Originally posted on Just Geeking by.

After finishing The Shades of Magic trilogy I wanted more and naturally, the graphic novels series beckoned. I was eager to learn more about Maxim Maresh before he became King and father to Rhys and adoptive father to Kel. In the trilogy, he seemed to be someone who was always so in control, always knew what to do and the idea of him being sent somewhere to “cut his military teeth” in The Steel Prince (let’s be honest that’s just royal talk for he’s done something he shouldn’t and his dad is pissed) just doesn’t jive with him as an adult. The events of these graphic novels are alluded to in the books, and I love that V. E. Schwab decided to explore Maxim and Isra’s past. It’s the perfect way to explore the history of Red London and add a different dynamic to the world she’s created.

I found that this first volume was the weakest out of the three graphic novels though as it focuses more on Maxim arriving in the Blood Coast of Verose and finding his place among the soldiers. Compared to the next two volumes it just feels quite lacklustre.

For more of my reviews please visit my blog! ( )

It was OK. I never finished the Shades of Magic novels, but I plan to. This is a prequel series about Rhy’s dad (the king in Shades) in his youth, and once I found that out, I wasn’t sure how interested I was. The story was fine, but so much of it involved the kind of magic different characters had and how they fought with it, and it was really hard to tell what was happening with this style of artwork. It looked colorful and pretty, but I couldn’t tell what they were doing in the action scenes. ( )

took me a while to get into a graphic novel groove. the art choices were interesting, but the action is hard to follow. ( )

• Read on the train home from the signing.
• An interesting set up and look forward to what comes.
• Isra is the best character.
• 4 ⭐️s ( )

I Think I would have liked this graphic novel way better if I had read the Dark Shade of Magic books. There was a lot I didn’t understand. The graphics however were excellent and have made me want to move the novels up my TBR. ( )