Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - A Power Unbound

I really enjoyed the plot and resolution of the series, it was very satisfying and brought our gaggle of characters, who've become a found family by now, plus some new characters (Hawthorn's mother!!) together in such delightful ways. I can't say often enough how amazing the magic system is, I love the concept of magic of the land so much, and this book had it in spades. Introducing the heirs to the house by showing the newborns to mirror! Bowing to the bee hives! So awesome!

Unfortunately I disliked the dynamic of the new couple so intensely I had to skip many pages. Alan and Hawthorn are forever hissing, spitting venom, using derogatory language, it was extremely exhausting. Class is a huge wedge between them and an important issue the book discusses, but the way it was done imo undermined those efforts, not least because the power difference is such a defining feature of their sex role plays. About those I can only say, dom/sub all the way, degrading language, consensual non-consent etc, no romance until the very end and then it was suddenly too sentimental. Alan's pov additionally undermines the camaraderie because for him everyone is rich and privileged first and a human being second.

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ridesthesun's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional 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

4.25

My babies all together 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

Freya Marske, miracle worker. This woman actually made me fall in love with Jack's character, something i swore was impossible. I really loved Jack and Alan's povs, and I would fight to the death for both of them fr.

I.... never really got invested in their relationship at all. Like, I love them individually, I love them in the larger group, I enjoyed their banter, and the sex was hot.... but I just didn't care about them as a couple. I was hoping that would change but it never did. Ah well, I don't think it's a problem with the writing, it's just not a dynamic for me.

BUT the group dynamic was SO good. I love how balanced it felt, and how natural the back-and-forth was. The people who gelled, the ones who bumped heads. It all felt so real and GOOD. beloved shenanigan havers.

I think the difference for me in the books and couples in this series, is that while books 2 and 3 were far more plot heavy, with murder mysteries and heists and the downfall of magic as we know it etc, and the romantic relationships came along in the gaps between, almost the whole plot of book 1 WAS the relationship. It was world building in such an intimate, casual way, that left so much room for Edwin and Robin as characters and as a couple. Also I think their dynamic was just one more suited to me anyways. BUT. Series as a whole is so beloved. The plots of each are so fun, and stand well individually and as a whole. Fantasy can sometimes feel so overwhelming, but this had the worldbuilding and magic system woven in so naturally, I never really felt lost or overwhelmed. A++++++ all around 💜💜💜

(i also wonder if this would have felt different if i read instead of listened. the narration was not as good as the other two; i struggled to differentiate who was speaking when, and whether a person was speaking out loud or just in their narrative pov. led to some confusing moments, which maybe took part of the enjoyment away for me? idk)

ace adelaide. i will love you forever and ever and ever. your lil lavender marriage is Everything To Me. beloveds.

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bootrat's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

An wonderful end to this trilogy!! I loved Jack and Alan, this was probably the sexiest relationship of the three. I love these characters and this world, and I'm sad it's over, but it all concluded really well. 5 stars for all the books, and I can't recommend them highly enough to anyone!

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hooligan_kt's review

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.5

I had to think hard about whether or not I could wait for this book to come out in paperback, and I'm glad that I went ahead and bought it in hardcover. It was a lot of fun to be able to read this right after finishing the second book in the series.

The resolution came together nicely, a lot of the questions I had about how the magic worked in the beginning of the series got explained along the way.

Loved finding out what happened to Elsie. Alan's character was interesting. The twist about him was fun. I think this book had the best sex scenes in the series. Also enjoyed Jack's mother.

One of my favorite elements of this book was all of the parts about the magical houses and the relationship between the magicians and the house. I would love to read more from this universe, especially about the different types of magic based on geography and culture.

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