In A Darker Shade of Magic there are four Londons, and Kell is a magician who can travel between them. When he’s not delivering messages from one London to another, Kell illegally collects artifacts from all over the world. It is a harmless hobby until he stumbles upon a stone from Black London, the world that was killed by its own magic. Soon after obtaining the dangerous stone, Kell meets Lila Bard, a thief living in magic-less Grey London who saves Kell’s life and then manages to talk her way into joining him on his mission to destroy the stone and its dark magic. So the two begin their adventure, unaware of how many people would kill them to possess the stone’s power.

I loved this book so much. I think that V.E. Schwab did an amazing job of creating four beautiful worlds all with their own myths, traditions, and even royalty. Along with the settings, the characters were very well-written. They have such interesting personalities and interact in very entertaining ways (especially the main characters, Kell and Lila). I also enjoyed the pacing of this book; the plot moved so fast that I couldn’t put it down! Overall I think this book is amazing and I’m excited to read the others in the series. 

I think that this book is perfect for a teen or adult looking for a fast-paced fantasy full of sassy characters and magical kingdoms. Similar books are Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor.