However, this pales in comparison to the magic of Black London, the world that has been locked away, hidden and mute-that is, until a remaining piece of it’s dark past, in the form of a stone, unexpectedly falls into the hands of Kell. White London sees it as something to be controlled, turning it into something ugly and terrifying. Red London lives in harmony with its magic, respecting it as much as it does them. Kell, hailing from Red London, is an Antari (one of two) who possess potent blood magic that allows him to cross through the doors between each of the three Londons-the regal and magical Red London, the dimmed and magic-less Grey London, and White London, rendered colorless and menacing by its abuse of magic. In this novel, we follow two main characters-a traveler named Kell and a thief named Delilah “Lila” Bard. Between her beautiful writing, intricate descriptions, and skilled characterization, she has created a vivid and heart-pounding journey through the magic of London. She is resourceful and exceedingly unique in every detail that she writes. Victoria Schwab once again proves herself to be one of the most brilliant and talented writers out there. It promised action, thrilling adventures through parallel worlds, and of course, plenty of magic. However, this book beyond lived up to the hype. This is, by far, one of the most hyped books I have on my shelves, which is something that would normally scare me off.

To save all of the worlds, they’ll first need to stay alive. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. She robs him, saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. It’s a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.įleeing into Grey London, Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. Officially, Kell is the Red traveler, ambassador of the Maresh empire, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. And once upon a time, there was Black London. White London–a place where people fight to control magic and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones.

Red London, where life and magic are revered–and where Kell was raised alongside Rhy Maresh, the roguish heir to a flourishing empire. There’s Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, and with one mad King–George III.

Synopsis: Kell is one of the last travelers–magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magical city. Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A darker shade of magic plot