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adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Shades of Magic series has honestly been a disappointment to me, and A Conjuring of Light is no exception. The magic and the world had so much potential but were held back by the unlikable characters and slow and uneventful plot.
Like I’ve said, the plot was progressing so slowly. It contains only one important element: the search for an object to defeat the great villain that was revealed in the last book of the series. In the first 200 pages, our main characters do nothing against him. Only after 300 pages, they start looking for this object. I can’t even tell you anymore what happened in those first pages besides some annoying banter between the main characters. This is so unfortunate since the world with the three Londons had so much potential. Sadly, we barely see any travelling between those worlds in the course of the story and spend most of the time in Red London.
The second half of the book was a bit better, but still rather uneventful, besides this random twist(?) that Cora is a traitor and kills the queen and the king together with her brother . This came so out of the blue and was a bit unbelievable. Additionally, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending because it’s wrapped up a bit too quickly; they just defeat Osaron and not one of the main characters dies. The random explanation of Alcuard towards the end felt a bit misplaced as well .
The characters are still the biggest problem I have with the series because I liked none of the main characters. I felt no connection for them which became clear when Alucard’s sister died, and I felt no emotions . The dynamic between them, especially Alucard and Kell, should probably be funny, but I was just annoyed by it. I also found it cringe that the characters drink a lot of alcohol and clean their nails with their knives just to show how cool they are.
I still can’t stand Lila; her “not like other girls” demeanour is so annoying and she’s just a boring character because she never fails at anything. Many things about her past and her as a person remain unexplained, just like Kell’s past. Besides Lila, there are just no female characters that play an important role which is so unfortunate. I also didn’t like the villain Osaron, he was so cliché and his POV was just cringe with him talking about wanting to be a god. The only character I liked was Hastra but everyone was so unnecessarily mean to him? Furthermore, it was so predictable that he would die because none of the main characters could die, of course .
The A Darker Shade of Magic series had so much potential, and I had high hopes for the series after enjoying Addie so much. It had an interesting concept with different worlds but after the first book, they barely play any important role and are not utilized. Instead, it focusses on its characters that were often too edgy and hence cringe for my taste and just rather unlikable. For the worldbuilding, the plot is just too simple as well which is all very unfortunate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Sexual content
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
dark
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
The best of the series for sure! A strong conclusion to the trio. The characters are still the best part so this book being a convergence of a lot of the characters plot wise made it so fun to read. The world has and always will be fascinating to read about. The villain was good, but a bit repetitive. Audio narrators for book 2 and 3 are good.
Schwab is so fucking smart, leaving the story with Anoshe :')
Schwab is so fucking smart, leaving the story with Anoshe :')
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm, Suicide
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
This one was long. Like the other two before this was a reread, although I had less memory of how they actually get rid of Osaron.
Sometimes the book felt a bit too long, especially the first hundred pages or so but that does not take much from Schwab's writing style, it is just easy to forget that the scene cover barely a week and not, say, two.
On the other hand there are some things I forgot that had me shocked when I remembered.
I do wish we would have known what happened with Kelly's parents.
Every plotline had a logical and satisfying ending.
Recommend for being one of my favourite series.
Sometimes the book felt a bit too long, especially the first hundred pages or so but that does not take much from Schwab's writing style, it is just easy to forget that the scene cover barely a week and not, say, two.
On the other hand there are some things I forgot that had me shocked when I remembered.
Every plotline had a logical and satisfying ending.
Recommend for being one of my favourite series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Blood, Grief
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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
Such a fitting end to this story. The world was saved, but not without surmountable loss.
I wish these characters did not have to suffer so much to get the endings they deserved, but it made this story that much more beautiful.
We got magic, friendships, family, and love - but not without betrayal, death, torture, and suffering.
Kell and Lila sail off into the sunset, while Rhy and Alucard spend their time loving each other at the palace. None of them thought they would end up where they did, but they all absolutely deserved it.
V.E. Schwab has a gift for making you fall in love with the characters and with the world in her stories. I’m sad for this ending, but I know we will return to this world soon with her new series.
I wish these characters did not have to suffer so much to get the endings they deserved, but it made this story that much more beautiful.
We got magic, friendships, family, and love - but not without betrayal, death, torture, and suffering.
Kell and Lila sail off into the sunset, while Rhy and Alucard spend their time loving each other at the palace. None of them thought they would end up where they did, but they all absolutely deserved it.
V.E. Schwab has a gift for making you fall in love with the characters and with the world in her stories. I’m sad for this ending, but I know we will return to this world soon with her new series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Outing, Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Man, am I so happy that I re-read this series. A Conjuring of Light is the final installment of V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic trilogy and, man, will it tear your heart out. Set immediately after the whoa mama cliffhanger of the second book, Conjuring is relentless— in pace and in emotional punches.
I love these characters and the relationships and how detailed and nuanced Schwab’s worldbuilding and plotting is. She has laid down such a foundation in the first two books and we reap the benefits here. This book was compulsive in so many senses of the word— both while I was reading, compelling me to turn page after page, and whenever I wasn’t, the characters and plot invading my brain until I could pick the book back up.
This was such a great ending to this trilogy, but man, it is brutal. There is a lot at stake, and a lot is lost, so be prepared. And sweet Holland. His story broke my heart.
If you have read the first two, why are you even reading this?! This is the best book of the series, so DO IT. Read it. It’ll smash your heart to pieces.
I love these characters and the relationships and how detailed and nuanced Schwab’s worldbuilding and plotting is. She has laid down such a foundation in the first two books and we reap the benefits here. This book was compulsive in so many senses of the word— both while I was reading, compelling me to turn page after page, and whenever I wasn’t, the characters and plot invading my brain until I could pick the book back up.
This was such a great ending to this trilogy, but man, it is brutal. There is a lot at stake, and a lot is lost, so be prepared. And sweet Holland. His story broke my heart.
If you have read the first two, why are you even reading this?! This is the best book of the series, so DO IT. Read it. It’ll smash your heart to pieces.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail