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readskiesatdawn's review
- 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
4.0
The magic system is a good balance of hard and soft, with clearly defined rules that still allows for creativity. Information about it is balanced well through the book with us learning bits and pieces along with the non magical character. There's very little info umping.
Both leads are likable in different ways and are also relatable in different ways. It's clear which narrative voice you're reading as the point of view switches back and forth and this switching is used well for dramatic irony. The failures to communicate that happen have clear and logical character motivations behind them and as a result are frustrating for the intended narrative reasons.
Four stars due to some minor pacing issues and a few one or two things I don't feel were foreshadowed well.
Graphic: Sexual content and Bullying
Moderate: Ableism and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent and Child abuse
lindseyhall44'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? Yes
4.25
A Marvelous Light follows Robin Blythe, a man struggling to balance the conflicts in his life, as he is thrown into a world o magic he never knew existed. With the help of magician (and kind of enemy?) Edwin, the two must undercover the source of danger for Robin, as well as magicians everywhere.
This novel was the historical fantasy I never knew I needed. I adored the Edwardian England setting with the magical undertones. The writing was also phenomenal, and it flowed well with the pacing of the story.
That being said, I do wish the love story was a bit more developed, but that is just a personal preference:)
Overall, I would highly recommend to anyone interested (though as always, check trigger warnings before reading).
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Torture, Trafficking, Death, Bullying, and Suicide
Moderate: Ableism and Racism
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The rapport between Edwin and Robin slowly builds, lagging behind the intensity of each man’s buried attraction to the other. Robin adjusts pretty quickly to the existence of magic (a situation made much harder to ignore by the harsh nature of his introduction). Edwin’s focus is on trying to remove Robin’s curse, initially thinking of their acquaintance as very temporary and somewhat reversible. Much of the book is spent on Edwin’s family’s estate, with his siblings whose pranks range from frustrating to cruel.
The worldbuilding is pretty subtle about placing the era, the setting is one where magic exists within the otherwise real history of the British Isles. Since I wasn't trying very hard to place it I was content to know it's a while ago, but after the invention of cars. I'm sure there are clues to place it more precisely if I looked hard, but the story wasn't trying to trouble me with those. It did more with the ways that magic could be secret, and the key seems to be that (in England, specifically), it's tied up in old money and old families since magic is passed through bloodlines.
I enjoyed this immensely and will definitely read the rest of the series. The ending sets up a clear idea for the arc of the series, and I'll happily read more in this setting even if Edwin and Robin don't stay as the protagonists.
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Torture, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Ableism, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Violence, Blood, Bullying, and Drug use
Minor: Self harm, Suicide, Child death, Death of parent, and Vomit
kathleencoughlin's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Torture, Murder, Kidnapping, Outing, and Sexism
Minor: Racism, Blood, Ableism, Cursing, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
erynlasbelin'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Self harm, Cursing, and Ableism
Minor: Vomit, Colonisation, Outing, Classism, and Racism
dariusmortee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I’m not sure if I feel the need to read the second book once it’s out. The story has potential, but I’m not sure if the writer has priorities for her story the same way I would have them for this story.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Classism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Chronic illness
Minor: Ableism
aardwyrm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Death
Minor: Death of parent and Ableism
horns_and_ember's review
- 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
Graphic: Torture, Classism, Kidnapping, Ableism, and Bullying
Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Sexism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
nicamooch'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
4.75
(My singular gripe was that some mishaps in the middle of the book felt a little too easily overcome/solved but that’s it. Honestly, just reading Marske’s prose makes me ascend so I didn’t even care that much lmao)
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Bullying, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Self harm, Homophobia, Sexism, Ableism, Cursing, and Blood