A Darker Shade of Magic

📘 About This Book

Kell is one of the last Travelers -- magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes -- as such, he can choose where he lands. There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there's Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne -- a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London ... but no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see -- a dangerous hobby, and one that has set him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive -- and that is proving trickier than they hoped.

📖 Summary

A Darker Shade of Magic introduces readers to a vividly imagined multiverse centered around four distinct versions of the city of London, each separated by space and magic, yet linked by the rare and coveted ability of the Travelers. Kell stands as one of the very last of these extraordinary magicians, giving him the unique privilege to choose where he lands when he steps between worlds. His official role is that of the Red Traveler, serving as the personal ambassador and adopted prince of Red London. In this vibrant empire, life and magic are deeply revered, and the ruling Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing, harmonious society. However, Kell maintains an unofficial, riskier life as a smuggler, catering to people who are willing to pay dearly for illegal relics from worlds they can never hope to visit. The world-building expands dramatically across the other Londons, each offering a starkly different reflection of the famous city. There is Grey London, a dirty and mundane place entirely devoid of magic, which limps along under the rule of a mad King George. At the opposite end of the spectrum lies White London, a brutal and desolate realm where power is seized exclusively through murder, and whoever manages to slaughter their way to the throne becomes ruler. In White London, the populace desperately fights to control magic, but the magic violently fights back, slowly draining the city and its inhabitants to their very bones. Beyond these three surviving realities lies Black London, a terrifying cautionary tale that swallowed itself whole long ago, a place so feared that no one dares to speak of it anymore. As Kell navigates his dangerous double life carrying monthly correspondences between the royals of each London, the boundaries between the worlds begin to blur. Smuggling contraband proves to be an increasingly perilous game, especially when Kell crosses paths with Lila Bard, a resourceful and ambitious thief from Grey London who harbors dreams of grand adventures. Together, Kell and Lila are thrust into a high-stakes conflict that threatens not just their individual lives, but the very survival of all the Londons. V.E. Schwab crafts a rich, atmospheric fantasy filled with intricate politics, deadly magic, and unforgettable characters who must reckon with the dark consequences of ambition, power, and curiosity.

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✍️ About the Author

V.E. Schwab

V.E. Schwab (b. 1987) is an American author known for genre-blending fantasy, including 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' and the 'Shades of Magic' series.

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