A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
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: This book series has turned me into such a fantasy lover; I am forever changed. Thank you V.E. Schwab. AGOS was such a thrill to read because I was absolutely in love with the first book as well and was really curious about how Kell and Rhy and Lila were doing. She did such an amazing job of introducing these new AMAZING characters (especially the dark ones) and I really could not predict a single thing and I probably gasped over 1000 times throughout this book because every twist and turn just kept me flipping. Admittedly it did take me awhile to really get into the grind of things with this book but the second half was an absolute page turner (AND I REALLY JUST WANT THE THIRD BOOK). The first line of this book already made me fall head over heels because it described Lila SO PERFECTLY, "Delilah Bard had a way of finding trouble." (So perfect right?!) Lila goes through a LOT of stuff throughout this novel and I would personally say we see a bit more of Lila in AGOS then ADSOM. Lila is one of my favorite female lead characters because really has that air of confidence as well as believing she can do ANYTHING. However many times I really just wanted to pull Lila back because she truly runs right into every situation and sometimes it feels too dangerous and every choice feels like the last straw and when her luck would finally dry out. My only comment on her is sparks fly (in two ways... ) Alucard Emery... I have really mixed feelings about him. He is a newly introduced character in AGOS and I saw his good side first and then his bad side and overall I was(and am) thoroughly conflicted of his mentality. Then his connection with Rhy ( I won't say how) but OMG I didn't see it at all. Alucard is such a unique character and although risky he is such a graceful and wise character strangely. He seems to have many secrets (but who doesn't in this book?) and he although his full backstory is never fully divulged there is a lot of different sides to Alucard that are somewhat similar and yet entirely different. Overall he really brought so much to the first of half of AGOS and really was one the main reasons to push me to get to that second half action. After ADSOM It's clear Rhy and Kell's connection would cause some changes but I didn't even guess half of the changes they made to accommodate their new life LIKE THE GAMES. The games are literally such an amazing idea that was also perfectly described. Magic. Everywhere. (<-- pretty much my brain during the games) The games brought back a bit of deja vu and I found myself feeling a hunger game + divergent vibe but without the life risking part. Love is finally introduced. I won't say when and how but YES confirmed. I loved it because there wasn't much and that kept this more fantasy and adventure related which really kept me turning and not focusing on the love part (at least not really but you know me love is too fun to read about *shrugs*) My favorite part of this book has to be the plot. As Lila and Kell travel or (As Travars) through different parts of their lives Rhy and many different people play a part and alter so many different things and their life is nothing short of a grand adventure. V.E. Schwab writes a heck of a fantasy story so just go and read AGOS or ADSOM if you haven't yet! PS: If anyone talks to V.E. Schwab can you ask her WHERE DOES SHE GET THESE NAMES because they are ALL so FREAKIN' BEAUTIFUL!!!
Opinion Spoilers: Holland DOES come back and that whole story surrounding him was so intriguing. Then there was Ojka WHERE DID SHE EVEN COME FROM I dislike her and feel so bad for her and honestly she's such a pawn for Holland that I end up made at Holland and the circle goes on and on.
Cover: ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ seriously Will Staehle you are too good
Favorite Quote(s): "Magic is tangled, so you must be smooth. Magic is wild, so you must be tame. Magic is chaos, so you must be calm. Are you calm, Kell? " (pg 55) "Even the stars burned in color now. What he'd always taken for white had become an icy blue, and the night sky, once black, now registered as a velvet purple, the deepest edge of a bruise." (pg 192) "The dusty world shuddered around him in response, as if by breathing, he breathed life into it, set the time stuttering forward into motion." (pg 194)
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Stephanie C.A fan of anything fiction, furry, & fun. Archives
June 2019
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