A Darker Shade of Magic

Compare and contrast Kell Maresh and Lila Bard’s backgrounds and family situations. Why do they feel isolated? Where do they find love and belonging? How do their experiences develop the theme of The Nature of Family?

Is Holland Vosijk an antagonist, a sympathetic figure, or both? Why? How does he contribute to the protagonist’s character development, the plot’s suspense, and the theme of corruption?

In what ways are Kell and Lila shaped by the theme of Choice and Consequence? How do Kell and Lila respond to the consequences of their decisions? Which of their mistakes are they able to correct, and what consequences still linger by the end of the novel? How does this theme impact the story’s overall meaning?

Although Rhy Maresh is a minor character, he plays a key role in the story. How does Rhy contribute to the protagonist’s motivation, and what lessons does his character arc offer about family and consequence?

Discuss the importance of color symbolism in Schwab’s worldbuilding. How do Red, White, Grey, and Black Londons’ names reflect their identities and inform the lives of the characters who live in the various worlds? Besides the cities’ names, where else does Schwab use color symbolism to develop the novel’s themes and characters?

The silver pocket watch serves as a motif for the themes of Choice and Consequence and The Nature of Family. When does the watch appear, and what does its presence add to the plot and mood in these moments? What is the significance of Lila’s decision to keep the watch at the end of the novel?

How is the Dane twins’ plot connected to the theme of Choice and Consequence? To what extent is Red London responsible for the issues facing White London?

How does the black stone serve as a motif for the theme of Power as a Path to Corruption? How do different characters view the stone, and how do these attitudes shift over the course of the story? Why is Kell able to overcome the stone’s corrupting power?