A Gathering of Shadows

A Novel

By: V. E. Schwab

Narrated by: Michael Kramer, Kate Reading

Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like 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.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again-and so to keep magic's balance, another London must fall.

©2016 Victoria Schwab (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

Keep an open mind at first with the narrators

I was super upset when I saw they switched narrators, I really liked the other guy, but I quickly changed my mind on that, they do a great job. Book is amazing of course

kel-ila

I cannot get enough of the ferocity of emotions that these characters Express. Kel and Rhy are boiling cauldrons and Delilah a sharp, honed knife to which they cling.

can't stop listening!

starting the next book immediately. The orators were fantastic and captured the characters beautifully. the story itself is genius and bccvery creative.

Get it. Stop thinking. Just get it.

Would you consider the audio edition of A Gathering of Shadows to be better than the print version?

I have not read the book but Michael Kramer can make any book sound stunning. It helps that the story is top-notch. Though like most Book-2's of trilogies, it is of course simply a gateway to book-3 that I of course will listen to! NICE JOB!!!

Any additional comments?

I knew I recognized Michael's voice from the Way of Kings. I love Michael's voice!

Couldn't stop listening

This book was so intriguing. There were a lot of twists and other developments that made me sit on the edge of my seat, visibly smile, and even squeal out loud in excitement. I liked the first book, but this one was incredible! The author does use a lot of long descriptions which is probably why there first book was a bit slower, but this one had a bit more going on in between.

Great story, but Part 1

I wish the characters had more time together but they both had very satisfying arcs. I really enjoyed the whole thing but there is a big lack of resolution. I liked it enough so that I'm not going to get book 3 just because I need to know what happens but because I genuinely love these characters.

Awesome series of books!

Engaging, well written with excellent narrators. Rarely do I make "audible" noises or comments when reading or listening but this book had me gasping and talking to the characters! Love this series and author!

If you enjoyed the first one, you’ll like this too.

The reviews that claim lack of a solid ending are true, but only because it’s a tense cliffhanger that leads into the third book.
My only issue is with the change in narration, I had to wait a while before starting this book, so that my brain could disassociate from the change in narration from the last book. It’s not the worst I’ve ever heard, the narrators performances, taken separately, are fine. The narrator changes depending on wether the perspective is from Lilah or Kell’s point of view, but this means that characters that appear in both perspectives, like Rhy, Aloucard, or the King, all have different voices depending on the chapter. It can be a bit discordant. I’d rather there have been one decent narrators than two good ones.

excellent story

I'm loving the character development and the way the different kinds of magic play in the world.

Different voice actors

I really wish the voice actor for the first book could have done this one too, because I had all of his character voices in my head. This one is great! Just a preference.