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Synopsis
A Darker Shade of Magic , from #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab Kell is one of the last Antari — magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black. Kell was raised in Arnes — Red London — and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand. After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive. "A Darker Shade of Magic has all the hallmarks of a classic work of fantasy. Schwab has given us a gem of a tale...This is a book to treasure."—Deborah Harkeness, New York Times bestselling author of the All Souls trilogy Other books by V. E. Schwab Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue Shades of Magic series A Darker Shade of Magic A Gathering of Shadows A Conjuring of Light The Fragile Threads of Power Villains Series Vicious Vengeful At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Is A Darker Shade of Magic: A Novel appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 14 and up.
Fantasy adventure with moderate violence including bloody regime changes and deadly confrontations. No sexual content or strong language. Magic-based action and treachery throughout.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, violence, and blood.
Publisher ages reflect reading level; our rating reflects content maturity — they can differ.
Who'll love this
Teens will love the multiverse travel between magical Londons, the daring thief heroine, and the high-stakes adventure to save multiple worlds.