A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab (UK edition)

Title: A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic, 3)
Author: V. E. Schwab
Genre: Alternative Universes, Fantasy
Publisher: Titan Books (21st February 2017)
Blurb:

The precarious equilibrium among the four Londons has reached its breaking point. Once brimming with the red vivacity of magic, darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empire, leaving space for another London to rise. Kell – once assumed to be the last surviving Antari – begins to waver under the pressure of competing loyalties. Lila Bard, once a commonplace – but never common – theif, has survived and flourished through a series of magical trials. But now she must learn to control the magic, before it bleeds her dry.

Meanwhile, the disgraced Captain Alucard Emery and the Night Spire crew are attempting a race against time to acquire the impossible, as an ancient enemy returns to claim a crown and a fallen hero is desperate to save a decaying world . . .

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
Review:

A CONJURING OF MAGIC is the third and final instalment of V. E. Schwab’s brilliant Shades of Magic series. This book deals with the fallout of events that started in A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC, as the precarious equilibrium between the four Londons reaches its breaking point. Kell and Lila find themselves in the thick of it, as darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empire. An ancient enemy appears to claim a crown, and a fallen hero desperately tries to save a dying world. All whilst Captain Alucard Emery races against time to acquire the impossible. They all stand on a knife’s edge; the shadows are hungry.

A CONJOURING OF MAGIC brings to a conclusion one of the most intricate and complex stories I have read. In this final book, Schwab has written a really entertaining and complex story that fans of the series are sure to enjoy. It’s one heck of a journey. I really enjoyed reuniting with the main characters, and watching them come together to try and defeat the shadows looming over London. This book was at times both moving and amusing. Schwab takes you on a haunting journey, that will leave you feeling emotionally wrung out by the end.

The plot of the final book is brilliantly plotted; there are a lot of twists and turns as the story progresses, and Schwab kept me guessing. I did feel that the story was a bit slow at points, and whilst I could see why Schwab had included certain scenes some of them felt a bit superfluous to the plot of this book (if not the overall plot arc of the trilogy). A CONJOURING OF MAGIC was everything I hoped for in the final book of this series, and I’m honestly a little sad to say goodbye to it.

A CONJOURING OF MAGIC is split into several different parts, and has a third person narrator. Splitting the narrative into different parts worked well to keep the flow of the story. I thought the third person narrator worked well as it allowed Schwab to move about the different areas of the plot, without it being too confusing; it also helps the reader to know what’s going on in the head of several of the characters, which I found pretty useful. This book is a really interesting read. If you have enjoyed the previous books in the series, then you will relish this one too.