A Gathering of Shadows (A Darker Shade of Magic #2): V. E. Schwab

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Lila’s eyes widened in amazement and relief. She smiled a small, private smile, and then buried the look beneath something more fitting—an expression somewhere between grateful and beseeching, with a dash of wary hope. I’m not their prince,” observed Kell. He was in no mood for Rhy’s attitude. “I’m just the one who has to clean up his messes.” It felt like the book was more focused on fulfilling Lilah's every whim rather than a realistic progression of the plot and development of the characters. She'd always thought it was better than letting trouble find her, but floating in the ocean in a two-person skiff with no oars, no view of land, and no real resources save the ropes binding her wrists, she was beginning to reconsider."

A Gathering of Shadows - Goodreads

A Darker Shade of Magic has all the hallmarks of a classic work of fantasy. Schwab has given us a gem of a tale...This is a book to treasure."—Deborah Harkeness, New York Times bestselling author of the All Souls trilogy Lila learns that she will be traveling to London for the tournament. She secretly plans to compete as Alucard will. Alucard continues to try to gain Lila’s secrets, and his magic lessons are paying off. Lila is becoming very strong.Kell can't go with her. He has responsibilities . . . PLUS, you know, there's that thing that happened, that thing that tied him even closer to the royal family . . . The royal family he's meant to be part of . . . The royal family that instead treats him like a commodity . . . Everything about this book was bad. The villain revealed his evil plans right before trying to kill the protagonist in an elaborate manner and failing. The magic system was vague and badly written. Who has magic? Who can use it? Nobody knows. we also get a better, more focused view of the politics of red london this time around. in the first book, we were bouncing around between the various londons and learning about their relationships with each other, but here we get a more detailed look at red london - its history and the rivalries between the different cultures and lands making up the kingdom, and the intricacies of its power structure, which playboy rhy will one day have to navigate

Shades of Magic Series by V.E. Schwab - Goodreads Shades of Magic Series by V.E. Schwab - Goodreads

Kell. My greatest fear in life isn’t dying. It’s being the source of someone else’s suffering. I know you feel trapped. I know I’m your cage. And I can’t –“ His voice broke, and Kell could feel his brother’s pain, everything he tried to smother until dark and drown until morning. “You will do this,” said Rhy. “For me. For both of us.” Help. Vulnerability had never come naturally, but she did her best to imitate it as the men looked down at her, huddled there in her little waterlogged boat with her bound wrists and her soggy green dress. She felt ridiculous. You're right," continued Rhy, "I should have just drawn a frowning face. But then everyone would know it's you." Lila nodded with a wisp of relief. She was beginning to fear they’d sail on and leave her to drown. Which, judging by the crew’s lewd tones and lewder looks, might actually be the better option, but down here she had nothing and up there she had a chance.

There's honestly not that much action in the first halves of BOTH of them and yet you're never bored. You're enchanted, mesmerized like a child reading HP for the first time (YES, I'M GOING THERE), your eyes widening at the sight of this wondrous, original world served by its fascinating and real characters for whom you can't help but care deeply, including : But Lila had only smiled. She'd said something very similar once, to Kell. Before she knew he was a royal. And a thief, for that matter."

A Gathering of Shadows - Macmillan

this one makes with the action right away, in an opening scene revealing lila in a perilous situation, and loving every minute of it. kell was the primary focus in the first book, but here, lila has sidled her scrawny ass into the limelight and she's not giving it up for anything. kell and rhy will get their POV-time, but lila steals the show, as well as everything else that isn't nailed down. Now let me talk freely. Lila is a unique character but Saints she annoyed me in the end. Stubborn to a point of being stupid! But oh I am so glad for Alucards existence, or better for that HEAVENLY KISS SCENE OH MY GOD. Please, Victoria, let them share lots of private moments and make-out scenes in ADSOM #3!!! I've never been much of a shipper but these two give me everything. Rhy is one of my favourite ever characters and even if everything goes to ruins, as long as Rhy and Alucard are together in the end, I will be satisfied. A Gathering of Shadows goes deeper, drawing us further into this world and developing all the characters. It ends with a promise of more horror and action in the next book. I can't wait. The characters also seemed to have changed from one instalment to the next. Whereas I liked Lila in the first book, in this one she started being more and more stubborn. She never listened to anyone, she always did as she pleased and she was also being defensive about it. And to me, that became really tiring, especially because her ideas weren’t always the most brilliant of them all.Crossing worlds, killing royals, saving cities. The marks of every good courtship.”But, instead of settling down, Lila Bard decided to sail off and become a pirate (yes, really). “I know where you sleep, Bard." I’ve had a bad night,” said Lila, hoping, as she surveyed the rough crew, that it wasn’t about to get worse. There you go, that’s what happened in A Gathering of Shadows! There’s your full A Gathering of Shadows summary! You can't wait to get your hands on the next book, but only b/c you love the story and are desperate to see what happens next.

Shades of Magic Boxed Set: A Darker Shade of Magic, A

The romance is built up very subtly and not the major focus. But oh damn, is it well written. Lila and Kell are a very well-built couple, and V.E. Schwab drew out the plot enough that I was begging for them to interact. That's talent. The characters were hardly developed at all. They were empty shells. V.E. Schwab's strength is not in character building, but you would think that they would at least be more than shallow cliches. But no. I loved reading about Kell and Rhy together again. They are so funny and caring. They are so close in everything they do and it was so wonderful to see them fighting for each other. To read the things that only love for someone you consider your brother can bring to your heart. Rhy wants Kell to compete in the games but Kell doesn't want to for certain reasons. I am Delilah Bard, she though 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. And a ship full of men cannot do what I can, I don't need any of you. I am one of a damned kind. V.E. Schwab's writing is gorgeous as always. Her talent for describing setting especially stands out here. Usually I can't picture any settings in books, but I have such clear mental images of every moment of this book. And it never feels forced at all!She had one of each, and her fingers danced over their ends as she considered her options. She eyed the rising water and settled on the yellow flare, taking it up with both hands and striking it against the side of the little boat. Delilah Bard, a Grey Londoner, managed to finagle her way into Red London, help save the day and worm her way into Kell's heart. “Oh yes, your relationship with Miss Bard is positively ordinary." I was led to believe the main character of this series is Kell, I was wrong. It was Lila, the narrative treated the reader as if we’re brain damaged or have short term memory. It will remind us countless times during everyone’s POV that Lila is unlike most girls. I liked her in the first book and I can’t believe how much I hated her in this installment. She’s an ultimate Mary Sue, apparently 4 months is enough to become a fluent speaker in a new language, and become a magician, from a thief. In the first book she was just a thief. In this one she’s a female Voldemort but wait… I shouldn’t call her a female because she’s one of a damned kind.