This is the sequel to A Darker Shade of Magic, which I reviewed HERE and is book 2 of a trilogy. If you don't want book 1 spoiled, I suggest NOT reading this review.
It's been a fun kind of experience to read a completed trilogy. It's kind of great. I'm not giving up on series that just started that isn't complete, but I'm having a great time. That is all.
An amazon summary, "Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift, and into Black London.
In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games-an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries-a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.
But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again-and so to keep magic's balance, another London must fall...in V.E. Schwab's A Gathering of Shadows." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE
It's been a bit since the end of A Darker Shade of Magic. Kell is in the kingdom, watching over Rhy and practicing a lot of combat magic to do so; he never wants to be caught off guard again. Rhy is trying to figure out what his life means now, now that his life is tied to Kell's. Lila has been a board the Night Spire under Captain Alucard. Lila has been learning the language, learning how to be a proper pirate, and learning a bit of magic.
Red London is preparing for the Essen Tasch, which is a competition amongst the top magicians in the three kingdoms to see who is the best. There are 36 contestants, and amongst the contestants are Kell and Lila (undercover and albeit a bit illegitimately), and Alucard (very legitimately) are entered.
A big part of the book is developing each character's current life leading up to the tournament (Essen Tasch).
But, there are other narrators in this book. We see a glimpse of Grey London, but we all see glimpses of White London. It turns out that Holland is still alive. When Kell "killed" him in the last book, it turns out that Holland was pushed into Black London, where he met the only thing that remains of Black London. That specter inhabits Holland's body, and they return to White London and begin to restore White London... but the specter has it's sights set on Red London.
Dun dun dunnnn
That's enough summary.
I loved like the first third of the book, kind of got bored in the middle third since it seemed to just be more building blocks to the story rather than any action, but the last third was when it got more interesting again. I feel like a lot of the story concentrated so much on understanding the world, on understanding what was important to each of the different characters, that it was kind of underwhelming for the most part. There wasn't anything crazy action filled until the end bit, and even then it was kind of... lackluster? But the important bits resonated with enough gravitas that it was very good to read until the end.
I think Alucard is my new favorite character by leaps and bounds. Lila will always have a special place, but Alucard is so fascinating and cheeky, sarcastic, witty, and just like I LOVE IT. So good. I also love Alucard's dynamics with everyone, especially with Lila, but his love, and even his ongoing aggressive relationship with Kell is fascinating. So Alucard was a knockout, wonderful addition to the cast of characters.
The dynamic between Kell and Rhy becomes more sharply in focus, and the brothers really start to get more interesting. I'm eager to read book three, especially with the dizzying way things ended.
Happy reading!
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