Welcome to Litsy!

Magical and engrossing. I loved all the characters way too much. I loved, loved the premise. The world building, the magic that is alive, dark, disturbing, pure. It's a great read.

Hit my Goodreads challenge by finishing this reread!

I haven‘t read this series since it first released and was prompted to reread in anticipation of Schwab‘s new continuation.

I have read a lot of mediocre, overly long, fantasy recently, so reading this was such a nice reminder of how good fantasy can be when it has all the following: a tightly-paced plot, characters to root for, and not too overly-complicated world building.

I‘ve been meaning to reread A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC for, like, six years. Now I‘m on it, with Daisy‘s capable help, and I‘ll finally be able to tackle A CONJURING OF LIGHT and learn how the trilogy ends! Whee!

It took me a little while to sink back into the world, but I‘m hard into it now. I can‘t wait to gulp down the rest of ADSoM and reread A GATHERING OF SHADOWS, which I loved with desperate intensity back in 2016.

I love V E Schwab, I‘m a big fan of some of her other books (the Cassidy Blake series, Addie larue, gallant) but I‘d not done these ones. With the release of the new one in the series I was excited to get this and it didn‘t disappoint. A fantastic story, well told, characters I loved and some I feared, fantastic world building. Looking forward to more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I could not for the life of my sleep last night, so I finished up the tagged audiobook. Puddles looks as tired as I did when I got home from work earlier! 😂 Took a 4 hour nap, and now I‘m ready to get started on a new audiobook! #20in4 #scarathlon #spookyghostclub

Here‘s everything I have left on my #BookSpinBingo board, or am in the middle of reading. My readings still significantly slower than usual, and I have some busier shifts coming up, so I‘m mostly hoping to finish the top row, but I‘ll continue on as I have time. 🖤 #scarathlon #20in4 #spookyghostclub

#OctoberPhotoADay
Day 21 A Good Book
#BlackCatCrew #Scarathlon

I haven‘t read this series yet (I‘ve read Addie LaRue), but I went to an event where V.E. Schwab spoke and I think she is one of the most intelligent people I‘ve ever heard. #scarathlonphotochallenge #magic #blackcatcrew

#Scarathlon Photo Challenge Day 20 prompt: Magic

#HHC

@bookmarktavern @dabbe @liatrek @jessclark78 @chrissyreadit @thedaysgoby @vonnie862 @ladyCait84 @sresendez12 @kelli7990 @JessieKB

High stakes fantastical adventure. The right ratio of plot and character development to world-building and magical lore for yours truly. Likewise, the right level of dark to light moments for personal preference. Impressed by how Lila and Kell each feel like complex people I'd be happy to follow in future installments: equals instead of main and sidekick or main and love interest. Eager to continue in the series.
⚠️Attempted SA

#IdiomInsight @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
#BuryTheHatchet

Loved the enemies to friends troupe in this series.

Imagine the feeling you get when you ride a launch roller coaster that shoots you as high into the sky as possible, then returns you straight to the ground. That‘s it, but man were those 15 seconds amazing. That is how I felt listening to this #audiobook

Something different for me, but I‘m already enjoying it. The idea of parallel Londons is fascinating. I don‘t read much fantasy/magic, and I don‘t know why. I almost always enjoy it when I do.

I chose “A Darker Shade of Magic” on a whim from the Audible Plus library. I am a little over 4 hours in when I think to check if the other parts of the series are also in Audible Plus. Nope. Time to head to the library because this will be finished today or tomorrow.
I knew I enjoyed V.E. Schwab, so this wasn‘t a risky choice. The Magic system is interesting and I like the parallel Londons. #audiobooks

Well...I did the thing I told myself I wasn't going to do and bought the new editions of the Shades of Magic series even though I already own the original editions! 🙈 I lasted about two months, which was two months longer than I expected, honestly! 😂

Oh, this was right up my alley. I loved Kell and Lila's dynamic, and I loved that it didn't end on a cliffhanger! Going to have to pick up the rest of this trilogy. #fantasy

Got about 1/3 way through yesterday and the plot is finally starting to come together. Took a bit longer than expected but the world building needed to be slower for this I think and the chapters are super short which helps keeps my attention. Excited to see where Schwab takes this!

Starting a new book today and someone was eager for us to get into it! Excited to start this series, heard a lot of good things about it.

Also please ignore my bed, I‘m washing sheets today lol

Finished rereading this unique, parallel world, urban fantasy. I read this when it first came out and never got back to the series. That was unfortunate because it is very fun. The first half is a bit slow and confusing due to the world building, but the second half is action packed. I also love our main characters. I look forward to reading book 2 this month! 4⭐️
#rushathon #bookbinge

To buy or not to buy? 🤷‍♀️

The facts:
1. I already have at least one copy of all three.
2. I have read the first one (Darker Shade of Magic), but not the other two yet.
3. I‘d like to be inspired to read them before the new one comes out..

Thoughts?

Update: I didn‘t buy them this time. 😄

I am reading this as part of a read-a-lomg with the author herself, which is really enhancing the experience. I do enjoy her writing, but I often felt like her world building slowed me down as it was so intricate. Having her weekly YouTube videos helped immensely. Her third/and last for this book is on Saturday.

Oh yes, yes I did. I mean, it was the anniversary sale at our most local indie; it was all in the name of local business.
Don‘t worry my used copies of the originals will find a good home.

My reads last week were all picks. They covered #nobuy2023 #Roll100 #SeriesLove2023 #ISpyBingo #readyourTBR #Bookopoly #BookSpinBingo #TrappedonanIsland

The two up next/current read books will complete my March #BookSpinBingo board 💚

“I apologize for anything I might have done. I was not myself.” (Rhy)
“I apologize for shooting you in the leg,” said Lila. “I was myself entirely.”

I loved how well developed (& imperfect) the characters and the worlds were in this book. The story was rich but not overly wordy. Such a well balanced story.
#Roll100 #20in4 #BookSpinBingo #MarchMadness #SeriesLove2023 #nobuy2023

Love, love, love the original cover for this book (and those for the entire series) which was designed by my favorite cover designer/art Will Staehle. But I must say, I ALSO really love the cover for the new edition (revealed this morning on Schwab‘s IG) coming out later this year. 😎

The book is set in three separate fiction Londons. Red London, a city in which magic is everywhere. Grey London, a dreary version of London, void of any semblance of magic. White London is a city which has been ravished by the use of magic leaving those who live there in poverty. The book follows Kell, one of the few gifted with the magical blood of Antari. Kell uses his powers to travel between worlds and bridge the gap learning of the past.

Cook characters. Felt descriptive yet concise. Enjoyed it.

I gathered a #sundaystack to try and entice myself to read/reread today. Sometimes I feel like they‘re here to keep me company - like old and new friends… Weird, right?

Excited to cut through this stack! Cheated a little putting Middlemarch as one of this month‘s reads, but it was truly on my TBR so 💁🏽‍♀️😂 #bookspinbingo

“Love doesn‘t keep us from freezing to death, Kell,” she continued, “or starving, or bring knifed for the coins in your pocket. Love doesn‘t buy us anything, so be glad for what you have and who you have because you may want for things but you need for nothing.“

Purity without balance is its own corruption.

“Some people say magic lives in the mind, others the heart,” said Holland quietly, “but you and I both know it lives in the blood.”

“You believe that magic is an equal. A companion. A friend. But it is not. The stone is proof. You are either magic‘s master, or it‘s slave.”

Hesitation is the death of advantage.

Bad magic, Kell had called it.
No, Lila thought now. Clever Magic.
And clever was much more dangerous than bad any day of the week.

“Sit down before you fall down, magic boy.”

This book was amazing! Very creative and I couldn't put it down.
I cant wait to read the next one

This was an AMAZING re-read, arguably even better than the first time I read it because I already knew the characters and events, which really highlights foreshadowing and how well written the book really is. This made me rediscover my love for these characters and their world and I can‘t wait to read the rest of the series.
Still a 5⭐️ read.

He didn‘t know what to say, so he simply said, “Stay out of trouble.”
She flashed him a smile that said she wouldn‘t, of course.

He would see her again. He knew he would. Magic bent the world. Pulled it into shape. There were fixed points. Most of the time those points were places. But sometimes, rarely, they were people. For someone who never stood still, Lila still felt like a pin in Kell‘s world. One he was sure to snag on.

“I apologize for anything I might have done. I was not myself.”
“I apologize for shooting you in the leg,” said Lila. “I was myself entirely.”

“What are you?” he asked, amazed.
Lila only shrugged. “Stubborn.”

Kell threw his arms around her. And for a second, only a second, she didn‘t pull away, didn‘t pull away, didn‘t threaten to stab him. For a second, and only a second, she hugged him back.

“For luck.”

“Peace,” he said softly, a parting word for a broken man.

“How did you know she wasn‘t me?”
Kell managed an exhausted smile. “Because she said please.”
Lila stared at him, aghast. “Is that a joke?”
Kell shrugged slightly. It took a lot of effort. “I just knew.”

“You‘ve gotten in the way long enough,” said Astrid, raising her hands in front of her.
Lila‘s mouth quirked. “I do seem to have a talent for that.”