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readingwithkaitlyn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Mental illness
Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Confinement
Minor: War, Vomit, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Sexual content, Torture, Animal death, and Child abuse
sandwiiche's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Violence
taylorreads17's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kel and Rhy are doing some messy stuff... their love lives are even worse.
I was amused in this one to see some of the development of Delilah Bard, a waif from Grey London who doesn't have any training in magical skill, there having been little to no magic to speak of in her home lands. Crewing up with the dashing (and hilariously named) Alucard Emery, she learns some magical stuff and picks up some local lingo.
In a spiral that has me feeling suspicious about her impulsive and dauntless character she decides to not let anything stand in her way as she kicks *rs* and, occasionally, takes names.
Big tournament.. intrigue.. stuff happening in the alternate Londons as one king dies and another rises, and another is formed.. it all looks like the set up for even more exciting happenings in the next chapter.
Honestly.. some of the reasons these kids do stuff just seem completely OUT THERE... but the convoluted mess that comes of these decisions makes for some tense and intriguing stuff.
My money is on
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Violence, Death, Drug use, and Murder
pidgepodge's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual content, and Death
bessadams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Murder, Death, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual harassment
barda's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Murder, Sexual violence, Torture, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcohol
zoeelora's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, Violence, and Vomit
msradiosilence's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Torture, Death, Cursing, and Confinement
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Kidnapping and Grief
queer_bookwyrm's review
- 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
"I am Delilah Bard. Pirate, thief, magician. I have crossed worlds and taken ships. Fought queens and saved cities. I am one of a kind."
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab is book two in the Shades of Magic trilogy. This is my first read of #SequelSeptember , and it was a great way to start! I really need to stop putting off reading Schwab books, because I love her writing style. It's so descriptive and beautiful, it almost feels physical. I love the way they take time to let us get to know the characters, so they feel like real people. Some people might find it slow, but I enjoy the layered world-building.
We pick up with Lilah Bard, who has achieved her dream of becoming a pirate (love that for her). When Lila finds out her captain, Alucard Emery (handsome, annoyingly charming, bisexual), is stopping in London for an international magical games tournament, she is determined to enter. Plus, we all know Lila probably misses Kell as much as his broody ass probably misses her. Lila's story is all about her pushing her limits and defeating the odds.
We follow Kell and Rhy as they deal with the consequences from the last book. Kell struggles with feeling trapped in a cage, while Rhy is bent on self destructive behaviors all while planning an elaborate international tournament. The antagonist was kinda understated in a slow burn kinda way, but was deeply unsettling. That was a beast of a cliffhanger! 😭 I don't have the third book on my tbr this month, but I may have to bump it up!
This world is so interesting!
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Self harm, Violence, and Death