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This is a Buddy Read for A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab starting December 8, 2020.

Thanks Niki.

Yw :)

Thank you Niki! Excited for this

Got caught up in work. Will try to start tomorrow!

I will start today but I will first read last couple of chapters from the second book, the ending of that book is very vague in my mind.

Sure!

Take your time. Turns out I'm still caught up in work lol

I'm on ch. 4 or 5

I'll update in a while

Chapter 9.

Is it me or you too are feeling disconnected with the characters?

(view spoiler)[Rhy is suddenly alive. I don't know why but I couldn't bring myself to care when he died. The details are so vague in my mind. The character's backstories are slowly coming to me but not fast enough. Lila is becoming more and more of an enigma. Is she an Antari or what? She can travel between the worlds so she must be an Antari but she doesn't have the black eye. Maybe it was removed when she was a child. Her fight with Ojka was a decent action scene. When Ojka cracked Lila's fake eye, I don't know why but I thought black magical tendrils will start coming out of her eye.😅
I am neutral regarding Holland. I can't fault him trying to save his world, though it didn't went as planned but he had good intentions. (hide spoiler)]

Aakash wrote: "Chapter 9.

Is it me or you too are feeling disconnected with the characters?

Same. The first few chapters weren't even in a flow, each chapter was from a different perspective. No wonder we felt so disconnected.

Rhy is suddenly .."
(view spoiler)[ I know right? I do like Rhy but his sudden revival was weird. He's been "almost" dead twice now. The author is just recycling older events it seems. They lack the same emotional punch.

About Lila, I have always disliked her. I am so tired of her being all-powerful all the time. I feel like she might be the author's favourite and she's made her perfect and un- defeatable. She can bend three elements, loves knives, is unlikable but makes friends like it's no big deal (and the enemies she makes she kills eventually).. so when she could pull off an Antari magic (travel bw worlds), I just wasn't surprised. Oh, actually, she might just blend all elements since she's probably an Antari. (hide spoiler)]

😂 Lila is like a self insert, all powerful character. She is definitely a Mary Sue. I feel guilty that I like her, I mean this year I have been reading lots of fanfictions and most of them have the godlike Main characters so I am kinda used to it but that is the difference between fanfiction and a well developed book. In the book the characters have to work to become strong while fan-made stories have default powerful characters. I think V. E Scwab gave tremendous amount of power to Lila without explaining why and how. I would have preferred to know Lila's real birth identify somewhere in book 2 and I still don't know what is special about her or anything about her. Was she born unique or did she acquire this powers?

Exactly! You've put it really well
At least let us know her past or sth to explain it all

I'm on part 2, ch. 4

(view spoiler)[ I am bored for the most part. It feels like the author borrowed the first book's plot, but expanded the scope. The rest feels dull, just like the second book. There is nothing new being offered so far
Kismyr's death was unfortunate. Too quick :/ she was strong (hide spoiler)]

Maria wrote: "I'm on part 2, ch. 4

I am bored for the most part. It feels like the author borrowed the first book's plot, but expanded the scope. The rest feels dull, just like the second book. There is nothin..."

(view spoiler)[I don't exactly remember who Kismyr was. There are some details I remember but can't be sure it they are same character. I think I am going to binge reread this trilogy couple of years later so I can finally enjoy the story to its fullest. I am eager to see what happens to Holland, will Lila be able to work with him to stop Osaron or is she going to kill him? I don't know how they are going to defeat Osaron, he seems so godlike, so powerful. It will be interesting to see how the characters are going to deal with him. (hide spoiler)]

Kismyr (view spoiler)[ was one of the first Essen Tasch contestants introduced. She was all powerful and Lila like her too. I understand, though, why you might not remember her. The contestants were introduced in bulk so it qas hard to keep track (hide spoiler)]

You're right. The threat is bigger this time so the 3 of them will have to work together

So far my thoughts: (view spoiler)[ the blood rain kell did was kinda cool. I still like Kell the best of all characters. He is so emotional and impulsive but always trying to do thr right thing. My heart goes out to him (hide spoiler)]

I'm on ch. 4 part 3 btw

I've finished part 2 and will probably read part 3 today.

Sure thing

Maria wrote: "So far my thoughts: [spoilers removed]"

Yes, you are right. Kell is the one of the most likable character in the series. But sometimes I really get annoyed of how he continues making the same mistakes. Looking back we can see it was Kell's fault that killed many people in book 1 and now due to Kell's impulsiveness, Osaron is in red London. I can't dislike him for trying to help Ojka but it his nature which makes him likable and annoying at the same time.

The world building is what I most enjoyed.

Finished part 5 chapter 4.

Hi Maria, where are you in the book? Do you think we will be able to finish this book before the ending of this month?

(view spoiler)[Holland is the only character for whom I am feeling sympathetic. He had his own brother trying it kill him and then when he thought he had found love he was betrayed again. White London is truly a messed up place.

It seems that the boys finally have a plan. I still don't want Holland to die but I am sure he is going to or maybe Schwab will save him just for the sake of unpredictability.
(hide spoiler)]

Aakash wrote: "Maria wrote: "So far my thoughts: [spoilers removed]"

Yes, you are right. Kell is the one of the most likable character in the series. But sometimes I really get annoyed of how he continues making..."

Haha yes he's too impulsive for everyone's good 😅

Aakash wrote: "Finished part 5 chapter 4.

Hi Maria, where are you in the book? Do you think we will be able to finish this book before the ending of this month?

Holland is the only character for whom I am feeli..."

I was just gonna update you. I just got through part 5 and nothing interesting has happened much, apart from them having a plan, as you mentioned. This book will really improve itself if (view spoiler)[ Holland did die. The death would mean something, like he said.
Totally agree with you about his back story. It was so sad and I found that so interesting. I wish we spent more time in White London, and learn more about how messed up it is, how it got to be that way. Holland is a great character too.
But all we do is sulk in the boring Red London castle. If we're gonna stay in Red London, at least show us the common people? I have no interest in the useless royals and their doings ugh (hide spoiler)]

Sorry for the rant at the end lol. I'm really not enjoying this book. I'm interested to see how it ends though

As for finishing the book this month, for me I don't think that'll be possible haha. I put off reading this book too much, and uni projects are piling up for me

But I'll still try to get the book done as much as possible this month

No worries, I just asked to see if had to speed up my reading pace. I am actually enjoying the book somewhat but even I can't stop myself from procrastinating it. I don't exactly know why *shrugs*. When I read the book it seems okay but it takes effort to pick it up again and there is always more fun things to do instead.

Maria wrote: "Aakash wrote: "Finished part 5 chapter 4.

Hi Maria, where are you in the book? Do you think we will be able to finish this book before the ending of this month?

Holland is the only character for ..."

(view spoiler)[You are right about Holland's death but I have this feeling that he won't die. There are just too many obvious clues of him dying. Whether the author kills him is the question. If she kills him then it will seem predictable but if she doesn't then also it will be predictable in a sense.😅 My head hurts, I am just thinking too much about it. I have to agree that the parts about Red London are getting pretty boring. There was reference to Steel Prince, a graphic novel series which is based in the same world, focussing on a younger Maxim Marish. The reference would have been exciting if I had read the Graphic novel series which I didn't
and don't plan to do. Schwab had also announced that there will be three more books in same universe of shades of magic series. I will eventually read it but I am not that excited for it. (hide spoiler)]

The Steel Prince story is somewhat appealing to me, as metal magic hasn't been explored much in the series. But I'm not much of a graphic novel person, so I'm gonna have to pass

Aakash wrote: "No worries, I just asked to see if had to speed up my reading pace. I am actually enjoying the book somewhat but even I can't stop myself from procrastinating it. I don't exactly know why *shrugs*...."

I think I recognize the reason. The plot has no urgency to it. The city is being destroyed but nothing worse/major is happening. As if trouble is waiting until the authorities come up with a plan 😞

Finished. I really want to say that the book improved but it didn't. I remember exactly when I started enjoying it, that was after I finished reading 75% of it. So basically, the storyline just before the ending was immersive and fast paced, I thought that finally, I will love the book, you see, I have the tendency to rate books higher if they have unique and brilliant endings, BUT, the book again disappoints me with its mediocre ending.

(view spoiler)[ The ending scene with Osaron? That's it? Is that why I slowly trudged through the book? *sigh* Such a disappointing ending. It was just bland and boring. It felt as if the author just wanted to end the book and be done with it.


Few things I liked in the book.
- Holland's ending. I just loved how he was the fabled King from the beginning. His final breath brought magic back in the White London.
- Kell's ending. It is predictable, I know. He always wanted freedom and finally he got it with the added bonus of Lila being with him.
- I also liked the scene where Kell had the paper in his hand which would reveal his true parentage but he burned it because he accepted his adopted family as the true one. That was brilliant. I was little disappointed as I was always curious about his birth parents but hearing that there was a chance that his real parents abandoned him, I was happy overall with his choice. (hide spoiler)]

Aakash wrote: "Finished. I really want to say that the book improved but it didn't. I remember exactly when I started enjoying it, that was after I finished reading 75% of it. So basically, the storyline just bef..."

oh :/ that sucks. And I know exactly what you mean about the 75% thing! that's what happened with the previous book too!

I may continue this after exams, then i will see your spoiler ^_^

Good luck for exams then!

Thank you!

I liked the book. I had a few questions:

Ch 6, Section II - It is implied that Lila does some magic to convince the guards to leave the dungeon where Holland is being held, to give her some time alone with him. Holland wonders "if the new guard knew what he'd done. It was the kind of magic forbidden in this world, and worshiped in his own." But the he in he'd - is that Holland? At first it reads "Holland felt a strange thing happen." implying that it is not he who did the magic (and he's shackled to restrict his magic in any case), so who would he be?

Ch 9, Section IV - Alucard intrudes on Lila's room on the ship, interrupting her and Kell. He is wet. It is implied that Lila and Kell's foreplay is rocking the ship. Is this a magical thing?

Ch 15, Section III - Kell tells Ned to give his king (Grey) a letter from Rhy (Red) saying that it will be the last. Why the last?

The end - It's implied that Holland just dies. Why though? Was he sick? Was it some kind of suicide? Why did he want to die in White London?
The end - Lila's wanderlust fits her character, but it doesn't feel as natural for Kell. It's not stated what they're aiming to do besides see the world. Any thoughts?