V.Verminov’s Reviews > A Darker Shade of Magic > Status Update
V.Verminov
is on page 202 of 400
Mid-Book Checkpoint – Tomatoes (1/5)
This book’s a clear DNF in the making, but since I’ve got some tomato repotting to do, I figured I’d suffer through the audiobook on the off chance it gets better. At least my plants will grow, even if this book won’t.
— Jun 10, 2025 09:36AM
This book’s a clear DNF in the making, but since I’ve got some tomato repotting to do, I figured I’d suffer through the audiobook on the off chance it gets better. At least my plants will grow, even if this book won’t.
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V.Verminov
is on page 399 of 400
End-Book Thoughts – Frustration (1/5)
This book had all the ingredients for something great. And yet, at every turn, it managed to undermine itself.
— Jun 12, 2025 05:00AM
This book had all the ingredients for something great. And yet, at every turn, it managed to undermine itself.
V.Verminov
is on page 145 of 400
Chapter 6 - Eye-Roll Moment 2
Delilah summons a copy of Kell and forces it to strip.
That was uncomfortable and added nothing but cringe.
Also I don’t get why Kell didn’t forcibly take the stone from Lili. Why is he being so nice and helping her when he has no reason to? Is it beceuse he is wet noodle? Or so the plot can happen?
— Jun 10, 2025 09:34AM
Delilah summons a copy of Kell and forces it to strip.
That was uncomfortable and added nothing but cringe.
Also I don’t get why Kell didn’t forcibly take the stone from Lili. Why is he being so nice and helping her when he has no reason to? Is it beceuse he is wet noodle? Or so the plot can happen?
V.Verminov
is on page 107 of 400
100-Pages Checkpoint – There’s No Magic in It (1/5)
I thought it was impossible to go wrong with such a great concept—magical travel between four parallel worlds.
But the execution fails on every level.
The main character is boring, the female protagonist annoying, the villain rulers one-dimensional, and the rival pitiable.
The plot drags, the world feels unimaginative, and the magic of reading is completely absent.
— Jun 10, 2025 09:31AM
I thought it was impossible to go wrong with such a great concept—magical travel between four parallel worlds.
But the execution fails on every level.
The main character is boring, the female protagonist annoying, the villain rulers one-dimensional, and the rival pitiable.
The plot drags, the world feels unimaginative, and the magic of reading is completely absent.
V.Verminov
is on page 66 of 400
Chapter 3 - Special Eye-Roll Moment
Apparently, every female protagonist’s rite of passage now involves killing her would-be rapist. Lazy unimaginative authors - can't you think of an actual interesting way to show how "badass" your female character is?
Should have stopped and the policeman introduction of the character. That was quite good.
— Jun 10, 2025 09:27AM
Apparently, every female protagonist’s rite of passage now involves killing her would-be rapist. Lazy unimaginative authors - can't you think of an actual interesting way to show how "badass" your female character is?
Should have stopped and the policeman introduction of the character. That was quite good.
V.Verminov
is on page 33 of 400
3-Chapter Checkpoint – Disappointing (2/5)
The premise had me excited—magic, parallel worlds, lost cities—all the things I love. But the execution is painfully underwhelming. The writing feels immature, which drags down both the worldbuilding and the characters. The setup doesn’t engage, and the tone feels oddly mundane for a story that promised such epic themes.
— Jun 10, 2025 09:17AM
The premise had me excited—magic, parallel worlds, lost cities—all the things I love. But the execution is painfully underwhelming. The writing feels immature, which drags down both the worldbuilding and the characters. The setup doesn’t engage, and the tone feels oddly mundane for a story that promised such epic themes.
