A Darker Shade of Magic

The novel’s first section introduces the reader to Kell and the array of worlds he travels between. Schwab uses a combination of narration and dialogue to provide exposition about the four Londons and how Kell’s magic functions. Color symbolism is an essential piece of this world-building. The novel’s protagonist is the one who names Grey, White, and Red London because he’s one of the few people who travel between the worlds and thus needs a way to differentiate between them. He calls his home Red London because the metropolis is “quite crimson, thanks to the rich, pervasive light of the river” (15). In the novel, red is the color of life and of healthy, balanced magic. Schwab’s descriptions of Kell quickly associate him with red: His hair is “a reddish brown” (12) and his blood “a rich ruby red” (18). Even in a world full of magic, Kell’s blood sets him apart because it grants him the ability to travel between worlds.

However, at the start of the novel, Kell finds his world-hopping power more fettering than freeing. Kell feels like an outsider not only when he is abroad in White London and Grey London but in his home city of Red London as well. Because there are only two known Antari, blood magicians are coveted by royalty. Holland and Kell are tasked with delivering messages to the rulers of neighboring Londons, who are the only individuals permitted to know that other worlds exist. The limitations placed on Antari and their subjugation to royals connect to the theme of Power as a Path to Corruption. Kell feels like a possession and has the inescapable sense that King Maxim and Queen Emira are exploiting him for his power. Kell suspects that they used forbidden spellwork to erase his memories of his life before he was taken to the palace as a child, which suggests that their outwardly familial treatment of him is not a fully accurate portrayal of their personalities. Kell considers Antari “tools, and in the wrong hands, weapons” (57), emphasizing how dangerous it would be for the blood magicians’ extraordinary powers to be misused. As the novel continues, Holland’s orders from the Dane twins prove this ominous description true.

The novel’s supporting characters provide further insights into the novel’s protagonist and themes. Red London’s royal family makes important contributions to the theme of The Nature of Family. Although Kell has been raised as a member of the royal family since he was five, he feels out of place and believes his adoptive parents see him not as a son but rather as “something to be gathered and guarded and kept” because of his rare magical powers (58). However, despite Kell’s uncertainties about his adoptive parents’ motives, he knows that Prince Rhy genuinely cares for him. Chapter 2’s title, “Red Royal,” refers to either Rhy or Kell, as they are technically both princes. In this chapter, Kell claims that he must always “keep [Rhy] out of trouble. Or at least minimize it” (50), which shows Kell’s affection and sense of responsibility for Rhy.

Despite saying this, Rhy’s antics are tame compared to Kell’s smuggling, which tampers with the barriers between worlds and is an act of treason according to Red London’s laws. Rhy shows his own care by begging Kell to stop as he does not want Kell to get in trouble, not understanding that Kell’s smuggling is a form of resistance to the Red royals’ control over him. Though he values their bond, Kell ignores Rhy’s urgent pleas and continues his illegal habit of transporting trinkets, a decision that threatens the safety of multiple worlds and develops the theme of Choice and Consequence.

Chapter 3 presents Lila, the novel’s deuteragonist. Like Kell, she engages in illegal activity. However, the privilege and luxuries Kell enjoys as a member of Red London’s royal family are far removed from the instability and danger of Lila’s life. Schwab juxtaposes Lila’s vibrant dreams of freedom on the high seas with her grim reality of stealing for a living and fighting to protect herself. This section also introduces Barron, who serves as Lila’s father figure. The way Barron genuinely cares for Lila contrasts with the detached relationship Kell has with the Red London royals, presenting different forms of family.

In Chapter 3, Lila nicks a silver timepiece with a “crystal watch face” (61). Though this moment initially seems innocuous, the silver watch appears at key moments throughout the novel and becomes a motif for the theme of Choice and Consequence. As the story continues, Kell and Lila’s choices tangle their lives together and have dire consequences for the worlds they call home.