A Darker Shade of Magic Collector's Edition: A Novel (Shades of Magic, 1)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

This is a beautiful edition of A Darker Shade of Magic. If you are a book collector you will be thankful you bought it. The story is a blast and if you enjoy portal fiction and magical mayhem you will like this one.

Victoria AKA V.E. Schwab is a fabulous writer and she really submerges the reader into her magical world. The characters are brilliant, and the plot is unique. Immediately ordered the second book to the series after reading.

This book is amazing! I’m very picky about books, and because of that I don’t read very many books that others enjoy. This book has everything! An interesting main character, Lila Bard (trust me her character is amazing), a world that has very interesting lore, and wonderful writing! I recommend this book 100%!

Great book! No qualms with the book. I actually couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting. However, the book and sleeve were damaged when I received them. Requested a replacement (got it the next day) and that too was damaged. Not exactly what you want when you're purchasing a collector's edition of a book...

Amazing book that came in amazing condition. The black and red cover is beautiful and looks perfect on my bookshelf

I'm not sure why it took this long to pick up this series. Schwab is a superb storyteller. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.

Awesome book. Awesome Collectors edition. Happy.

parallel Londons in different universes connected by one magical city. V.E Schwab creates four different Londons: Gray London, Red London, White London, and Black London; each one very different from the others. Gray London is our London, a London without magic. Red London is Kell’s London, a London flowing with magic. White London, a London that is dying and losing its magic. Black London, a London who was destroyed many centuries back. Kell is a red traveler and he carries messages back and forth from the different London royals. On the side Kell is smuggling things back and forth between different Londons, for people who are curious and want to see a glimpse of another London that they will never be able to travel to. During one of these travels Kell finds himself in a bit of trouble when he finds out the thing he is smuggling is dangerous. He runs into Lila Bard who is a thief and a cross-dressing pirate. After she robs him and then saves him, they joined forces on an epic adventure between Londons. It is kind of a complex story because multiple story lines are occurring at once, there is Kell and Lila’s adventure, the mystery of Black London, as well as the villain's plot to bring chaos to all three realms of London. V.E Schwab does a fantastic job when it comes to writing. As you pick up different details about each London throughout the story you’re able to visualize what they might look like. My favorite london is Red London. Where life and magic are revered-and where Kell was raised alongside Rhys Maresh, the flirtatious heir to the flourishing magical empire. Schwab is able to let you, as the reader, fall into the story and truly feel like you yourself are the one in this journey with Kell and Lila as she builds a brand new world that we once used to be familiar with. Through a third person narration and keen eye to detail in her descriptions, Schwab makes it seem that you are part of the team. You are using blood magic and holding on to Kell’s jacket as you pass through the portal to a different London. You are cross-dressing along side Lila in order to rescue Kell. The pacing of the story at the beginning may seem a bit slow, but it’s worth it to keep on reading and keeping pushing on. You have to allow Schwab take the time be able to build up this world and suck you in. It was about the 50-page mark when you’ll be hooked and you will not be able to detach your eyes from the black time new roman words that are imprinted on the white pages. The plot was dark and mysterious, a lot darker than I expected it to be. There is action, violence, blood, gore and guts, murders and abuse in a world that is suppose to be happy and magical. You will feel utter fear run through your veins in certain moments of the story as you pray for the safety of the characters while they fight to survive. Schwab was able to roll the plot in such a striking away that all the plot twists will blow your mind! My heart was beating so fast it felt like it was exploding through my chest, because of the intensity of the story. There were two moments where I had to close the book and take a couple of deep breaths. I was so engrossed in the adventure that when my favorite character got severely injured I had to stop and calm down. I told myself, “He is going to be okay...Schwab won’t kill him...oh my god what if she does?! Please be okay, please be okay!” With 4.3 stars on Goodreads, A Darker Shade of Magic is a book you must run to the library and find immediately so you can follow the thrilling journey with Kell and Lila. “The world sits in balance,” said Kell, “humanity in one hand, magic in the other. The two exist in every living thing, and in a perfect world, they maintain a kind of harmony, neither exceeding the other. But most worlds are not perfect.”

So good. Read it now.

Great book

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Great product

I love the collectors editions! And it was signed which is an amazing bonus to me!

This book is fantastic. The world building is done so well.

Great

This edition is gorgeous, the front cover without the sleeve is breathtaking! I adore the trilogy, and couldn't be more pleased.

Remarkable author. Creates a new world: four of them.

One of my absolute favorite series by my favorite author.

Great, fast read that opens up the trilogy with you wanting more. The art work in the collector’s edition is fun and quirky.

V.E. Schwab is incredible and I love this collectors edition!

ty

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

I really enjoyed the edition. It had amazing artwork and the cover is gorgeous.

The art is to die for, and the cover is gorgeous. A must have for any ADSOM fan!

Awesome book and cool collectors edition

Literally my favorite book ever. 💞 in love with the collectors addition!

I love this series!!!!!!

Really enjoyed this book, can't wait to read the sequel.

Good

👌👍✌️

Seriously a must have for any fan of the series!

It was everything I wanted and more!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

My favorite book series of all time

EXCELLENT!!! If you haven't read it yet, stop what you're doing and read it now. You've never encountered another book like it. I don't even know where to begin! The world building is glorious and so unique, the simple descriptions of colours completely transforming the different Londons. The story was engaging and absolutely epic. While it was a slower start, that allowed the chance to become more immersed in the world and become more familiar with the characters and the lore. And speaking of characters... *swoons* I don't know how to pick a favourite! Side characters were fantastic (love you, Rhy!), and of course the main characters steal the show, but I'm not sure who to adore more! Kell is a fantastic mystery, but Lila is one of fantasy's best female heroes. And on top of all of that, the action! So intense, way more than I expected it to be. Honestly, I could go on and on about how amazing this book is, but I've already got the sequel in my hand, and I need to get started with it, because I am not ready for this adventure to be over.

A Darker Shade of Magic takes place in three parallel Londons — Grey London, aka real-life London in 1819; Red London, a London full of magic and home to our main character, Kell; and White London, a London slowly starving to death from lack of magic. And, of course, there’s Black London. (That is, there was Black London.) I thought I didn’t like high fantasy. But it turns out that I just read some bad high fantasy when I was a kid and subsequently wrote off the entire genre. Which is my way of saying that a) apparently I like high fantasy and b) A Darker Shade of Magic is the book that made me realize that I apparently like high fantasy. It doesn’t hurt that V. E. Schwab’s characters are amazing. Kell, an Antari with access to blood magic, is jaded but also so deeply wants to help people. Delilah Bard, a thief from Grey London, joins the fray when she robs Kell and then convinces him to take her to Red London. The characters, worlds, and stories are all so well developed that even though the book is huge (think Goblet of Fire size) I could not put it down.

Delilah Bard stole my heart. While I am a fan of excellent heroines, very few capture me the way Lila did. The minute she swooped into this book, speaking of her swashbuckling dreams, I was entirely on board. A Darker Shade of Magic isn’t about Lila, though. Not really. It’s about Kell and the Antari who travel through worlds, and a bit of corrupted Black London that has found its way into his unwitting hands. It’s about danger and sacrifice and courage and stubbornness and Lila is very much just along for the ride. And who came blame her? With London in four shades and the chance to travel between worlds (let alone countries…) I’d have hopped on board as well! There are a few scattered things I want to note about A Darker Shade of Magic. The first, obviously, it the incredibleness that is Delilah Bard. She’s a shadow, a thief, a fighter, and a pirate. There are never enough pirates in fiction to satiate me. Beyond that, she is just plain interesting. Her dialogue? So good. It plays at my heartstrings. For example: “I’m not going to die,” she said. “Not till I’ve seen it.” “Seen what?” Her smile widened. “Everything.” My favorite line in the book. Possibly one of my favorite bookish quotes of all time, which is an honor held almost uniquely by novels by J.K. Rowling and John Green. Good company. I want to cut Delilah Bard out of the pages of this book and keep her with me. Glorious, wonderful character. The second thing is the opening line. Although the first line of a book is supposed to be the hook that draws you in, I find that very few resonate with me enough that I can’t get them out of my head. “Kell wore a peculiar coat.” is one such line. It tell the reader so much and absolutely nothing at all. Who is Kell? Tell me about his coat. If his coat is peculiar, he must be too. H ow is he peculiar? How did he get this coat? … on and on it goes. Simple. Luring. Perfection. Then there are the little casual bits thrown in all over the place – like Lila’s eye, and how did the stone really get to White London? Paying back Cella? Rhys and Lila’s future flirtations (this happens, right? Tell me it happens). I am so utterly enthralled in this novel that I am still wrapped in its pages and eager to learn more. The world building is astounding, the characters are delightful, the story is intriguing… as a reader, I really couldn’t ask for anything more.

Wow so many books I have never left a review, the life of a blogger means that sometimes the books you read for enjoyment and not the blog never get the words they deserve. So I just re-read this one, since I am crazy and haven't read the final book yet A Conjuring of Light, I have a problem finishing things...and I had a crazy reading slump this year, nothing felt good, and I didn't want my mood to hurt the book. Sooo I promised myself a re-read and that would get me in the right place. I was right! I haven't re-read this book and with the beautiful collector's edition released, I knew now was the time. I love Lila Bard...she is my crush. She holds her fear and is a warrior. Kell is intense, and I still love him. And Rhy oh Rhy, he is just perfect. So yeah, I love this book so much, so read it won't you?!

Fantastic! Finally, great fantasy that's totally unique and wholly it's own genre! I absolutely loved this series and I picked it up on a whim while at the local indie bookstore in the city, and I am so very glad I did! After reading this book, I longed for the incredible ability that our main character Kell has! It's not like all the other "magic" books out there. Easily one of the best books I've read in years! I was looking for a new book after being thoroughly disappointed that my "Wise man's Fear" by Rothfuss had to end with no third book in sight.... when I found this! Read it, it won't disappoint!

The first installment of the Shades of Magic trilogy did not disappoint. Then again, no book of Victoria Schwab's has disappointed me yet. This novel was more of a slow paced read. We were eased into the four Londons and the main characters involved in them. Schwab has created her own universe within these pages - We have a new magic system, worlds, and languages but she writes/introduces it all in a way that doesn't confuse you or go over your head. (Note: this collector's edition is very useful in these introductions with a glossary at the very back. I forgot it had one and still had no issues, though.) :) I loved the relationships she created. They all felt genuine. There was no real romance in this first installment which I love because it was not necessary. Nothing is worse than a perfect book having an unnecessary, forced romantic relationship just for the sake of having one in it. This was a spellbinding first building block into the trilogy that ties up nicely if you don't want to commit to three books. However, it also leaves plenty of room and questions to push one to continue. I am more than ready for the next adventure. Lastly, can we just praise Schwab for bringing into our imaginary lives that wonderful coat of Kell's? Wouldn't it be nice to buy one coat that can be changed for any occasion?

With this book, I have discovered my new favorite author. It was so fantastic, I immediately ordered the rest of the series and I can't get enough!

Love this series, love this book. Wow. So beautiful and amazing

Love this series.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Más barato no lo encontrarás y el precio de acuerdo a la calidad es simplemente inmejorable. El libro es pasta dura pero cuenta con una cubierta de papel sobre la pasta dura lo que le da un toque diferente. Por dentro continene imágenes de la novela y por si fuera poco el libro viene autografeado por la escritora (parece que es firma original y no impresa). Compra recomendada y verificada.

A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC • • ⭐: 5/5 • • I was constantly impressed with this book’s narrative pace. It flows in your mind naturally and it’s filled with clever descriptions and awesome dialogues. The story is about different worlds and magic, also with a great wardrobe comes great responsibilities. Kell had my heart at the first scene he appeared and throughout the story he kept making me love him even more, with his determination and passion, with his sensible and righteous heart. Lila is the kind of friend I would looooove to have, someone brave, beautiful and loyal. Their scenes together were to die for and I can’t wait to read more about Red London, White London, Grey London and specially, Black London. The plot and mood of the book made me feel nostalgic about places I’ve never been to.

Libro praticamente da collezione. Edizione davvero molto bella e curata, con l’aggiunta di particolari quali, ad esempio, alcuni schizzi dei protagonisti principali. Il romanzo poi è davvero magnifico, ben scritto e strutturato, con una storia che si evolve di capitolo in capitolo finendo per farsi leggere nel giro di pochi giorni. Anche in lingua inglese non è una lettura “troppo” difficile.

Bom, a leitura valeu a pena: sei que é isso que a maioria das pessoas deve estar se questionando. É uma história espetacular e criativa, com personagens que eu amei, mas que pesa um pouco no começo, o qual é meio lento. Porém, quando a história começa, ela não decepciona. Novamente, vale muito a pena mas poderia ter sido mais objetivo no começo.

This edition is incredibly beautiful! The book beneath the cover is all black with the title embossed in gold letters. The inside's back and front pages are painted with gorgeous character artwork of Kell, Lila and some other characters! Everything looks so neat!

Me llego en súper buenas condiciones! El libro contiene ilustraciones por los fans en la parte del inicio y en la parte del final. Contiene contenido exclusivo, que son unas historias, un preguntas y respuestas de la autora y más. Aparte, el libro esta autografiado por la autora.

He alucinado al ver que el libro venía con la firma de la autora, no lo había visto en la descripción del libro y me ha sorprendido muchísimo. Además la edición es preciosa.

I highly recommend getting the Collector's Edition. It features exclusive fan art and never seen before extra stories, which are nice and give a little more insights into the story and the author. Such a unique book and definitely worth buying, whether you have read the book already or not. Super fast delivery from Amazon.

Chegou em perfeito estado. O livro é lindíssimo, cheio de imagens e conteúdo adicional. A história em si, porém leva mais da metade do livro para se tornar interessante e quase não fazer dormir.

Firstly, this book is incredible. Secondly, it's signed, so that's awesome! Thirdly, EXTRA CONTENT!! Heck Yes! Fourthly, it's absolutely beautiful! Fifthly, if you are going back and fourth about buying it (as I was) JUST DO IT!! You won't regret it, even if you already have like 2 other copies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Quasta edizione speciale è magnifica. Se togliamo la sovracopertina c'è una bellissima scritta: As Travars in embossed dorato, è ricco di fan art e di contenuti speciali. Se avete amato A darker Shade of Magic questa chicca non può mancarvi. Ah! C'è l'autografo della Schwab... Meglio di così non si può avere :)

🌼🌼OMG I can finally say I have it. It was the last book in stock. Lol, I grabbed it. 🌼🌼 . 🌹V.E Schwab's books don't need any explanation, just grab your copy and start reading them. 🌹

Super mooie editie die ik heb aangeschaft om te laten signeren door VE Schwab. Toen het aan kwam zag ik dat het boek al was gesigneerd!

Excelente en el tiempo de envío pero la cubierta del libro llegó como sucia. Eso me hace creer que descuidan sus productos.

Esta edicion viene firmada por la autora, y no sabía!!!! venia un poco dañada la portada pero fuera de eso llego en supper buen estado

Je l’ai offert à ma copine et elle a eu l’adreable Surprise de voir la signature de l’auteur , elle qui adore les livres c’etait Juste parfait

Go for it!!!

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WORLD BUILDINGS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE

Fantastic story! The Collector's Edition is really cool. It arrived quickly and in perfect condition.

Das Buch kam pünktlich an und für den Preis unschlagbar Kann ich nur weiterempfehlen

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Netjes ingepakt, super snelle service. Was zelfs nog gesigneerd ook :)

Llegó a tiempo, en perfectas condiciones.

Loved this edition, it comes with fan art, and some short stories, its honestly just gorgeous to look at.

Amazing book and this one was a signed edition :)

Gorgeous !

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.