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readingbee416's review
Zero character development (except for one), zero explanation for characters backgrounds and their motivations (except for one), too much gloom and doom, too many poor decisions on behalf of the characters. This series had so much potential and has turned out to be so very disappointing. Why make three Londons and never explore them? Painful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
little_literarian's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Tied all the loose ends and was a very satisfying final installment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Blood
A lot of fight sequences, killing, and blood (used in magic)kittykels's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really struggled to complete this series, especially this last book. It amazes me that a book can be simultaneously captivating and boring. I have a hard time putting into words how I feel about it. The world and characters are full of magic and intrigue, yet the writing tends to extend too far, dragging you past the point of interest and into boredom. I want so badly to love this series and everything that happens in it, but it was a chore to read it through to the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Death, Alcohol, Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
madison_reads_'s review
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Torture
mahaofhyrule's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
What a fantastic conclusion to a wonderful series. I'm gonna miss this colorful cast of characters I've grown to love so much.
This is normally where I would word vomit out a review about what I liked and disliked about the book, but I'm so overcome with emotion. I cried sometimes, cheered during other times, and experienced the five stages of grief throughout my time with this book (and this series as a whole, tbh). And I think that's as good of a review as I can churn out.
Shoutout to Holland because I didn't expect to care about him so much. Literally crying my eyes out. And Kell, Rhy, Alucard...I love ya'll. Lila too, she grew on me in this book.
This is normally where I would word vomit out a review about what I liked and disliked about the book, but I'm so overcome with emotion. I cried sometimes, cheered during other times, and experienced the five stages of grief throughout my time with this book (and this series as a whole, tbh). And I think that's as good of a review as I can churn out.
Shoutout to Holland because I didn't expect to care about him so much. Literally crying my eyes out. And Kell, Rhy, Alucard...I love ya'll. Lila too, she grew on me in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Homophobia
keya_caivalur's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and War
Minor: Suicide
whiterabbitslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.5
Loved this, a great end to the series. But it was long and there was a lot happening. I had to keep going back to check things earlier in the book and even earlier in the series a couple of times. Just a warning that it’s a brain engaged kind of book! In the plus side we get so many delightfully fleshed out characters and some really good development for our main gang who I love deeply with all my heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Torture, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Child abuse, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, and Kidnapping
bean_7088's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
I liked this one more than the second one, but this one had more Holland in it so.... 🤷🏼♀️
Gotta love tragic bad guy backstory. One part even almost made me cry!
Kel and Leilah still aren't super believable to me, but the sex scene was hot.
It was over all really good. First one was the best one, though I wish more of Hollands backstory was in it. But we got it here.
Gotta love tragic bad guy backstory. One part even almost made me cry!
Kel and Leilah still aren't super believable to me, but the sex scene was hot.
It was over all really good. First one was the best one, though I wish more of Hollands backstory was in it. But we got it here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
One scene a character talks about self harm and has ideation. The rest is pirates and magic fight. People die, it's gruesome sometimesqueer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: Violence, blood, torture, self-harm, enslavement, death
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab is the third and final book in the Shades of Magic trilogy. This book was such a chonker, but it was worth every page. This was the perfect wrap up to this story. Schwab has such a beautiful way of marrying character moments with plot. Nothing feels wasted, only enriches. Warning for potential spoilers for the previous books ahead.
We pick up from that doozy of a cliffhanger last book, just in time for Lila to finally get to Kell and remove the collar, ultimately also saving Rhy. Osaron is running amuk in poor Holland's body until he leaves his body to become more "godlike." Red London is consumed by his curse.
This whole book was made up of a bunch of character moments. It was all about that character development for Rhy, Alucard, Lila, Kell, and Holland. We finally get to see more of Alucard's backstory and a fleshing out of his relationship with Rhy. Holland's arc is the most harrowing and interesting, in my opinion. That man has never not been a victim or been enslaved. All Holland wants is peace, and everyone just wants to kill him or use him. It's made very clear that Holland may have started out as the antagonist, but he is certainly not a villain in the same way Osaron is. It's also fascinating that Holland is the strongest of the three Antari, because the difference between strength and power is control.
There was so much packed in these pages! I have loved the world building in these books and the magic system. I will definitely be reading The Fragile Threads of Power in the future.
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab is the third and final book in the Shades of Magic trilogy. This book was such a chonker, but it was worth every page. This was the perfect wrap up to this story. Schwab has such a beautiful way of marrying character moments with plot. Nothing feels wasted, only enriches. Warning for potential spoilers for the previous books ahead.
We pick up from that doozy of a cliffhanger last book, just in time for Lila to finally get to Kell and remove the collar, ultimately also saving Rhy. Osaron is running amuk in poor Holland's body until he leaves his body to become more "godlike." Red London is consumed by his curse.
This whole book was made up of a bunch of character moments. It was all about that character development for Rhy, Alucard, Lila, Kell, and Holland. We finally get to see more of Alucard's backstory and a fleshing out of his relationship with Rhy. Holland's arc is the most harrowing and interesting, in my opinion. That man has never not been a victim or been enslaved. All Holland wants is peace, and everyone just wants to kill him or use him. It's made very clear that Holland may have started out as the antagonist, but he is certainly not a villain in the same way Osaron is. It's also fascinating that Holland is the strongest of the three Antari, because the difference between strength and power is control.
There was so much packed in these pages! I have loved the world building in these books and the magic system. I will definitely be reading The Fragile Threads of Power in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Self harm, Slavery, Blood, and Death
skillyillian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
i debated on lowering the score because some moments of this felt a bit slow, but they weren't even that slow, and even then i loved the slow moments so much that i decided i'm sticking with five stars. schwab's writing is ethereal. they write like delilah bard says her name. i loved this book from start to finish, from character development to problem solving to the way schwab is still worldbuilding down to the very last chapter, there was not one single sentence where i went "eh, take it or leave it" throughout this whole read.
i had moments where i was seriously frustrated with the characters, but it made me love them all the more, bc they were doing things that perfectly fit them and just showed how fleshed-out these characters really are. lila's my favorite fictional character of all time at this point. kell, alucard, rhy, and holland are all the great loves of my life as well but no one can top lila. i'm also biased bc we're birthday twins, but that didn't affect my rating. probably.
the romance subplots were phenomenal. the magic system was as stunning and fantastical as in the first two books. an absolutely incredible, thrilling finale to my new favorite series. i immediately bought the fragile threads of power and can't wait to dive back into this world. i cried for the characters, i cheered for them, this book ran me through a whirlwind of emotions and i will be recovering for a long time to come. even the slower parts, like the flashbacks, still captivated my attention and had me craving more. that might not sound like it makes sense but if you read it you'll get it. and you should absolutely read it. there was not one thing in this book that i felt like didn't belong.
i read this series through KU, bought the paperbacks to annotate, and got the collector's edition box set. schwab is my new favorite author, this is my new favorite series, and i'm never changing my mind. i will recommend this series, and all of their books, until the day i die.
i had moments where i was seriously frustrated with the characters, but it made me love them all the more, bc they were doing things that perfectly fit them and just showed how fleshed-out these characters really are. lila's my favorite fictional character of all time at this point. kell, alucard, rhy, and holland are all the great loves of my life as well but no one can top lila. i'm also biased bc we're birthday twins, but that didn't affect my rating. probably.
the romance subplots were phenomenal. the magic system was as stunning and fantastical as in the first two books. an absolutely incredible, thrilling finale to my new favorite series. i immediately bought the fragile threads of power and can't wait to dive back into this world. i cried for the characters, i cheered for them, this book ran me through a whirlwind of emotions and i will be recovering for a long time to come. even the slower parts, like the flashbacks, still captivated my attention and had me craving more. that might not sound like it makes sense but if you read it you'll get it. and you should absolutely read it. there was not one thing in this book that i felt like didn't belong.
i read this series through KU, bought the paperbacks to annotate, and got the collector's edition box set. schwab is my new favorite author, this is my new favorite series, and i'm never changing my mind. i will recommend this series, and all of their books, until the day i die.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Sexual content, and Self harm
Minor: Confinement, Alcohol, and Kidnapping