August 2019 Meeting

For the month of August, the Hatchet Coffee book club choice is A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab, the second book in the Shades of Magic series. We read the first book together this year and wanted to complete the series. Feel free to join in the conversation, even if you weren't a part of the book club during the reading of the first book. Victoria “V.E.” Schwab is the #1 NYT, USA, and indie bestselling author of more than a dozen books, including Vicious, the Shades of Magic series, This Savage Song, and the City of Ghosts series. Her work has received critical acclaim, been featured by EW and The New York Times, been translated into more than a dozen languages, and been optioned for TV and film. The Independent calls her the “natural successor to Diana Wynne Jones” and touts her “enviable, almost Gaimanesque ability to switch between styles, genres, and tones.” So what's this book about?

It has been four months since a mysterious obsidian stone fell into Kell's possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Prince Rhy was wounded, and since the nefarious Dane twins of White London fell, and four months since the stone was cast with Holland's dying body through the rift--back into Black London.

Now, restless after having given up his smuggling habit, 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 extravagant 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.

And while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night will reappear in the morning. But the balance of magic is ever perilous, and for one city to flourish, another London must fall.

via GIPHY

If this sounds like something you'd enjoy reading, we really hope that you'll come grab a copy from the bookstore or from one of the local libraries, then join us at the book club meeting. 

If you decide to get your copy from Foggy Pine Books, the paperback copies are on sale for 15% off until the end of the month. You can also buy the audiobook online from our partner, Libro.fm. Click here to get yours!
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Relevant Reviews & Interviews

"Plenty of Shadows Loom in 'Gathering'" -- NPR 
"In Search of Doors" -- Tor.com
"Subverting Fantasy Tropes: An Interview with VE Schwab" -- Geekritique
"A Q&A with Author VE Schwab: On Creativity & Transparency" -- BookRiot
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We'll meet at Foggy Pine Books on August 29th at 7:30pm. Bring a friend and come discuss the book with us, even if you weren't able to completely finish it or if you didn't like it. You can see the Facebook event & RSVP here .