de V. E. Schwab
From #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab
"Addictive and immersive, A Gathering of Shadows cements this series as a must-read." —Entertainment Weekly, grade A
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...in V.E. Schwab's A Gathering of Shadows.
Shades of Magic series
1. A Darker Shade of Magic
2. A Gathering of Shadows
3. A Conjuring of Light
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab
"Addictive and immersive, A Gathering of Shadows cements this series as a must-read." —Entertainment Weekly, grade A
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...in V.E. Schwab's A Gathering of Shadows.
Shades of Magic series
1. A Darker Shade of Magic
2. A Gathering of Shadows
3. A Conjuring of Light
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Critiques-
-
Starred review from December 21, 2015
Schwab’s fantastic follow-up to 2015’s A Darker Shade of Magic returns to the linked alternate realities of London: Grey London, our own familiar magic-free city in its Regency era; Red London, where people and magic work in concert; White London, where people struggle for control of magic; and the memory of Black London, destroyed by terrible spells. Lila Bard, a cutpurse from Grey London, has found freedom on the high seas with a privateer who’s more than he seems. Kell, a powerful magician with more than a little wanderlust, has given up smuggling between the Londons now that he’s magically bound to his brother, the Red prince Rhy. Red London is about to host the Essen Tasch, or Element Games, pitting the most talented magicians against one another; this would be the perfect place for Lila to show off her burgeoning powers, if she can get in—and she’s eager to see Kell again, in spite of herself. Meanwhile, in White London, a new king rises, and he will do anything, and sacrifice anyone, to make his London great again. Lila, Kell, and Rhy are complex, fully realized creations who challenge conventional ideas of what a hero should be made of, and the supporting characters feel just as real. New touches such as a bustling magical market enliven already-rich worldbuilding. Tensions rise steadily, culminating with the exciting Element Games, and the finale will leave readers breathless. This is how fantasy should be done. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary. -
January 1, 2016
Former smuggler, dimension traveler, and adopted prince of Red London, Kell struggles with his guilt over the events that resulted in his foster brother's wounds, the Grey London thief Delilah Bard's disappearance, the death of White London traveler Holland, and the dark magic stone found and lost back to its original dimension--Black London. Yet as Red London prepares for its international magic competition, the lost London is emerging from the shadows that consumed it. To keep magic in balance, the return of Black London means that another must fall. VERDICT Schwab's picturesque and fascinating follow-up to A Darker Shade of Magic takes readers back to the worlds of alternate Londons, magic alive, dead, and resurrected, and characters who shine through all of their shadows. Fans of the first book won't be able to put this one down.--KC
Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
-
February 15, 2016
In her second installment of the Darker Shade of Magic series, Schwab delights readers with deeper insight into characters Kell, Lila, Rys, and newcomer Alucard Emery, while continuing to world build the parallel universe Londons. The story picks up four months after Kell's tumultuous adventures with the shadow stone and Lila's fateful arrival into Red London. Kell has given up his smuggling ways, while Lila focuses on sharpening her pirate skills. Just as A Darker Shade of Magic (2015) had a slow plot build, so too does A Gathering of Shadows, in order to set the stage for an amazing crescendo that begins with the Element Games, a magical-abilities tournament. The story has beautiful language, strong characters, and a wee bit of romance, ensuring that fans of the series will not be disappointed in this sequeluntil they get to the white-knuckle ending and have to wait for the next installment. Full of magic, intrigue, adventure, deception, a bit of piracy, some epic throw downs, and one incredibly brutal cliff-hanger, this will engage both adult and young adult fantasy readers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.) - Deborah Harkeness, New York Times bestselling author of the All Souls trilogy "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."
- Entertainment Weekly, Grade A, on A Gathering of Shadows "Rich details illuminate every dimension of an extravagant city flooded with magic, and intriguing personalities evolve into complex characters...between [the characters those] the vivid setting, and the climactic cliffhanger, Schwab already has us anticipating the rest of the series."
- NPR on A Darker Shade of Magic "Compulsively readable...her characters make the book. Just as Kell has layers, Lila is a satisfyingly rich invention...the stakes feel higher because Schwab takes the time to make a world worth getting lost in. Darker Shade Of Magicresolves its plot thoroughly, but still feels like it could be the seed of a lengthy series. With so many worlds on the map, there's plenty left to discover."
- io9 on A Gathering of Shadows "Schwab is a fantastic writer, and this book moves along quickly: it's an easy world to immerse oneself in, and the four Londons that we get to visit are a treat to behold: they're vibrant, interesting and detailed. The worldbuilding here is spectacular, and it's worth picking up the book for this alone. (Well, and the fantastic cover.)The series is set to be adapted into a television series, and both books will be perfect for that."
