Reviews

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

mtadie's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

nothingtosay's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

kweebish's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

lolloreads00's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-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

3.5

fantastiskfiktion's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

wandering_turtle's review

medium-paced

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

2.5

davidgreig's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

kaneebli's review

funny mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Death, Blood, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Outing

Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Racism, and Death of parent

julie2525's review against another edition

5.0

4.5 *****

For readers who love books about books. And stories within stories, whether ancient or unmapped. For readers who want to see multi-leveled libraries with books magicked off shelves into piles spayed open in research. Who want magical houses and mazes. Blood-pledges and curses. And a non-toxic love story about two men who bloom when together.

This book breathes. It’s moderately paced. A romance, but its ultimately about caring—for people and places, phrased by the author as “the responsibility we owe to the places we live.” I took my time reading, especially as I realized this will be a go-to reread. Heated scenes were well done, truly intimate and, like the rest of the book, textured. I don’t understand how Freya Marske makes words breathe, but she does. Everything has movement. I was gobsmacked when I learned this was a debut novel.

Tropes, Themes, and Things:
Secret magical world revealed
Brawny / Brainy
Grump / Sunshine
Familial problems
Magic house
horocrux hunt
Non-toxic relationship
Consent!

skienight's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted 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