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Cover of A Gathering of Shadows

A Gathering of Shadows

by V.E. Schwab

🥛clean·spoiler·Shades of Magic #2·✓ Series Complete

Why Read This?

The Essen Tasch tournament arc is pure adrenaline, and watching Lila come into her power as a pirate-turned-competitor is immensely satisfying. The parallel storylines build tension like a pressure cooker.

Synopsis

Vicious Victor and Eli started out as college roommates brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same ambition in each other. A shared interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl with a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the arch-nemeses have set a course for revenge but who will be left alive at the end? "Supremely plotted and incredibly well-written. A Darker Shade of Magic Most people only know one London; but what if there were several? Kell is one of the last Travelers magicians with a rare ability to travel between parallel Londons. Theres Grey London, dirty and crowded and without magic, home to the mad king George III. Theres Red London, where life and magic are revered. Then, White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. But once upon a time, there was Black London... Gathering of Shadows Kell is plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, he is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila. As Red London prepares for the Element Games - an extravagant international competition of magic - a certain pirate ship draws closer. But another London is coming back to life, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning. Black London has risen again - and so to keep magic's balance, another London must fall.

At a Glance

4.33 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🥛clean
Endingspoiler
PairingMIXED
Romance Pacingslow burn
Energymedium

Top Tropes

slow burngames/trials romancerivals competingsecret heir/royaltyfound family

Mood

adventurousatmosphericdarkintenseepic

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.33 ★

Published

2016

Primary Genre

Fantasy

Pairing

MIXED

POV

Multi-POV

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Cliffhanger

spoiler

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Dual Narration

Narrator

Michael Kramer|Kate Reading

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

Writing Style

atmosphericimmersivecinematicsharpdramatic

Story Pacing

medium

Emotional Weight

moderate

Energy Required

medium

Vibes

magical tournament arcparallel worlds collidingpirates and princessimmering tension across separated storylines

Characters

FMC Archetype

morally gray FMCgeneral badasssnarky/sarcasticspy/thief

MMC Archetype

brooding princesecretly softreluctant hero

Relationship Dynamics

slow burnmutual piningpush and pullreluctant allies to loversforbidden love
violencedeathaddictionbloodgrief
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

World Type

portal fantasy

Primary Setting

royal court / palacecompetition / gamesship / at sea

Fantasy Creatures

Representation

queerbisexual MCBIPOC MC

Reading Context

Emotional Payoff

Best Time of Year

anytime

When & Where to Read

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