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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
indiaaaa's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Come for the mystery, stay for the romance. It does take a little while for things to get going in both departments but once things happen, you can’t put it down.
I would say that the romance is a larger focus than the mystery. There are times when nothing in progressing with the mystery because the chemistry is building between them. Just know that going in.
EDIT: After reading some other books that either have a great romance and a lackluster plot or a great plot with a lackluster romance, I do thing that A Marvelous Light does actually have a pretty good balance of an engaging plot alongside a strong romance…even if the sex scenes happen at in opportune moments (I.e. right after an intense, life-threatening moment)
I would say that the romance is a larger focus than the mystery. There are times when nothing in progressing with the mystery because the chemistry is building between them. Just know that going in.
EDIT: After reading some other books that either have a great romance and a lackluster plot or a great plot with a lackluster romance, I do thing that A Marvelous Light does actually have a pretty good balance of an engaging plot alongside a strong romance…even if the sex scenes happen at in opportune moments (I.e. right after an intense, life-threatening moment)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Violence
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Suicide, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
saltshaker00's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-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
Moderate: Xenophobia, Blood, and Murder
embarcaderosky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Outing, Alcohol, and Classism
blewballoon's review
adventurous
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? No
4.5
I listened to this on audiobook and it was excellent! I was multitasking a lot as I listened, so I didn't follow along as precisely or speculate as much as I would have liked. The plot threads all weave together really elegantly by the end of the story, and I feel like if I had been paying closer attention I could have appreciated that even more. The setup of the world with how magic works was interesting, I like fantasy worlds where magic is known but I'm a bigger fan I think of stories that take place in what's essentially our world, but with some magic under the covers that not everyone knows about. I thought the two male leads were engaging and enjoyable, and the romance worked well for their personalities and histories. I'm looking forward to more from this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Violence, and Blood
hannahrogers's review
adventurous
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Homophobia and Suicide
jem_carstairs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
sinceraly's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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
I love Robin so much. Man is both a brawler and the emotionally intelligent one and his back must be hurting over carrying Edwin through every social situation.
That being said Edwin was also a treasure, the isolated, emotionally dense man he is, and I hope he gets all the nice things.
I genuinely loved my time with the book, and once I got to the last half of the book I couldn't put it down. Robin and Edwin's dynamic was phenomenal, the dialogue was snappy but felt realistic and not at all like the Marvel movie type quips that can get so irritating. The mystery was interesting and let me build my own theories and sets up an ongoing plot very well. I also loved the magic system, treating different magic styles as more native to specific countries, like recipes in cookbooks. I think the worldbuilding gives a lot to be interested in, despite a more stifling era chosen for a historical fantasy.
That being said, I think the two things that really stopped me from being able to label the book with 5 stars came down to odd pacing at times and a few decisions made in the course of Robin and Edwin's relationship that left me wanting more. The largest section of the book takes place somewhere where - though research is being done for the main quest - stakes don't seem to exist. It seems casual. And given what was at risk, it felt like a weird choice to make. The focus on character building was great, but it came at a cost of making it hard to really feel like things were at risk.
The second critique was a lack of a proper relationship-based dialogue between Edwin and Robin when it really seemed like it should be there. This review is spoiler free so I won't go into any details, really, but their last interaction alone in the book - though well written and still imbued (hah) with emotional and romantic context - felt kind of out of place considering what had happened prior, and what needed to be said. I'd give the author the fact that their relationship takes place in a stifling society that doesn't except gay relationships, so maybe they don't truly have the experience to talk it out, but I would have enjoyed more of an actual conversation in that stead.
That all being said, this book was still lovely, and a very fun read. Highly recommended for anyone into historical fantasy.
That being said Edwin was also a treasure, the isolated, emotionally dense man he is, and I hope he gets all the nice things.
I genuinely loved my time with the book, and once I got to the last half of the book I couldn't put it down. Robin and Edwin's dynamic was phenomenal, the dialogue was snappy but felt realistic and not at all like the Marvel movie type quips that can get so irritating. The mystery was interesting and let me build my own theories and sets up an ongoing plot very well. I also loved the magic system, treating different magic styles as more native to specific countries, like recipes in cookbooks. I think the worldbuilding gives a lot to be interested in, despite a more stifling era chosen for a historical fantasy.
That being said, I think the two things that really stopped me from being able to label the book with 5 stars came down to odd pacing at times and a few decisions made in the course of Robin and Edwin's relationship that left me wanting more. The largest section of the book takes place somewhere where - though research is being done for the main quest - stakes don't seem to exist. It seems casual. And given what was at risk, it felt like a weird choice to make. The focus on character building was great, but it came at a cost of making it hard to really feel like things were at risk.
The second critique was a lack of a proper relationship-based dialogue between Edwin and Robin when it really seemed like it should be there. This review is spoiler free so I won't go into any details, really, but their last interaction alone in the book - though well written and still imbued (hah) with emotional and romantic context - felt kind of out of place considering what had happened prior, and what needed to be said. I'd give the author the fact that their relationship takes place in a stifling society that doesn't except gay relationships, so maybe they don't truly have the experience to talk it out, but I would have enjoyed more of an actual conversation in that stead.
That all being said, this book was still lovely, and a very fun read. Highly recommended for anyone into historical fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
lizzym126's review
dark
emotional
funny
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
emilywrayburn's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Well damn. This was a highly anticipated read and no one is more disappointed than I that it did not live up to expectations. I keep wanting to say “I think I’m in a reading slump, I don’t think it’s the book’s fault” but honestly, I don’t think that goes the whole way to explaining why I struggled with it. Some of it is personal taste, but some of it is definitely the book not delivering.
Firstly, the things I did like. The idea of magic being tied to the land and of being able to draw off the earth, and pledge yourself to it. Yessssss. Give me more of that. My favourite parts of the novel had to do with the characters drawing power from the land, or the land or home surging up to protect them.
I wanted to like the magic system, and I liked what I understood, but to be honest, parts of it went over my head. I think magic was constructed with very precise hand gestures, but the parts about contracts were still not making much sense to me by the end of the book. Which is unfortunate, because the contract aspect is rather central tothe plot.
With regards to the characters, I just… they were fine. I feel like my reading tastes have changed recently and a few years ago I would have been completely invested in Edwin and Robin. But right now, I just wasn’t. They didn’t have enough chemistry for me to be rooting for their romance and I didn’t feel anything when they were in danger.
There was very little fleshing out of the side characters, which was unfortunate, because when the “Surprise, it was XYZ all along!” twist appeared, I had to remember where I’d seen that character before. The effect was lost on me. This happened twice.
To be honest, and this goes back to the personal preference thing, I think I’m just not that into male-led stories. Especially when there are very few of women around them, and some of those are rather disappointing. The fact that the next book is sapphic fantasy, with Robin’s sister as the POV character instead, is probably the only thing making me mildly curious about it. But given the size of my TBR, I doubt I’m going to seek it out…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia and Blood