Reviews with content warning for Confinement - A Gathering of Shadows

Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

43 reviews

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I picked this up because I have had this trilogy on my bookshelves for years.
"A Gathering of Shadows" continues to follow Kell and Delilah. Four months have passed since the epic conclusion of " A Darker Shade of Magic", and Kell is still trying to get back to a somewhat normal life. Rhy seems to be doing better, but Kell feels so guilty for the events that occurred, and he has given up traveling between the different Londons all together. Red London is preparing to host their infamous Element Games, a competition aimed to bring the neighboring countries together. Red London may be all fun and games, but another London is rebuilding with sinister motives.
This sequel was interesting to read because Kell and Delilah are not initially together, so their narratives are following both of their individual stories. The reader knows that these two have a connection, but with Kell and Delilah separated, the reader is left waiting anxiously to see how they will be reunited, and what that means for them.
I really enjoyed the Element Games in this novel. The games provided just the right amount of tension and whimsy and it was wonderful to see characters explore the depths of their gifts.
Delilah was so much fun to read from! She is such a strong protagonist and can really hold her own. She really got to explore her strength in this story, and I loved seeing her conquer any and all challenges thrown her way.
Kell's narrative felt darker to read from, because he is dealing with a lot more tension in his immediate world.
I think it is fairly obvious Kell and Delilah are going to be reunited in some way, and I loved the anticipation the author built for their inevitable reunion. Kell and Delilah have so many moments of almost crossing paths and it made their eventual meeting all the sweeter.
The ending left me with so many questions, and I am dying to see what becomes of the Londons, Delilah, and most importantly, Kell.

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brep23's review

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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ladygetslit's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Book 2 of the series got off to a somewhat slow start. I was trying to figure out what Lila was actually up to, and when the royal brothers were gonna get their angsty selves together. But once the plot started rolling, I was absolutely hooked.

What I loved:

Rhy and Kell’s brotherly shenanigans
Alucard is mysterious and slightly sexy (still waiting for the full backstory but I know it’s gonna kill me)
Lila is such a boss babe: watching her discover her magic and take the world by a storm was everything I never knew I wanted
Setting up for the third book - I am so glad I already downloaded it

What didn’t work for me:

The pacing in the beginning - I didn’t know why Lila was on a ship and how things were going to tie back together… and I just wanted to get to the tournament already
The pseudo-slow burn between Lila and Kell is a hard pass. I don’t feel the chemistry, and I think they would’ve been better as friends. It felt like she threw in the romance because she was trying to draw That Audience, but the story would be perfectly fine without romance whatsoever.

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