Quirky Cat
Book Summary:
Fans of the Darker Shade of Magic series are aware of a universe containing four worlds. Four Londons. More specifically, they know all about a young prince and his antari brother. This is the story of their father before he took on the mantle of king – or father.
Prince Maxim has been banished to the Blood Coast of Verose. Even now that he's been called home, Maxim is determined to stay and prove himself. But first, he must gain the trust and loyalty of his soldiers. Easier said than done.
My Review:
Once again, I find myself surprised by the events of Shades of Magic Vol. 2. The first volume introduced me to a prince I hadn't expected, while this volume worked hard to show his change and development.
Overall, I liked this antagonist/plot better than the first. I'm still not overly fond of Maxim, but that's okay. I'm enjoying his story regardless and have found myself rooting for him to grow as a person.
On that note, the secondary characters could still use a bit of fleshing-out, but I enjoyed seeing them more in this volume. I'm glad they didn't just fade into the background in favor of a different plot.
The primary plot was fascinating, and it had one of those "how did I not see that?!" moments for me. So that was fun! No, really, it was fun. The whole concept of a magical tournament (of sorts) is still fascinating, and I almost wish more had been done around the Night of Knives. Oh well.
The artwork in Shades of Magic Vol. 2 is brilliant, especially when it comes to portraying magic. The Night of Knives is probably the highlight, given how much magic flows around the space.
Highlights:
Part of a Series – A Darker Shade of Magic
Magical World
Multiple Worlds
Struggle to Prove Oneself
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