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beepbeep101's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Cursing, and Misogyny
Minor: Gun violence and Lesbophobia
18soft_green's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4/5
I enjoyed this story though not as much as I enjoyed the first book. It was funny, the plot was entertaining enough, the characters were complex for the most part.
I like that the story centers the feminine characters without making it a girlboss situation and actually shows some of the toxicity with that mindset while still supporting women's agency. I also really loved how it showed that women are important and strong even though society doesn't give them the freedom to be independent. I didn't like how Maud and Violet's relationship starts but I think that's just a preference.
Violet is an interesting character but also one of my least favorite types of characters. Her independent woman with no deep feelings performance is exhausting but that's kind of the point. Maud is fun except her innocence felt kind of forced. But then again, this is the 19th century where women legit didn't get to learn about sex and stuff until after they were married. I love Hawthorn and am curious about Ross.
The sex scenes were awesome! I like how realistic they were about the mechanics of sex and dialogue, the jokes and awkwardness. I like how Maud was new to it but excited and interested so we got a whole scene in safety. I like how the scene was hot but not in a fantastical way and descriptive while also being practical. I love Marske's writing style so much! It's so difficult to find a sapphic story that's smutty but not written for men or perfect the act but is also intimate.
I didn't like how the story kind of particularizes Maud and Robin like their individuality and personness is something that runs in the family and they're just saints among humans but it doesn't go too over the top with it. Maybe that's just because that's how people treat my family so I want to smash it instead of observing that it's just art depicting life? Idk, it's weird.
4/5 Like this story, would recommend
I enjoyed this story though not as much as I enjoyed the first book. It was funny, the plot was entertaining enough, the characters were complex for the most part.
I like that the story centers the feminine characters without making it a girlboss situation and actually shows some of the toxicity with that mindset while still supporting women's agency. I also really loved how it showed that women are important and strong even though society doesn't give them the freedom to be independent. I didn't like how Maud and Violet's relationship starts but I think that's just a preference.
Violet is an interesting character but also one of my least favorite types of characters. Her independent woman with no deep feelings performance is exhausting but that's kind of the point. Maud is fun except her innocence felt kind of forced. But then again, this is the 19th century where women legit didn't get to learn about sex and stuff until after they were married. I love Hawthorn and am curious about Ross.
The sex scenes were awesome! I like how realistic they were about the mechanics of sex and dialogue, the jokes and awkwardness. I like how Maud was new to it but excited and interested so we got a whole scene in safety. I like how the scene was hot but not in a fantastical way and descriptive while also being practical. I love Marske's writing style so much! It's so difficult to find a sapphic story that's smutty but not written for men or perfect the act but is also intimate.
I didn't like how the story kind of particularizes Maud and Robin like their individuality and personness is something that runs in the family and they're just saints among humans but it doesn't go too over the top with it. Maybe that's just because that's how people treat my family so I want to smash it instead of observing that it's just art depicting life? Idk, it's weird.
4/5 Like this story, would recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting, Death, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Stalking
Minor: Body shaming, Grief, Blood, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Sexism
sophiesmallhands's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Once again, Freya Marske knocks it out of the park with whipcrack humour, excellent pacing and characters that you grow extremely attached to very quickly. In this volume, we follow Maud, Robin Blyth’s younger sister, as she travels from the USA back to Great Britain on an ocean liner accompanied by an elderly woman with knowledge of one of the objects involved with the Last Binding – too bad she’s murdered before the 2nd chapter…
What follows is Maud “accidentally” recruiting a dream team of fellow shipmates to solve the crime: Alan, a young aspiring journalist with a penchant for stealing; Lord Hawthorn, who would like everyone to know he did NOT want to be involved with these people but somehow ends up showing up when they need him most every time; and finally Violet Debenham, an actress magician with a charming exterior and a steely interior (interestingly, the complete opposite of Edwin in AML).
This love story is more of a lust-at-first-sight but as I came to know both Violet and Maud better, I was able to become more invested in their romance. As Lord Hawthorne put it, Maud is a “ball of righteousness” – the world does not deserve her and she needs to be protected at all costs (just like dear Edwin uwu). The murder mystery combined with the chaotic/cosy/claustrophobic setting of the ship just really *hit* right and just like in AML, there are two climaxes. I can tell you now, I was not expecting the surprise villain and they were scary as shit!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, Torture, and Toxic relationship
adancewithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Thank you to TOR and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Last year I really loved A Marvellous Light and so A Restless Truth was one of my most anticipated releases. While for me it wasn't quite a s good as the first book, I still really liked it.
Maud is aboard a ship, accompanying an eldery lady from America to England. She is helping out her brother Robin with finding and protecting the final pieces of The Last Binding. Unfortunately the elderly lady gets murdered before she can tell her where her part is exactly. Enter a very big mystery for a young girl who does not quite have the social status to look around everywhere. She manages to get the help of Violet and the sort of help from Lord Hawethorn to figure out who was the murderer and who took her things.
From the little we got of Maud in A Marvellous Light I knew I was going to love her. She is headstrong and can back it up with an intelligent head on her shoulders. She is very persuasive. Seeing how the other half of the family dealt with their parents was really interesting.
Violet, the other point of view we got and Maud's love interest, ran from England quite a while ago. But an inheritance brings her back, with family who don't seem to love her very much, attached to her hip. For free Violet this is a thorn in her eye. I did not quite take to Violet. She is very closed off, even in her own point of views and she never really gives herself to Maud. Of course that is her fear and her fault but it made it hard for me to connect with her.
I was however very drawn to Lord Hawthorne. He was not painted in the best light during A Marvellous Light but somewhat better in this installment. We certainly got some part of the pieces to his history and what made him into this person. And this step in his character development makes me think he will be a main character for book 3. He also has a nice spicy interaction with Ross, a last minute addition to Maud's team, which makes me think that might be the romance. I totally want to read that.
I think what I loved the most about this book, besides Maud, was the team she managed to get on board. Violet was curious but Lord Hawthorne and Ross were less easy. It created a very interesting dynamic between these 4 characters.
Last year I really loved A Marvellous Light and so A Restless Truth was one of my most anticipated releases. While for me it wasn't quite a s good as the first book, I still really liked it.
Maud is aboard a ship, accompanying an eldery lady from America to England. She is helping out her brother Robin with finding and protecting the final pieces of The Last Binding. Unfortunately the elderly lady gets murdered before she can tell her where her part is exactly. Enter a very big mystery for a young girl who does not quite have the social status to look around everywhere. She manages to get the help of Violet and the sort of help from Lord Hawethorn to figure out who was the murderer and who took her things.
From the little we got of Maud in A Marvellous Light I knew I was going to love her. She is headstrong and can back it up with an intelligent head on her shoulders. She is very persuasive. Seeing how the other half of the family dealt with their parents was really interesting.
Violet, the other point of view we got and Maud's love interest, ran from England quite a while ago. But an inheritance brings her back, with family who don't seem to love her very much, attached to her hip. For free Violet this is a thorn in her eye. I did not quite take to Violet. She is very closed off, even in her own point of views and she never really gives herself to Maud. Of course that is her fear and her fault but it made it hard for me to connect with her.
I was however very drawn to Lord Hawthorne. He was not painted in the best light during A Marvellous Light but somewhat better in this installment. We certainly got some part of the pieces to his history and what made him into this person. And this step in his character development makes me think he will be a main character for book 3. He also has a nice spicy interaction with Ross, a last minute addition to Maud's team, which makes me think that might be the romance. I totally want to read that.
I think what I loved the most about this book, besides Maud, was the team she managed to get on board. Violet was curious but Lord Hawthorne and Ross were less easy. It created a very interesting dynamic between these 4 characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Murder
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
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