A Darker Shade of Magic
by V. E. Schwab
A Darker Shade of Magic is a fantasy novel by V. E. Schwab, first published by Tor Books in the United States on 24 February 2015. It opens the Shades of Magic trilogy, following Kell, a magician who carries messages and smuggled objects between four parallel Londons, and the thief Lila Bard.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Tor, 2015
- First published
- Tor Books, 2015
- Series
- Shades of Magic
The first edition of A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab was published in New York, USA by Tor in 2015. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st Tor2015 Hardback · Shades of Magic 1 I own A Darker Shade of Magic, Tor 2015 Log in to want this
Special editions
- Titan Books2017Titan collector's edition · Exclusive cover Hardback I own A Darker Shade of Magic, Titan Books 2017 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 17 on Open Library, 5 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 3 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by V. E. Schwab
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of A Darker Shade of Magic?
The first edition of A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab was published in New York, USA by Tor in 2015.
How many editions of A Darker Shade of Magic are there?
We track 2 editions of A Darker Shade of Magic, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Where these facts come from
- A Darker Shade of Magic, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- A Darker Shade of Magic, Kirkus Reviews, 2015 (kirkusreviews.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 21 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.