Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Name: SNEAK PEEK:
A Darker Shade of Magic SAMPLE
Author: V.E. Schwab
Number of Pages: 150 pages in Ebook Sample
Published: November 2014 by Tor Books
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction

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, who 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.

I’m so thankful that Tor/Forge approved my request of this book from NetGalley since I’m pretty sure I’d love it. I have a problem though. Not quite sure if there’s a mixed up or something. Sent a request for the Sneak Peek for 150 pages and got an uncorrected ARC instead. As in the full book. Not that I’m complaining. To make sure, I sent the book to my Kindle again and got the Sneak Peek this time. I’m so guilty since I’ve already finished reading it. I can’t sleep thinking about it last night so I’ve sent them an email first thing today. They haven’t replied yet. I really think it was a mistake since the book will be published February next year. What do you think? Is it really intended for me?

So in lieu of that incident, I won’t be discussing the book as a whole. As much as I want to talk about it, I can’t ’cause the first email they sent me indicated this.

“PLEASE do refrain from posting your review on a publicly-available website until no more than 2 WEEKS before the on-sale date. (Exceptions can be made in the case of preview excerpts, which we invite you to discuss via posts as early as you like.)”

Okay. So this should be short, but sweet. I’ll be very careful as to not give out spoilers and only talk about the book until the end of the Sneak Peek. To start with, I really really love the book. I believe the book is for me specifically because this is exactly how the book begun..

“FOR THE ONES WHO DREAM OF STRANGER WORLDS.”

Teaser Tuesday #23

I’ve decided to join this ’cause I think it’s pretty fun and easy. Plus I really want to quote smart retorts, full blown bullying, words of wisdom, swoon worthy lines and the like without giving much to readers about the entire book. A quote or two won’t hurt I guess.
So this is how you do it:
1. Grab your current read.
2. Randomly open a page.
3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!
You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants
can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This is for this week’s Teaser Tuesday

A Darker Shade of Magic
by V. E. Schwab

“He was young and handsome and kind. Perhaps he played the part of rake too often and too well, but behind the charismatic smile and the flirtatious air was a sharp mind and a good intent, the desire to make everyone around him happy.”

“Pretty wouldn’t serve her well. And Lord knew she didn’t envy the ladies with their cinched corsets and abundant skirts, their falsetto laughs and the ridiculous way they used them. The way they swooned and leaned on men, feigning weakness to savor their strength.”

I initially thought of reading A Thousand Pieces of You first then this, but this book really intrigued me so I started it instead. I’m enjoying it so far. Will post the review as soon as I’m finished. 😉 Anyway, you could share some teasers on your current read too. Comment the link of your own Teaser Tuesday so I can check it out and have an idea of amazing books that I would want to read.

Teaser Tuesdays (TT) is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Currently Reading│Book Beginning : A Thousand Pieces of You & Sample: A Darker Shade of Magic

Currently Reading #35

Name: A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Number of Pages: 368 pages in Hardcover
Published: November 4th 2014 by Harper Teen
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him. Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

Finally. Reading this. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, perhaps you would remember me posting a blog about Claudia visiting the Philippines for a book signing tour and unfortunately, I’ve missed it. Imagine the frustration I felt when Claudia is just a couple of blocks away signing books and I’m sitting in my office so unaware. I’ve read it in an article a day after only to learn that Claudia’s already in Cebu and that’s far from where I am. As in you need to take an airplane far. How in world could I missed it? Anyway, I moved on. I just want to share it for those who missed that blog I posted about it. Here’s a five star, three star and one star review respectively. Got them from book lovers on Goodreads.

One of the most interesting, unique stories I have had the privilege to read in quite some time. I can’t even begin to capture a picture of the basic story for you, all that would do is serve an injustice. Just trust me, you need to go pick this book up and me as captivated as I am now. I can def see this being made into a major motion picture. Why can’t all stories take you on a journey such as this one?!  Now, I’m going to need Claudia Gray to hurry up and finish the 2nd book in this series so I can finish it in a day. 🙂  MUST READ!
— Jessica of My Kaleidoscope Heart