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Part of the charm of A Darker Shade Of Magic was it's self-contained story; while the stakes in A Conjuring Of Light are considerable higher, it feels like an inorganic extension of A Gathering Of Shadows. In fact, A Conjuring Of Light literally opens where A Gathering Of Shadows left off. This second part of the Shades Of Magic series (both A Gathering Of Shadows and A Conjuring Of Light) is a massive story to tell, totaling 1,133 pages. However, it feels as if the story was cut in two segments and padded for length. There are some legitimately exciting sequences in this book, but there are also several that drag on; pacing has been a major issue for these last two installments.
Contrary to what you have read already, I really did enjoy A Conjuring Of Light; in fact, I have thoroughly enjoyed Shades Of Magic overall. It is my willingness to point out the things I didn't like that would change this from a book that I really enjoyed to a book that I loved.
Peripheral characters are finally given sections that help flesh out their characterization, but this is nothing compared to the major salvaging that certain characters receive. Both Lila Bard and Holland receive wonderful character work in this entry, and turn from annoying main characters to important (and, more importantly, enjoyable) pieces of the story. Again, the magic system feels fresh and exciting, and it is thrilling to see characters display mastery over the elements. Battle and action is fast, detailed, and reads as a major motion picture or video game should.
The ending of Shades Of Magic concludes satisfactorily, while, of course, leaving the door open juuuuuuuuuust a little to allow for another set of adventures in the future.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gore, Hate crime
Minor: Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Death of parent
Schwab has a way of writing tense scenes, mixed with lighthearted banter, mixed with real emotions. You could feel the pain and frustration of the characters when it was needed but you could also feel those moments where they were trying to make a good/funny situation out of a bad one. The bantering was never misplaced.
I felt overall this has to be one of the best books I have read in a while with really great character development. I felt by the end that many of our characters had the closure they needed to move on from there pasts. Yet at the same time there was that pain still lingering, that everything while not great would be okay one day. Kell, Lila, Rhy, Alucard, and Holland have come such a long way since A Darker Shade of Magic. Each have grown into themselves and their power.
I could definitely see myself picking up more books by V.E. Schwab. If not for her amazing plot and worldbuilding then for her ability to create loveable and rich characters.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood
Moderate: Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Homophobia, Suicide, Vomit, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Alcohol
Minor: Slavery, Suicide
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Sexual content
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy