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**SPOILER ALERT. MAKE SURE YOU'VE READ TO THE END OF CHAPTER 2 (page 100 in my edition) BEFORE READING ON**


The third book in the series is already off to a very intense start. The extreme pain Kell and Rhy had to go through was horrifying. I was so worried when Rhy "died", I honestly thought that was it. He already died one time, there's no way he can cheat death again. But he lives! Tbh I'm hoping we will get a good explanation as to why he came back to life as it was mighty convenient. Perhaps magic is awakening in him? But still...

WHAT IS UP WITH OSARON!?? Like dude, you already destroyed an entire world by carelessly flaunting your magic about. If you're so powerful why not keep the world alive this time eh? But what am I saying, this thing is the definition of evil.

I like how there are also magic users who control metal. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is the first time it has been mentioned in the series? It was so badass how the king crushed his crown and turned it into a sword. I'm hoping we will get some more depth to the king and queen of red London in this book. In the previous books there wasn't much too them and not one thing to like about them. So far in this one they are feeling a bit more human.

It's interesting how Antari blood is a weapon against Osaron. It was clever for Kell to manipulate his blood and make it rain down to cover more area and people, but like we've seen, this strategy can't go on forever. I'm at a complete lose at how they will fight Osaron.


Chapter 2 ends with Kell confronting Holland in the castle dungeon. Holland is a wreck, with all colour loss from his face- even his black hair is now streaked with silver. And sadly he knows nothing on how to stop this demon. Holland still remains one of my favourite characters. I know he's filled with hatred and has made many bad choices. But I think there is some goodness in him that we are going to see in this book.

Let me know your thoughts, and discuss!

I'm now on page 125 and there is one very small thing I'd like to mention, and it really is a minor complaint, but I'm starting to get annoyed by how many times Lila's shattered eye is mentioned. We KNOW it's shattered already.

Indeed these were such intense first hundred pages! And I'll write it again: I'm so happy the book picked up exactly where the previous one ended, with Lila speaking As travars for the first time. I can't stand such series that have like the second or third volume start at some different place, theme etc, and it takes you 100 pages to even realize what's going on and how these new characters relate to the ones you know. V.E. Schwab doesn't "cheat" the reader, she knows she ended on a cliffhanger and what we're all waiting for!

I too am at a loss as to how this Osaron demon can ever be stopped! He looks invincible! Blind thirst for power. The way he dropped into the Isle, turning the magical red glow into oil-black was chilling to read... The author created an amazing scene in which the Dark power possessed people near the waters, great writing! Even Master Tieren and Alucard had no power over him... He cannot be stopped, unless the other Londons come up with something we haven't seen yet.

Kell continues to be my favorite character - Rhy a very close second, though he's been unconscious for like half a book - doing all he can to save his world. I really missed his reaction to Lila's newly-discovered powers: it's like he almost accepted without any surprise how Lila went from being a girl who didn't even believe in magic to a rarest Blood Magician like him within half a year! I expected him to be awe-struck at her new powers and ask her a million questions! I want answers as well.

I blame Holland for serving this Evil. I'm not at all convinced by his explanations about wanting to save his world, he and his demonic dead Ojka monster assassin are worse than the Dane twins. They should execute him immediately now that he's in their hands, in my opinion. I hated him from page one in a Darker Shade of Magic and I haven't changed my mind yet, sorry.

I'm glad there still are 550 pages ahead of us, let's read like crazy! <3 I expect more scenes in King George's Gray London, I expect more Rhy/Alucard, I expect Black London, a new King, I expect to see how will King Maxim treat/use Lila if indeed she is an Antari, or if she'll work for her own London, how will Kell's posision change, I expect the four universes to be connected again into some sort of solution, I hope miss Schwab delivers.

Dimitris wrote: "Indeed these were such intense first hundred pages! And I'll write it again: I'm so happy the book picked up exactly where the previous one ended, with Lila speaking As travars for the first time. ..."

Yesss I'm so glad it picked up where the last one ended as well!!! Exactly, Schwab knows what we were waiting for!

It was such a chilling and suspenseful scene when Osaron took over Red London, gotta agree with that. Have you met the king? XD it's just so creepy!! That's a good point actually, hmmm I wonder if the other London's will pitch in to help. Possibly Mr. Tuttle will do something?

Kell is for sure my favourite as well. I relate to him the most! And yeah... I was expecting a bigger reaction to Lila being Antari. It's not everyday that happens! And especially when so far it's only ever been just Holland and Kell in this generation.

Hahaha you really don't trust Holland eh? ;) Interesting, he's actually one of my favourite characters! I'm sort of thinking the opposite though, I think he has a lot of good intentions but has just made horrible decisions, and been possessed by a demon (oh and controlled by the Dane twins). I kinda think he's just had a really rough life, and wanted to make White London better. But you might be right! He may end up betraying everyone yet again, and Kell will have wished he killed him when he had the chance. Ojka definitely creeps me out.... that's for sure.

I just put up the discussion for the halfway point! I hope we get some more of all that you mentioned as well! Do you know if there is any news about a fourth book, or is this one the conclusion?

I totally agree with what you write about Holland! And he is very interesting and great as a character and I enjoy reading about him, I also get the vibe that he'll play a major (possitive) role in the next pages. But I just don't like him. ;) He made a very bad "entrance" in A Darker Shade of Magic and I can't forget.

Haha, I'm like that with ALL characters, I refuse to understand how people can support (even stan!) villains, just because they're "cool" or "sexy", for example Cersei. I used to get into huge fights with my sisters who loved Damon and Klaus in TVD! Ewww! I was stelena and forwood all the way and practically stopped watching when Caroline cheated on Tyler with that demon Klaus! (don't judge, hahaha, TVD was HUGE here in Greece). But I love almost everyone here - and maybe that's the only problem with these books: I love Kell and Lila and Rye and Alucard and his family and Queen Emira and the Veskans even, and therefore I must put someone at the villains' side (Osaron is too vague and non-human to be considered a "real" character for me, does anyone agree?)

I think there won't be a fourth book in Shades of Magic. It ends here. See also V.E. Schwab's pinned tweet (from February 21 of this year, the day A Conjuring of Light was published) on her Twitter profile: “Nearly 4 years ago I sat in a little flat in Edinburgh and wrote the words, "Kell wore a very peculiar coat." Today, it's done.� ( I think it's my most favorite tweet by anyone at the moment <3 Pity I can't embed it here.)
But Vicious will be a Trilogy as well!