Flauschbuch reviewed A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab (Duplicate) (Shades of Magic)
Interesting take
4 stars
You'd think that there isn't much room anymore in the fantasy genre for something different. But I found the world V.E. Schwab created here - 3 (or, rather 4) connected very different Londons - quite inventive. The 3 different worlds are brought to life quite vividly. What I really appreciated is how the author thought about how the existence, the potential disappearance and the absence of magic would influence a society. That seems like an often neglected aspect. The story is a good mix of mystery, intrigue and action, if a bit oddly paced at times. And to me, it was quite a page turner. This is the first part of a trilogy but the story is self-contained.