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brianneh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
greenrequiem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: War and Child abuse
Minor: Self harm and Xenophobia
maublew's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Confinement, and Self harm
Moderate: Alcohol and Murder
mini_malist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
4.25
Honestly, I enjoyed The Gathering of shadows way more than The Darker Shade of Magic. I was really struggling to get into the first book, but this one swallowed me up. I appreciate that Schwab showed how the characters and the relationships between them were impacted by the events in The Darker Shade of Magic. Also, I love the way Lila is presented in this book - one of the things that got on my nerves in Darker Shade of magic was how low-key misogynistic she sounded?, like girl I know you are not like everybody else (you are the Delilah Bard after all) BUT THAT'S TOO MANY SLICES. Another thing that I appreciated was that Schwab didn't rub the romance in our faces. We all know that Lila and Kell are into each other (in their way) but thank you for not making the whole book solely about it. (Also, Rhy & Alucard- appreciate the representation) Another major plus for me was the Essen Tasch because your girl loves a good fantasy tournament (my obsession with The Hunger Games never really ended iykwim) It might be controversial but I'm kinda happy that neither Kell nor Delilah won the Essen Tasch - I guess it would be a little bit cliché for me?
On more negative note though, can we talk about how the King and Queen treated Kell here. Like are you really THIS mad he saved your only son's life? And their attempts to justify it were awful - Rhy will be a king this, Rhy will be a king that, you need to pay for what you did or you will see. *sighs*
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think it had quite a nice undertone of figuring out what you want to do with your life /what you want out of it, and how you can get it. I am not even mad about the cliffhanger - can't wait to grab A Conjuring of Light!
On more negative note though, can we talk about how the King and Queen treated Kell here. Like are you really THIS mad he saved your only son's life? And their attempts to justify it were awful - Rhy will be a king this, Rhy will be a king that, you need to pay for what you did or you will see. *sighs*
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think it had quite a nice undertone of figuring out what you want to do with your life /what you want out of it, and how you can get it. I am not even mad about the cliffhanger - can't wait to grab A Conjuring of Light!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, and Violence
ten_telegrams's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Alcohol, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, and Cursing
sofiadanielle's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
Definitely enjoyed A Darker Shade of Magic more, but I can’t say I didn’t like this book. Took me awhile to get through it, and I don’t love a cliffhanger ending *but* at least I’m driven to finish the last book of the series :)
As always, V.E. Schwab writes in a way that is easy and quick to read. I found the pacing to be a little bit odd (with the peak of action being at the end), but I suppose I’ll have all my answers and such about the peak in the next book.
As always, V.E. Schwab writes in a way that is easy and quick to read. I found the pacing to be a little bit odd (with the peak of action being at the end), but I suppose I’ll have all my answers and such about the peak in the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
trintrin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
THAT ENDING!!!! ;-;
Okay so plot-wise pretty much nothing significant happens other than the Essen Tasch and it was quite slow and mostly felt like a filler book but MY GOD did I enjoy this more than I thought I would. The writing is beautiful as expected from Schwab, the characters are so loveable and relatable and I love that their personalities were so much more explored in this one.
Lila is a badass and I'm totally in love with her. Rhy is still a sweetheart and I wanna protect him with my life. Kell, oh, Kell, I still wanna give you a hug, you poor boy. I can't make up my mind if Alucard has an ulterior motive or not. I like him nonetheless. Absolutely adore Rhy and Kell's dynamic.I was so proud of Holland's come back but then he had to go ahead and ruin it :// Terrified but also excited to start the next one after that cliff hanger of an ending.
Spoilers for the Grishaverse:
I was thinking just how much Alucard reminded me of Nikolai Lantsov -- aka the prince turned pirate privateer -- what with how those two are so annoyingly charming but also how Alina/Lila describe how they wear different faces for different occasions. I really should've known Alucard would also be royal with the way he was so fluent in High Royal, but somehow I totally wasn't expecting that lol
Okay so plot-wise pretty much nothing significant happens other than the Essen Tasch and it was quite slow and mostly felt like a filler book but MY GOD did I enjoy this more than I thought I would. The writing is beautiful as expected from Schwab, the characters are so loveable and relatable and I love that their personalities were so much more explored in this one.
Lila is a badass and I'm totally in love with her. Rhy is still a sweetheart and I wanna protect him with my life. Kell, oh, Kell, I still wanna give you a hug, you poor boy. I can't make up my mind if Alucard has an ulterior motive or not. I like him nonetheless. Absolutely adore Rhy and Kell's dynamic.
Spoilers for the Grishaverse:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Self harm, Alcohol, Death, and Gore
asipofcozy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
You know that book that everyone loves, and you want to love just as much but then end up don't because you have weird expectations in life...yah that's this book for me.
I wanted to love this book so much but, in the end, it came down to pacing for me. And while things did happen in this book that kept the pages turning, it didn't really contribute to the main plot line. In fact, I felt like the plot finally got center stage in the last 70 pages or so. There was a certain situation (climax) that, I felt, could have happened at any point in time in the book.When Holland plans to kidnap Kell. This really could have happened at any time. The entire book he had been sitting on his throne contemplating what to do just to keep the pacing slow. It was put towards the end for that dramatic flair of what happens next?!
However, that doesn't mean I didn't like this book. What really pushed me through was the characters. I love our main characters Rhy, Kell, and Lila. As well as a certain new character who is all flare and dramatics. I loved the character development in this book and how all the characters progressed. Kell is a cinnamon roll and deserves all the hugs.
I am definitely going to be picking up the final book in the trilogy. I really believe it's going to be a great ending!
I wanted to love this book so much but, in the end, it came down to pacing for me. And while things did happen in this book that kept the pages turning, it didn't really contribute to the main plot line. In fact, I felt like the plot finally got center stage in the last 70 pages or so. There was a certain situation (climax) that, I felt, could have happened at any point in time in the book.
However, that doesn't mean I didn't like this book. What really pushed me through was the characters. I love our main characters Rhy, Kell, and Lila. As well as a certain new character who is all flare and dramatics. I loved the character development in this book and how all the characters progressed. Kell is a cinnamon roll and deserves all the hugs.
I am definitely going to be picking up the final book in the trilogy. I really believe it's going to be a great ending!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
emablackburnreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
En primer lugar, lo disfruté (mayormente). Se que a mucha gente le pareció lento y que no pasaba mucho, lo cual es tecnicamente cierto, pero en mi opinion no es algo malo, porque para este tomo la autora decidó enfocarse más en los personajes, lo cual me pareció re bien.
Disfruté el punto de vista de Kell más que nada, porque es simplemente Kell, lo quiero y además pasaban cosas interesantes con todo lo de Kamerov. También me gusto ver el punto de vista de Rhy, aunque era basicamente él sintiendose culpable por cosas, pero qsy.
Lo que si me molestaba todo el tiempo es la perspectiva de Lila, no la quiero nada, me aburre, me molesta mucho, me cae mal. Se cree re piola y que puede con todo, y también me fastidia que cada vez que Tieren le dice que tiene un cierto poder, a la mina se le graba en el cerebro y hace todo tipo de pelotudeces y se respalda con eso... como la odio.
Tampoco se si quería más o menos del Londres Blanco, o sea, siempre me lo metían cuando quería leer otra perspectiva, pero supongo que es interesante (en realidad me interesaba el Londres Negro).
Aunque que me cortaran lo que estaba pasando y pongan otra cosa me hacia querer leer más para llegar a lo que me importaba.
Sobre los personajes... COMO ODIE A MAXIM POR DIOSSSSS que viejo más choto!!!!!!! no entiende en absoluto a Kell y lo culpa y lo castiga por todo, cuando, si nos ponemos a señalar culpables, Rhy también hizo cosas bastante boludas, pero no, no dice nada porque es su hijito. Y ALUCARD QUE IRRITANTE, despues de lo que le hizo a Rhy aún cree que tiene el derecho de ser posesivo con él (no por celoso) y actuar como si lo quisiera, y ademas lo trata mal a Kell y yo a Kell lo quiero.
Y Lila es molesta como un grano en el culo. Cada vez que aparecía su perspectiva me daban ganas de dejar de leer, lo que me motivaba a seguir era Kell. No se si esta bien escrita o no, no me importa, me cae mal. Cree que puede hacer todo por razones estupidas y no le importa lo que nadie le diga y es como NENA, SOS UNA TONTITA GRISMUNDISTA (del Londres Gris) Y NO SABES NADA SOBRE NADA Y MENOS DE MAGIA, BAJA UN CAMBIO
Pero nada, yo a Kell lo quiero mucho, no se explicar porque, me encanta su hermandad con Rhy 🫶🫶🫶. Y si en el próximo libro no me revelan todo sobre su pasado (del que hablaron en el primer libro y nunca se avanza en el tema) yo voy a demandar.
y quiero simplemente mencionar a Hastra y Ned porque son un amor 🫶🫶🫶
Y como punto final, quiero deicr, que no me parece un libro para nada feminista, casi no hay personajes protagonicos femeninos y la unica que hay, literalmente dijo la frase "yo no soy como la mayoría de las muchachas" y los demas son re superficiales, las critican (Sar, que es tipo alta y musculosa incluso se preguntan si siquiera es mujer (?????
y habría que ver pero creo que no pasa el Bechdel test.....
Disfruté el punto de vista de Kell más que nada, porque es simplemente Kell, lo quiero y además pasaban cosas interesantes con todo lo de Kamerov. También me gusto ver el punto de vista de Rhy, aunque era basicamente él sintiendose culpable por cosas, pero qsy.
Lo que si me molestaba todo el tiempo es la perspectiva de Lila, no la quiero nada, me aburre, me molesta mucho, me cae mal. Se cree re piola y que puede con todo, y también me fastidia que cada vez que Tieren le dice que tiene un cierto poder, a la mina se le graba en el cerebro y hace todo tipo de pelotudeces y se respalda con eso... como la odio.
Tampoco se si quería más o menos del Londres Blanco, o sea, siempre me lo metían cuando quería leer otra perspectiva, pero supongo que es interesante (en realidad me interesaba el Londres Negro).
Aunque que me cortaran lo que estaba pasando y pongan otra cosa me hacia querer leer más para llegar a lo que me importaba.
Sobre los personajes... COMO ODIE A MAXIM POR DIOSSSSS que viejo más choto!!!!!!! no entiende en absoluto a Kell y lo culpa y lo castiga por todo, cuando, si nos ponemos a señalar culpables, Rhy también hizo cosas bastante boludas, pero no, no dice nada porque es su hijito. Y ALUCARD QUE IRRITANTE, despues de lo que le hizo a Rhy aún cree que tiene el derecho de ser posesivo con él (no por celoso) y actuar como si lo quisiera, y ademas lo trata mal a Kell y yo a Kell lo quiero.
Y Lila es molesta como un grano en el culo. Cada vez que aparecía su perspectiva me daban ganas de dejar de leer, lo que me motivaba a seguir era Kell. No se si esta bien escrita o no, no me importa, me cae mal. Cree que puede hacer todo por razones estupidas y no le importa lo que nadie le diga y es como NENA, SOS UNA TONTITA GRISMUNDISTA (del Londres Gris) Y NO SABES NADA SOBRE NADA Y MENOS DE MAGIA, BAJA UN CAMBIO
Pero nada, yo a Kell lo quiero mucho, no se explicar porque, me encanta su hermandad con Rhy 🫶🫶🫶. Y si en el próximo libro no me revelan todo sobre su pasado (del que hablaron en el primer libro y nunca se avanza en el tema) yo voy a demandar.
y quiero simplemente mencionar a Hastra y Ned porque son un amor 🫶🫶🫶
Y como punto final, quiero deicr, que no me parece un libro para nada feminista, casi no hay personajes protagonicos femeninos y la unica que hay, literalmente dijo la frase "yo no soy como la mayoría de las muchachas" y los demas son re superficiales, las critican (Sar, que es tipo alta y musculosa incluso se preguntan si siquiera es mujer (?????
y habría que ver pero creo que no pasa el Bechdel test.....
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Abandonment
Minor: Sexism
mozimmerm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed this book! I love how the characters are developing, and the plot isn’t repetitive. Lila is still the same reckless Gryffindor, but she’s still developing. Kell and Rhy have changed a lot, but they’re still themselves. Can’t wait to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence