V.E. Schwab’s A Conjuring of Light is the final book in the Shades of Magic series.
At the conclusion of A Gathering of Shadows, Kell follows Ojka into White London. Kell is immediately assaulted and tortured by Holland who wants Kell to become the next vessel for Osaron, an amalgamation of Black London magic. Although Kell denies Holland, his presence gives Osaron the one thing he needs, a key into the magic filled city of Red London. At the same time, Prince Rhy suffers immense pain from the violence inflicted on Kell. Fearing for the lives of both princes, Lila attempts to rescue them both. Unfortunately, any rescue is short lived as Osaron enters Red London wreaking havoc on its inhabitants.
Kell has grown a lot over the course of the series. As a powerful Antari and adopted son of the royal family, he enjoyed an easy life. His arrogance was cut to pieces when he brought Vitari into his world into his Red London, killing many of the inhabitants. He was broken when he realized he is not powerful and that he still had a lot to learn, so he spent his time in A Gathering of Shadows training. He endured both mental and physical hardship which ultimately strengthened him as a character. At the same time, his once beautiful home became a prison that he longed to be free from. In A Conjuring of Light, all his training is put to the test. His opponent is an all-powerful “piece of magic with an ego” and it is up to him and his friends to save his city (155).
Lila Bard has also grown immensely. This Gray London thief slipped into an unfamiliar world of magic and adventure. In A Darker Shade of Magic, Lila’s determination, wit, and cleverness without magic established her as powerful character. In A Gathering of Shadows, she discovered the she had magic and proceeded to undergo on a four-month training montage turning her into a competent mage. While the speed at which she gained mastery of magic and fluency in a language with no ties to English was unbelievable and irritating, it was necessary for her to become comparable to Kell by this latest installment. She continued to improve in A Conjuring of Light, but the speed drastically slowed and her unfathomable reckless actions from the previous book had fitting consequences (Yay!). The inclusion of consequences made her more realistic, and her growth as a character made her more likable. Lila started the series with little faith in others, but slowly bonded with the people around her. She learned to trust others and fight for them instead of running away. Once a clever, skittish thief, Lila has become a powerful, dependable mage.
A Conjuring of Magic was a great finale to a wonderful series. The pacing was amazing. From the very beginning, the book established a rocket-fast paced and kept it up throughout most of the story. Occasionally, the book would slow down the pacing for some quiet character development or beautiful romance, but the constant sense of urgency makes the book impossible to put down.
The plot itself was also fantastic. Red London essentially became a war zone. Osaron infected the beautiful city of Red London, causing people all over the city to succumb to his influence or crumble to dust. While there was a single safe zone in the city, leaving it could spell certain doom. As more people died outside the safe zone, conflict grew within it. All of the protagonists had to put away their petty conflicts (with varying degrees of success) and work together in order to beat Osaron. With each failed plan, tensions only grew.
Yet, under this constant tension and stress, all the characters grew. The main characters matured and strengthened, Alucard becoming a bit more than a swashbuckling pirate and Rhy becoming a mature and wise prince. Recurring characters received backstories that made them into more dimensional and relatable individuals. Holland became a broken antihero, the King a wise, but flawed man, and the Queen, a cautious and caring mother. Even minor character received enough development to make the unforgettable heroes.
The sheer amount of characters that developed in this book is admirable, and the dialogue between them is absolutely perfect. Despite the intense backdrop, none of the characters forgot that a little humor can go a long way. There were some hilarious moments sandwiched between high tension and desolation.
Shades of Magic
In this intriguing world there are four parallel universes that are all connected by the magical city of London. Red London is a city filled with magic at the heart of the Maresh Empire. Grey London is a familiar city living without magic. White London is a dying city where people cling for the remaining bits of magic. Black London is a dead city, that is only spoken about it whispers and rumors. Each London is separate and only an Antari can traverse through them freely.
Series Analysis
Many books boast a fantastical world full of magic and excitement. Some worlds even promise an extensive fantasy world with complex politics, intricate class systems, and interesting people. Only V. E. Schwab can create not one, but four worlds of magic and intrigue, with distinct differences. Journey with Kell into a London of dying magic, a London overflowing with power, and one carrying on with out a drop of magic in it. This plot driven breathes new life into the retired trope of elemental magic and provides a great story with great characters. This series receives 4.833 stars.