I usually write the review right after reading the book and now it’s been some time I finished but still wanted to write few things about it.

First of all, that ending was evil! And it’s so long before book 3 comes out. I just hate cliffies…

I’m still not a huge fan of Lila. She’s bit less annoying here than in the last book but still. She’s arrogant and too reckless without thinking if anyone else gets hurt. She meets the pirate captain Alucard whom I liked. Hope we see more of him in the future. 

Rhy and Kell aren’t doing too well after the events in the last book. Kell is out of favor with the king and queen. I really wanted to hit them, king and queen I mean.

Rarely book 2 is as good as book 1 but this really was. Loved this and can’t wait for book 3. I need book 3!

Don't you love it when an already fabulous series just gets better? Why hello, A Gathering of Shadows, I'm looking at you.

First off, I'm a sucker for alternate city stories so when I read book one with its multiple Londons, Kell of the oddly coloured eyes, and Lila that cross-dressing thief, how could I not fall in love? Thing is, I read the first book when it came out so I didn't really remember much about it except the feels. Doesn't matter. Yes, this book builds upon what came before but Schwab drops in enough reminders that you don't need to do a re-read (though why wouldn't you want to?) Also, this story totally stands on its own.

Lila is dealing with her demons by running away to join a crew of privateers, while Kell and Rhy are dealing with theirs by trying to not kill each other. When Rhy organizes a magic tournament and invites the other kingdoms, it's the perfect event for disguises to be worn, steam to be blown off, and beloved thieves to reunite. But treachery is underfoot and Schwab deals a hell of a cliffhanger at the end. She is forgiven only because book three promises to top even these two in its amazingness.

Though I may die of impatience before it ever gets released. :(

A GATHERING OF SHADOWS is the second book in V. E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series. It continues the stories of Kell and Delilah Bard, and takes place several months after the events of A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC. Whilst Delilah is seeking adventure, Kell is facing the consequences of the choices he made, and another London is coming back to life.

I really enjoyed A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC, so going into this book I had quite a few expectations and I can honestly say that V. E. Schwab did a great job of meeting them. If you read and enjoyed the first book in this series then I am pretty sure that you will love this one just as much. There is a lot going on in this book! I enjoyed being reunited with Kell and Lila, it was interesting to see how they had changed since I’d last seen them. I also liked seeing a bit more of Red London and the world it’s a part of – the Element Games mentioned in the blurb allows Schwab to show more of the world Kell is from, and I thought it was pretty interesting how Schwab showed different cultures.

The plot of A GATHERING OF SHADOWS at its most simple level is about dealing with the consequences of A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC. Of course, Schwab makes it a bit more complicated than that – Schwab weaves numerous plot threads together to tell an interesting and complex story – but that’s the bare bones of the story. I really like the fact that this book, and series, is very much about balance – kind of like Newton’s Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction – and that Schwab doesn’t gloss over consequences. There were definitely a few plot threads and plot twists I did not see coming at all in this book, and I liked that Schwab kept me guessing.

A GATHERING OF SHADOWS sees the return of some familiar faces, as well as the introduction of some new characters. Kell and Lila are interesting in this book. In a lot of ways, neither of them has really changed since we left them in A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC – it’s familiar finding out what they are doing, and how things have changed for them. But at the same time, things are a little different – and I don’t really want to say too much, because spoilers, but Schwab gives them both interesting story arcs in A GATHERING OF SHADOWS. Schwab also introduces some new characters, of which my favourite is probably Alucard Emery. I’m definitely curious to see more of him, and hopefully we’ll learn more about him in the third book.

Overall I think A GATHERING OF SHADOWS is a fantastic addition to the Shades of Magic series. There were points where I found the reading a bit slow, but equally there were points where I couldn’t put the book down. I really enjoyed re-uniting with Kell and Lila. Schwab does a brilliant job with the world building, and I’m curious to see what’s going to happen in the third book.

Originally posted on The Flutterby Room.

I was hoping I'd love this book, since I had really liked the first one; unfortunately, not so much.

I keep liking the world, what we learn about Red London and a bit more about the world around it (the other empires, the seas and their trade, etc.). Even though there isn't that much action, I enjoyed reading about the places the characters went to, the magic, the Elemental Games themselves, the way the other Londons are evolving—some answers, but also more questions, and an antagonist that has the potential to be extremely dangerous in the next book.

I also liked that Lila managed to remain ruthless. Not always at the right moments (see below), but in that she remained... I'd say "self-centered" (in a good way, as in, "living for herself"). She doesn't let anyone tell her what she should do, even when her choices aren't the best ones, and I find that good—I'm not for female characters who're supposed to be selfless and stuff just because they're women and that's what is expected from women and blah blah blah. There's something dark and dangerous about Lila, some untapped potential that she's grazing then embracing more and more here, and this could make her a hero or a destroyer of worlds, so to speak. In fact, there's a lot of self-destructive potential in the main characters (Rhy, Kell, Lila); in a way, all the angst grated on my nerves after a while, and at the same time was also understandable when it came to the two brothers, who love each other yet have to come to terms with the fact any hope of freedom has been dashed forever for them.

However, this novel suffers from the dreaded Second Book syndrome: not so much because "not much happens" (a character- instead of a plot-driven story can be pretty interesting), but because it felt more like paving the way for the next book. The impending threat should've been given more importance, not just a few glimpses here and there, and the Elemental Games, with their fights full of magic, deserved more screen time (I'd have liked seeing more of Kisimiyr, the previous Games' champion, since she was rumoured to be so strong... and it'd have been even better if Kamerov's involvment had really been because of a suspected threat).

And I could've done with less repetitive angst, and with more justification about Lila's plans regarding the games (it felt more logical towards the end, with the few flashbacks about her training; had it been introduced sooner, her choices would've seemed just daring, and not "completely stupid").

I still like this series, but book 2 is definitely not in the same league as book 1. :(