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kal517's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-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: Sexual content, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Racism and Sexual harassment
thecourtofreading's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
as usual, i still prefer the first book. that shit slapped. this one also slapped, but considerably less than the first one slapped. violet was definitely my favourite, even from the beginning. she was really amusing and funny and i loved her sort of friendship with hawthorn. also the fact that this took place on a ship as well added a nice dynamic that i liked actually, and it was nice to be back in this world and read about familiar and unfamiliar characters again. it seems like the third book is going to be about hawthorn, which is exciting because i'm now wondering how this whole thing is going to wrap up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood and Violence
Minor: Vomit and Sexual harassment
wilybooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
While this didn’t quite live up to the first book for me, I still found it gorgeously enchanting. Freya Marske’s prose is as lush and evocative as ever. Sometimes beautiful prose can get in the way of the narrative and leave the reader (at least, this reader) confused about what’s actually going on, but this was eminently readable.
I’ve found that many sapphic romances are lacking in the tension and sexiness that you find in other romances — not so in this book! This book was delightfully horny. Violet and Maud are both deeply flawed and almost mirror images of each other, in a way; where Maud is naive on the surface and unwaveringly strong inside, Violet is confident and sophisticated on the outside but soft and scared on the inside. I especially loved Violet’s characterisation: how she used illusion and artifice as a shield, how she was all defensive sharp edges whenever someone tried to get close to the real Violet, which in turn made it all the sweeter when she dropped those defences and let Maud in. Their story ends on a very satisfactory HFN note that felt right for the characters and their short acquaintance.
While I missed the magical houses and murderous mazes of the first book, I did enjoy the ship setting, and I thought the magical world and its rules were deftly expanded. The reveal at 50%, that Maud is a medium was a really fun addition and took me by genuine surprise. The mystery was fun and engaging, mostly due to the hijinks and banter of Maud’s assembled group of investigators but also in part to some very creepy villains. The comparison to Knives Out was a very apt one.
I think (hope!) that the next book will feature Hawthorn and Ross, because they both made fantastic side characters in this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Torture, Sexism, Confinement, and Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
j0reads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was a delightful return to the fascinating world of the Last Binding trilogy. Magic! Intrigue! Bold and unabashed queer love! What's not to adore about this high seas murder mystery? Between vivid descriptions of Edwardian clothing, Freya Marske builds an intricate and layered love story which is integral to the central plot. Overall a fantastic read and an exciting mystery with countless twists and turns!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, torture, injury, death, murder, grief, misogyny, sexism, classism, confinement, kidnapping, alcohol, sexual harassment, sexual content
--
Full of magical mayhem, a swashbuckling sapphic romance and a marvelling murder mystery, A Restless Truth is a brilliant sequel to Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light.
This second instalment follows Maud Blyth - sister to previous MC Robin – who gets tangled up in a murder investigation aboard a ship that is taking her home from America when the very person she has found to help Robin and Edwin with The Last Contract situation ends up dead.
I absolutely loved that Maud was the lead protagonist and got her own romantic adventure in this book as I really liked her character from the moment we met her in book 1. The rest of the newly introduced characters were also a really fun bunch. Hawthorn is a character I couldn’t remember well from book 1 (I probably should have done a reread) but I’m really glad he got pulled in for the shenanigans as it made the central murder mystery all the more amusing. Honestly the humour in this and the banter between the characters was great! Violet, I took a little longer to fully warm to but I loved everything she stood for.
I feel like the romance in this second book though just as steamy felt a lot more like a side plot. It was balanced well with the rest of the main plot points however, I feel like the whodunnit storyline and direction of the series as a whole became a lot more apparent and took the limelight.
Nevertheless, alongside the highly entertaining mystery I really enjoyed that we got to see more elements of the magic system and learn more about the history of it all and The Last Contract. It brought the whole conspiracy that started in the first book to a nice place to be continued and concluded in the final book of the trilogy and I’m excited to see who is going to be the lead!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
CW: violence, blood, torture, injury, death, murder, grief, misogyny, sexism, classism, confinement, kidnapping, alcohol, sexual harassment, sexual content
--
Full of magical mayhem, a swashbuckling sapphic romance and a marvelling murder mystery, A Restless Truth is a brilliant sequel to Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light.
This second instalment follows Maud Blyth - sister to previous MC Robin – who gets tangled up in a murder investigation aboard a ship that is taking her home from America when the very person she has found to help Robin and Edwin with The Last Contract situation ends up dead.
I absolutely loved that Maud was the lead protagonist and got her own romantic adventure in this book as I really liked her character from the moment we met her in book 1. The rest of the newly introduced characters were also a really fun bunch. Hawthorn is a character I couldn’t remember well from book 1 (I probably should have done a reread) but I’m really glad he got pulled in for the shenanigans as it made the central murder mystery all the more amusing. Honestly the humour in this and the banter between the characters was great! Violet, I took a little longer to fully warm to but I loved everything she stood for.
I feel like the romance in this second book though just as steamy felt a lot more like a side plot. It was balanced well with the rest of the main plot points however, I feel like the whodunnit storyline and direction of the series as a whole became a lot more apparent and took the limelight.
Nevertheless, alongside the highly entertaining mystery I really enjoyed that we got to see more elements of the magic system and learn more about the history of it all and The Last Contract. It brought the whole conspiracy that started in the first book to a nice place to be continued and concluded in the final book of the trilogy and I’m excited to see who is going to be the lead!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Grief, Misogyny, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Classism, and Alcohol
ofbooksandechos's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Classism, Animal cruelty, Racism, and Sexual harassment
mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Sexual content
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual harassment, Racism, and Alcohol
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Enchantingly lush and brilliantly witty, Freya Marske’s spectacular continuation of magical historical fantasy, A Marvellous Light takes all the downton-esque, Edwardian charm of its predecessor and takes it to the open seas as Maud Blythe (Robin’s sister) sets sail aboard the H.M.S Lyric; solving murders, uncovering magical conspiracies and resisting the sizzling sexual tension that draws her to the dazzlingly beautiful (and just a tad scandalous) Violet Debenham.
The period detail was amazing and despite being set solely on board an ocean liner (and a White Star one at that) the setting never felt tedious or boring—the complete opposite in fact as I loved Marske’s richly descriptive and immersive prose.
The intimate nature of such a smaller, more focused setting also helped to delve into the characters’ at a faster pace and really helped to endear them to me. This was certainly the case for Hawthorn, who when first introduced in A Marvellous Light came off as an arrogant and selfish bully.
But his time with Maud and Violet—and his (reluctantly) helpful support really change my opinions of him. As did the simmering, flirtatious tension Hawthorn has with journalist Ross—their back and forth a were the perfect level of angst and I’m really hoping that they’ll both take centre stage in the next instalment.
I also loved getting to see more of Robin’s free-spirited and unconventional sister Maud, finally getting to experience the adventure she’d been craving in book 1. I enjoyed exploring Maud from a POV that wasn’t her brother and seeing her really come into her own as a character, relatively free from the stuffy expectations and pressures of a Baronet’s daughter/sister.
Violet likewise, was also a refreshing addition and I loved how much her larger than life personality and desire for scandal really brought Maud out of her shell. The romance between these two was soo swoon-worthy and just as steamy as its predecessor so do bear that in mind if you prefer cleaner/closed door romances.
The pacing was definitely alot quicker than A Marvellous Light and the tone was a lot lighter than I had anticipated given the murder mystery aspect, but I absolutely loved every second of it! The humour was outstanding and the cast of supporting characters was full of eccentric and utterly entertaining personalities that really helped me to fly through this at a record pace.
It’s a real whirlwind of a book and the action was definitely edge of your seat worthy (I truly couldn’t put it down) but it was the heartwarming essence of the characters and their complex emotions and that really stood out to me. Through Maud and Violet we get a glimpse of the stifling pressures and restrictions Edwardian society placed upon them.
Overall, an exhilarating LGBTQ+ infused tale of magic, murder and marvellously steamy romance that gave me delicious, Agatha Christie meets Titanic vibes that I couldn’t get enough of! If you’re partial to downton-esque historical fantasy then you are going to absolutely ADORE this. It is a sequel but there’s enough backstory that you could read this as a standalone—however I definitely recommend picking up the first book, A Marvellous Light as it’s just soo good!
Also, a massive thank you to Tor Books and Blackcrow PR for the stunning proof.
The period detail was amazing and despite being set solely on board an ocean liner (and a White Star one at that) the setting never felt tedious or boring—the complete opposite in fact as I loved Marske’s richly descriptive and immersive prose.
The intimate nature of such a smaller, more focused setting also helped to delve into the characters’ at a faster pace and really helped to endear them to me. This was certainly the case for Hawthorn, who when first introduced in A Marvellous Light came off as an arrogant and selfish bully.
But his time with Maud and Violet—and his (reluctantly) helpful support really change my opinions of him. As did the simmering, flirtatious tension Hawthorn has with journalist Ross—their back and forth a were the perfect level of angst and I’m really hoping that they’ll both take centre stage in the next instalment.
I also loved getting to see more of Robin’s free-spirited and unconventional sister Maud, finally getting to experience the adventure she’d been craving in book 1. I enjoyed exploring Maud from a POV that wasn’t her brother and seeing her really come into her own as a character, relatively free from the stuffy expectations and pressures of a Baronet’s daughter/sister.
Violet likewise, was also a refreshing addition and I loved how much her larger than life personality and desire for scandal really brought Maud out of her shell. The romance between these two was soo swoon-worthy and just as steamy as its predecessor so do bear that in mind if you prefer cleaner/closed door romances.
The pacing was definitely alot quicker than A Marvellous Light and the tone was a lot lighter than I had anticipated given the murder mystery aspect, but I absolutely loved every second of it! The humour was outstanding and the cast of supporting characters was full of eccentric and utterly entertaining personalities that really helped me to fly through this at a record pace.
It’s a real whirlwind of a book and the action was definitely edge of your seat worthy (I truly couldn’t put it down) but it was the heartwarming essence of the characters and their complex emotions and that really stood out to me. Through Maud and Violet we get a glimpse of the stifling pressures and restrictions Edwardian society placed upon them.
Overall, an exhilarating LGBTQ+ infused tale of magic, murder and marvellously steamy romance that gave me delicious, Agatha Christie meets Titanic vibes that I couldn’t get enough of! If you’re partial to downton-esque historical fantasy then you are going to absolutely ADORE this. It is a sequel but there’s enough backstory that you could read this as a standalone—however I definitely recommend picking up the first book, A Marvellous Light as it’s just soo good!
Also, a massive thank you to Tor Books and Blackcrow PR for the stunning proof.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Blood, and Racism
Minor: Sexual harassment
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
Maud Blyth is used to most of the interesting things happening to her brother, Robin. So, when she gets a chance to travel to New York for her own adventure, she jumps on the chance. Especially since it means covering up secrets that threaten all of the British Isles.
Instead of an adventure, what she happens upon is a dead body. And a mysterious woman named Violet Debenham, who is a magician and an actress. Thrown together by a murder on the ship, the two must work together in order to solve the mystery. When sparks start to fly between the two of them, it's the last thing Maud ever expected.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for an advanced copy of A Restless Truth to review! I I loved A Marvellous Light last year when I read it, so I was excited to jump into this sequel. I am happy to say that I wasn't disappointed! And the cover is just as gorgeous as the first book.
This is being pitched as Knives Out meets The Binding, and I'd definitely agree about the Knives Out aspect. The murder mystery is definitely the driving force behind this plot, with a little magic and romance mixed in. It's a great sort of genre blender, so I think there are a lot of readers who will really enjoy this! I will say, you don't have to read the first book to get what's going on in this one; it just gives you some background knowledge on the world building.
The chemisty between Violet and Maud was absolutely my favorite thing about this book. Their chemistry is great from the get-go. And it continues to build throughout the book. Honestly, I would read a whole entire book about them. Or maybe they go on an adventure with Robin and Edwin! Yeah, let's make that the next book.
In addition to Violet and Maud, there's a cast of quirky side characters you'll fall in love with as well. The group on the ship are fun to read about, making this a magical mystery adventure romance you won't want to miss.
All in all, if you love a great genre blender, especially one with a little magic, you'll definitely enjoy this book!
Instead of an adventure, what she happens upon is a dead body. And a mysterious woman named Violet Debenham, who is a magician and an actress. Thrown together by a murder on the ship, the two must work together in order to solve the mystery. When sparks start to fly between the two of them, it's the last thing Maud ever expected.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for an advanced copy of A Restless Truth to review! I I loved A Marvellous Light last year when I read it, so I was excited to jump into this sequel. I am happy to say that I wasn't disappointed! And the cover is just as gorgeous as the first book.
This is being pitched as Knives Out meets The Binding, and I'd definitely agree about the Knives Out aspect. The murder mystery is definitely the driving force behind this plot, with a little magic and romance mixed in. It's a great sort of genre blender, so I think there are a lot of readers who will really enjoy this! I will say, you don't have to read the first book to get what's going on in this one; it just gives you some background knowledge on the world building.
The chemisty between Violet and Maud was absolutely my favorite thing about this book. Their chemistry is great from the get-go. And it continues to build throughout the book. Honestly, I would read a whole entire book about them. Or maybe they go on an adventure with Robin and Edwin! Yeah, let's make that the next book.
In addition to Violet and Maud, there's a cast of quirky side characters you'll fall in love with as well. The group on the ship are fun to read about, making this a magical mystery adventure romance you won't want to miss.
All in all, if you love a great genre blender, especially one with a little magic, you'll definitely enjoy this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Racism, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol
a_modernstoryteller's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, and Racism
Definitely a new top favourite read of 2022!!