Shades of Magic Trilogy Boxed Set: A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows, A Conjuring of Light

Honestly, when I started the first book, there was so much going on that I was unsure if I could get into it. Today, I just finished the last book -- like 5 mins ago. I am not a huge fantasy fan, but these books really caught my attention and the story continued to entertain me. I have already recommended this trilogy to friends and I am thoroughly impressed with the entire story and characters. The world felt real and I could relate to each character in a sense. Looking back at each book individually, I have to say that the second book -- A Gathering of Shadows was my favorite out of the trio. I felt like the pacing was really great and I loved how it ended on a cliffhanger. The first book was a solid entry and my second favorite of the trio. I really enjoyed each character introduction. My least favorite was the final book - only because the pacing was a bit slower than the others which is to be expected as it is the final book. I also felt like it was really long compared to the others. In all, I would definitely recommend reading these books. I fell in love with V E Schwab with Vicious and Vengeful, then discovered my favorite book of all time with the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Now, I would say that this series is behind those other entries, but not by much. I love having these in my collection and would probably re-read them at a later date. This story was captivating and such a fun ride! As far as the quality of books, they are superb. The books arrived in perfect condition and the books are genuinely high quality. Definitely check these books out if you like magic or fantasy types of stories!

I read A LOT, but nobody can make me obsess over a series like VE Schwab. Shes a master story teller and this series is my absolute favorite. You got adventure, danger, sacrifice, love and of course pirates! Keep 'em coming Schwab, absolutely LOVE your books!!

Love these books, highly recommend. Read the first one in a couple days before telling myself to space out the rest of the story. It’s fast past and witty.

I might begin by saying: this gaslamp fantasy series is seriously over-hyped... but also, I am here to hype it up more, because I devoured the trilogy in a week, and I'm still thinking about it nearly a week and a half later. This universe contains four wildly different versions of London: Grey London, Red London, White London, and Black London. Each has varying amounts of magic hidden within rivers and mountains and bodies. By the end of the trilogy, five main characters grace the pages, but the story favors Delilah Bard - a cutpurse from Grey London with serious commitment issues - and Kell - a smuggler from Red London, who also happens to be one of the last remaining Antari (magicians with the ability to travel between worlds), who also also happens to serve the Red royal family. ADSOM truly has it all: blood magic, angst, thievery, gays, angst, whump, trauma, pirates, extreme sexual tension ... wickedly fun! The trilogy kept me engaged in its entirety (~1500 pages), and I was always either gasping, laughing, or crying. That said... perhaps it was the pacing of the story, or (more likely), perhaps it was the disorienting amount of POVs in this series (giving side-characters chapters was an interesting choice, for sure). Whichever it was, I did feel like I was missing a deeper connection to most of the characters. Many motivations, actions, words, etc. felt brushed over or unjustified. I needed something more - more justification, more explanation, more... anything. Fanon does a wonderful job of filling this hole, but I nevertheless wish that connection had been present in the first place. I loved Lila, although I've seen that a lot of people don't. Understandable - she's annoying, but so am I, damnit! Still... I would have liked to have seen more women in this series. Five main characters, and four of them are men? Lila herself leans further toward masculinity, which in and of itself is hardly a bad thing, but it brings to question - why does femininity seem to be shunned here? Girls can snatch purses and cut throats and still like wearing dresses, and I would have been delighted to see such a character present on the page as much as Lila (or in Lila herself)! There is something to be said for the wonderful diversity present in this trilogy, though - neither white nor straight is the default here, and that's something I feel I find rarely! Simply put, I believe this series is worth the time. It lacks in certain areas, but it's all around just a good time. Delve into it with cautious expectations, and I think you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised!

My daughter loves it

My new favorite author and series! Wow, these are hard to put down and the writing is superb! Love the complex characters and the parallel universe Londons. There is magic galore, drama, action, treachery and a little love here and there. If you want to be transported to multiple worlds, this is a great series to take you there, and there, and there...

I haven’t read for pleasure since I graduated college in 2014, which took all joy I had in reading and chucked it out the window. My client recommended I check this book out and when I saw the trilogy was on sale I dived in. And I’m so grateful I did! I’ve only read the first book so far and I can’t wait to finish the trilogy. The first book has everything you could want in a fantasy epic - interesting world building, unique characters you care about, an elemental-based magic system, thievery, fast-paced action, and minor queer representation. Thank you V. E. Schwab for helping me find joy in reading again!

Cannot put it down :)

If you enjoy imagining different worlds, their cultures and customs with magic abounding, you’ll love this trilogy. Will miss the further adventures of the characters but feel I know them well enough that I can imagine them in my dreams.

Super

La mejor trilogía para mi spring break, si amas la acción, fantasía, piratas, magia, multiversos, intriga etc. Esta es la trilogía para ti! Ps. Incluye mapa que puedes montar en un cuadro y se verá hermoso cerca de tus estanterías.

Brilliant trilogy. I love dystopian novels and historical fiction, but chose this set as something a little different and on recommendation from a friend who enjoyed the “Rivers of London” series by author Ben Aaronovitch (which is also a great read). I’ve read a few books by Victoria Schwab (V.E. Schwab) but in my opinion this is amongst her best work to date. I would say this is suitable for young adults / teens upwards, providing a unique idea with characters you really want to invest time in and root for. Definitely no boring moments or unnecessary filler. Highly recommended.

The packaging was excellent, and everything arrived in perfect condition.