After finishing The Shades of Magic trilogy I wanted more and naturally, the graphic novel series beckoned. Please find my reviews for the Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince graphic novels by V.E. Schwab!

Vol. 1: The Steel Prince Review

Delve into the thrilling, epic tale of the young and arrogant prince Maxim Maresh, long before he became the king of Red London and adoptive father to Kell, the lead of A Darker Shade of Magic!

The youthful Maresh is sent to a violent and unmanageable port city on the Blood Coast of Verose, on strict orders from his father, King Nokil Maresh, to cut his military teeth in this lawless landscape.

There, he encounters an unruly band of soldiers, a lawless landscape, and the intoxicatingly deadly presence of the newly returned pirate queen, Arisa...

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I was eager to learn more about Maxim Maresh before he became King, father to Rhys and adoptive father to Kel. In the trilogy, he seemed to be someone who was always so in control, always knew what to do and the idea of him being sent somewhere to “cut his military teeth” in The Steel Prince (let’s be honest that’s just royal talk for he’s done something he shouldn’t and his dad is pissed) just doesn’t jive with him as an adult. The events of these graphic novels are alluded to in the books, and I love that V. E. Schwab decided to explore Maxim and Isra’s past. It’s the perfect way to explore the history of Red London and add a different dynamic to the world she’s created.

I found that this first volume was the weakest of the Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince graphic novels though as it focuses more on Maxim arriving in the Blood Coast of Verose and finding his place among the soldiers. Compared to the next two volumes it just feels quite lacklustre.

Vol. 2: Night of Knives Review

Written by #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab and torn from the universe of the Shades of Magic sequence, this all-original comic book adventure continues the story begun in The Steel Prince - perfect for fans of bloody, swashbuckling adventure and gritty fantasy!

The young and arrogant prince Maxim Maresh, having faced the terror of the Pirate Queen, now aims to capture the respect of the combative port town of Verose - by taking the impossible challenges of the Night of Knives... and surviving, where none has survived before!

These are the hidden, secret adventures of Maxim, from long before he became the king of Red London and adoptive father to Kell, the lead of A Darker Shade of Magic!

Collects Shades of Magic #5-8: Night of Knives

The events of the legendary Night of Knives as so mentioned in The Shades of Magic trilogy are finally revealed. It is a night so mysterious and deadly that it is only mentioned once, briefly in conversation, and all we know about it is that only one person survived the entire night; Maxim. In The Night of Knives, the second graphic novel volume, we find out what really happened and the sinister events behind the myth. We get to see Maxim becoming the king we know from the trilogy and glimpses of his sons in him as he fights for survival when the odds are completely stacked against him. While Maxim seems nothing like Rhys and Kel in The Shades of Magic trilogy, this volume begins to show that the two generations really aren’t that different and while he may have seemed strict with them, perhaps it was because he saw some of himself in them quite often.

Vol. 3: The Rebel Army Review

In the months following his defeat and unmasking by Prince Maxim Maresh at the climax of the Night of Knives Tournament, Rowan, its architect and Antari magician, has forcefully taken command of a ragtag pirate fleet known as the Rebel Army.

Through a campaign of pillaging and conscription of Arnes coastal towns, Rowan has grown the Rebel Army into a force powerful enough to usurp a prince and destroy an empire.

Now, all that stands between the fall of the House of Maresh and the sacking of Red London is Maxim and his garrison, unless the young headstrong prince can win the hearts and minds of the inhabitants of Verose and convince them to join him in one final stand against the most powerful magician he has ever faced.

Collects Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince: The Rebel Army #1-4

In the final volume of The Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince series, The Rebel Army, it’s time for the big fight that gave Prince (King) Maxim his reputation for being a ruler not to be messed with and The Rebel Army does not disappoint! A familiar face from The Night of Knives is back and this time they’ve brought friends along. It’s Maxim, Isra and the rest of the Royal Guard against a bunch of pirates who intend to take over the Blood Coast. And if they don’t stop them at the coast there’s nothing stopping them heading up the river to the capital.

The battles are detailed in beautiful art and the all-or-nothing dire consequences and tension from the novels shine through again in V. E. Schwab’s writing. This final volume is not to be missed.

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