Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

41 reviews

pvbobrien'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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content

Moderate: Chronic illness, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Torture, Death of parent, and Murder

frenchpants's review

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Violence

Minor: Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

maryellen's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexism, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

xandry's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Racism and Xenophobia

jencolumb0's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

A romance with magic and mystery. It almost feels like Marske put Alexis Hall’s Spires series in a blender with India Holton’s books to result in a charming (badum bump), emotionally intelligent mystery involving well-developed characters (something that seemed to trouble Holton in her first novel; still working through the rest . . . and I digress). I am definitely looking forward to seeing how the rest of the story plays out.

Also, know that the torture elements are most prominent at the beginning and you’ll be able to follow the rest of the story easily if you skip right over it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Outing, and Classism

Minor: Misogyny and Self harm

cozyteareads's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content

Moderate: Chronic illness and Homophobia

mossgoblins'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? It's complicated

4.5

This was a lovely read! Great plot, complex, easily lovable characters, and a very interesting development of the magic system!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Outing, and Classism

wilybooklover's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

5.0

What an absolutely gorgeous novel. The writing and imagery were really evocative, so rich and lush in a way befitting the lavish vibe of the Edwardian era when this book is set. 

Sir Robin Blyth, a civil servant, discovers a hidden world of magic when he gets transferred to a new job and then unwittingly gets cursed and dragged into a magical conspiracy involving his predecessor. His magical liaison, Edwin Courcey, doesn’t like him much but is determined to lift the curse. 

Robin is basically a golden retriever in human form (with a little dash of himbo) so he takes the existence of magic and even his curse with remarkable equanimity. Edwin is much more prickly and anxious (understandably so, once you meet his family) and likes to retreat into books. Despite their differences, they really understand each other and their growing romance was such a delight to read. Edwin learning to trust someone other than himself and Robin reaching for a future he wanted was so heartwarming to read. And this book was way steamier than I expected it to be. There is a love scene involving magic that is HOT. I don’t normally like the third-act conflict (big understatement) but here it really works with the characters and story — they really needed that short time apart. 

The worldbuilding in this was utterly fascinating. You have rune curses, magical houses, enchanted libraries, murderous hedge mazes, a style of magic based on cat’s cradle... I’ve never read anything quite like it before. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Racism, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent

aileron's review

adventurous emotional 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Racism, Suicide, and Murder

marina_michelle's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Blood, Alcohol, and Colonisation