A Conjuring of Light Heralds a New Era in Epic Fantasy

We’ve been waiting a whole year for this moment—and now, the final installment of V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series has finally arrived, and there’s only one way to describe it: A Conjuring of Light is pure magic. Schwab handles language and storytelling the way Lila Bard wields a knife—with cunning and absolute precision. As a conclusion to the trilogy, it is a singular work; as a whole, the Shades of Magic series is a turning point for epic fantasy, reinvigorating the genre with originality and a mastery of language.
This is decidedly not epic fantasy offering just another iteration or reinterpretation of Tolkien, (which is not to besmirch the ever-growing crop of very good fantasy novels that do just that). Bearing the influences of everything from classic fairytales, to comics, to anime, the Shades of Magic series is its own thing, and I believe it will change what we think of when we think about epic fantasy for years to come.

A Darker Shade of Magic introduced us to four parallel versions of London: Grey London, which stands in our world (or one very much like it), is home to Delilah Bard, a common thief itching for adventure. Red London is home to Prince Rhy and his adopted brother, the Antari Kell, the last Red London magician with the power to cross into other worlds; it is here that magic pulses through the city like blood through veins. White London is a world locked away from the others—a world where magic is dying, and everything exists only in shades of grey; Holland is the sole surviving White London Antari, shaped by the pain and suffering of his birthplace. And Black London…Black London is a dead world, where magic overwhelmed life and choked it out.
A Gathering of Shadows begins in the wake of a dark plague that shook Red London to its magical foundations. Kell, always feared, is now openly reviled, suspected as the source of the black magic that took the lives of many in the city. He’s earned the mistrust of the monarchs, his adoptive parents, despite sacrificing so much to save Rhy. Lila has left the city entirely, seeking new adventures on the open sea under Captain Alucard Emery. She learns more about her own magic, and seeks to test the limits of her power when she and Alucard return to London and enter a magical tournament. Meanwhile, darkness is rising in White London as a new King takes the throne. Schwab leaves us at the edge of cliff, the fates of our beloved Rhy and Kell hanging in the balance.

And finally, we’re here: A Conjuring of Light crashes open at the moment A Gathering of Shadows closes, with a beginning that will leave readers breathless and will answer some crucial questions we were left with at the end of book two. And from there, it just. Doesn’t. Stop. There are 624 pages of relentless twists and turns. Intrigues you’ll never see coming. Unlikely alliances are forged in the heat of battle, as the darkness that rose in White London spills forth to take Red London in its icy grip. The dark magic responsible for the annihilation of Black London rises and threatens life in all three of the other Londons, as Kell and Lila must determine, once and for all, what their friendship means, even as Kell and Rhy struggle with their own unique bond, which could ultimately determine life and death for both of them. Schwab’s brilliance at plot and pacing keep the pages turning; despite the length of the book (the series has certainly grown in the telling; at one point, book three looked like it would be books three and four), I did not want it to end. Its magic gripped me.
This trilogy is the definition of addictive reading. It floods the senses with rich detail, and touches the heart with fully formed characters whose struggles and hard-fought triumphs become our own. Even side characters are rendered in three dimensions. And the layers upon layers of worldbuilding are incredible. Red London, Kell, Rhy, Lila, Alucard, and yes even Holland, are unforgettable, and they will all leave an indelible mark on readers. I don’t want to leave this world behind. This is iconic epic fantasy. It’s an instant classic. And I hope this isn’t the last we’ll see of this world.
A Conjuring of Light is available from Barnes & Noble in an exclusive signed edition, releasing February 21.