Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - A Marvellous Light

I enjoyed it. The steamy bits do drag on a bit if it's not your thing, so I skipped a fair amount of them, but this has plenty to hold it up other than the smut.

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gooseboy's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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

4.25

an interesting magic system mixed with a highly compelling romance plot made this book very enjoyable for me! got through it in a little over a day.
~~side note, did anyone else read robin's dialogue as male hawke from dragon age 2, or was it just me~~

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indiaaaa's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Come for the mystery, stay for the romance. It does take a little while for things to get going in both departments but once things happen, you can’t put it down.

I would say that the romance is a larger focus than the mystery. There are times when nothing in progressing with the mystery because the chemistry is building between them. Just know that going in.

EDIT: After reading some other books that either have a great romance and a lackluster plot or a great plot with a lackluster romance, I do thing that A Marvelous Light does actually have a pretty good balance of an engaging plot alongside a strong romance…even if the sex scenes happen at in opportune moments (I.e. right after an intense, life-threatening moment)

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welgan's review

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed this story and these two characters, especially Edwin who spoke to me at an emotional level. The themes and social problematics we see through the main characters (especially the harm family can do and self-esteem in a world where you're not enough by birth) were very interesting. An the way the magic works in this world was enchanting and original.
I don't know if I'm going to read the other two books in the series as I feel less interested by the other main couples, but the story and world is interesting enough so that I'm now considering it.

Warning if you're not an enjoyer of spicy scenes : there are detailed intimacy moments between the main characters. It's strong, woven into the story, helping their development and emotion-focused, but they are also long and detailed, so if that's not your preference, you know. It's usually not what I am looking for myself, but I liked the characters, and I liked the way the sex scenes were described more than other works I may have read, with a more intense focus on the character's feelings.

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20sidedbi's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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katiehoneydew's review

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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lalesbianlune's review

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I always enjoy a book with magical worldbuilding, especially one that can bring something unique. The actual plot of this book wasn’t particularly mysterious or compelling, but it led you through the characters and magical system easily. I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters, but I was disappointed by how underdeveloped the side characters felt and some of the ‘leaning in” to the Edwardian period attitudes. Generally fun and easy to read.

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