Pages: 416 (Ebook)
Series: Shades of Magic #2
Summary: Follow Kell and Lila in their lives apart from each other after the events in A Darker Shade of Magic. It also shows the events in the Essen Tasch - The Element Games which is a tournament involving powerful magicians from the different regions of Red London.
Rating: 4.5/5
"People could only hurt you if you cared enough to let them."
Writing, World, Story: VE Schwab's writing is one of the most beautiful writings I have ever read. I loved reading this book. The world she created using the parallel Londons was really interesting to read and even though the story of this book isn't really that much eventful and only served as kind of the stepping stone to the next one, I loved it. I liked A Darker Shade of Magic more though. The Essen Tasch was an amazing tournament to read about. The fights between characters were really entertaining especially reading about characters who can use multiple elements. There are many fun scenes which I enjoyed. Backstories about different characters were told and the adventures of Lila and Kell apart was shown. It was interesting and fun to meet Alucard and see his connections and interactions with the main characters. I can't wait for the next book because this one ended in a really cliffhanger-y twist.
BEWARE: The following will kind of include spoilers.
- I felt devastated by King George III's death. You can feel that Kell felt devastated about his death especially since his heir is such an ass.
- It was hard to see Rhy and Kell suffer because what Kell did. I love that they're both alive however it's a half life and they are having trouble enjoying life because they are dependent on one another.
- It was interesting to read about Lila's adventure at sea and how she became the Sarow. I'm really curious as to why she was able to develop magic even though she came from Grey London and she's a strong one at that. She really likes being endangered seeing as she joined the tournament. I love that she was able to keep up although I feel bad for Kell because he didn't want to see her get beaten up.
- I really liked Lila and Alucard together. They were a fierce team. It's kind of sad that Alucard is kind of a jerk. He's terrible for seducing her for information. However, their friendship is one that I like.
- I didn't notice Lila had a weak eye? Or I just forgot.
- I hate how Kell was treated by the King and Queen. Sure he was mainly at fault for what happened in the first book but it wasn't all his fault. The Danes were the ones who ruined things and it's terrible that they can't forgive Kell even after all that he has sacrificed for the kingdom.
- I love that Kell and Lila finally kissed. I really liked them together. I love their interactions and their subtle flirting. I love watching Calla ship them and wait patiently for them to come together.
- I'm surprised to see why Kell hated Alucard. For leaving and breaking Rhy's heart. I'm confused whether Alucard really likes Rhy because he flirted with him again after he came back.
- I feel bad for Holland. He only wants to rule and save White London but the Shadow took over. He controlled Holland and may end up destroying Red London which is a terrible thing.
- Poor Master Tieran. He had to keep many secrets especially for Kell and Lila. It's funny how he keeps denying that he knows who their identities really are.
- I'm really surprised at how it ended. I'm excited to see what powers will Lila open up in the next and finale book. I can't wait!
"You bastard," hissed Kell."Lover?" wondered the girl.Rhy sank back onto his heels, and then twisted with a languid grace, reclining on the moss. "Brother," he explained."Go," Kell ordered the girl. She looked disconcerted, but she gathered her dress around her and left all the same, while Rhy got unsteadily to his feet and cast about for his shirt. "I thought you were being attacked!""Well..." Rhy slipped the tunic gingerly over his head. "In a way, I was."
"You are an incomparable ass"Rhy only chuckled. "How was I to know she would be so rough with me?""I'm going to kill you.""You can't," said Rhy simply, spreading his arms. "You made sure of it."
"Call me Holland."
They held each other's gazes. Kell resisted the urge to stab a fork into his own leg just to watch his brother wince.
The only other person who'd ever managed to find what they want in its pockets was Lila. He'd never found out how she'd done that. Traitorous coat.
And if you want the honest truth unless you find some release - Rhy stopped pacing - "I'll end up strangling you myself."
"Yes, well, most competitors don't truly need to maintain their anonymity, but your features are... unique.""Are you calling me ugly?
"I know where you sleep, Bard."She smirked. "Then you know I sleep with knives."
"I was just wishing I'd killed you months ago," she said with easy cheer, relishing the way Alucard nearly choked on his wine."Oh, Bard," he teased, "does that mean you've since developed a fondness for me?""Fondness is a weakness," she said automatically.At that, Alucard stopped smiling, and set his glass aside. He leaned forward and considered her for a long moment, and then he said, "I'm sorry." He sounded so ... earnest, which made Lila instantly suspicious. Alucard was many things, but genuine wasn't usually one of them"For growing on me?" she asked.He shook his head. "For whatever happened to you. For whoever hurt you so deeply that you see things like friends and fondness as weapons instead of shields." Lila felt the heat rising to her cheeks."It's kept me alive, hasn't it?"
Maybe, but in that moment all she knew was that Alucard was kissing her, and then she was kissing him back.
"I'd love to press the point," he said, "but first ..." He cleared his throat, and looked down at the knife she had resting against the inside of his leg."Reflex," she said with a smirk, returning the weapon to its sheath.
"It would be an interesting match...."Kell kept his smile fixed. "I will stab you with this pin.""You would suffer.""It would be worth-"
"You tried to seduce me, for information.""You can't hold that against me forever.""It was last night."
"I don't like that look," Alucard said, twisting chest and cat away."What look?" asked Lila innocently."The look that says Esa might conveniently go missing if I tell you what she's worth." Lila snorted. "But if you must know, she's only priceless because I keep my heart inside her, so no one can steal it." He smiled when he said it, but Esa didn't even blink."Is that so?"
Her room had four bodies, but only two beds."This'll be cozy," said Tav."No." said Lila in decisive, if broken, Arnesian. "I don't share beds-""Tac?" teased Vasry, dropping his chest on the floor. "Surely we can work something ou-""- because I have the habit of stabbing people in my sleep," she finished coolly. Vasry had the decency to pale a little.
"Don't you see?" said Calla. "He wasn't coming to pay your debt. He was coming to see if you'd returned to pay it yourself." Lila felt her face go hot. "I do not know why you two are circling each other like stars. It is not my cosmic dance. But I do know that you come asking after one another, when only a few strides and a handful of stairs divide you."
Kell had a half a mind to sink the ship, but that would only cause trouble, and if Rhy found out, he'd probably throw a tantrum or stab himself out of spite.So he had settled for glaring at the Spire, and letting his imagination do the rest.
"I said," snarled Kell through clenched teeth, "that if you break my brother's heart a second time, I will cut yours out. I stand by that promise, Alucard."
"What are you supposed to be?" she asked in Arnesian. "A fish?"Alucard made a noise of mock affront. "Obviously," he said, brandishing the helmet, "I'm a dragon.""Wouldn't it make more sense for you to be a fish?" challenged Lila. "After all, you do live on the sea, and you are rather slippery, and -""I'm a dragon," he interjected. "You're just not being very imaginative.""Besides, I am not competing for House Emery. I am competing for myself. And if you would see the rest of my outfit, you wouldn't-""Do you have wings? Or a tail?""Well, no, those would get in the way. But I do have more scales.""So does a fish.""Go away," he snapped, but there was humor in his voice, and soon they fell into an easy laugh, and then remembered where they were. Who they were.
"You're right," continued Rhy, "I should have just drawn a frowning face. But then everyone would know it's you. I thought this was rather fitting."Kell muttered something unkind as he shoved the banner into his pocket.
"Stop," said Kell. "Please. I don't want to heart about your romantic interludes with the man currently posing as me."
"Saints, you're seeing her in everyone and everything now, Kell? There's a word for that.""Hallucnation?""Infatuation."
"Oh, trust me, child, that's the last thing I'll do. When you get caught, I plan on feigning ignorance about all of this." He lowered his voice, and added, mostly to himself, "This tournament will be the death of me."
"I'm not your father, Bard.""I should hope not. Fathers shouldn't try to seduce their daughters to learn their secrets."He shook his head ruefully. "It was one time."
"Please tell me this is easier to take off than it was to put on."Calla raised a brow. "You do not think Master Kell knows how?"
He looked as though he were looking for someone.And Lila had a feeling that someone was her.
"Why did you ask me to dance?"He almost smiled. A ghost. A trick of the light. "So you couldn't run away again before I said hello.""Hello," said Lila."Hello," said Kell. "Where have you been?"Lila smirked. "Why, did you miss me?"Kell opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again before finally managing to answer, "Yes."
"You look..." he started, then trailed off."Ridiculous?""Incredible."
"You could just ..." he whispered, "stay.""Or you could go," she countered, "with me."
"You look like hell."Alucard's words rang through her head, the only thing he'd said that morning when she wished him luck."You say the sweetest things," she'd grumbled before escaping into her own tent.
"What did that vase ever do to you?" she asked, tipping her shoulder against the wall.Rhy looked up, his amber eyes rimmed with red."An innocent bystander, I'm afraid," he said. The words came out hollow, humorless.He ducked his head and let out a shuddering sigh. Lila hesitated. She knew she should probably bow, kiss his hand, or swoon-at the very lease explain what she was doing there, in the private palace halls, as close to the prison as anyone would let her-but instead she flicked her fingers, producing a small blade. "Who do I need to kill?"
Whatever I am, she thought, pressing her hand to the wall, let it be enough.
