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A review by ouroboros_00
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
What a great second book for a triology! No second book slumps here in my opinion. Schwab was very, very clever to focus the plot on a magical tournament, which kept things moving forward, introduced us to the larger world beyond Red London and subsequent political machinations and how magic is operating in general.
Even the slower moving portions helped enrich our understanding of Lila, Kell and Rhy and see a lot more of Rhy and Kell's relationship. I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction of Alucard and the continued tension and magnetism between Lila and Kell.
I was going to critique the largest plot thread for being somewhat predictable (and in some ways it still is) but the more I think about it, the more I'm actually impressed at how Schwab slightly subverts the outcomes just when you think it's going to be the most predictable.
Bonus points for wanting to hit the teleport button immediately. However, minor deductions for no map... really, why is there no maps?
Even the slower moving portions helped enrich our understanding of Lila, Kell and Rhy and see a lot more of Rhy and Kell's relationship. I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction of Alucard and the continued tension and magnetism between Lila and Kell.
I was going to critique the largest plot thread for being somewhat predictable (and in some ways it still is) but the more I think about it, the more I'm actually impressed at how Schwab slightly subverts the outcomes just when you think it's going to be the most predictable.
Bonus points for wanting to hit the teleport button immediately. However, minor deductions for no map... really, why is there no maps?