Title: A Gathering of Shadows
Series: Shades of Magic #2
Author: V. E. Schwab
Publisher: MacMillan Audio
Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Source: Purchased
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.
My Thoughts:
It’s been a while since I first picked up A Darker Shade of Magic, the first book of the Shades of Magic trilogy, so I was a little lost in the beginning as I worked to remember who the main characters where and what each had done in the first book.
Kell and Rhy are dealing, or really not dealing with their new connection. Kell is afraid to do anything because his life is now tied to Rhy. Not liking how miserable his brother is, Rhy comes up with a very clever plan to wake Kell up, figuratively speaking.
I enjoyed the story, and the struggle of Kell and Rhy, and a bit of Kell and the King and Queen. We get to meet some new characters who I enjoyed meeting as well. The end was kind of torturous, and of course ended on a cliffhanger. So, I’m very much wanting to get to the final book of the trilogy.