Hi Friends!
After months and months, I finally got to the second book in the Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab. I can’t wait to share my thoughts on Kell and Lila’s story and VE Schwab’s writing!
Synopsis
It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift–back into Black London.
Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games–an extravagant international competition of magic meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries–a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.
And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.
Review
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think it is important that be said first because while I really enjoyed it, I have some criticisms. First of all, I found the balance of this book to be uneven. Going off the description, I thought this book would mostly be about the Essen Tasch (basically magicians Olympics). But the actual games did not really start until about 3/4 of the way into the book, and once it did start, they happened really fast.
I also was confused by the ending. I felt like the entire end of the book was really rushed. There were a lot of slow-moving scenes I was bored with what happened in the beginning, and then finally when the action picked up, it felt very fast and then all of a sudden, it was over.
Some things I did like were Captain Alucard and his relationship with Lila as well as Rhys (really hoping for that ship in a conjuring of light). I really liked how we learned more about Black London and the reason it fell.
So overall I enjoyed the story but there were some things I wish were different 🙂
Rating
So I am really looking forward to seeing how the story progresses in the third book!
XOX Shelby Grace
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