Saturday 15 April 2017

A Gathering of Shadows

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab


It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift--back into Black London.

Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as 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. {Goodreads Summary}

I have a habit at the moment of reading the second novel in a trilogy at the same time everyone else is devouring book three. My ability to keep on top of trilogies is really lacking and definitely something I need to work on.  


“I am Delilah Bard, she thought, as the ropes cut into her skin. I am a thief and a pirate and a traveler. I have set foot in three different worlds, and lived. I have shed the blood of royals and held magic in my hands.”

In A Gathering of Shadows, Lila is back, causing as much trouble as ever and keeping an increasingly conflicted Kell on his toes. The Element Games allows for a brilliant insight into the world these books are set in and the plot kept me guessing throughout as it never quite went where I expected it to. 


"Call me crazy, but I think we do the best living when the stakes are high."

I loved the new characters - especially Emery. He reminded me a bit of Nikolai in the Grisha Trilogy, because of his ability to fit in everywhere.  


“Dozens of ships, Lila! And you had to climb aboard his.”
“I’m sorry,” she shot back, bristling, “I was under the impression that I was free to do as I pleased.”
“To be fair,” added Alucard, “I think she was planning to steal it and slit my throat.”
“Then why didn’t you?” snarled Kell, spinning on her. “You’re always so eager to slash and stab, why couldn’t you have stabbed him?” 

Kell and Rhy's relationship is a strong as ever and really is one of the best things about this series. I love they way they interact with each other, and the events from the ending of the first book brings an interesting new dynamic to this. 


“Look, everyone talks about the unknown like it's some big scary thing, but it's the familiar that's always bothered me. It's heavy, builds up around you like rocks, until it's walls and a ceiling and a cell.”

The cliff hanger ending was horrible, but the only benefit to being so behind with this series is that I don't have to wait long to discover what happens next. 

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