A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic, #2)

by V.E. Schwab

Kell is one of the last magicians with the ability to travel between parallel universes, linked by the magical city of London. It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into his possession and he met Delilah Bard. Four months since the Dane twins of White London fell, and the stone was cast with Holland's dying body back into Black London.Now Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila. And as Red London prepares for the Element Games-an international competition of magic-a certain pirate ship draws closer. But another London is coming back to life. The balance of magic is perilous, and for one city to flourish, another must fall...

• ISBN10: 0765376474
• ISBN13: 9780765376473
• Publish Date: 23 February 2016
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Imprint: Tor Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 512
• Language: English

Reviews

[ross91]

This was so good! Even better than the first one! Dunno exactly why, but while I was reading this book it reminded me of Legend of Korra and Mistborn...Two of my favorite things! All the elements, the fighting, the dances... I was really pleased by the plot. And Lila and Kell relationship reminded me of Vin and Elend, my favorite OTP ever... So so happy for this book.
The new characters are on point and the old ones had a great development, just as I wished!
The only thing I didn't enjoy entirely was the ending: now I'm dying to read the next book, damn it!
Well done Victoria Schwab, you are on the right path of becoming one of my favorite authors!

[ellieroth]

Original de: El Extraño Gato del Cuento

El año pasado no podía callarme sobre A Darker Shade of Magic, literalmente incluía el libro en cualquier conversación. Parece exageración, pero con decirte que en una entrevista de trabajo que tuve hace poco fue de lo único que hable, quizá no logre conseguir el trabajo, pero si logre que la persona que la persona que me entrevistaba terminará con ganas de leer el libro. O sea, en cierta forma gane :D

A Gathering of Shadows ha sido un libro que me ha hecho entender que V.E. Schwab es la escritora por la que alegremente salgo de mi zona de comfort. Porque te digo, el libro es laargo y de ritmo pausado, además que hay más historia que diálogo, y muchas veces he dejado de leer libros tan solo porque tenían una de esas características (Ejem.: Uprooted), entonces lógicamente estarás pensando que se me hizo imposible leer el libro. Para nada, AME cada detalle y párrafo largo.

A Gathering of Shadows ha sido frustrantemente hermoso.

Victoria Schwab dijo una vez en Twitter que si lo que buscabas era una historia bonita y romántica, sus libros no son los que buscas. Y, en cierta parte tiene razón, aun así se las arregla para poner sutiles rastros de romance, pero son tan chiquitos y crueles. O sea, tenemos a Delilah Bard como protagonista, que como dije es mi idola, ella es simplemente todo lo que quiero en un personaje, no exagero al decir TODO. Es muy lógica en sus acciones, moralmente hace lo que le conviene y su necesidad de aventura supera cualquier otra emoción que pueda tener. Pero cuando vez su sutilisimo lado sentimental, es imposible que no se encoja un poco el corazón de dolor.

Y, si lo combinas con la adorabilidad de Kell y Rhy... es perfección.

ALLUCARD EMERY

OH.EM.GEE.

Tiene un gato! ¿como no lo voy a amar? Un gato que Lilah casi calcina, pobre gato jaja.

La historia que Alucard trae en libro, es una que no me esperaba para nada. Tengo de gritar que cosa es jajaja lastima que sea el MEGA spoiler y no quiero arruinarte la lectura para cuando lo leas.

A GATHERING OF SHADOWS

Y con ese final... Victoria Schwab es cruel, la muy malvada lo sabe y esta orgullosa. No se como diablos voy a sobrevivir hasta el tercero y final. FINAL D: Me encantaría que se concretara lo de la serie de TV, soy muy mala para imaginar actores como personajes de libros, sobre todo porque siempre ignoro y olvido lo que el escritor describe ja, pero por alguna razón veo a Oscar Isaac (The Force Awakens) como Alucard.

Si no tenias muy claro si empezar esta serie o no... HAZLO.

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[jnikkir]

V.E. SCHWAB, GO SIT IN THE CORNER AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

*AGGRESSIVELY THROWS STARS AT BOOK*

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This review can also be found at my blog, There were books involved...

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As I start writing this review, I've literally just finished this book, and I just... can't. I can't. I sort of just want to leave you with a screenshot of my Goodreads updates and leave it at that, but I won't do that to you. I actually do need to get some words out. Because this book is amazing and I really need to tell you why. So here goes.

Where do I even begin...?

A Gathering of Shadows is the kind of book I adore -- one whose driving force is the characters. I can't say too much about the plot, because a huge chunk of plotty stuff is packed into the end -- along with a SUPER COOL MAGICAL TOURNAMENT heck yes -- with a lot of ominous lead-up to that plotty stuff along the way. Shadows isn't slow, though, and a plot-heavy conclusion doesn't mean that stuff doesn't happen in the rest of the book. Oh man. Stuff happens. And so much of that stuff is my favorite thing -- character-focused.

These bromances are my favorite.

So, here's a bit of background: Kell is restless after the events of A Darker Shade of Magic, and he desperately needs an outlet to let off some magical steam. Kell's discontent is rubbing off on Rhy thanks to their bond; and Rhy is also suffering a devastating amount of guilt over all the deaths that happened in his kingdom, which he sees as his fault. (Cue me clutching Rhy to my heart and protecting him for all time, my little cinnamon roll)

I sort of see A Gathering of Shadows as Kell and Rhy's book, in a way, and their relationship is just... omg. Maybe I've been starved of seeing friendships like this in books, but more than anything else, this relationship is the one that made me the most emotional throughout. The two of them fight and get angry at each other, and they are both so torn up about their own feelings. They love each other so much, but they are both so hung up on their own guilt -- and on what they see as being a burden to each other... I just have too many emotions about them that I DID NOT ASK FOR, thanks Schwab, I'll be sending you my therapy bills.

But though Kell and Rhy were the heart of Shadows, for me, there was another relationship that I absolutely adored -- that of Lila and Alucard. Alucard is a pirate captain -- sorry, "privateer" -- and he and Lila become nearly inseparable after Lila joins his crew and becomes their best thief. Their friendship grows despite the masks they both wear -- those of near-constant secrecy -- and yet despite that, they seem to understand each other in a way that others don't. I'm really, really excited to see more of them in book three.

But the ships are pretty great, too...

I would be remiss if I didn't touch at least a little bit on the romantic relationships in this book as well, because SHIPS. Though romance has never been a focus of this series, I am totally okay with that, and Lila and Kell continue to be my OTP. Their connection is undeniable. Though they're apart again for some time (Lila off being pirate-y and Kell off being... well, his usual grumpy self :P), it's time spent becoming more self-aware, and making sense of their feelings for each other, good and bad. And when they finally see each other after their separation... well. Let's just say it's worth the wait.

Rhy also gets a bit of romance in this book... well, kind of -- his ex makes a return. O_O But imho, tbqh, they NEED to get back together. Like, immediately.

Mostly I just CAN'T EVEN with these characters.

Something that I loved about A Gathering of Shadows is that the characters are put into situations that force them to show their true selves. Who they are, what they want, what their motivations are... In a book where characters' many masks and different faces are so important, and so prominent, they face things that are at the core of who they are. They're messy, and contrary, and they can be angry, and they can fight for what's good and right but they can also be ruthless. They can find utter joy in power, but recognize the danger in it, too. They do stupid things, and wonderful things, and frustrating things, but at every corner, whenever they are faced with those choices, it is so clear why they're making them.

Send help, I'm having FEELS again. X_X And if you ever need proof how much I could not handle these characters or this book, just look at my Goodreads status updates below. Seriously. ohgodmyfeels

In conclusion...

If you haven't picked up A Darker Shade of Magic yet -- please, for the love of all that is heart-stoppingly PERFECT in this world, read it. And then immediately pick up A Gathering of Shadows. And then come freak out with me about that ending omg because I think it actually killed me.

Seriously though, this book. This series. It's like it was written specifically for me. It's full of magic, adventure, danger, feels-wrecking characters, and endings that will leave you completely breathless until the next book. You cannot afford to miss this.

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There were books involved...

[Stephanie]

Goddamnit. Waiting for the next book is going to be the hardest part.

More Alucard and Rhy, please, Ms. Schwab.