“'Love and loss,' he said, 'are like a ship and the sea. They rise together. The more we love, the more we have to lose. But the only way to avoid loss is to avoid love. And what a sad world that would be.'”

First and foremost, this book made me take back basically everything I ever thought or said about Alucard Emory. Now that I've seen his past and understand it, I'm never going back. I really like how we were introduced to his past around the same time Kell was, because it made his character feel that much more real. I don't like knowing things in books when the characters don't because it feels less real that way, but when you're introduced to things when everyone else is, it's like you're with them. And that's good writing, in my opinion.

Continuously, I loved the growth of Holland's character. He went from a villain (book one) to an anti-hero (book two) to a hero in A Conjuring of Light and I'm living for it. He's one of the most fleshed out characters and his development is one of the most cared about I've ever read. The amount of attention Schwab has given these characters is astonishing and wonderful. This series has such a place in my heart for that reason and more. 

I'm not going to go too much into the lives of my favorites because they stood out as usual, so I'm going to focus on some of the other things I liked about this book. I think at this rate you all know I love Lila, Kell, and Rhys with all of my heart. (Though, I will say I lost a little respect for Kell when he kept trashing on Alucard despite hearing his story, which wasn't fair to Alucard.) 

I can't stop thinking about Schwab's writing honestly and how expressive it is. I actually see my writing style in hers because we do the same repetition and sentence structure, which is really weird because I haven't seen my writing style out in the world too much. But seriously though, Schwab writes so wonderfully and my writing can't compare in that sense. 

“Scars are not shameful, not unless you let them be. If you do not wear them, they will wear you.”

Anyway, plot-wise A Conjuring of Light did what A Gathering of Shadows did not. It elaborated slightly on its predecessor's plot, but was mostly separate and concluded the broader plot. Not to mention, the conclusion was beautifully done and very settled, in my opinion. It left room for more, but an end as well. Which I'm glad for because of the Threads of Power series coming out later!! Yay!! Super excited for that!!

To conclude, I either can't remember finding anything wrong with this novel or there was nothing wrong with it. It's been awhile, but I think I've captured my feelings pretty well despite the time lapse. If you haven't read this series or are hesitant, I highly recommend trying it. 

“Anoshe was a word for strangers in the street, and lovers between meetings, for parents and children, friends and family. It softened the blow of leaving. Eased the strain of parting. A careful nod to the certainty of today, the mystery of tomorrow. When a friend left, with little chance of seeing home, they said anoshe. When a loved one was dying, they said anoshe. When corpses were burned, bodies given back to the earth and souls to the stream, those left grieving said anoshe.

Anoshe brought solace. And hope. And the strength to let go.”

-Book Hugger