. Despite the complexity involved in the unique details of the various Londons, not once in this entire novel is it difficult to understand, nor will it leave the reader feeling lost. Schwab depicts each setting with such care and skill, sweeping her readers into the worlds. Rather than giving an information dump of all the necessary facts, she shows the reader by pulling them straight into the action, conjuring a clear picture through descriptions and tone. Not only is it easy to imagine what every feature of this narrative looks like, she also evokes the specific feelings of each setting in the reader. One of the aspects of this novel that first caught my attention was how unique it sounded. I’ve read a lot of fantasy books and this one was unlike any I have encountered before. This is due in part to the highly unique magic system that is primarily demonstrated through our main character, Kell. The power of blood magic is a unique and intriguing system that I have not come across in any form before. That, combined with the specific language used by the Antari to conjure the power, had me completely hooked. It was—no pun intended—absolutely spellbinding. This book was absolutely action-packed. The fight scenes were epic, magic-filled battles, featuring struggles involving both the characters that are advantageously powerful and the characters that fight simply using the strength and willpower they have inside them. I was fully caught up in every second, tearing through page after page. Schwab is known for writing very character driven novels, and this one was no exception. From the very start, I completely fell in love with the characters she created for this story. Kell is an incredibly brave and selfless hero. He is willing to sacrifice himself to protect the three worlds and all those in them. Lila is headstrong and sassy; she is a skilled thief that has a certain distinctively human magic about her. Hilarious and strong-willed, she has definitely become one of my favorite female literary heroines. As always, Schwab makes her characters vivid, realistic, and three-dimensional—loveable for both their strengths and their weaknesses. Kell and Lila together are one of the best pairings I have ever come across in literature. They are two halves of one amazing whole. Even the characters that lingered at the edges of the main plot were as equally three-dimensional as the protagonists. The writing in this novel was absolutely enchanting. Schwab has a natural talent for weaving a complex storyline into a fluid narrative that easily carries her readers from page to page. The detailed world building and fleshing out of her characters are some of the most breathtaking elements of the story. She builds each world, each setting, right up around the reader, clearly defines the class system of the various Londons, and pulls the reader alongside Kell and Lila in their adventures. It is as if you are standing right in the middle of things, feeling the pull of the magic, which is both bright and foreboding. At this point, I think the fact that I completely and utterly fell in love with this novel is fairly clear. This is basically the epitome of my literary-loving heart and soul. I would very highly recommend this story to everyone, especially if you love magic, parallel worlds, and magnificent writing. Victoria Schwab has an unbelievable amount of natural talent, and is a superb figure in the current literary world. There is no cliffhanger ending for this novel, but it will still leave you craving further installments.
Good world building is so important to books because it ...
The first book set up the idea of the different Londons: magic-less grey London, vibrant red London, starving and desperate white London, and decimated, dead black London. Each built upon a foundation of London but developed in completely different fashions. Their cultures, religion, speech, manner and being is so unique in each world. It was a really intriguing way to build the world and immediately fascinated me. Good world building is so important to books because it is immersive, it pulls you in and makes you forget that it’s not real. You are living the story with the characters. She even created languages that were utilized by characters from different places, from the magic language of the Antari to the flowing words or harsh tones of the neighboring lands. It shows a passion for authenticity and true love of what she has created. I love the characters. Rhy with his charm always brightens the room (or a scene). Lila is cunning, ruthless, ambitious and a thief. She doesn't need anyone and she would never admit to needing anything. She takes or does what she wants, no matter the cost with no regrets. She is tough as nails and her grit is inspiring. Her first instinct is to protect herself above all. Many people may not agree with me, but Lila was probably my least favourite of our main characters. She was smart and tough, but a little too ruthless for my taste. Kell was the character that I liked/related to the most, even though he was a powerful magic user he seemed the most down to earth. Not only does she introduce us to unique main characters, but she brilliantly gives depths to those in the background. There are some supporting characters that at times I liked even more than some of our leads. Overall the story is more of a slow-burn/build rather than quick action-packed scenes. I think that it worked really well for this story and have no complaints. Highly recommended to young adult/teen readers who enjoy fantasy or magic books with characters that have very diverse personalities/outlooks on life and great world-building.
Wonderful edition
I'm not going to talk about the story, but of the book edition itself. First of all, it's hand signed by Ms Schwab herself, which I didn't know and was happily surprised by. The bonus features are really worth it; from the stunning illustrations, to the Arnesian dictionary, to the short stories set in the magical world Schwab has created. If you're going to buy ADSOM, this is the edition you need to get.
A shade of brilliance
I can’t believe I waited so long to read this! My expectations were very high considering all the rave reviews I’ve seen and all the hype. I wasn’t let down, it was so good! I love kell! I love his dark and quiet personality, his love for small rebellion in his (hobbies) he’s one of kind and holds a place in my heart. Lila is a character! She’s rough and Strong but also caring in her own way. I loved how Hers and Kells lives crossed paths with her (Hobby) it was fated. A point in life that was pre destined to happen. There’s something special about Lila and I can’t wait to find out what she becomes. I’ve always loved magic and there’s no lack of it in the worlds Scwabb created. I’m looking forward to the next book!
A new fan of V.E. Schwab.
This book is amazing. From start to finish I was entralled with the characters, the setting, and the magic. I loved watching the main characters grow and work together. I enjoyed the rich and diverse Londons, and yeah. I would go into more detail but I feel that this is a story that doesn't deserved to be spoiled. If you haven't seen this, pick it up it's amazing. Can't wait to pick up the next two books. Also glad I got the collector's edition of this book. The alternate cover art, and art inside of the book is really nice.
Slow start but then really takes off
The first third of the book is a little slow as the author sets the stage but don't let that discourage you because after that it takes off & is a real page turner. It has a real cliffhanger ending & leaves you wanting more so it's a good thing that it's a series. I'm eagerly waiting to read number 2 & see what happens next.
Gorgeous edition to a great book
Since I loved the book so much, I had to buy this collector's edition. It's so beautiful, with the new colors and the gorgeous fan art! I also loved all of the bonus content and the cute little ribbon! I already got the collector's edition for book 2 and preordered book 3 so that I can have all of the books in their respective collector's editions!
It's beautiful. The bonus stories are wonderful and made my ...
It's beautiful. The bonus stories are wonderful and made my heart cry in the best way, the embossed cover is gorgeous, and the dictionary and phrases of Arnesian words is really neat. Also very good fanart choices for the inside.
Super fantastic YA/adult fantasy crossover
WOW this was fantastic! A perfect YA/adult fantasy crossover, it has the detail and complex worldbuilding that will satisfy a mature reading without being stuffy, paired with the vivacity and wit often seen in YA heroes and heroines. Plenty of adventure and characterization left to be explored in future books, but this still felt full and satisfying.
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