Tea and Tomes 
 I've been trying to get my hands on a copy of A Darker Shade of Magic for a while. When I was in Chicago the first week of March I tried to pick it up at the downtown Barnes and Noble. 
 Me: I'm looking for the new V.E. Schwa, A Darker Shade of Magic. I don't see it in fantasy or fiction, but I wanted to double-check. 
 Bookseller: No, it's not showing up as in stock. Why don't we have this book? 
 Me: Well, the author did tweet that it went into a second printing on pub day so maybe it's out of stock? 
 Bookseller: It's not even showing up as in stock at the warehouse. Why don't we have this book? 
 So, after I sent the bookseller into a small crises, I left. I even looked it up on the B&N website myself because I'm a member and it was showing up as a couple week estimate for the ship time. I waited another week, saw that it was back in stock, and ordered that puppy. 
 It was worth it. I was fairly confident in my purchase as I'd read the net galley preview and loved every minute. It would have to deviate pretty hard in the last 3/4ths of the book to switch that. It didn't. 
 I'm a sucker for things like time travel or cross dimensional (when done right. It is here) travel. I have seen this book improperly categorized as time travel in some places. It is not time travel. Rather, Schwab introduces us to 4 parallel Londons: Black, White, Red, and Grey. They all have varying degrees of magic, and even knowledge of magic's existence. Grey London is our world, or as close as it gets. 
 The worlds are established largely as we follow Kell, an ambassador for the court of Red London, and one of only two people who can travel between the worlds. And Schwab keeps the action coming. This novel is fast-paced and heavy on adventure and fun. 
 Characters Kell, Lila, and Rhy are lovely. They have distinct personalities, wit, and sharp tongues. And, we get to know them through their action! I wanted more time with all of them, which is a good sign. And luckily the fact that this is the first of a series will help make that desire a reality. 
 This book is just so much fun from first to last. It establishes a world I enjoy spending time in, and characters I love spending time with. I got it in the mail yesterday, and promptly devoured it.