A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab

October 6, 2023

A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab

Four months after the events of A Darker Shade of Magic, Lila Bard is living her dream life on The Night Spire, a privateer craft. Kell is living in Red London with the royal family, assisting with preparations for the upcoming magicians' tournament and trying to keep his brother Rhy from getting himself killed. But with all the great magicians gathered in Red London, it's only a matter of time before the situation gets out of hand and becomes explosive.

The second book in Schwab's Shades of Magic series. People seem to either adore or despise it on Goodreads. Like many sequels, this isn't as good as the first book, but it's not terrible either, although the last third did start to drag. There are lovely descriptions of magic, the settings, and the characters. While the first book can be read as a stand-alone, there is a cliffhanger at the end of this one. Not sure if I'm interested enough to read the third book. Recommended for hardcore fantasy readers.

Dueling wizards

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

June 24, 2021

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

Four women decide to compete in a cooking contest sponsored by a BBC radio program, for different reasons: newly widowed Audrey wants to win the prize to save her family's home and support her three sons; her estranged sister Gwendoline, married to the local lord who ignores and belittles her, want to win the prize to earn a spot as a radio presenter; Nell, a kitchen maid at Gwendoline's house, wants to win the prize to escape the life of a low-level servant and become a head cook; and Zelda, a self-trained chef working at a local factory but with a secret of her own, wants to win the prize to earn a spot as a head chef in the male-dominated world of fine restaurants.

The contest focuses on creative cooking using the limited ingredients available during rationing, and unexpectedly brings the four together despite being rivals. All four women want a better and different life for themselves. They end up supporting each other and forging bonds of friendship.

The heartwarming story is based on an actual radio program and contest. Food rationing began in England in 1940 and ran until 1954, with coupons necessary to obtain tiny amounts of basics like sugar, butter, and proteins. I had not realized that rationing went on so long in England.

British ration books from World War II