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A review by frenchtoast_n_books
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
3.0
I thought this book was hitting a sequel bummer but it finished strong.
What is it about? Four months after the events of A Darker Shade of Magic, Lilah is aboard Alacard Emery's pirate ship as his thief and Kell has been constantly training to become a better fighter and master his magic. The Essen Tasch, a competition that allows magicians to prove who is best, brings Alucard and his crew back to Red London with Lilah in tow. Alacard is competing, but so many things enter the mix and people who should be dead just can't seem to stay dead. Much lies in store for Lilah and Kell, but what else is new?
What I thought? Honestly, this book was slow to the point where nothing really happens for the first 350 pages. I love the characters and the plot of the Essen Tasch kept me going, but I was left frustrated with the incredibly slow pacing of this book. Everyone loves this series and I can see why, which is why my discontent bums me out so much.
Once the Essen Tasch starts, the book becomes a whirlwind of motion. What once was nearly a stagnant slug of a storyline becomes a cheetah racing to catch an antelope. My brain is still struggling to catch up.
Some spoilery things happened that I absolutely adored and loved seeing come to fruition. I've grown to appreciate each character in this diverse and unique world Victoria has created. I know I'm reading the next book (who can't with the way it ended - woof, what a cliffhanger!). I just hope the pacing will keep me engaged and excited to finish it.
In short: Storyline dragged until the end, but character interactions were on point.
What is it about? Four months after the events of A Darker Shade of Magic, Lilah is aboard Alacard Emery's pirate ship as his thief and Kell has been constantly training to become a better fighter and master his magic. The Essen Tasch, a competition that allows magicians to prove who is best, brings Alucard and his crew back to Red London with Lilah in tow. Alacard is competing, but so many things enter the mix and people who should be dead just can't seem to stay dead. Much lies in store for Lilah and Kell, but what else is new?
What I thought? Honestly, this book was slow to the point where nothing really happens for the first 350 pages. I love the characters and the plot of the Essen Tasch kept me going, but I was left frustrated with the incredibly slow pacing of this book. Everyone loves this series and I can see why, which is why my discontent bums me out so much.
Once the Essen Tasch starts, the book becomes a whirlwind of motion. What once was nearly a stagnant slug of a storyline becomes a cheetah racing to catch an antelope. My brain is still struggling to catch up.
Some spoilery things happened that I absolutely adored and loved seeing come to fruition. I've grown to appreciate each character in this diverse and unique world Victoria has created. I know I'm reading the next book (who can't with the way it ended - woof, what a cliffhanger!). I just hope the pacing will keep me engaged and excited to finish it.
In short: Storyline dragged until the end, but character interactions were on point.