Fantasy Friday

If you love fantasy novels and you haven't read The Darker Shade of Magic trilogy by Victoria Schwab you are missing out.  The general premise is that there are four parallel worlds described as Red London, White London, Grey London (this would be the one that belongs to us) and the never discussed Black London.  Magic is real and the few who possess blood magic, the Atari, can transverse worlds.  Kell, the Antari for Red London, makes a very bad decision that sets in motion a struggle for the survival of the three Londons against the powerful dark magic that destroyed Black London. Aided by the Grey London thief, Delilah Bard, (who holds him hostage in order to join him on his adventure) Kell is in a race against time to save everything and everyone he loves.

It is gripping and the level of detail in the world building is incredible.  When I finished the first book I immediately went on Twitter to beg the author for more.  Fortunately there were two more books in the works: A Gathering of Shadows and A Conjuring of Light. You can read the first book and be satisfied.  You'll want more, but you won't NEED to read the next book NOW.  This is not true for the second book.  The year long wait I had for the third book physically hurt me. All three books are out and I recommend them every chance I get.

It was announced last August that the author has accepted a million dollar deal for a second trilogy set in the Shades of Magic world and I am on pins and needles waiting for it. A film adaptation of the first book is also in the works, but as of yet it has not made it onto The Internet Movie Database (at least not under the title of A Darker Shade of Magic). I LOVE this series. LOVE IT. Read it and thank me.