Scan barcode
bkwrm1317's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Schwab brings readers back home to the world of multiple Londons. Red London’s original Antari, Kell Maresh has been unable to access his power for seven years (since he, Holland, and Lila fought back the literal darkness of Osaron and Black London). Lila trains him in other ways in the meantime aboard her ship, the Grey Barron.
Meanwhile, a young child queen, Kosika, takes power in White London and foreshadows much to come in this new trilogy.
In Grey London, things are much as they once were, although Tes, our newest beloved character, gets to meet Ned Tuttle and experience Grey and White London briefly herself as she fights against a coup planned by an organization calling itself the Hand, hoping to murder Red London’s king, Rhy Maresh.
More swashbuckling, elemental and Antari magic, and adventures through and across the varied Londons will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Meanwhile, a young child queen, Kosika, takes power in White London and foreshadows much to come in this new trilogy.
In Grey London, things are much as they once were, although Tes, our newest beloved character, gets to meet Ned Tuttle and experience Grey and White London briefly herself as she fights against a coup planned by an organization calling itself the Hand, hoping to murder Red London’s king, Rhy Maresh.
More swashbuckling, elemental and Antari magic, and adventures through and across the varied Londons will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, Grief, and Kidnapping
Self harm CW is not a traditional use of this CW but is somewhat apt. Ditto for grief and kidnapping.bessadams's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Torture, and Child abuse
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content
annmeyer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
discovering that v.e. schwab decided to return to this world was exciting to say the least. before starting it, i read a review that claimed this book felt more like a 4th in the previous series than a 1st in a new one — and thank god for that, though you should start with the other series if you haven't read it. the good news is that the three books before this fucking slay; i want to yell about the shades of magic series from the rooftop. yet, where the first series focuses a great deal on the colorful hues of magic, this one (so far) takes it a step forward and turns its eye to the tangible threads of magic that can be fixed or torn apart.
as far as this specific novel goes, it takes place in the same world but is set 7 years after the conclusion of a conjuring of light. it introduces new characters who find themselves fitting in nicely alongside the old ones. tes is my favorite new addition to the series, and i really liked the parts dedicated to her past.
much of the story is told through flashbacks (for all characters) of events that have happened in that time, but they were generally enjoyable. the pacing in these parts will certainly be an issue for some, but i am fond enough of the characters/world i had to persist. i definitely felt like some of the white london sections were a slog to get through, which led me to put this book down a lot more than the other three set in this magical universe (thus why i don't want to give it 5 stars), but it's clear that schwab used those sections to set something larger up. in a similar vein, i did enjoy the plot twists throughout this story (and was caught surprisingly off guard by some things) and the ending, which implies of more to come. great prose and imagery as usual, with lots of nice quotable bits and small pieces of wisdom.
i think my favorite concept / recurring theme in this book, and perhaps all the ones set in this universe, involves the ways in which peoples' magical powers can be weaponized against them by people who seek to control or enslave them. how this affects the character development of said powerful people as well as their decision-making and their ability to empathize with those like them is pretty interesting; it also serves as a sort of "thread of power," so to speak, throughout the overarching story.
delilah bard remains one of my favorite female main characters that i've encountered in a fantasy series, and i was so grateful to read from her perspective again. she's up there with aelin galathynius, which is to say that thieving, cunning women who love as bright as they burn hold a dear place in my heart. after reading some other reviews of this book online, it's clear that some other readers strongly dislike lila because she is so brash and rude (maybe akin to criticism of nesta from sjm's ACOTAR series), but whatever, the world she lives in is much more brash and rude and violent than she is. she's a badass and not everyone needs to be likeable — even though i, personally, do like her a lot. nobody could ever make me hate you, pookie.
and despite the fact that i desire so much more of them (gnawing at the bars of my enclosure), the dynamic between her and kell is one of my favorite fictional romances. they spar to sharpen their skills, they share the same power as though they are two sides of the same coin (or perhaps ones from different-colored londons), and they are as fiercely independent as they are fatedly drawn to one another. the fact that they are together brings me joy even though they don't actually exist, a sign of something surely.
i will simply wait for more and read it hungrily when it comes
as far as this specific novel goes, it takes place in the same world but is set 7 years after the conclusion of a conjuring of light. it introduces new characters who find themselves fitting in nicely alongside the old ones. tes is my favorite new addition to the series, and i really liked the parts dedicated to her past.
much of the story is told through flashbacks (for all characters) of events that have happened in that time, but they were generally enjoyable. the pacing in these parts will certainly be an issue for some, but i am fond enough of the characters/world i had to persist. i definitely felt like some of the white london sections were a slog to get through, which led me to put this book down a lot more than the other three set in this magical universe (thus why i don't want to give it 5 stars), but it's clear that schwab used those sections to set something larger up. in a similar vein, i did enjoy the plot twists throughout this story (and was caught surprisingly off guard by some things) and the ending, which implies of more to come. great prose and imagery as usual, with lots of nice quotable bits and small pieces of wisdom.
i think my favorite concept / recurring theme in this book, and perhaps all the ones set in this universe, involves the ways in which peoples' magical powers can be weaponized against them by people who seek to control or enslave them. how this affects the character development of said powerful people as well as their decision-making and their ability to empathize with those like them is pretty interesting; it also serves as a sort of "thread of power," so to speak, throughout the overarching story.
delilah bard remains one of my favorite female main characters that i've encountered in a fantasy series, and i was so grateful to read from her perspective again. she's up there with aelin galathynius, which is to say that thieving, cunning women who love as bright as they burn hold a dear place in my heart. after reading some other reviews of this book online, it's clear that some other readers strongly dislike lila because she is so brash and rude (maybe akin to criticism of nesta from sjm's ACOTAR series), but whatever, the world she lives in is much more brash and rude and violent than she is. she's a badass and not everyone needs to be likeable — even though i, personally, do like her a lot. nobody could ever make me hate you, pookie.
i will simply wait for more and read it hungrily when it comes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
sharkleggings's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Blood
some_random_person_hi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Holland ilysm being in denial abt you dying in ACOL paid off 🥰
All around, felt like fanservice for ADSOM fans but I'm the fan that's getting served so I'm not complaining. Kosika chapters were kinda draggy at times (but also really engaging at other times!) From a pacing standpoint this book has so many problems. I also doubt that it can be understood well/easily/at all by someone who didn't read the ADSOM trilogy beforehand because of the sheer number of characters.
All around, felt like fanservice for ADSOM fans but I'm the fan that's getting served so I'm not complaining. Kosika chapters were kinda draggy at times (but also really engaging at other times!) From a pacing standpoint this book has so many problems. I also doubt that it can be understood well/easily/at all by someone who didn't read the ADSOM trilogy beforehand because of the sheer number of characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Torture, Death, and Ableism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Kidnapping, Homophobia, and Blood
Self harm is to get blood for magic.chellybell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
jackiepreston's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Unfortunately I didn't connect with the new characters as well as I did with the old ones. Hopefully the next book will make them more interesting and hopefully the White London storyline will start to connect more directly to everyone else
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia and Child abuse
artmuseam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
currently at a loss for words right now after that ending. i genuinely believe ve schwab is one of the greatest writers of this entire universe and her books will never fail to leave me utterly speechless and yearning for more whenever i finish them! okay, first i will admit that the beginning was a bit slow and it took me a while to adjust having the new characters in the picture since i wanted to gatekeep the returners and always get a bit annoyed when new people take the spotlight (weird habit of mine, i know). BUT once things started kicking off, especially after 1/3 of the book, i was hooked. my love for the shades of magic world exponentially increased during this read and i found myself literally holding my breath in the last parts of the book. trust me, this book is something you do not want to miss!! time to distract myself with other books while i wait for the sequel to come out :,) 4.5/5 stars <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Torture, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing
snapbea's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book is surprisingly interesting and engaging, considering that it is about 500+ pages of exposition before getting to any actual plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Child abuse
quinnyquinnquinn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and Torture