Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic

Author: V.E. Schwab
Series: A Darker Shade of Magic #1
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Pages: 400
Format: Hardcover
Average Rating: 4.16
Read In: Six days
Source: Amazon

 

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once 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 royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her '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 — trickier than they hoped.

☆☆☆☆☆

Top Ten Tuesday [January 13]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they update their blog with a list of ten things that have to do with a predetermined topic.


This week's topic is: 2014 Releases I Should Have Read But Didn't




1. The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3) by Michelle Hodkin

2. Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles #3) by Gena Showalter

3. The Infinite Sea (The 5th Wave #2) by Rick Yancy

4. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare

5. Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

6. Landline by Rainbow Rowell

7. Unhinged (Splintered #2) by A.G. Howard

8. The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

9. Dangerous Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

10. Sanctum (Asylum #2) by Madeleine Roux




I own almost every single one of these books. Why am I so lazy?!

2015 Reading/Writing Goals

It's that time again! Every year, I attempt to make my reading a little more interesting by challenging myself to read and/or reread a specific number of books or pick up a certain type of book that I might have otherwise looked over. I actually did pretty well last year, so here is a new and updated version for 2015!

(I made a video discussing these goals as well, so if you wold like to see that rather than read about it, click here.)


Reading goals:

1. To read — This goal seems pretty obvious, yes, but after the reading-induced stress that I endured during the closing months of 2014, I felt it was necessary. I am not going to set myself a specific number of books to have read and completed by the end of the year and I am definitely not going to track my progress on Goodreads. Instead, I will try to enjoy the books as I pick them up and take plenty of breaks if I need it, even if it means I only get to read a handful of books in the process!

2. To read at least three books from my physical TBR shelf. In order to narrow this goal down, those three books must have been sitting there for at least six months.

3. To reread three books (not including Harry Potter).

4. To finish five series/trilogies.

5. Finish rereading the Harry Potter series — Last year, I said that I wanted to reread the entire Harry Potter series before the end of the year but, unfortunately, this was the one goal I was not able to accomplish. So, I have decided that I would like to carry it over into 2015! I am currently on book five.

Writing Goals:

1. To Write



What are some of your 2015 goals?

Favorite Books of 2014!

I read SO many good books this past year, which made choosing my favorite fourteen extremely difficult. If you would like to see the sister video I posted on my BookTube channel, where I briefly discuss/show each book on this list, click here. If not, I will be starting at book number fourteen and working my way down to one.


14. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

13. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

12. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

11. Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

10. In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken

9. The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan

8. Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

7. Vicious by V.E. Schwab

6. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

5. Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs

4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

3. Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking #3) by Patrick Ness

2. The Archived & The Unbound (The Archived #1 and 2) by Victoria Schwab

1. Cinder, Scarlet and Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #1, 2 and 3) by Marissa Meyer




What are some of your favorite reads of 2014? I could use some recommendations for the new year!