Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

41 reviews

ghostinthewall's review

adventurous hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, and Violence

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

Minor: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

mirandyli's review

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.0

Pretty mediocre story about two queer white men in historical England dealing with magical realism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

flavoredfaeman's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Physical abuse, and Murder

joensign's review

adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Death of parent

Minor: Chronic illness

booksthatburn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Child death, Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol

blacksphinx's review

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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Death of parent, Outing, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Chronic illness, Racism, and Suicide

anna_hepworth's review

fast-paced

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

3.5

What I thought I was getting was fantasy adventure (magic in England in the ~1910s) with a romance subplot. What I got was the type of romance plot that doesn't appeal, with a varnish of fantasy adventure sub-subplot, and quite a lot of sex scenes. Maybe if I'd had the right expectations, I'd have appreciated this story more.

As it was, there are lots of interesting details, and there were some fabulous paragraphs. But I finished it somewhat out of spite, and because I have book two out of the library, waiting for me to read it. I did want to know what happened, but I didn't really want to have to deal with the romantic couple and their emotional miscommunications. 

I can see that there are some interesting overarching plot threads, with three items to be found, and three books to find them in, so I have hopes that book two won't slump. 

Overall summary: world building fantastic, plot a bit rough, characterisation a little off and occasionally veering towards farce, writing shows promise, particularly as this is a debut novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Homophobia and Alcohol

arialien's review

dark informative medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence

knittingtipsy's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

3.75

Very fun queer fantasy in an Edwardian setting. Clever version of a magical universe, excellent exposition. First in a series but feels like a complete story. Looking forward to reading the next one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Chronic illness

caitlinemccann's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Torture, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Outing, and Classism

Minor: Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Stalking