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A review by munderoon
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
4.0
4,5 stars & not sure how to wait for the next book without going insane.
What a book!
"A Gathering of Shadows" was one of my most anticipated books in 2016 - and it did not disappoint! It did have a slow start, much like the first one, but that slow start is totally justified and enjoyable because of V.E. Schwab's writing style. It's such an amazing experience to dive into this carefully written world, scenes that are so vibrant with detail and almost barden like language. I enjoyed that 100%.
Apart from the slow start, this book hold alot of great things. Delilah Bard, being like a female Locke Lamora - a thief, a pirate, a free spirit, unique and (head)strong. Where I didn't like her all too much in the first book, I loved her in this one. Her story was so interesting!
But also the new sets of characters made a great entrance - especially Alucard! <3 Man I think there's no one who wouldn't like him. He's just amazing <3
Same goes for Rhy - the prince is struggling with his faith in this book and he is also still a bit of his flirting, funny self. He is especially loyal to his brother, although he does make him responsible for what happened with him. (not without feeling bad, though). Rhy is one of my favourite characters and it was interesting to see him lose his grip in the light of his love interest. (Which, seriously, could be my new OTP, thank you Ms Schwab!).
That leaves us with Kell. My poor Antari boy. He struggles, too. And for good reasons.
It was only a matter of time until he would be out of patience or, really, just out of tolerance. What people do to him is most of the time logical, in the light of his status in the kingdom, but it isn't fair. Adding that Kell is a character, who bears it all instantly on his shoulders, I can relate to his actions in the end - and in general really. I just hope people will come to appreciate him more in the third book.
As for the plot: a magic tournament like the "Essen Tasch" is always something to get me reading like there's no tomorrow - and it had so many interesting facts, like the globes with the elements and the choosing of the banners. It created an amazing atmosphere and was almost the climax (apart from the cliffhanger, of course).
As for that cliffhanger ... V.E. Schwab says in the acknoledgments: "I also want to point out that I made it nine books without invoking the dreaded cliff hanger." Well, just because someone has been training to drop a big one, so it seems. :p
Now then... anyone else waiting (impatiently) for "A Conjuring of Light"?
What a book!
"A Gathering of Shadows" was one of my most anticipated books in 2016 - and it did not disappoint! It did have a slow start, much like the first one, but that slow start is totally justified and enjoyable because of V.E. Schwab's writing style. It's such an amazing experience to dive into this carefully written world, scenes that are so vibrant with detail and almost barden like language. I enjoyed that 100%.
Apart from the slow start, this book hold alot of great things. Delilah Bard, being like a female Locke Lamora - a thief, a pirate, a free spirit, unique and (head)strong. Where I didn't like her all too much in the first book, I loved her in this one. Her story was so interesting!
But also the new sets of characters made a great entrance - especially Alucard! <3 Man I think there's no one who wouldn't like him. He's just amazing <3
Same goes for Rhy - the prince is struggling with his faith in this book and he is also still a bit of his flirting, funny self. He is especially loyal to his brother, although he does make him responsible for what happened with him. (not without feeling bad, though). Rhy is one of my favourite characters and it was interesting to see him lose his grip in the light of his love interest. (Which, seriously, could be my new OTP, thank you Ms Schwab!).
That leaves us with Kell. My poor Antari boy. He struggles, too. And for good reasons.
It was only a matter of time until he would be out of patience or, really, just out of tolerance. What people do to him is most of the time logical, in the light of his status in the kingdom, but it isn't fair. Adding that Kell is a character, who bears it all instantly on his shoulders, I can relate to his actions in the end - and in general really. I just hope people will come to appreciate him more in the third book.
As for the plot: a magic tournament like the "Essen Tasch" is always something to get me reading like there's no tomorrow - and it had so many interesting facts, like the globes with the elements and the choosing of the banners. It created an amazing atmosphere and was almost the climax (apart from the cliffhanger, of course).
As for that cliffhanger ... V.E. Schwab says in the acknoledgments: "I also want to point out that I made it nine books without invoking the dreaded cliff hanger." Well, just because someone has been training to drop a big one, so it seems. :p
Now then... anyone else waiting (impatiently) for "A Conjuring of Light"?