THE STEEL PRINCE by V.E. Schwab // Review and Giveaway

Written by #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab and torn from the universe of the Shades of Magic sequence, this all-original comic book prequel to A Darker Shade of Magic is perfect for fans of bloody, swashbuckling adventure and gritty fantasy.

Delve into the thrilling, epic tale of the young and arrogant Prince Maxim Maresh, long before he became the King of Red London and adoptive father to Kell, the lead of A Darker Shade of Magic.

The youthful Maresh is sent to a violent and unmanageable port city on the Blood Coast of Verose, on strict orders from his father, King Nokil Maresh, to cut his military teeth in this lawless landscape.

There he encounters an unruly band of soldiers, a lawless landscape, and the intoxicatingly deadly presence of the newly returned pirate queen, Arisa…

Guys! Who else is incredibly excited that there is going to be more in the fascinating world that Victoria Schwab created in her Shades of Magic series?

When I first heard she was coming out with a graphic novel, I figured it would just be the original series recreated. So when I found out that it would be new original stories, I was thrilled.

Prince (later to be King) Maxim probably wouldn’t have been my first pick for a spin-off (prequel), but after reading The Steel Prince, I’m really glad she chose him. And, of course, Isra, who will one day be the head of Maxim’s city guard.

This beginning to Prince Maxim’s story is about a young rebellious Maxim, before he takes the throne, and becomes one of our favorite love/hate characters. I loved seeing his dissident side, and also, honestly, his naivety. Click here to read more about Elena Vanishing by Elena Dunkle and Clare B. Dunkle.

He sees the world from the viewpoint of a sheltered young man, who has never really faced the real world or true danger. This makes him rash and a bit superior, but determined to do what is right, and to see others do the same. I actually saw a bit of Prince Rhy in him (just a bit).

My favorite character, so far, though, has to be Isra. I loved how jaded and hard she was, but she still refused to take the easy path and instead fought for what she knew was right.

She reminded me a lot of Lila Bard, who I adore. I’m really looking forward to learning more about her, and seeing how she becomes the head of the city guard.

The awesome thing about this being a graphic novel and not a novella is the incredible artwork.

It was amazing getting to see the magic come to life on the pages. The illustrator and colorist did a beautiful job of bringing this story and this world to life. I can’t wait to see what comes next!