Número dos!
A Gathering of Shadows has all the strengths of A Darker Shade of Magic: fabulous world-building, interesting characters, and a healthy splattering of action. It, sadly, also has Darker Shade‘s cardinal flaw: a mostly-absent plot.
… not to say that nothing happens in this book. In fact, a lot happens: pirates, politics, bar fights, and an Olympic-esque magic tournament. Stuff that keeps you entertained and engaged; stuff that lets you get to know the characters a bit better. Yet, in classic second-in-a-trilogy style, is oh-so-obviously filler. It’s not until very late in the book – like 95% of the way through – that things actually start to happen.
Then, bam! It’s over.
(Thank goodness there were no holds at the library. Straight on to A Conjuring of Light!)
The Details:
- The Book: A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab
- Published: 2016, Tor Books
- My Copy: Audiobook, thanks to the KFPL
- Read date: December 5-8, 2018
- Rating: ★★★☆☆
- You should read this if you like … sarcastic banter
- Avoid this if you dislike … tormented sibling bickering
The Geeky Jock 
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