V.E. Schwab didn't just write a book about parallel universes; she basically built a trap for anyone who loves a good "what if." You’ve probably seen the fan art of a guy in a multi-sided coat. That’s Kell Maresh. He’s one of the last Antari, a blood magician who can hop between different versions of London. There’s Grey London (boring, no magic, our world), Red London (vibrant, smells like flowers, magic is respected), White London (brutal, starving for power), and Black London (the one everyone ignores because it literally ate itself).
It sounds simple. It’s not.
The Shades of Magic series—which technically consists of the original trilogy A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows, and A Conjuring of Light—has become a cornerstone of the "New Adult" fantasy wave. It’s gritty. It’s stylish. But mostly, it’s about the cost of power. Most people come for the magic, but honestly, they stay for the mess of human emotions that drive characters like Lila Bard to do things that are objectively terrifying.
The Problem With Red London’s Perfection
Everyone wants to live in Red London. It’s the dream, right? The river glows with magic, the royalty is actually competent, and nobody goes hungry. But Schwab does something clever here. She shows that a world with too much magic becomes complacent. Kell, despite being a prince of the blood, feels like a prisoner. He’s a "possession" of the crown. That nuance is why the Shades of Magic series feels more "human" than your average high-fantasy epic.
Kell’s habit of smuggling trinkets between worlds isn't just a plot device; it's a rebellion. He takes a dull coin from Grey London and brings it to Red London just to feel something that isn't pre-ordained. It’s that exact restlessness that kicks off the whole disaster when he accidentally brings a piece of Black London—a sentient, corrupting shadow—back with him.
Lila Bard and the Anti-Heroine Archetype
If Kell is the heart of the series, Lila Bard is the jagged glass. She starts as a cross-dressing thief in the smog of 19th-century Grey London. She’s not "nice." She’s barely "good." She wants to be a pirate, and she doesn't care who she has to stab to get there.
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You’ve seen this trope before? Maybe. But Lila’s total lack of fear isn't a superpower; it's a trauma response. Schwab doesn’t shy away from the fact that Lila is borderline sociopathic in her pursuit of freedom. When she meets Kell, she doesn't see a savior. She sees a ticket out. Their chemistry works because it isn't soft. It’s a collision.
The fans who obsess over the Shades of Magic series usually fall into two camps: those who want to be Kell and those who are terrified they might actually be Lila. The interplay between them across the three books evolves from mutual suspicion to a bone-deep, "us against the worlds" alliance. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s perfect.
Why White London is the Most Interesting Setting
White London is terrifying. In this world, magic is fading, and the people have become literal parasites trying to drain the earth of its remaining power. The rulers, the Dane twins (Holland and Astrid), are some of the most chilling villains in 21st-century fiction.
But wait. Is Holland actually a villain?
That’s the question that keeps readers up at night. Holland is the "other" Antari, the foil to Kell. While Kell is pampered in a palace, Holland is magically enslaved to the Danes. His story is one of the most tragic arcs in the entire Shades of Magic series. He represents the desperation of a dying world. Schwab forces you to empathize with someone doing horrific things because his alternative is the total extinction of his people.
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The Elemental Magic System
Magic in these books isn't just waving a wand and saying a Latin-sounding word. It’s elemental. It’s blood-based.
- As Tano (To the Earth)
- As Garen (To the Air)
- As Veren (To the Fire)
- As Isen (To the Water)
To move between worlds, an Antari needs blood. They need to "carve" the door. It’s visceral and physical. This makes the stakes higher because magic isn't an infinite resource; it’s a tax on the body. When Kell or Lila use magic, you feel the exhaustion. This groundedness prevents the "deus ex machina" problem where characters just magic their way out of every corner.
Misconceptions About the Series
Some people call this YA (Young Adult). They’re mostly wrong. While it crossed over into the YA market because of its pacing, the themes are decidedly adult. We’re talking about political assassination, body horror, and the psychological weight of slavery and genocide. If you go in expecting Harry Potter, you’re going to be very surprised when the blood starts spilling in the first fifty pages.
Another common mistake? Thinking the story ended with A Conjuring of Light.
Schwab recently returned to this universe with the Threads of Power series. It’s a new trilogy set several years after the original events. It brings back our favorites (older, more tired, still magical) but introduces a new generation of characters dealing with the fallout of the first trilogy’s climax.
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Actionable Steps for New and Returning Readers
If you’re looking to dive back into the Shades of Magic series or start it for the first time, don't just mindlessly binge the books. There's a specific way to absorb this lore that makes it stick.
1. Track the "Smells" of the Londons. Schwab uses sensory details to distinguish the worlds. Grey London smells of smoke and rain. Red London smells of roses and sunshine. White London smells of blood and ash. Paying attention to these cues helps you navigate the rapid world-hopping in the later books.
2. Read the Prequel Comics. If you want the full picture of the world before Kell met Lila, find The Steel Prince graphic novels. They follow Maxim Maresh (the King of Red London) when he was a young, arrogant prince. It adds massive layers to his character in the main books.
3. Watch the "Threads of Power" Connections. If you’re moving from the original trilogy to the new books, pay close attention to the magical "residue" left behind by the Black London incident. The new magic system—the "threads"—is a direct evolution of the chaos from the first three novels.
4. Annotate the Maps. The geography of Red London is crucial, especially during the Essen Tasch (the magical tournament) in book two. Understanding the layout of the river and the Isle makes the action sequences much easier to follow.
The Shades of Magic series isn't just a fantasy story; it’s a study in how power corrupts and how freedom is rarely free. Whether you’re a fan of the high-stakes politics or the slow-burn character growth, these books offer a depth that most "portal fantasies" simply can't match.
Pick up A Darker Shade of Magic. Watch for the coat with many sides. Just remember: magic is a living thing, and in Schwab’s world, it always wants to be fed.