A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2) by V.E. Schwab

A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2) by V.E. Schwab

Goodreads Blurb: It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift--back into Black London.

Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks as 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.

And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.

My Thoughts: This book for me felt slow and dragged out. I’m not sure how I feel about the character Lila anymore. I was 50/50 with her in book 1 but now in book 2 I feel like  she’s too…..insert word. She is a strong character, she defies the odds which is great but she’s constantly stubborn hat I wish sometimes she would bend a little because it would make things go smoother. To me it felt like she was being stubborn just to be stubborn. The book also felt a little dragged out, I feel it could’ve been shorter. The most interesting parts I found where the elemental games. I loved being able to get more into the magic of the Londons and seeing that it’s more than just Kell. Overall the book is a good stepping stone into book 3.