Skip to main content

A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by V.E. Schwab

"The dramatic conclusion to the Shades of Magic series. We see Kell, Lila and all the rest set out to save Red, Grey and White London from a nightmare unleashed from the dead and cursed Black London. Some characters are allowed to right the wrongs they have committed, while others are able to carve a place in the world and find where they belong. And through it all, Schwab emphasizes how vital things like love, family and friendship are in life."     

4 Stars

Pros: Every character has a flaw, no one is perfect and in a strange way, almost every single character is likeable, their actions understandable. It's not often that I finish a series not wanting to have strangled one of the characters but, for the most part, everyone in Shades of Magic was relatable, likeable and human/Holland, a character you love to hate but then realize that you don't hate him at all, he is singularly complex and so very, very sad and I just love him. 

Cons: The part with the Veskan Prince/Princess and their coup against the Arnesian dynasty just felt rather forced, to be honest, it didn't really feel necessary. I feel like Schwab just kind of threw that in there for filler, or to give Rhy something to do. Thinking back on it, it just didn't seem necessary in the end. 

Full Review:

The ending of "A Gathering of Shadows" made it obvious that I couldn't just put the series down. I had to find out what happened, since the dreaded cliffhanger was so...jarring. And I'm glad that I didn't hesitate. I picked up A Conjuring of Light the very same night and got to reading. 

It's hard to describe any part of this book without mentioning the others and thus, it's hard to give it a proper review. But I feel that fans of the series will be pleased with the conclusion. Near the end there, Schwab didn't pull any punches but at the same time, each sacrifice was necessary, allowing a character to grow and come into their own. White, Grey and Red London are not paradises where happy endings always happen. But the people who live there are determined to do what they can because that London is their home, it's what they know, it's what they love.  And Schwab makes sure to hit that point home. 

I don't know if there will be more books in this series. If there are, I'll read them. But if there aren't, I'll also be content with that as well. It was a well rounded, well written, fast paced, exciting, dramatic, at times gut wrenching, read. I had initially read A Darker Shade of Magic and then put it down, not too interested. But when I picked it back up and re-read it, that's when it really stuck. This was a great series and I'm looking forward to reading more of what Schwab has to offer. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov

"When a scientist, Benes, who has integral and world changing information attempts to defect and join our Side, he's injured. A blood  clot forms in his brain and the only way to save his life is to miniaturize the crew of the Proteus and inject them into Benes' body, so they can break up the blood clot from the inside. Of course, one thing after another goes wrong and every chapter is a new catastrophe but it was definitely a fantastic voyage.   2 Stars Pros:  Grant is one dry character but he's a welcome bit of amusement in an otherwise serious and scientific novel.  Cons:  Grant is also SUCH a man that he spends most of the mission staring at saving the one woman board, Cora./Definitely ripe with anatomical lessons and what part of the body they were in. Since I've never been great at anatomy, a lot of it was lost on me and became burdensome near the end.  Full Review: As in all things, there is a good side and a bad side. This book is very vague as...

Animal Farm by George Orwell

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars.  Pros:  Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place.  Cons:  The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact.  Full Review:  When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal...

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

"Arnold Spirit, Jr, or "Junior" as he's known on the Rez, does something no Spokane Indian has ever done. He enrolls in Reardon High School and begins the long and often painful process off navigating not only high school and adolescence but also being an outsider. Alexie handles it all with grace, humor and honesty. This was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone."  5 Stars Pros: Alexie handles the ups and downs of not only adolescence, but tragedy and loss in a stark, honest but gut wrenchingly relatable way.  Cons:  Some of Junior's all-consuming guilt, though understandable was a little repetitive but it's all part of being a teenager.  Full Review:  It all starts when Arnold Spirit Jr, or Junior, throws a textbook across the classroom. When he opened the book he saw his mother's name, her maiden name and it enrages him. He's furious that the reservation is so poor that they're learning from thirty-year old textbooks. He doesn't...