A Darker Shade of Magic: A Novel (Shades of Magic Book 1)

A Darker Shade of Magic , from #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab Kell is one of the last Antari — magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black. Kell was raised in Arnes — Red London — and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand. After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive. "A Darker Shade of Magic has all the hallmarks of a classic work of fantasy. Schwab has given us a gem of a tale...This is a book to treasure."—Deborah Harkeness, New York Times bestselling author of the All Souls trilogy Shades of Magic series 1. A Darker Shade of Magic 2. A Gathering of Shadows 3. A Conjuring of Light At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. From V.E. Schwab, the critically acclaimed author of Vicious , comes a new universe of daring adventure, thrilling power, and parallel Londons, beginning with A Darker Shade of Magic. Kell is one of the last Travelers?magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes?as such, he can choose where he lands. There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there's Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne?a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London...but no one speaks of that now.Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see?a dangerous hobby, and one that has set him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive?and that is proving trickier than they hoped. At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied "From V.E. Schwab, the critically acclaimed author of Vicious, comes a new universe of daring adventure, thrilling power, and parallel Londons, beginning with A Darker Shade of Magic. Kell is one of the last Travelers--magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes--as such, he can choose where he lands. There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there's Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne--a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London ... but no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see--a dangerous hobby, and one that has set him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive--and that is proving trickier than they hoped."-- Provided by publisher From V.e. Schwab, The Critically Acclaimed Author Of Vicious, Comes A New Universe Of Daring Adventure, Thrilling Power, And Parallel Londons, Beginning With A Darker Shade Of Magic. Kell Is One Of The Last Travelers--magicians With A Rare, Coveted Ability To Travel Between Parallel Universes--as Such, He Can Choose Where He Lands. There's Grey London, Dirty And Boring, Without Any Magic, Ruled By A Mad King George. Then There's Red London, Where Life And Magic Are Revered, And The Maresh Dynasty Presides Over A Flourishing Empire. White London, Ruled By Whoever Has Murdered Their Way To The Throne--a Place Where People Fight To Control Magic, And The Magic Fights Back, Draining The City To Its Very Bones. And Once Upon A Time, There Was Black London...but No One Speaks Of That Now. Officially, Kell Is The Red Traveler, Personal Ambassador And Adopted Prince Of Red London, Carrying The Monthly Correspondences Between The Royals Of Each London. Unofficially, Kell Is A Smuggler, Servicing People Willing To Pay For Even The Smallest Glimpses Of A World They'll Never See--a Dangerous Hobby, And One That Has Set Him Up For Accidental Treason. Fleeing Into Grey London, Kell Runs Afoul Of Delilah Bard, A Cut-purse With Lofty Aspirations, First Robs Him, Then Saves Him From A Dangerous Enemy, And Then Forces Him To Spirit Her To Another World For A Proper Adventure. But Perilous Magic Is Afoot, And Treachery Lurks At Every Turn. To Save All Of The Worlds, Kell And Lila Will First Need To Stay Alive--and That Is Proving Trickier Than They Hoped. -- V. E. Schwab. A Darker Shade of Magic, from #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. SchwabKell is one of the last Antari--magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black. Kell was raised in Arnes--Red London--and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand. After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive."A Darker Shade of Magic has all the hallmarks of a classic work of fantasy. Schwab has given us a gem of a tale ... This is a book to treasure."--Deborah Harkeness, New York Times bestselling author of the All Souls trilogyShades of Magic series1. A Darker Shade of Magic2. A Gathering of Shadows3. A Conjuring of LightAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied STEP INTO A UNIVERSE OF DARING ADVENTURE, THRILLING POWER, AND MULTIPLE LONDONS. Kell is one of the last travelers--magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magic city. There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, and with one mad king--George III. Red London, where life and magic are revered--and where Kell was raised alongside Rhy Maresh, the roguish heir to a flourishing empire. White London--a place where people fight to control magic and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London. But no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, ambassador of the Maresh Empire, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cutpurse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive. This description comes from the publisher. *A Darker Shade of Magic* is the first book of the Shades of Magic trilogy. Kell is one of the last Travelers -- magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes -- as such, he can choose where he lands. There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there's Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne -- a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London ... but no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see -- a dangerous hobby, and one that has set him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive -- and that is proving trickier than they hoped Welcome to Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, with one mad king―George III. Then there is Red London, where life and magic are revered, and White London, a city slowly being drained through a magical war down to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London... but no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is one of the last Antari―magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons―and acts as an ambassador and messenger between the Londons, in the service of the Maresh Empire. Unofficially, he's also a smuggler, which is a dangerous hobby for him to have―as proved when Kell stumbles into a setup with a forbidden token from Black London. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cutpurse with lofty aspirations, who first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces Kell to spirit her away for a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive. Prepare to be dazzled by a world of parallel Londons―where magic thrives, starves, or lies forgotten, and where power can destroy just as quickly as it can create. The Traveler I II III Red Royal I II III Grey Thief I II III White Throne I II III IV V Black Stone I II III IV V Thieves Meet I II III IV The Follower I II III An Arrangement I II III Festival & Fire I II III IV One White Rook I II III IV V VI Masquerade I II III IV V Santuary & Sacrifice I II III IV V VI The Waiting King I II III IV V VI The Final Door I II III IV None Antari Blood Commands, Arnesian Words & Phrases A Treatise on the Erasure of English Magic Brothers Winner Takes All The Gift of Magic Interview with V.E. Schwab and Miriam Weinberg The Traveler Red Royal Grey Thief White Throne Black Stone Thieves Meet The Follower An Arrangement Festival & Fire One White Rook Masquerade Sanctuary & Sacrifice The Waiting King The Final Door