A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

"Kell was not sure if it was a promise or a threat, but he had no choice regardless, and so he stepped forward into the serpent's nest." A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab

There are four worlds and in each exists a London. Red London, Gray London, White London, and Black London. Kell, one of the last magicians capable of traveling between worlds, has taken up the hobby of smuggling. Resident of Gray London, Lila, a cutthroat pickpocket spends her time dreaming of piracy on the high seas. When Kell accidentally smuggles a dangerous artifact the two meet and adventure ensues. 

The first thing that stands out to me about this book is how the characters complement each other. Both characters are prone to breaking the rules, but where Kell wants somewhere to belong, Lila wants to stand out. Kell is a prince by adoption and is the royal family's messenger between worlds. Lila too is an orphan, but she led the other orphan lifestyle, alone and fighting for survival.

I loved that V.E. Schwab presented us with a strong female lead. If Kell is the hero of the story, Lila is the antihero. She prefers wrong over right, and when she meets Kell, she chooses doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. There's no fight too big, no adversary too dangerous.

The villains, Astrid, Athos, and Holland were appropriately evil and power hungry, hunting Kell and Lila across the worlds. They want what Kell has and wouldn't mind destroying him in the process.

I like the idea of parallel dimensions being in a book about magic, the concept is usually a sci-fi thing. VE Schwab had to world build for not just one, but four. All Londons are not the same, each had to be unique from the next, and I felt like this was a goal she fully achieved.

If magic and adventure is what you're after this might be the book for you.