magic-as-blood
Magic is portrayed as a physical force manifesting in blood, with red symbolizing balanced magic and black representing corrupted, uncontrolled power.
1 chapter across 1 book
A Darker Shade of Magic (2015)V. E. Schwab
Kell navigates the complex social and magical landscape of Red London, grappling with his dual identity as both a royal figure and a secretive smuggler. His interactions with his family reveal deep tensions about loyalty, belonging, and the dangers of his forbidden activities, while his private reflections and hidden chambers underscore his struggle with lost memories, forbidden magic, and the rarity of his Antari powers. Throughout, Kell's identity is shaped by the interplay of magic as blood, the secrecy surrounding his past, and his role as a Collector connected to multiple worlds.