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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
purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Body horror, Classism, Death, and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Vomit, and Racism
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!!ezwolf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Where to begin! A Marvellous Light was instantly one of my favorite books upon finishing it and when I went to find out more and found out its sequel was going to be about Robin's sister and sapphic? I was so incredibly excited. A Restless Truth already starts on an exciting leg, having left off with Robin and Edwin's unfinished business, and it was a ride all the way through to the end where I was waiting on edge to see how and when and if Maud would make it back to her brother successfully.
The way the characters discussed liminal spaces was something I personally enjoyed since it's one of my favorite words and type of spaces that can exist and I think it worked very well as the setting for this leg of The Last Binding's story.
And I know that something being described as "queer" used to have different connotations, but when Maud said something about a "queer feeling" it had me giggling at the double meaning. I also loved that there was a continual discussion of consent and not just limited to sex.
Even though the stories are about magic and fantasy, the way that Marske also makes the stories about families and the way people do things out of love or spite or a combination of both from their roots.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
EDIT: I cannot believe I forgot this in my initial posting, but the parallel of Violet and Maud with Flora and Beth, I really loved that in a bittersweet way. The way that Flora and Beth didn’t have the chance that Violet and Maud might. Also as I’m typing this, there’s even the parallel in their names: Violet and Flora, oh my gosh, I love it.
The way the characters discussed liminal spaces was something I personally enjoyed since it's one of my favorite words and type of spaces that can exist and I think it worked very well as the setting for this leg of The Last Binding's story.
And I know that something being described as "queer" used to have different connotations, but when Maud said something about a "queer feeling" it had me giggling at the double meaning. I also loved that there was a continual discussion of consent and not just limited to sex.
Even though the stories are about magic and fantasy, the way that Marske also makes the stories about families and the way people do things out of love or spite or a combination of both from their roots.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
EDIT: I cannot believe I forgot this in my initial posting, but the parallel of Violet and Maud with Flora and Beth, I really loved that in a bittersweet way. The way that Flora and Beth didn’t have the chance that Violet and Maud might. Also as I’m typing this, there’s even the parallel in their names: Violet and Flora, oh my gosh, I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Blood, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol, Racism, and Sexual harassment
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