#016 | Stupendous Schwab: Anjali and Sophie discuss Victoria Schwab's books

Stupendous Schwab: Anjali and Sophie discuss Victoria Schwab's books

If you've listened to an episode of Rants and Reviews before, you may have heard us talk about the Darker Shades of Magic series by Victoria 'VE' Schwab. Stick around because we're talking about that and more in this week's episode!

Currently Reading

Each episode of Rants and Reviews we’re going to be sharing what we’re currently reading, so you can discover our favourite genes, add some books to your TBR pile, and hear us rave and rage about characters, plot, setting and more. 

Anjali is currently reading:

• Girl, Stop Apologising by Rachel Hollis
• About to read One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
• About to read Love Lie Repeat by Catherine Greer

Sophie is currently reading:

• Just finished Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
• Rereading Mythos by Stephen Fry via audiobook

As well as sharing our currently reading titles, Anjali shares quickly about her venture to see Sarah J Maas in Auckland, and chats a little about what Maas talked about, some interesting related Throne of Glass news, and the need to actually read the rest of the series for both ToG and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Main feature

Today we're chatting about all things Victoria VE Schwab! Instead of having the show notes with the minutes next to them, like we would normally do, this week we thought we'd just do a rundown of the books that we talk about (or rather, that Anjali talks about and Sophie listens patiently), and then a couple of points from our actual discussion on the Shades of Magic series.

 

Monsters of Verity series - Victoria Schwab

The books in this series are This Savage Song and Our Dark Duet. Anjali has read both of these books and gives a quick rundown of the story (check out the full synopsis on Goodreads!).

 

The Archived series - Victoria Schwab

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. The two books in this series are The Archived and The Unbound, neither of which Anjali nor Sophie have read yet, but they sound really neat and something that we would both read.

 

Cassidy Black series - Victoria Schwab

While it's a Middle-Grade series, Anjali really enjoyed the first in this series (City of Bones). The second book comes out in September and is called Tunnel of Bones. One of the things that Anjali loves about it (other than the fact it's only about 300 pages) is the fact that Cassidy is a huge Harry Potter fan (aren't we all).

 

Everyday Angel - Victoria Schwab

Neither of us has read this series, but we probably won't, to be honest. It's about a guardian angel and is a Middle-Grade book.

 

Villains series - VE Schwab

Finally, a title where she calls herself 'VE', which means this is an adult book, rather than a Young Adult or Middle Grade. Anjali really enjoyed the first in the series, Vicious, but has yet to read Vengeful which has recently been released in the past 6 months or so. She wants to reread Vicious before she reads Vengeful.

 

The Shades of Magic series - VE Schwab

Finally, Sophie can join the conversation, after Anjali has taken over the majority of the 'here are all of Schwab's books she's written so far'. We both love love love this series, and while we're not entirely sure why, but we try and work it out as we talk. Anjali tries to give us a synopsis of the series, but it's a much better version on Goodreads, so check that out (and add it to your To-Read list while you're there!). One of the things we love about the series is the layering of London (or 'onion London' as Anjali calls it), and how there are four different Londons: one without magic, two with, and one which is basically 100% magic and is dangerous; don't go there. 

One of Sophie's favourite characters is Diliah Bard, but we talk about how all the characters are so wonderfully written and have their distinct personalities that really shine through. Somehow they're all stupendous and it's hard to pick favourites. While Schwab's writing in all her books is so brilliant, it's especially incredible in this series, and we talk about the writing style for a bit, before diving into the practicalities of Kell's coat (the first sentence is "Kell wore a very peculiar coat" and it's the best opening sentence of a book ever, or so Anjali thinks). Sophie would love a Kell-coat for Wellington's ever-changing weather.

 

The Steel Prince - VE Schwab and illustrated by Andrea Olimpieri

A recent endeavour by Schwab, the comic of The Steel Prince follows the young Prince Maxim Maresh, who is the King of Red London in the Shades of Magic series. There are 4 issues out at the moment, and we've read the bind-up version, which you can find here on Goodreads.

Outro

How many Victoria "VE" Schwab books have you read? Do you love the Shades of Magic series as much as we do? Let us by flicking us a Tweet or sending us a message on Instagram.

Books mentioned in this episode

Girl, Stop Apologising by Rachel Hollis, One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, Love Lie Repeat by Catherine Greer, Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks, Mythos by Stephen Fry via audiobook, Dear John by Nicholas Sparks, A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas, Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J Maas, Harry Potter by JK Rowling, This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab, Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab, The Archived by Victoria Schwab, The Unbound by Victoria Schwab, City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab, Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab, Everyday Angel by Victoria Schwab, Vicious by VE Schwab, Vengeful by VE Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab, A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab, A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab, The Steel Prince by VE Schwab illustrated by Andrea Olimpieri, The Runaway comics by Brian K. Vaughan.