Literally Lenny: reading

What's it about?

"Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world" - Goodreads Synopsis

My thoughts:

I was very worried I wasn't going to enjoy this as much as I did. I gave Heir of Fire only 3 stars because I found it quite boring. However, this book did redeem itself. I think I was able to enjoy this because all original characters were back together again. Not to mention, I finally understood the purpose of Manon and her story. Because forever I just did not see her purpose. Not even remotely.

So. For why I love this book: I love how Sarah J Maas wrote Aelin's character. I love how freaking MORE badass she is now, not to mention how brilliant she is. Major girl power. She 100% is always on top of her game and coming up with the next best plan. I loved the mind games she played with people to get what she wanted. If anyone wants a symbol of girl empowerment, look no further. This woman is seriously bad. ass.

Ok. Here comes the explanation for only 4 stars.

The name change. I will never STOP being confused about this. She will always be Celaena to me. I just wish Sarah J Maas had done without a permanent name change because boy does it screw me up. I get so lost trying to keep up with character's names throughout the MASSIVE story, and changing the main character's name did not help me keep everything straight in my head. Yes, I understand why it happened and why it was significant, but I could just not wrap my head around it.

But honestly, that's such a minor negative to this book that it really does deserve 5 stars. But I'd be lying if I said the permanent name change didn't irk me a bit.

Overall, I give Queen of Shadows 4 fiery stars.

Next stop: EMPIRE OF STORMS!

11:38 AM No comments

What's it about?

"Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

Now overall, I wouldn't say that this book was a dissapointment as a stand alone, but as the sequel to the series, It did not live up to the first book that I adored so much. It wasn't as gripping and heartbreaking as the first one was. I think the best way to describe it (in hopes that the next will be better) it was just a bridge between Red Queen and Kings Cage. I don't feel like any major developments occured, and if anything Mare became weaker and more selfish. I do have high hopes for Kings Cage though. Because I believe that this can be redeemed quite easily.

I still love the world they are in and the plot that is unfolded, but the characters in this book just did not evolve as I would have liked them to. And in a lot of novels, the characters make the story.

But, despite all of this being said, I will not hold this against the Red Queen series. I know that the first book was phenomenal, and the second book was in no way bad...it just did not live up to my expectations.

And if anything, it just made me crave Kings Cage more and more.

Overall, I give Glass Sword 3 stars.

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11:53 AM No comments

What's it about?

"After growing up on a farm in Virginia, Walthingham Hall in England seems like another world to sixteen-year-old Katherine Randolph. Her new life, filled with the splendor of upper-class England in the 1820s, is shattered when her brother mysteriously drowns. Katherine is expected to observe the mourning customs and get on with her life, but she can't accept that her brother's death was an accident.

A bitter poacher prowls the estate, and strange visitors threaten the occupants of the house. There's a rumor, too, that a wild animal stalks the woods of Walthingham. Can Katherine retain her sanity long enough to find out the truth? Or will her brother's killer claim her life, too?" - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

The Gilded Cage was essentially a cross between Pride and Prejudice and the Princess Diaries circa 1800s with a side of murder mystery. If this sounds even remotely interesting, you should definitely give this book a read. It's a wicked quick read and very gripping.

I really liked George and Katherine because of their relaxed country manners. They didn't go into lordship for the money. They did it because they were the heirs. I don't know. I guess I just liked how humble they were. Not to mention the opening scene is Katherine on the farm doing target practice. Major badass.

The romance seemed very forced...not to mention quite random. Like yes, it was essentially the hate turned love relationship that Liz and Darcy had, but it was almost as if it was trying too hard to be Liz and Darcy rather than their own.

I will say, the murders were a complete plot twist because given that I had not read the synopsis before starting this, I was thrown completely off guard. I love when that happens because I feel as if it's really difficult to catch me off guard when reading a book. I find most books to be even somewhat predictable.

The reason I would rate it what I do is just because it wasn't anything significant. Nothing super special or mind blowing. Just another quick read that was fun to read when you get home from a long day of work.

Overall, I give The Gilded Cage 3 stars.

7:55 PM No comments

What's it about?

"A prehistoric fantasy—with allusions to Pride and Prejudice.

Hunting, gathering, and keeping his family safe—that’s the life seventeen-year-old Kol knows. Then bold, enigmatic Mya arrives from the south with her family, and Kol is captivated. He wants her to like and trust him, but any hopes of impressing her are ruined when he makes a careless—and nearly grave—mistake. However, there’s something more to Mya’s cool disdain…a history wrought with loss that comes to light when another clan arrives. With them is Lo, an enemy from Mya’s past who Mya swears has ulterior motives.

As Kol gets to know Lo, tensions between Mya and Lo escalate until violence erupts. Faced with shattering losses, Kol is forced to question every person he’s trusted. One thing is for sure: this was a war that Mya or Lo—Kol doesn’t know which—had been planning all along."- Goodreads Synopsis

My thoughts:

I was really disappointed in this book. I was really excited to read a prehistoric pride and prejudice but it was almost too much with how cheesy and predictable it was. Obviously, being a massive fan of pride and prejudice may make me prejudice towards anyone trying to replicate the story. But I just feel like this could've been so much better. I really did not like Maya. And I found their romance to be really dull and random. I mean, Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship was far from either of those things. Maybe it's just that I was expecting too much. I'm not sure. I think that Maya should have had a much larger part than she did. She was just kinda "there".

I did like when the plot started to evolve into its own story because then nothing was predictable. It actually left me guessing. But. That's where the guessing stopped. The ending was mediocre and very truncated.

However, what saved this book for me was the creativity that the author had with writing such a unique story. Whether or not it was actually historically accurate, it was a fun read just for the setting. Because honestly, when was the last time you read a YA set in a prehistoric time?

Overall, I give Ivory and Bone 3 stars.

9:40 PM No comments

What's it about?

"There’s no such thing as safe.

Kate Harker wants to be as ruthless as her father. After five years and six boarding schools, she’s finally going home to prove that she can be.

August Flynn wants to be human. But he isn’t. He’s a monster, one that can steal souls with a song. He’s one of the three most powerful monsters in a city overrun with them. His own father’s secret weapon.

Their city is divided.

Their city is crumbling.

Kate and August are the only two who see both sides, the only two who could do something.

But how do you decide to be a hero or a villain when it’s hard to tell which is which?"- Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts?

I was really impressed by this book because I had quite mediocre expectations, regardless of the hype currently surrounding this. I'm not by any means Victoria Schwab's biggest fan, but I'm also not her worst enemy. I find her books to be mediocre and entertaining at times, but nothing substantial.

This book made me reevaluate my opinion of Victoria. This book is easily her best work. Easily.

This Savage Song was so refreshing! Yes, it had the typical badass girl with family problems, and the awkward boy with a dark past (no pun intended) but Victoria evolved these characters like I've never seen her do before. I recently read A Gathering of Shadows, which I gave 3 stars, and there was only one character that I found to have a really great development throughout the story. The others were very one-dimensional, as if she only focused on that one character and no one else.

In This Savage Song you actually get to see the inner workings of each character and how their lives become intertwined. I think I also really enjoyed the futuristic setting of this book, when Victoria tends to set her books in kind of a futuristic version of the 1800s...if that makes any sense.

I can tell that Victoria really went out of her comfort zone and explored the possibilities, and let me tell you, she did really well.

Overall, I give This Savage Song 4 stars!

8:00 PM No comments

What's it about?

"Twenty-five-year-old Cassie Danvers is holed up in her family’s crumbling mansion in rural St. Jude, Ohio, mourning the loss of the woman who raised her—her grandmother, June. But a knock on the door forces her out of isolation. Cassie has been named the sole heir to legendary matinee idol Jack Montgomery's vast fortune. How did Jack Montgomery know her name? Could he have crossed paths with her grandmother all those years ago? What other shocking secrets could June’s once-stately mansion hold?

Soon Jack’s famous daughters come knocking, determined to wrestle Cassie away from the inheritance they feel is their due. Together, they all come to discover the true reasons for June’s silence about that long-ago summer, when Hollywood came to town, and June and Jack’s lives were forever altered by murder, blackmail, and betrayal.

As this page-turner shifts deftly between the past and present, Cassie and her guests will be forced to reexamine their legacies, their definition of family, and what it truly means to love someone, steadfastly, across the ages." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts?

Finishing this book, I'm really confused about what I feel about it. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the story or found it to be too much. The writing was decent since the author was able to paint images very clearly for my mind, but I got incredibly annoyed when she kept going on and on about something as if she was just trying to use a filler! For example (no spoilers), there's one scene where the author is describing the way two figures are standing together, and it felt like an eternity for her to explain the scene.

What I did love though were the women in this book; June, Cassie, Elda, Tate, and even Lindie. Yes, each and every one had their flaws, but they also were able to learn from this and still "follow their dreams". Cheesy, yes. But what I mean is that the things that they did, were out of love for someone. Not one was selfish, regardless of what it seemed. Their characters were strong individuals. Individuals being the key word. Each was strong and very much capable without a man. They just each needed to find what was worth living for. And I admire them greatly for that. Whether or not their lives were what they had always dreamed of or not. They were never selfish.

The story was predictable for most of the novel, however, I was surprised to learn of what the true conflict was in June and Lindie's story. That in itself made the book for me. Completely out of left field, and turned the book into a completely different genre than I had originally expected.

I did not approve of the romantic relationships that occurred during both time periods, but that could just be me. I would never condone cheating, even in a fictional story. I don't like that the person that I saw as the "villain" (Jack) got a "happily ever after" and did not even suffer any consequences. And towards the end, it was almost as if the author was trying to make an excuse for why Jack was the way he was, saying it was okay because "he's better now". That just irked me because I found Jack to be an all-around terrible person. And the fact that the author can make me feel so much hatred for a character, kudos.

So. With that being said, I give June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore 3 stars.

4:39 PM No comments

What's it about?
"With each passing day, Kelsea Glynn is growing into her new responsibilities as Queen of the Tearling. By stopping the shipments of slaves to the neighboring kingdom of Mortmesne, she crossed the Red Queen, a brutal ruler whose power derives from dark magic, who is sending her fearsome army into the Tearling to take what is hers. And nothing can stop the invasion.

But as the Mort army draws ever closer, Kelsea develops a mysterious connection to a time before the Crossing, and she finds herself relying on a strange and possibly dangerous ally: a woman named Lily, fighting for her life in a world where being female can feel like a crime. The fate of the Tearling —and that of Kelsea’s own soul—may rest with Lily and her story, but Kelsea may not have enough time to find out."- Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts?
This book was off to an incredibly slow start, and I was really close to marking it as "Did Not Finish" but then we met Lily Mayhew and the entire story and plot twisted upside down and exploded into amazingness. So there was Kelsey's story and then Lily's story, and we then learn how their lives are intertwined (totally crazy). Lily's character and story was my favorite part of the entire book. Her story was gripping and terrifying and I felt so many painful emotions for her. The story of Lily reminded me a lot of The Girl on the Train for some reason even though I know technically they're nothing alike. If you've read both, you might be able to understand. If not, I just sound like a crazy person. Oh well.

As for Kelsey's story: Like I said, it was very slow in the beginning, and Kelsey has always bothered me because she's just so clueless. Yes, she makes for a wonderful Queen and cares about her subjects but it's so incredibly obvious that she's just a 19 year old girl. Which, kudos to Erika Johansen for being able to capture that obnoxious teenager attitude! ha! That being said, I think Johansen did a fantastic job on the character development of Kelsey in this book. Because yes, she was an obnoxious teen throughout the entire book, but I think she eventually became selfless and realized what she had to do for her land...and I respect her for that.

The Invasion of the Tearling was impossible for me to even attempt at predicting the ending, given that the storyline is so complex. That being said, the ending was completely out of left field and definitely had jaw dropping moments. I love how Johansen tied everything together at the end, combining the two different worlds. The ending just made me beg for more because I need to know what happens!

Bottom line is: If you start it, and it seems boring and slow in the beginning, you're going to need to push through. Trust me. You will not regret it. At least keep reading until you meet Lily and then decide.

Slow beginnings that turned into a page turner. Brilliant.

Overall, I gave The Invasion of the Tearling 3.5 Stars!

7:49 PM No comments

What's it about?

"Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then Lina is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept from Lina for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more."

-Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did, quite honestly. It is definitely the poster child for a "summer read" but I loved it anyways. It took place in Italy of course, but what I especially enjoyed was the little bits of history that the author squeezed in. I'm not a big history person, but I do love art history, so the fact that they were exploring Florence and I knew exactly where they were and what they were talking about was really cool. I'm not sure how many people are able to relate to this, but I feel that any book setting in an area that you're familiar with is instantly gripping because it is so much easier to picture everything and easier to get swept up into the storyline.

As for the writing, it was nothing significant but nothing awful as well. The character development was lacking, and the main character Lina was just that typical annoying teenager who thought the world revolved around her. The romance was cute, but I could see that from a mile away (or 4000 miles).

The storyline was very original as Lina goes on a scavenger hunt to follow her mother's footsteps 20 years later. The only thing I did not like because it was so implausible that her grandmother would send her thousands of miles away to stay with a complete stranger and to just live there indefinitely...? Makes for a good story, but not really believable!

Overall, I give Love and Gelato 4 stars!

10:38 AM No comments

What's it about?

EVERY DAY THE SAME
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

UNTIL TODAY
And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

My Thoughts:

This book was a really great thriller and full of a lot of jaw-dropping moments, but to be honest, I think it's pretty overhyped. I get that it's a really good plot and the writing is great but oh my goodness the characters drove me insane. This book takes unreliable narrator to the extreme. Which I get is the point of a mystery-thriller, so maybe this just isn't MY cup of tea. The women characters were weak and vulnerable which irked me to no end. They had no treated themselves like crap and had absolutely no respect for who they were without men. I'm not going to go on a feminist rant or anything, but this book just really harped on the weakness of women when it came to men. No woman was independent, and each woman hated the other. I get that not every person is a strong individual, but this was just a bit too far. And quite frankly it ruined the book for me.

So the reason I'm even giving this book 3 stars is because the ending for me was unpredictable. The plot was great and the writing was good. But the characters was the make it or break it for me. I don't really know what else to say about this book. It was a good read, but I would not recommend to anyone unless they were massive murder-mystery fans.

3:57 PM No comments

3:35 PM No comments

What's it about?

"Lady Jane Grey, sixteen, is about to be married to a total stranger—and caught up in an insidious plot to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But that’s the least of Jane’s problems. She’s about to become Queen of England.

Like that could go wrong."

- Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I absolutely ADORED this book. First off, you must listen to the audiobook. Trust me on this one. Second, the writing, the humor, everything about My Lady Jane was absolute perfection! I have not read such a wonderfully written book that made me laugh and smile in such a long time.

I know that this book is getting lots of recognition this month because I saw that it was included in not one, but two monthly book subscription boxes! Rightly so, this book needs to be on everyone's shelves. It's absolutely beautiful. Now, let me tell you why.

This book is told by "narrators" who at the very beginning tell you outright that they changed the story of history to make it more interesting just because they wanted to. They put a fantastic fantasy spin on the history while still managing to keep some parts of history completely factual! Because of this change in history and the perspective of the humorous narrator, I constantly found myself laughing. Want proof? Go read the prologue to this book. It's 3 pages. It'll take you a maximum of 5 minutes. Go ahead. I'll wait.

See what I mean?

The characters were so bloody fantastic with all their different flaws and adventures! I loved being able to see inside these supposed royals and to listen to their ridiculous thoughts! Yes, that part is clearly fiction, but just picturing a king in the 1500's worrying about if he was ever going to kiss a pretty girl? First world problems, for sure.

The plot was very fast paced and never left the reader bored, there was no filler, only comedic bits, and I find this added even more to the character's development and made the reader love those characters even more. I think I truly loved this book because these three authors managed to modernize history from 1550, and it absolutely worked. These three women are brilliant and deserve all the recognition and love for this book as I am giving it right now.

I gave My Lady Jane 5 wonderfully beautiful shiny stars!

This book, is my new favorite. I shall worship it forever.

4:19 PM No comments

What's it about?
"She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from.

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him... or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

I picked this book up because I wanted to read it for the Perustopia Book Club this month! I was definitely not expecting this book to be this good! It was so good and I felt like it was so different from anything else I had read, and not just because of the setting being a desert. The writing was fantastic. It did not capture me as much as other books have, and some parts seemed a bit like filler, hence the 4 star review. However. The romance between Jin and Amani has to be one of my all time favorite just because of how far they had both come from their beginnings, and the fact that they grew together so realistically.

(*SPOILERS*)

I didn't really believe (or just found it silly) that Amani had no idea that she was a Demdji. If I realized I was so significantly different from everyone else, I would have questioned that a very, very long time ago. But that's a minor detail.

I loved how the story unraveled by becoming one of the legends that Amani had heard at such a young age. I knew that ghouls and skinwalkers would eventually make appearances, but unfortunately for me they didn't add much to the story. I'm attributing that to me not being a massive fantasy lover, or just nothing living up to Lord of the Rings...

I will say that the story of Ahmed was incredible. I assumed that Jin was a prince, but I had no idea that he was going to be Ahmed's brother. That was a really fun plot twist and I have a feeling that Jin and Amani's adventures with Ahmed and his "army" are only going to get better. I loved the different characters that we met along the way, especially because each person was significant to the group. I cannot wait for the second book in this series!

I give Rebel of the Sands 4 stars!

9:05 PM No comments

What's it about?

"In downtown Chicago, a young woman named Esther Vaughan disappears from her apartment without a trace. A haunting letter addressed to My Dearest is found among her possessions, leaving her friend and roommate Quinn Collins to wonder where Esther is and whether or not she's the person Quinn thought she knew.

Meanwhile, in a small Michigan harbor town an hour outside Chicago, a mysterious woman appears in the quiet coffee shop where eighteen-year-old Alex Gallo works as a dishwasher. He is immediately drawn to her charm and beauty, but what starts as an innocent crush quickly spirals into something far more dark and sinister than he ever expected.

As Quinn searches for answers about Esther, and Alex is drawn further under Pearl's spell, master of suspense Mary Kubica takes readers on a taut and twisted thrill ride that builds to a stunning conclusion and shows that no matter how fast and far we run, the past always catches up with us in the end." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts (Spoilers!) :

So, I had really high expectations for this book because I freaking loved The Good Girl. I knew that it wasn't going to be the same plot or anything, but it's almost as if the writing and the way the plot unfolded was completely different from "The Good Girl".

Don't get me wrong, it was still a good book, but there were things that just really irked me about it that are still bothering me even after I put the book down.

Why the hey was Quinn so damn oblivious? She literally thought of the storage space WAY BEFORE the 5 day mark. That just really bothered me because if she had freaking used her brain she would've gone there when she thought about it. Find some bolt cutters or something, I don't know!

The whole ending was really good and creepy as fudge, but it was the only part that was actually exciting. I found the entire beginning and middle to be very lack luster and boring.

I know I was wrong to expect another The Good Girl, but I just so desperately wanted another fantastic crime novel like that again!

I gave Dont You Cry 3 stars.

10:03 AM No comments

What's it about?

"When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

As an individual book, this was a really great book. As the ending to a series I loved so much, it was only okay. The storyline was great as usual, characters were well developed, but the ending really was way too sudden and random! They kinda just said "SURPRISE...K BYE."...and left...I really wanted more! Not another book, but just at least another paragraph or SOMETHING.

However, I will say how absolutely amazing Kiera Cass was at keeping me on my toes for who was going to be the one. Like holy crap, PLOT TWIST! She had you second guessing everything and for once I was not able to see the outcome of this book. With the main triolgy with America and Maxon, it was quite obvious that the two would be together regardless of what obstacles they had to overcome. But in The Crown it was really ambiguous what was going to happen and I really enjoyed that! It was a nice change of pace.

I didn't find Eadlyn to be as annoying as she was in The Heir to be honest. I know a lot of people would not agree, but I just feel like she finally grew up. There were times when she was being a complete baby and just so incredibly naive but in the end she pulled herself together. And I loved how Kiera Cass made you love each and every one of the elite, almost like you were rooting yourself for who you wanted to win. You got so emotionally involved in the storyline, which very few authors are capable of doing. Really great book. But really random ending.

Overall, I give The Crown 4 stars!

9:56 AM No comments

What's it about?

"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." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

For me, nothing will ever compare to A Darker Shade of Magic and i'm sure a lot of other people feel the same way. The sequel was just not nearly as strong as the first. When it came to plot, character development, the conflict, everything! Don't get me wrong, the characters were still great and the story was interesting, but I was a little disappointed because I think I was expecting so much. I found it quite slow through the majority of the book, as they kinda danced around the plot. I think what bothered me the most was the Kel and Lila didn't even SPEAK to each other until 3/4 through the book. The rest was just so much filler! I felt that the backstories of Kel and Lila while they were apart didn't actually add much to their characters. I felt like it just trying to tell us things we already knew about them. They didn't develop any further or anything, just kinda stayed the same...

There were good things though, hence the 3 stars and not 2 or 1! Don't get me wrong, like I said. Lila's character was so bloody brilliant in this book, I had a serious crush on how freaking confident she was. Kel was annoying and paranoid, as per usual. Rhy was causing havoc, as per usual. But Lila was fantastic. Her character made the book for me, and i'm really excited to see how she taps even further into her powers. I think the bad just outweighed the good unfortunately. I am however excited to read the third because I'm hoping that it will pick up once again considering where it was left off.

I gave A Gathering of Shadows a whopping 3 stars!