Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina

Book Review: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

Title: A Gathering of Shadows

By: V.E. Schwab

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 512

Release Date: February 23rd, 2016

Rating: ★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads:

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.

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Review:

A Gathering of Shadows takes everything I loved about A Darker Shade of Magic and sharpens it. The stakes are higher. The tension is thicker. The characters feel like they’re standing on a knife’s edge and daring the world to push them.

The Essen Tasch? Obsessed. Magical Olympics but make it elegant, cutthroat, and slightly unhinged. Every round felt like holding my breath underwater just to see who would surface.

Kell is still carrying the weight of multiple Londons like it’s stitched into his bones. Lila Bard continues to be chaos in boots, and I love her for it. Rhy broke my heart in quiet, unexpected ways. Even the side characters felt deliberate and alive, like pieces on a very dangerous chessboard.

And that ending? Cruel. Absolutely cruel. Dark, layered, character driven fantasy with a pulse. Five stars. No notes.

Weekly Menu #647 And The Book Of The Week

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Greek Turkey Rice Bowls

Kids - Chicken and Rice Bowls

Tuesday

Oktoberfest Sheet Pan Brats

Kids - Brat Mac and Cheese

Wednesday

Italian Meatball Soup

Kids - Grilled Cheese

Thursday

Pad See Ew

Kids - Beef Ramen

Friday

Cajun Potato Soup

Kids - Tater Tots and Cheese

Saturday

Spicy Sriracha Tuna Wrap

Kids - Cheese Quesadilla

Sunday

Leftovers Night

Sunday Confessions #344

Sunday has a way of catching me mid thought. The week is over, the noise dies down a little, and all the things I’ve been shoving into the corners of my brain suddenly want airtime. This is where I drop the filters, let go of the “I should be fine” narrative, and say the quiet parts out loud. No fixing, no wrapping things up neatly. Just honesty, exactly as it is.

Sunday Confessions #343

Weekly Menu #646 And The Book Of The Week

Book Review: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

What I Read Last Week - February 2nd to 8th

Weekly Menu #647 And The Book Of The Week

Book Review: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

What I Read Last Week - February 9th to 15th

Sunday Confessions #345

43/250 2026 Reading Challenge

134/214 in my Star Wars Legends challenge

19/102 2025 Goodreads Nominees Reading Challenge

That’s all I have in me for today. No tidy lessons, no big takeaways, just the relief that comes from saying the things I usually keep tucked away. I’ll sit with this, let it be enough for now, and carry what needs carrying into the next week. If you made it this far, thanks for listening. Sometimes that’s more than enough.

What I Read Last Week - February 2nd to 8th

4 Stars

This was a solid, satisfying prequel that added just the right amount of backstory to the Maze Runner world. I loved getting a closer look at how everything came together and seeing familiar characters before the maze, before the rules, before everything went wrong.

It didn’t quite hit the emotional highs of the original series for me, but it deepened the story in a way that made me appreciate the whole Maze Runner universe even more. If you loved the series like I did, this one feels like filling in the missing puzzle pieces you didn’t know you needed.

Not essential, but definitely worth the read for fans.

5 Stars

Timothy Zahn has done it again. Anytime Zahn writes about Thrawn, I’m strapped in and ready for the ride. This book is pure Star Wars magic, the kind that reminds you why this galaxy hooked you in the first place.

The tension ramps up beautifully, the stakes feel real, and Thrawn continues to be one of the most compelling villains in the entire Star Wars universe. Cold, brilliant, and always ten steps ahead, every scene he’s in crackles with anticipation. Watching the New Republic struggle to keep its footing while shadows of the Empire regroup made this impossible to put down.

This is peak Thrawn. Smart, strategic, and deeply satisfying. A must read for Star Wars fans and proof that Zahn understands these characters and this universe on a molecular level.

4 Stars

This one was an emotional ride from start to finish. Beautifully written, tender, and quietly devastating. It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on you, wrapping you in warmth before breaking your heart when you least expect it.

The characters felt deeply human, flawed, loving, and trying their best, which made the heartbreak hit even harder. I found myself lingering over passages, needing to pause just to sit with the emotions before moving on.

Wonderful and heartbreaking all at once. A story that stays with you long after the last page.

5 Stars

This book was a wild, emotional ride from start to finish. The idea of the world ending is terrifying on its own, but what made this story unforgettable was how the characters still had a journey they had to complete. Klune unfolds their story slowly and deliberately, letting each layer peel back until the very end, and the payoff is worth every page.

The writing is raw and heartbreaking, steeped in love, loss, and the quiet devastation of the lives they lived. Every emotion feels earned, every moment heavy with meaning. It’s the kind of story that lingers long after you close the book, glowing like embers you can’t quite shake.

A powerful, beautifully told story and an absolutely great read.

3 Stars

This memoir had moments that really worked for me, but overall it felt pretty disjointed. The constant jumping back and forth through the timeline made it hard to settle into the story, and I found myself having to reorient more often than I wanted.

The writing itself was fine, nothing especially memorable, but what kept me reading was Brolin’s honesty. He’s incredibly open about his past, his mistakes, and the messier parts of his life, and that vulnerability was easily the strongest part of the book.

Not a bad read, just uneven. Worth it if you’re interested in Josh Brolin and don’t mind a memoir that wanders a bit.

4 Stars

I went into this without reading the previous books in the series, even though the book itself strongly suggests you do. And honestly? I was still completely immersed. The world is rich, layered, and clearly built with care, and the characters already feel deeply developed from the moment you meet them.

I never felt lost or confused, which says a lot for a series novella sitting at #4.5. It was easy to follow along, settle into the story, and quickly fall in love with the characters and their dynamics. You can feel the history behind everything without it becoming a barrier to entry.

A really enjoyable read that made me curious to go back and start the series from the beginning.

Book Review: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Title: Deep End

By: Ali Hazelwood

Genre: Romance

Pages: 446

Release Date: February 4th, 2025

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Summary from Goodreads:

A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...

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Review:

Deep End is an enjoyable but fairly familiar romance that never quite dives as deep as it promises. Hazelwood’s writing is smooth and engaging, with her usual warmth, humor, and easy chemistry between the leads. There are fun moments and emotional beats that work well in the moment.

That said, the plot leans predictable, and some character arcs feel a bit underdeveloped compared to her stronger previous books. The romance is pleasant, but it didn’t linger with me once I finished.

Overall, it’s a light, breezy read that Hazelwood fans will likely enjoy, even if it doesn’t stand out as one of her most memorable.