Review: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (Spoiler-Free)

Wow wowowowowowowowow. For the first 300 pages of this is was a solid four stars but I knew that everything was building up. I knew that once I hit that 300 mark I would fly through it, and I did. I think the main reason why the beginning was a bit slower for me was because of two main reasons:

1. Kell and Lila were not together. 2. I was eagerly awaiting the Essen Tasch the whole time and was just flipping along like blah blah blah let's get to this tournament already. XD

Once I got there though, WOOOO, I could not stop.

"Perhaps power had to be tended, like Tieren said, but not all things grew in gardens. Plenty of plants grew wild." - Victoria Schwab (A Gathering of Shadows)

Essentially this book hooks you with an undying desire for Kell and Lila to finally be together again, and with the thrill of what is basically a Triwizard Tournament, hereby known as Essen Tasch.

I don't want to get into too many details as this is a sequel after all, but if you are debating reading this after finishing A Darker Shade of Magic, please pick this up, you will most likely love it.

All of the characters are amazing, even side characters like Kell's guard Hastra and of course the Aven Essen Tieren.

You get to know Rhy much better in this book, and you meet the dashing privateer- not pirate- Alucard Emery. (Both are new fave characters of mine of course. Along with Kell and Lila, but that was already established by book one.)

So if you're looking for an adventure of pirates, false identity, disguise, ballrooms, magic tournaments, and minimal romance, definitely pick this one up.

Song I was reminded of while reading: River (Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran)