Publication: February 21st 2017
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 624 pages
Source: Bookmobile
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure
My Rating: ⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤
“Love and loss are like a ship and the sea. They rise together. The more we love, the more we have to lose. But the only way to avoid loss is to avoid love. And what a sad world that would be” (Schwab 371).
There’s so much I want to say about this book. So much I can’t say because it’s new and I don’t want to spoil the magic for anyone.A Conjuring of Light is an amazing end to an amazing series and well worth the wait. It’s action packed, emotional, hilarious, and aching. The series starts immediately after the events of A Gathering of Shadows and is fast-paced and action packed from the very beginning. I was honestly shocked with how much happened in the first 10-30% of the book. I didn’t expect how much more detailed the plot of this book was going to be, I expected something much simpler but I’m so glad Schwab surprised me with such an epic story.
I don’t want to give too much away for this book, because even upon release the actual synopsis was kept secret from reader’s, so I’m just going to write about what I loved about the characters in this book.
Kell, sweet, anxious, and brave Kell. I love how Kell can be so quiet and brooding and then have the best one liners and banter, whether it’s with Rhy or Lila. Of course, Kell and Alucard end up spending a lot of time together in this book, and their banter is the greatest thing I’ve ever read. I don’t laugh out loud when I read normally, but anytime Kell and Alucard interacted I was howling. My favourite banter moment between Kell and Alucard had to be when Alucard told Kell his reasoning for leaving Rhy , and Kell listens and then just goes “I still don’t like you.”
Sometimes I look to Lila as a role model. She’s tough, she’s brave, she’s really good with a knife/knives. I wish I could be that badass, but then Lila scares me sometimes because I remember that she has killed many people with little to no hesitation and could probably become a successful serial killer if she wanted to, and maybe that makes her not such a great role model. Lila is still just as badass, awesome, and scary as the last two books and I loved reading about her bravery and her wit.
Rhy grew so much in this book and I’m so happy! Following him in A Gathering of Shadows was so sad, and I’m glad he began to learn where his strengths lied and how to be a leader to his people.
We learn a bit more about Alucard in this book, including why he left Rhy all those years ago. You’ll just have to read it to find out.
Holland, my sweet sweet Holland, why must you suffer? What can’t anyone let you be happy? A Conjuring of Light has a few sections of flashbacks concerning the characters, mostly the flashbacks concern Holland and how he got to being a slave for the Dane twins all the way back in A Darker Shade of Magic. I loved learning more about Holland and White London, and seeing how complicated and detailed he was as a character. He had his flaws, his weaknesses, and his reasons but they all made up his character, and every peak into his backstory felt correct in how it shaped Holland into the Antari he was at the series beginning.
Some questions are answered, some aren’t, but the magic is real. Or it feels real. It’s hard to pick a favourite out of this series because every book is strong. But when I finished A Conjuring of Light I was so sad to be leaving these character behind. I grew to love them so much, and I haven’t felt so sad for a book like that in a long time.
While I know this is the end of the Shades of Magic series, I hope it isn’t the end of the world(s). Of Red London, White London, Grey London, maybe even Black London. Of magic, of adventure, of pirates, of royalty, of magicians, and thieves. I hope Schwab will bring us all back to that world again.
So until then, all I can say is, Anoshe.
Six Blue Marbles Book Reviews 