A Darker Shade of Magic, V. E. Schwab: An inventive tale of magic and parallel worlds, rendered evocatively. Schwab convincingly creates alternative Londons populated by a fascinating cast of characters. While this isn't quite as good as my favorite fantasy series (His Dark Materials and the All Souls trilogy) or either of Erin Morganstern's books, A Darker Shade of Magic did capture my imagination and hold my attention. I flew through this book, and can't wait to tackle the other books in the trilogy, though I did greatly appreciate that the first book is a self-contained story that doesn't end with a cliff-hanger.
🎶 Music
Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa: I'm a little late to the game on this one, but it certainly does live up to the hype. As a fan of Disco and 80s Pop, I appreciate the high-quality production values, which put a contemporary spin on retro conventions. "Cool" and "Levitating" are the songs I have on repeat, but of course "Don't Start Now" and "Physical" certainly deserve their hit status. "Pretty Please" is also quite an earworm, and "Good In Bed" sounds like it could have been a Robbie Williams song (the jury's still out on that one). Future Nostalgia is a great summer album, and I've been enjoying listening to it on my daily evening walks – it definitely puts a pep in my step.
"Side Effects", blondeSPOT & Jamie Lidell: It has been way too long since we've had a new Jamie Lidell banger, and this one hits the spot (no pun intended). Love is always a great drug for a summer bop; to quote the song "I don't know what I'm feeling / must be something you're dealing." I am definitely addicted to this song and the aural sunshine it delivers.
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