Reviews

I really liked Book 1. So I was really excited to tackle Book 2, and I liked it even more than the first!

I love Kell and Lila and Rhy and their whole dynamic is adorables. I forgot how much I missed Kell and Rhy's banter. I loved how Kell and Lila found each other again. The author leans into the "female lead is quirky and not like other women" trope.. but honestly it doesn't bug me much in this series because Lila's whole thing is figuring out who (or what) she is anyway. I am down for this ride.

I liked how the characters grow through the second book. I also liked Alucard and the flavour he brings to the series. I liked the whole concept of the Element Games and of COURSE Lila has to find a way to get into it. The whole thing with the games was fun to read and how it would end kept me on my toes.

I enjoyed the slower-ish pacing. I was in no rush to get to the games. But good lawd did shit get amped to the max at the tail end. Everything was being thrown at me all at once and I was DREADING IT BECAUSE UH HELLO,

HOW DOES THIS ALL GET RESOLVED WHEN THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY PAGES LEFT. I WAS SO STRESSED!

I did not enjoy the pacing at the end, but overall, really enjoyed the book. I NEED THE THIRD BOOK.

And unrelated to the actual book, but I originally borrowed the audiobok, narrated by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, and I really liked Kate Reading's narration.. but Michael Kramer had a tendancy to constantly end sentences on an uptick so it sounded like he was asking a question? With every sentence? Every time? And I tried to get used to it BUT THEN I COULD NOT. And I had to switch to the ebook.

When Kell saw the fake Kamerov Loste and he's all like WHO THE F IS THAT hahaha I died

skylarko's review against another edition

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4.0

Loved that the whole gang was back. I do like we landed on a cliffhanger, but also hate it. I continue to want better for Holland

sofie_readss's review against another edition

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5.0

EXCUSE ME THE CLIFFHANGER?! I’m really happy I already own the third book because I’m not sure what I would do if I didn’t. The fact that some people had to wait years amazes me

smolgremlin's review against another edition

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Basic plot. Characters aren’t very interesting.

hakimbriki's review against another edition

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4.0

A Gathering of Shadows is a captivating and thoroughly enjoyable sequel to A Darker Shade of Magic. V.E. Schwab excels at character development; she gives Kell, Lila, Rhy, and a few other characters more depth, charm, and charisma as they try to move on past the traumatic events which unfolded in the first installment of the trilogy. This story is full of humor, heart, reflection, and poignancy. While I think it could have been more intense and daring, A Gathering of Shadows is a perfect set up to what I hope will be a wonderful conclusion.
Just one piece of advice - Do NOT listen to the audiobook. The male narrator is unbearable.

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