Shades of Magic Boxed Set: A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows, A Conjuring of Light Paperback – Folded Map, October 16, 2018

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!

What a wondrous and magical journey between worlds. This series was super easy to read and kept me entertained the entire way through. Every fantasy/ sci-fi fan should read this series!

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!

A MUST read series!! I got my trilogy set on Amazon around prime day for $20 which is a STEAL.

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!

Exciting and immersive. Schwab is a fantastic writer. I also read and thoroughly enjoyed the first book of the Villains duology.

Loved all 3 books which lead us to read The Fragile Threads of Power.This author does a good job pulling you into the plot and people.

I was so excited to finally get these books and the edition are GORGEUS. Can't wait to finally read them