antari-blood-magic
Kell's ability to communicate and command magic through blood marks him as a powerful Antari, a rare magician with a deep, personal connection to elemental magic.
2 chapters across 1 book
A Darker Shade of Magic (2015)V. E. Schwab
Kell visits the Stone’s Throw, a magical tavern existing across multiple Londons, where he tests Ned's magical ability and refuses to sell him a piece of earth, instead challenging him to prove his resolve. Kell then exchanges magical artifacts with the Collector and uses his rare Antari blood magic to travel between worlds. Meanwhile, in Red London, a secretive meeting between Prince Rhy and the foreign Antari Holland reveals a mysterious gift intended to grant strength, ending with Holland erasing his presence from a guard's memory, highlighting underlying political intrigue.
Prince Rhy struggles to master elemental magic, revealing his frustration and the unique nature of Antari blood magic wielded effortlessly by his brother Kell. Kell undertakes a tense mission to White London, a city ravaged by corrupted and scarce magic, where he confronts the brutal political reality and oppressive rule of the Dane twins. The chapter highlights the contrasting magical philosophies between the Londons and the dangerous, decaying state of White London under ruthless leadership.