First, it takes a full 4+ hours for the book to progress to the real starting point more than four hours to find out almost nothing more than I just wrote in that first paragraph! Schwab writes with some classy, lyrical prose, but just doesn't really say much. I think this basic scenario could have been developed into a really interesting tale, but that potentiality is NOT realized. But Kell's side job leads him into a trap that sets up the plot and introduces him to Lilah who joins him in the adventure. One of the Antari, Kell, travels regularly between the Londons delivering messages between the monarchs and doing a bit of smuggling on the side. When Black London is consumed by magic, all the other Londons are sealed off from each other to prevent the spread of the consumption leaving only the Antari who can travel between the 3 remaining Londons. Four parallel worlds whose only commonality is a central city called London. Victoria Schwab starts this high fantasy with a great concept. Shades of Gray Magic - This one's a bit dull She first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. 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.įleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cutpurse with lofty aspirations. Officially Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. And once upon a time, there was Black London.but no one speaks of that now.

There's White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. Then there's Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Kell is one of the last Travelers - magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes.

Schwab a darker shade of magic