Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

136 reviews

prosenheim's review

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Torture

Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Outing

Minor: Homophobia, Self harm, Vomit, and Death of parent

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

---

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

fgriff's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Violence and Blood

Minor: Death and Death of parent

unsuccessfulbookclub's review

adventurous emotional 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

The world Marske built here is really fascinating and I loved the yearning and slooooowwww emotional build up between Edwin and Robin. The magic is cool and the mystery is even cooler. I am excited to read the rest of the series!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia

meredithnudo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Outing, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

howeonearth's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

oxfordcommas91's review

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this magical queer romantasy where both of our male main characters are a bit posh and a bit snarky, and totally falling for each other even when they don’t want to admit it. It’s a little bit Bridgerton meets what I feel like grown up Harry Potter might be like if JK Rowling wasn’t a TERF. 

You can really lose yourself in this book and the author’s winding beautiful prose that Marske creates for her readers.  It wasn’t a “fast” read for me but that was okay. It was a book I was more than content to take my time with - to really sit and dig my teeth into this one. The payoff was well worth it.

Thoughtful plot and magic system - the author takes good care to make sure that this book doesn’t fall into silly trope territory. 

The romance element of this book doesn’t show up for a while, but when it does, you just want to sigh and clutch your heart (and then maybe your pearls because the spice is the sort of detailed and intricate that makes even a grown woman blush just a bit…). But really, I was head over heels for these two British boys who never really found a place to call home until they found each other. Like all other aspects of her book, the romance was beautifully woven and believable. 

I am looking forward to reading  more by Marske. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Stalking

aleareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny inspiring 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

4.5

This is a wonderful blend of historical fantasy and romance!! I absolutely love the Edwardian England setting, I fell in love with the characters as their depth was revealed throughout the story, and the writing that ties it all together is incredible. Seriously, the prose is ahh-mazing! Not only is the banter delightful, but I love how serious topics are explored and handled as well. 

But my favorite part by far is the magic system and world building!! There’s something so classic and nostalgic about the magic they use, and I absolutely love how the theory behind it is explored. 

Thrilling and tense as well heartwarming and steamy scenes are blended throughout the overarching mystery to create a genre defying story that I could not put down by the end! I am excited to continue the series. 

I highly recommend if you love: 

✨ magic 

🔥 slow burns 

🕰️ genre blending 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, and Death of parent

eucalyptusblond's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Blood and Death of parent

samanthabreading's review

adventurous challenging dark 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

When I first started reading, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book. For some reason the writing style took a little getting used to, but once I did, it was tough to put down! Lots of mystery and intrigue, but that snowflake scene in the beginning is what hooked me.  I really adored Edwin’s journey of vulnerability over time. The Edwardian setting was really fascinating and Marske interlaced the magic system and secret society within this timeframe beautifully.  I didn’t like the sprinkle of sexist and racist undertones within this book, but thinking this may have been attributed to the time/english aristocracy during that period? I am also not much of a spice reader, but the care and consent that took place during these spicy scenes as well as the development of romance and the pining beforehand were quite enjoyable for me! Will give the second book a go! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, and Classism