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abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Take this with a grain of salt due to recency bias as I don’t think anything could actually ever top A Marvellous Light for me BUT I did love how perfect a conclusion this story was, especially with the way it brought together all three story lines. The small call backs and the way this story flowed out perfectly from the paths already carved by the previous two made it a completely masterful novel.
A Restless Truth was a great book, but I missed Robin and Edwin. Having the entire gang together and watching this ragtag queer crew (Adelaide Morrissey is an asexual icon IMO) band together made this story electric in a way I missed in ART.
I really think Jack and Alan were the absolute perfect combo to complete the Last Binding trilogy. The chemistry was off the charts incredible, and I loved how they were such perfect foils for each other, highlighting both of their strengths, weaknesses, and growth. And in that growth, realize how much they truly complement each other and need the other to balance them, and match them.
Alan’s life is defined by what he would sacrifice and give to take care of his family; Jack’s is defined by the sister he couldn’t save. Alan has spent so long caring for others he can’t imagine letting go and being cared for; Jack has been selfish and has had everything he wanted handed to him, yet he wants nothing more than to be able to protect those few he actually does care about. While not the most important element of the story compared to the heart-racing plot, this thematic undercurrent supports the heart of the novel.
There are SO many good twists, turns, reveals, and secrets in this story I feel the need to reread it again immediately. The intense “Oh shit!” moments I thought would happen at the end of the book started happening at 40% in and my mind was blown at where the story could possibly go from there. Despite this, I never felt lost or like I had no idea what was going on since the groundwork has been impeccably laid. I want to spend 15 minutes in Freya Marske’s mind just to bask in all these incredible ideas.
Last but not least, Alan and Jack’a sexual escapades are among the best I’ve ever read. I have adored Marske’s sex scenes since day 1 because I find them so deeply informative to the characters and they tell us so much about the relationship dynamics, and APU exemplifies this in the extreme, while simultaneously being the absolute hottest filth you have ever read. I was listening in the car during the study scene (IYKYK) and I think my mouth was hanging open for the whole thing in delighted shock.
I’m afraid I won’t ever read another book quite like A Power Unbound, a title so chillingly perfect for this story I’m kind of in awe I didn’t see how good it was until after I finished it. But if Marske keeps publishing books, I really hope I do.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
sarahna's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
potatogrr's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide
tigertheory's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexism
kal517's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity
20sidedbi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
ezwolf's review
- 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
Jack and Alan have an entertaining begrudging allies to lovers relationship, with so much more emotion than either of them thought would come of it. We learn more of Jack's backstory in this one and there's a line in the start of the book about "sets wanting to remain together" that was simply heart wrenching as we learned more about Jack and his sister.
This book shows off more of the sentient house hold/magician owned land and it was so fun to see that play out with Spinnet House. I loved the epilogue and have a lot of feelings about it that I'll keep to myself for the sake of remaining spoiler free!
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
caseythereader's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
- It was so wonderful to be back in the Last Binding world for one more time with A POWER UNBOUND. Given that this is the last book in a trilogy, I'll try not to get too much into plot, but this one had me on the edge of my seat.
- Jack and Alan are a fiery pair, and watching them break down their walls was a treat.
- I'll admit I didn't quite follow how all the magic worked in this one, but this found family is such a delight that it doesn't really matter, you just want to see them succeed.
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
purplepenning's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Sex scenes include consensual non-consent and power play inspired by role-playing from erotic storiesmaryellen's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence and Blood