**HAS SPOILERS**

A Gathering of Shadows brings us back to the magical Londons to once again join Kell, Lila, and Rhy on their adventures.

I got my hands on this book as fast as I could after reading A Darker Shade of Magic. Honestly though, it was nowhere near as good as A Darker Shade of Magic, or A Conjuring of Light. In A Gathering of Shadows, there is a magical tournament that only the best of magicians compete in. Enter Lila, who of course manages to weasel her way in, disguised as a competitor who she sent on a ship headed far away. Lila, who has made her way once again back to London on the ship she intended to steal, but ended up being part of the crew. However, Lila isn’t the only one of our familiar faces we’ll see in this tournament. Kell too is disguised and competing. 

I found the new adventure of the tournament an interesting tale, where I learnt more about the world that Victoria Schwab has created. 

However, being completely honest, I found Lila a bit annoying in this book, due to her arrogance, and the the fact that “she’s not like most girls” was brought up so. many. times. It’s even directly said, by Lila herself “I’m not most girls”.  Kell, as always, is my precious favourite. I didn’t warm to Alucard in this book, but he’s an interesting character.