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A review by nataliestorozhenko
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
3.0
I'm finally done with it. This is exactly what I thought after finishing this series.
As previously stated, the idea of multiple worlds connected through the same spot, the magic system, and a few peculiar but intriguing elements (for example, Kell's coat) showed quite a lot of promise in the beginning. However, as it progressed, it became tedious and all over the place. The characters acted too juvenile for adults, their personalities felt underdeveloped, and their descriptions relied too much on their eye color and showy proclamations of who they were. The only character that felt a bit more dimensional in this book was Holland because we have his backstory. I understand why the author went with Kell not wanting to find out about his past, but we did not get any closure with his current family either. When he comes back to the palace, both of his current parents are dead, and we never get to read Maxim's letter. So, basically, his story feels unfinished. Lila Bard – I don't even want to think about her. I can't stand this woman.
I can ramble endlessly about how disappointed I am. But still, there were moments where I shed tears, like in a moment of Kell's and Rhy's reunion in the beginning and their group family hug (which I still think should have been at the end of the previous book). Well, basically all the Rhy moments. I did not expect that he would capture my attention the most. But! This series is definitely not adult fiction, and I will stand by it. And at this point, I really want to find out: is "Vicious" better because the author grew as a writer, or is it just a miraculous exception? Time will tell.
As previously stated, the idea of multiple worlds connected through the same spot, the magic system, and a few peculiar but intriguing elements (for example, Kell's coat) showed quite a lot of promise in the beginning. However, as it progressed, it became tedious and all over the place. The characters acted too juvenile for adults, their personalities felt underdeveloped, and their descriptions relied too much on their eye color and showy proclamations of who they were. The only character that felt a bit more dimensional in this book was Holland because we have his backstory. I understand why the author went with Kell not wanting to find out about his past, but we did not get any closure with his current family either. When he comes back to the palace, both of his current parents are dead, and we never get to read Maxim's letter. So, basically, his story feels unfinished. Lila Bard – I don't even want to think about her. I can't stand this woman.
I can ramble endlessly about how disappointed I am. But still, there were moments where I shed tears, like in a moment of Kell's and Rhy's reunion in the beginning and their group family hug (which I still think should have been at the end of the previous book). Well, basically all the Rhy moments. I did not expect that he would capture my attention the most. But! This series is definitely not adult fiction, and I will stand by it. And at this point, I really want to find out: is "Vicious" better because the author grew as a writer, or is it just a miraculous exception? Time will tell.