A Darker Shade of Magic: A Fantasy Masterpiece

 A Darker Shade of Magic follows Kell Maresh, the last person capable of travelling between Four Londons—Grey, Red, White, and Black. Raised in Red London, Kell is an ambassador to the Royal Empire and carries messages between worlds. But he isn’t just a Royal Ambassador, he’s also a smuggler. When a trip between Londons goes wrong, Kell meets Lila Bard, a thief with a longing for adventure. Together they find themselves in a dangerous game of magic and treachery. 

When people used to ask what my favourite book is, I would freeze. As an avid reader, choosing just one book was always difficult. Until A Darker Shade of Magic. In this book, bestselling author V.E. Schwab blends the perfect amount of intrigue, fantasy, romance, and deadly stakes to create a fascinating story. I spent many late nights torn between desperately wanting to know what came next and not wanting the series to finish. 

Oftentimes, I find that young adult fantasy books lack realism. The heroes always win, the “bad guys” always lose, and everyone ends up happily ever after. While this story arc works, it gets boring. Schwab doesn’t fall into the same tropes. Let’s take Holland as an example. Holland is Kell’s counterpart from White London. At the beginning of the book, he’s seen as the villain. However, as the story proceeds, we learn more about his tragic past, including his years of servitude and torture. His moral ambiguity allows the reader to sympathize with him. In this, Schwab shows us that villains can be complex characters. Similarly, Lila Bard isn’t only seen as “the hero.” While being the protagonist of the story, she often does what’s best for her, not always considering other people’s welfare. Through both these characters, Schwab writes people and situations that feel real, showing that everyone is a complex mix of virtue and vice. 

I’d rather die on an adventure than live standing still.

Lila Bard from A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

But that isn’t the only thing that sets A Darker Shade of Magic apart from other fantasy books. Schwab does an impressive job with world building. This is a tricky thing to accomplish. Not only is her parallel-universe theme unique in fantasy novels, but she also incorporates different tones and cultures within each universe. Grey London is the closest to our world, relying on machines rather than magic. Red London thrives on magic, which is highly regarded and celebrated, leaving most people comfortable and prosperous. White London is the opposite of Red London: it’s bleak, cold, and dull. Its culture is marked with violence, power, and cruelty, where magic is seen as a tool of oppression. And lastly, Black London is a destroyed world consumed by magic, shrouded in mystery and danger. There are no boundaries to Schwab’s imagination. She has created a vast universe with unique cultures, perspectives, and rules.

A Darker Shade of Magic moves at a very compelling pace. Without being overwhelming, Schwab manages to avoid lulls and keep the story moving. As the characters race to prevent catastrophic events, a sense of urgency is created that generates tension and excitement, making it difficult to put the book down. What I enjoyed the most was that, while keeping the plot moving, Schwab was constantly developing the characters and the four universes. She writes everything with purpose, avoiding unnecessary background detail and maintaining a thrilling pace throughout the book. 

Complete with complex and realistic characters, an elaborate world, and an exhilarating pacing, I highly recommend this book for all fantasy lovers, especially for those who enjoy darker themes. Now, when people ask me what my favourite book is, I only have one answer: A Darker Shade of Magic.