Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
Real rating: 3.5 stars
This book is a transition, a bridge between the first one and the third. I realized that halfway into the book, when I looked at the reading percentage and was surprised to find that it was 50% and nothing had really happened.
Don’t get me wrong, when I say ‘nothing’, I don’t really mean that. Of course many things had happened —I just didn’t feel like most of them where actually relevant to the progression of the story. Sure, they helped sculpt and shape the characters (whom I absolutely adore, as every single one of them is three-dimensional and organic) and kept providing depth to the marvelous worldbuilding (I can’t begin to say how much I admire the work V.E. Schwab has done in creating this setting and everything that comes with it). However, I wasn’t too invested in the Essen Tasch plot, nor in the long building that took to get there. I kept reading because I knew what was happening in parallel —I wanted more Ojka, more of that side of the story, but I only got short, scattered chapters that promised something big that never seemed to come together.
I felt like the book had really begun when only 20 pages or so remained, and I was utterly disappointed because I knew that either the ending would be rush or a cliffhanger of sorts. I like that kind of endings, but more so when the whole book feels as exciting and nerve-wrecking.
A Gathering of Shadows was, for me, a slow walk along a mountainside, with amazing views but little thrill —up until the moment you realize that the bridge you need to cross to continue forward is broken and you don’t really know your way back, so the only thing you can do is climb the steep slope and hope the ascend was worth it.
This book is a transition, a bridge between the first one and the third. I realized that halfway into the book, when I looked at the reading percentage and was surprised to find that it was 50% and nothing had really happened.
Don’t get me wrong, when I say ‘nothing’, I don’t really mean that. Of course many things had happened —I just didn’t feel like most of them where actually relevant to the progression of the story. Sure, they helped sculpt and shape the characters (whom I absolutely adore, as every single one of them is three-dimensional and organic) and kept providing depth to the marvelous worldbuilding (I can’t begin to say how much I admire the work V.E. Schwab has done in creating this setting and everything that comes with it). However, I wasn’t too invested in the Essen Tasch plot, nor in the long building that took to get there. I kept reading because I knew what was happening in parallel —I wanted more Ojka, more of that side of the story, but I only got short, scattered chapters that promised something big that never seemed to come together.
I felt like the book had really begun when only 20 pages or so remained, and I was utterly disappointed because I knew that either the ending would be rush or a cliffhanger of sorts. I like that kind of endings, but more so when the whole book feels as exciting and nerve-wrecking.
A Gathering of Shadows was, for me, a slow walk along a mountainside, with amazing views but little thrill —up until the moment you realize that the bridge you need to cross to continue forward is broken and you don’t really know your way back, so the only thing you can do is climb the steep slope and hope the ascend was worth it.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wish it was standard practice to include a synopsis of the previous book at the start of sequels—my memory is not to be trusted!
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated