| From The Publisher* | Four months have passed since the mysterious 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 now without his trade as a smuggler, 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 extravagent 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 - meaning that another London must fall. |
| Review Quote* | This is how fantasy should be done." - Publishers Weekly, starred review Rich details illuminate every dimension of an extravagant city flooded with magic, and intriguing personalities evolve into complex characters… between [the characters those] the vivid setting, and the climactic cliffhanger, Schwab already has us anticipating the rest of the series." - Entertainment Weekly, Grade A on A Gathering of Shadows "Feels like a priceless object, brought from another, better world of fantasy books. Schwab's writing is engaging and vivid… kept me engrossed by its story every bit as much as I was fascinated by its complex, multilayered world." - io9.com on A Darker Shade of Magic "All the hallmarks of a classic work of fantasy… Schwab has given us a gem of a tale." - Deborah Harkness, New York Times bestselling author of The All Souls trilogy |
| Biographical Note | V. E. SCHWAB's first adult novel, Vicious, debuted to critical praise and reader accolades. Schwab is the author of YA novels, including the acclaimed The Near Witch, along with writing Middle Grade for Scholastic. The Independent calls Schwab "the natural successor to Diana Wynne Jones" and someone who has "an enviable, almost Gaiman-esque ability to switch between styles, genres, and tones." |
