V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series is a popular fantasy series that captivates readers with its intricate world building, compelling characters, and thrilling plot. The fourth book in the series, tentatively titled "The Threads of Power," continues the story of Kell, Lila, and their friends as they navigate the multiple versions of London and face new challenges and dangers. In the previous books, readers were introduced to four different Londons: Red London, Grey London, White London, and Black London. Each London has its own unique magic system and its own struggles.
This was sober, research-based storytelling, with field trips to overgrown ruins and museum storerooms. The only glimmer of impish wit was in Forfar, where the camera spotted a black cat on the prowl.
Her director still fetishises her shoewear with close-ups of clacking Marplesque heels, but there s now less artful twinkling and more impassioned sincerity. Lucy also reveals how the attitudes of the time towards gender politics and class often helped obscure the truth, uncovering new victors and victims, challenging perceptions, and providing fresh insights.
Each London has its own unique magic system and its own struggles. Kell, a powerful magician from Red London, has the rare ability to travel between these worlds. Lila, a thief with a mysterious past, becomes entangled in Kell's world and discovers her own magical abilities.
Lucy Worsley analyzes the witchcraft trials
New Episodes of LUCY WORSLEY INVESTIGATES
Premiere Sundays, September 25 and October 2, on PBS and Streaming on the PBS Video App and PBS.org
Historian Lucy Worsley Turns Detective,
Following New Clues and Bringing Modern Perspectives to Shed Light on Britain’s 16th-Century Witch Hunts and the Deadly Black Death
ARLINGTON, VA – P opular British historian Lucy Worsley continues to explor e some of British history’s most haunting mysteries in two new installments of LUCY WORSLEY INVESTIGATES . In each episode, Lucy uses historical and contemporary evidence and expert testimony to reframe the past and deepen her analysis . Lucy also reveal s how the attitudes of the time towards gender politics and class often helped obscure the truth , uncover ing new victors and victims , challeng ing perceptions and provid ing fresh insights . The series conclude s with its two final episode s : “The Black Death” on Sunday , September 25 , followed by “ The Witch Hunts ” on Sunday, October 2 . Both episodes premiere 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET ( check local listings ) on PBS and will stream on PBS.org and the PBS Video app .
“The Black Death” – Sunday, September 25
Lucy re-examines Britain’s deadliest pandemic, the Black Death, which struck in 1348 and killed an astonishing three million people — half of the country’s population. Scientists, historians and other experts help Lucy explore the wide-ranging effects of this unprecedented calamity on British society.
For centuries, no one could be certain what caused the 1348 plague. Then, in the 1980s, a vast mass grave containing the skeletons of 600 victims was uncovered in London. Lucy learns how DNA extracted from the teeth of these skeletons enabled scientists to finally identify the cause of the Black Death, a bacteria called yersinia pestis — a pathogen to which the population had no immunity. Lucy then travels to a small Suffolk village where rare court rolls reveal how the plague affected the lives of ordinary people. These fragile documents provide a unique window into the epidemic’s social, political and psychological impacts, revealing how the enormous death toll transformed religious beliefs, class structure, work and women.
“The Witch Hunts” – Sunday, October 2
The series concludes with a harrowing look at the events that sparked a craze for witch hunts across Britain and America more than 400 years ago. Lucy uncovers the extraordinary story of one supposed witch, a midwife and folk healer from rural Scotland named Agnes Sampson, who was caught up in King James’ determination to prove himself a just and godly king and figurehead of the Reformation. While Christianity and a belief in the supernatural had co-existed for centuries, the new puritanical Christianity of Scotland’s John Knox began targeting women who had an exalted role in society. Agnes’s trial and execution lit the fuse for the state-sanctioned torture and murder of thousands more like her across Britain and in America’s Salem Witch Trials. Lucy examines how the upheaval of the Reformation, the ambitions of the King and a suspicion of women in authority and female sexuality set the stage for these brutal killings.
LUCY WORSLEY INVESTIGATES is a 4×60’ series for BBC Two and PBS and is being made by BBC Studios’ The Documentary Unit. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller BBC Two. The Commissioning Editor is Abigail Priddle and the Executive Producer is Julia Harrington. Bill Gardner is Executive in Charge for PBS. BBC Studios is handling global distribution.
With over a decade of experience in public media, Stackhouse serves as the Assistant Director of Digital Services for WSIU Public Broadcasting. The Digital Service department supports the promotion of the station’s digital content and services including social media, web-based membership services and activities, and marketing and communications. Stackhouse's professional goals include creating an inclusive environment where media students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale can gain experience and professional development opportunities in various aspects of the broadcasting industry.
As the series progresses, the characters face increasingly dire threats and personal hardships. The fate of the worlds hangs in the balance as an ancient evil resurfaces, threatening to destroy everything in its path. Kell, Lila, and their allies must band together to stop this powerful force and protect the fragile balance between the worlds. "The Threads of Power" promises to further explore the complex dynamics between the characters and delve deeper into the mythology of the different Londons. It will likely reveal more about the origins of magic and the true nature of the worlds. As the final installment in the series, readers can expect a culmination of the various storylines and a satisfying conclusion to the overarching narrative. Fans of the series have eagerly awaited the release of "The Threads of Power," as they are invested in the fate of their beloved characters and eager to see how Schwab ties up loose ends. The series has garnered critical acclaim for its imaginative world building, compelling characters, and fast-paced storytelling. V.E. Schwab is known for her ability to craft rich and immersive fantasy worlds, and the Shades of Magic series is no exception. Overall, "The Threads of Power" holds great promise for fans of the Shades of Magic series. It will likely provide an epic and satisfying conclusion to this beloved fantasy saga..
Reviews for "The Journey of a Hero: Analyzing the Character Arcs in 'Ve Schwab Shades of Magic Book 4"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Ve Schwab Shades of Magic Book 4". After thoroughly enjoying the first three books in the series, I had high expectations for this one. However, I found the plot to be confusing and convoluted, with a lack of clear direction. The characters, who were previously well-developed and relatable, felt flat and uninspiring in this installment. Overall, I felt like the book was a letdown and didn't live up to the quality of the earlier books in the series.
2. Mark - 1 star - "Ve Schwab Shades of Magic Book 4" was a huge disappointment for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story dragged on without any real purpose. I felt like nothing substantial happened until the last 100 pages, and by that point, I had already lost interest. Additionally, the new characters introduced in this book were not enough to make up for the lackluster plot. Overall, I found this book to be a struggle to get through, and I can't recommend it to fans of the series.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Ve Schwab Shades of Magic Book 4" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was inconsistent, and the story seemed to lack focus. It felt like the author was trying to tie up loose ends, but the execution felt rushed and underdeveloped. Additionally, I found the character development to be lacking compared to the previous books. While the writing style was still enjoyable, it wasn't enough to make up for the overall disappointment of this installment.
4. Robert - 2 stars - I was not impressed with "Ve Schwab Shades of Magic Book 4". The plot felt disjointed and overly complicated, making it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. The characters, who I had grown to love throughout the series, seemed to lose their depth in this book. It felt like the author was trying too hard to create a grand finale but ended up sacrificing the elements that made the earlier books successful. I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing for a stronger conclusion to the series.