A Darker Shade of MagicA Darker Shade of Magic
Score Modern
What it's about
Kell is one of the last Antari, magicians with the rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons: Red, Grey, White, and once upon a time, Black. When a dangerous secret falls into his hands, he's drawn into a deadly adventure across worlds.
Why it's worth reading
It's V. E. Schwab's beloved fantasy series opener, full of magic, adventure and a memorable heroine.
You'll love it if you liked
Vicious
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Six of CrowsGood to know
It's the first of the Shades of Magic trilogy.
By the numbers
- Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller38 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #132 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #293 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #1060 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1962 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic
More by V. E. Schwab
If you like this, read next
The Bear and the Nightingale
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
The Book Thief
The Help
The Song of Achilles
A Court of Thorns and RosesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is A Darker Shade of Magic worth reading?
Yes. It's V. It ranks #1,962 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Darker Shade of Magic about?
Kell is one of the last Antari, magicians with the rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons: Red, Grey, White, and once upon a time, Black. When a dangerous secret falls into his hands, he's drawn into a deadly adventure across worlds.
How long does it take to read A Darker Shade of Magic?
About 10 hours (413 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Darker Shade of Magic?
If you liked it, try Vicious by V. E. Schwab, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab or Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.