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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: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
alysereadsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and War
skillyillian'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
4.0
I love so many things about this book. Kell, love of my life. Lila, love of my life. I need more rhy and alucard. Hastra is #1 cinnamon roll and I'd give my life for him. Calla is the ultimate mom, I adore her. The characters are so wonderful.
I feel like Lila as a person didn't develop a ton, although her talents certainly did. I love how much of a badass she is, give no fucks and take no prisoners is so stellar when it's done right and with her it definitely is.
Kell's frustration with feeling trapped and held accountable when no one else really was is such an older sibling vibe. God it was so frustrating to read, but in the way it was meant to be. It was extremely relatable for me and made me support him even more.
I loved this book, but I also had issues with it. Someone online introduced me to the idea of "bridge books" where a novel in a series is basically just a bridge to get from one major plot point to the next and doesn't do a ton for the story in and of itself besides giving context for the next big thing. This kind of felt like that? Not terribly, but it was noticeable. Like the biggest things we needed were Kelly getting back to white London and Lila discovering her powers. Everything else felt, not as important. Which is fine, not every plot point should have the same level of importance, but it did make a lot of the rest of the story feel like it dragged on. There wasn't a lot of vital stuff that happened in the first half of the book, it was mostly drama and kind of "where are they now". The only reason I didn't dock more off my score was because it's Schwab, so even when it felt kind of like filler, it was still really well done and held my attention.
Once things picked up though, they definitely went off. The Essen Tasch was a blast, I definitely caught myself grinning a few times throughout. Schwab builds tension in a way that makes it hard to pull out of once you're there and it's addictive. Truly one of my favorite authors 🖤
I adored this book despite it feeling a little bit like filler at some points so we could get to the third installment. The cliffhanger ending was insane, the characters are lovable af, and the magic system grows ever more interesting. I can't wait to dive into the third one, I love these characters so damn much 😮💨🖤
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
rheagoveas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence
msradiosilence's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Kidnapping and Grief
victoriousbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
kathrynok's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
queer_bookwyrm'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? 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: Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, and Blood
rinku's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
purplepenning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Alcohol