Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC for review!

The moment I opened to the first page, I felt that warm embrace. It was like a hug with a cozy blanket and a mug of hot tea on a cold winter day. It was feeling nostalgic about friends past and reuniting with them years later.

I cannot get enough of this world and the characters living in it! We also met some new and very interesting characters. I am intrigued to learn more about them and see where their stories lead! It is amazing how we can already know so much about this particular Magic system, but without disrupting it, we are taught new things and find there is always something new to learn. You may think you know it all, but you don’t.

The story itself, weaved with such elegance and precision, kept me wanting to turn to the next page, the next chapter. Schwab is a mastermind and I will devour anything they write. Highly recommend to all lovers of Magic, loyal friendships and adventure.

I did not realize the story is set in a pre-existing world that has been introduced in previous books, i was able to read this without having read them. I was very much into this wonderful dark twisted story! I cannot wait to read more and go back and read the beginning.

What a triumphant return to the world of A Darker Shade of Magic. I'm already in love with these new characters, and the expansiveness of the world and plot never fail to amaze me. I can't wait for the next installment!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC. I was so overjoyed to hear that Schwab was returning to the world of A Darker Shade of Magic because it's one of my favorite fantasy settings I've ever read. I was especially excited to hear that Lila Bard - one of my all-time favorite characters - would be returning. And it was everything I was hoping for and more - the suspense, the world-building, the new characters, and the old ones - all of it was just fantastic! I can't wait for the next one!

Did not like it as much as the Invisible Life of Addie Larue. I think I may just not be a big V.E. Schwab fan because I have seen a lot of good feedback for this book.

I love VE Schwab, this world she's created, and everything about this trip back to London. The old characters mixed with the new, the unique magic system, and Schwab's signature prose made this one of my favorite reads of the year. I missed Kell and Lila and Rhy and Luc so freaking much, and seeing them again made my heart absolutely soar.

I loved this book! I read the Darker Shades of Magic series right before so I could read this arc and was happy to continue to be in the different Londons. I loved seeing these characters again and being introduced to some new great characters as well. I love the way VE Schwab writes and was fully immersed in the story. Such a great series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

This book is not to be missed if you read and enjoyed the Shades of Magic trilogy. Diving into this book is just like diving back into a world you were reluxtant to leave in the first place.

Schwab does a masterful job at weaving a story that tackles the previous stories while also keeping this one fresh. I will say that it is likely in your best interest to read the Shades of Magic before taking this one on just to get an idea of how the story would play out. But regardless, another excellent story from.V. E. Schwab.

SO SO GOOD! Opening up this book felt, in a way, like walking into a childhood friend’s home- known and loved and familiar, but new again. This book had a new line of suspense to it, and I remained convinced that (redacted) was actually (redacted), but I suppose we'll still have to see in the next one!! Seeing our favorite kids again (I literally cried when we saw Lila's chapter) was such a gift and I'm so excited we have new books in this universe!

Schwab has once again proved that she is a master storyteller and creator of unique worlds.

I loved diving back into this world and meeting the new characters. I like the way their stories slowly intertwined and the perspectives made perfect sense.

New characters were introduced right away and I was so excited to dive into their storyline because they were so interesting individually, but also knowing they will eventually collide and lead the plot. After being introduced there was about 25% of the book after that is focused on the original characters. While I loved catching up with them I was really yearning to read something new. Got back eventually but I was in a bit of a rut during those flashbacks that seemed unrelated.

Fans of A Darker Shade of Magic will love this continuation.

Thank you so much for the eARC, NetGalley!

4 Stars

I would give this all the stars if I could. I adored being back in this world and Lila Bard will forever be one of my book crushes.

This is my most anticipated read of the year, and it ABSOLUTELY lived up to my expectations! Seeing Kell and Lila again was an absolute delight, and Kell’s storyline broke my heart. The new characters were all wonderful as well, especially Kosika! My main problem with the book is the time changes. In pretty much every chapter we are jumping back 7 years, and jumping back to the present. That, combined with Kosika’s plotline being in a completely different world, made it a bit disorienting. But that was my only issue. If you liked the original trilogy, you will LOVE this!

How do I even rate a book that’s just so incredibly perfect
I have missed the ADSOM crew and world and being back in it felt like coming home
I couldn’t help but squeal at the mention of our old favorites and the new characters quickly became favorites as well!
Just so perfectly done and I am so incredibly invested!! All the stars

I've been super excited to read something by this author, because I've heard great things, and this was a great one to start with. The suspense in this story is unmatched. I was on edge the entire time. I never got bored reading this story and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for their next, unique fantasy read.

I'm obsessed!! This might just be my new all-time favorite from VE Schwab, and most definitely favorite of the series!!

Wow, just wow. V.E. really shows why she's one of m favorite authors. Sometimes when there's multiple books in the same world it can get redundant or predictable - not here! I loved being surrounded by all our previous companions, as well as being introduced to new ones. I cannot wait for book 2!!

VE Schwab is a god. This was everything I wanted and more. Within the first few lines of this novel all my fears and reservations about returning to this world, that I love so much, were put to rest. All of our favorites are back and explored in even deeper ways that they weren’t before. I loved every second of this book. Was even surprised that Schwab found a way to include my favorite character in this new series. I also loved all the new characters we get. Each one a complex and fully realized addition. It was wonderful to be back in this world and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. The magic is still very much alive

This book felt like coming home! I adored the original ADSOM trilogy, and this continuation was perfect! Getting to see how our favorite characters are getting on now and some new characters as well. I'll never tire of this world. Of V.E's beautiful way of writing. Of bitter black tea and Lila's anger issues. I hope it always feels like home.

It was nice to be back in the Shades of Magic world after all this time, but not as nice as I thought it would be. I don't think that's the fault of Schwab, either. As usual, her writing is top notch. Her imagery is vivid, her characters are well developed, and the plot is fast paced and focused. So what's the problem?

I LOVED this trilogy when it came out. So much. But I'm a reader who reads things once, and then moves on. It's why I can almost never finish a series. When I read the originals- they were all out and I was able to read them in a row. By the time this sequel came out (6 years, 7 years later?) the core plot of this book has completely escaped me. All I remember is the feeling that I got when I read the originals. That feeling when you're completely immersed in a world someone created.

Unfortunately, because my memory is not a steel trap, and because I NEVER reread, I spent way too much time trying to remember what happened before to enjoy this book. What is Lila's relationship to Alucard again? Who is Holland? What happened to Kell's magic? There was a lot of googling going on. So- I learned my lesson. Either reread them, or let it lie. It was still well written; just too much work for this particular reader.

That being said- now that the story's got going I maaaaybe might read the next one.