I started reviewing books on my own for a while before I started formally blogging about them, so I have quite the backlog that I get to work through if I want to. The Shades of Magic trilogy is the first series that I read in 2021, and I immediately wished that I had this series when I was in middle school and going through my fantasy phase hard (okay, maybe I’m going through a fantasy phase again now, so my first fantasy phase?).

The world building, magic system, and diversity of characters make this trilogy stand out for me as a series on its own, but I’ve found myself recommending this series to a lot of people looking for something to fill the void that a certain boy wizard series left behind for them. It features a Chosen One, magic tournaments, secret crushes, and the rise of a dark magic that are more than enough to make this my new favorite London-based magician book (if you know what I’m saying).

Whether you’re reading Shades of Magic to fill up a fantasy niche in your life or just because it sounded interesting on its own, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.