The pacing is quite fast and there are some funny scenes to make you laugh.

Schwab’s writing is very unique and truly a pleasure to read. There are some sexual references made but not outright scenes. While the series leans more toward the new adult age rating, there are no mature scenes in the books. No, a Darker Shade of Magic is not enemies-to-lovers. Is a Darker Shade of Magic an enemies-to-lovers story? There is also a side character whose thoughts are described a bit, and they reveal his attraction toward the same sex. While it is not explicitly said in the book, there is a character who is heavily implied to be bisexual. We also get not one, but two cute couples to root for! Are there LGBTQ+ characters or relationships in this book? However, there is some romance and it is a bigger subplot later on in the series. Is a Darker Shade of Magic a romance?Ī Darker Shade of Magic focuses more on the action and fantasy aspects of the story. The series takes place in the early 1800s in the parallel Londons Gray, Red, White, and Black. When and where does the setting of this book take place? Other present themes are friendship and the connection between family and the love that stems from that. The main saying in this book is that in the wrong hands, power can have dangerous consequences. Please be mindful of when picking up this book or recommending it to others, since there is some torture and sexual references. I would recommend this book to ages 16 and up.

However, due to the harder-hitting themes and darker scenes in the book, it is not classified as YA. The whole series does read with the ease of a young adult novel with plenty of dialogue, short chapters, and quick pacing. Kell and Lila have to work together to save all the Londons – while staying alive of course. There he meets Delilah Bard – a pick-pocketer with hopes for a different life and adventures. Kell has to flee to Gray London after an exchange goes awry. Kell does exchanges between the Londons and delivers messages between the rulers except for Black London, since the place’s magic died out a long time ago. The Antari are magicians with the ability to travel between parallel Londons red, white, gray, and black. This article mainly focuses on the first installment of the series – a Darker Shade of Magic. In this article, you can find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the book, as well as information on the characters of the series. The first book was published in early 2015, and the series has since expanded with prequel graphic novels and a spin-off trilogy in late 2022. A Darker Shade of Magic is the first book in the Shades of Magic main trilogy written by the amazingly talented, V.E.

A darker shade of magic series in order