My reunion with Fantasy (A Darker Shade Of Magic review)

It has been way too long since I have read a fantasy book, but I finally did it! My normal comfort zone has become YA contemporary, and I would like to change that since they have been putting me in a reading slump. So I decided to pick up a fantasy that everyone has read at this point, A darker Shade of Magic! Finally! My friend absolutely loves this series, and I'm loving it so much so far. I'm currently reading the second book (a Gathering of Shadows), which is amazing so far.
Anyways here are some of my thoughts on a darker shade:
RATING: 4.5/5 stars
This was so amazing and I absolutely loved it, but it, unfortunately, wasn't five stars. This is because we, in my opinion, didn't get enough Rhy and Lila banter!!! The scene where they met was my favourite scene, it was so exciting to have my two favourite characters in the book finally meet.
Okay now, Lila. Delilah. At first, I couldn't stand her at all. I thought she was selfish, impulsive and arrogant. I honestly thought she was a bit of a Clary Fairchild (who I hate with a passion). But now I know she is DEFINITELY NOT CLARY, thank god. Lila's character arc was absolutely amazing, and now I absolutely love her and I think she is such a badass. When we were first introduced to her, I didn't think much of her, but I started hating her as soon as she met Kell (we will talk about him later). I thought she was meddling into something she had nothing to do with and was wasting Kell's time because she just wanted to be entertained. I was so mad because Kell's whole life was at stake, and Lila just wanted to play pirate for a day. BUT I WAS SO WRONG. I honestly can do nothing but sympathise with Lila. We still don't know much about her past, but this is what I have strung together.
She's spent most of her life on her own and fending for herself because her parents abandoned her. She became a Wanted Man for stealing from the rich to survive. But surviving wasn't really enough for her. She's always felt this pull from somewhere that her world (Grey London) couldn't provide for her. She needed a place where that pull was bringing her, and that leads her to Kell. Kell is made of magic, and it was inevitable that they would have met. BECAUSE LILA IS AN ANTARI!!! She has a fake eye, cmon. It is only confirmed in the third book that she is an Antari, but I thought it was pretty obvious. It was inevitable for her to meet Kell and discover all of the other Londons.
I honestly admire Lila so much, she believes in herself above everything else and believes in her own ability to succeed. She has quickly become one of my favourite female characters... maybe she is my favourite female character? I'm not sure.
Now for my thoughts on Kell. Honestly, at the beginning of the book, I liked him a lot, but as we progressed, we don't get a lot of characterisation on his part, which left my feeling a little detached from him. Lila had so much character development, and Kell just couldn't compare. Though I do think he becomes such a complex character in the second book. Overall, I don't have any strong opinions on Kell, and I much prefer Rhy in the first book (we will NOT talk about second book Rhy omg)
One of my favourite things about this series is definitely

the world-building. The idea of three parallel Londons, and someone who can move between them... it's just genius. I love the magic system, and I love how distinguished each of the Londons are from each other. I can already feel that there is going to be a giant plot twist by the end of the third book, V.E. Schwab has written this build up so well.
I'm in a bit of a reading slump, and that's why I haven't been writing reviews a lot lately, but I am going to try harder to get back into reading. All I have been doing is watching anime, which I might make a post about if I feel like it.

Anyways, hope y'all have a nice day :)