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a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
My reading this year has not gone as planned. I’m not sure if my tastes have changed or I’m too distracted by other things to really focus on what used to be my top comfort entertainment, but where this book should’ve grabbed me from the start, alas, it took me about three times as long to finish.
What I will say is that this is a very very complex historical magical England, and despite such complexity and hierarchy and legend, things are still nebulous, things still need to come to fruition, and it’s apparent that there’s a lot of unanswered questions left for this planned trilogy.
Beware a snail’s pace not only in the plotting and progression but also the romance. There are some seriously ginormous assholes in this story that don’t quite get any satisfactory and deserved ass kickings. Pretty much every side character is a jerk, and the sexism is infuriatingly rampant though I suppose that goes along with the time frame this is set in.
Overall, the slow burn love story between Robin and Edwin is quite good. Surprisingly, for such a mainstream MM, it is remarkably explicit. The main characters have their personal problems and long standing issues that obviously shape their interactions and reactions, all of which I felt stymied a lot of what they go through as they race against time to solve Robin’s horrible curse as well as the central mystery why a fellow employee of the mysterious magical Assembly has gone missing. The blurb isn’t wrong. What they uncover is quite a serious and sinister thing. This ends well enough for Robin and Edwin, and it remains to be seen how they and their fellow cohorts thwart the nefarious plot set in motion over the next two books that have yet to be released/written.
My reading this year has not gone as planned. I’m not sure if my tastes have changed or I’m too distracted by other things to really focus on what used to be my top comfort entertainment, but where this book should’ve grabbed me from the start, alas, it took me about three times as long to finish.
What I will say is that this is a very very complex historical magical England, and despite such complexity and hierarchy and legend, things are still nebulous, things still need to come to fruition, and it’s apparent that there’s a lot of unanswered questions left for this planned trilogy.
Beware a snail’s pace not only in the plotting and progression but also the romance. There are some seriously ginormous assholes in this story that don’t quite get any satisfactory and deserved ass kickings. Pretty much every side character is a jerk, and the sexism is infuriatingly rampant though I suppose that goes along with the time frame this is set in.
Overall, the slow burn love story between Robin and Edwin is quite good. Surprisingly, for such a mainstream MM, it is remarkably explicit. The main characters have their personal problems and long standing issues that obviously shape their interactions and reactions, all of which I felt stymied a lot of what they go through as they race against time to solve Robin’s horrible curse as well as the central mystery why a fellow employee of the mysterious magical Assembly has gone missing. The blurb isn’t wrong. What they uncover is quite a serious and sinister thing. This ends well enough for Robin and Edwin, and it remains to be seen how they and their fellow cohorts thwart the nefarious plot set in motion over the next two books that have yet to be released/written.
melanysocorro's review against another edition
5.0
I'm tempted to say absolutely nothing in this review outside of: Read. This. Book.
As someone who will happily die on the hill that is LGBTQ+ historical fiction romance novels, I say with great certainty that this book took me by complete and utter surprise. This debut novel is absolutely glorious-from the plot to the characters and everything in between.
Edwin and Robin were exquisite characters molded by their distinct and intricate life experiences which did wonderfully to initiate the ebb and flow of their early relationship. While reading, it felt as though I was watching the small intimate motions of falling in love before my own eyes. Freya did a superb job at capturing the raw feelings that linger behind the wall people build around trauma. She also did a superb job at capturing the feelings that arise from someone showing unconditional understanding and care where those things have long since lacked.
Read this trilogy with care, you might find yourself reactivating your Tumblr account from 2013 just to gush about it.
As someone who will happily die on the hill that is LGBTQ+ historical fiction romance novels, I say with great certainty that this book took me by complete and utter surprise. This debut novel is absolutely glorious-from the plot to the characters and everything in between.
Edwin and Robin were exquisite characters molded by their distinct and intricate life experiences which did wonderfully to initiate the ebb and flow of their early relationship. While reading, it felt as though I was watching the small intimate motions of falling in love before my own eyes. Freya did a superb job at capturing the raw feelings that linger behind the wall people build around trauma. She also did a superb job at capturing the feelings that arise from someone showing unconditional understanding and care where those things have long since lacked.
Read this trilogy with care, you might find yourself reactivating your Tumblr account from 2013 just to gush about it.
kiramckinley's review
4.0
What can I say, romance set in fantasy historical England is my guilty pleasure
kellyjcm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.75
Opposites-attract historical fantasy romance. M/M, both MCs in mid-20s.
I put off reading this, because I’ve been “off“ fantasy for a bit. However, the continued positive reviews finally convinced me.
It was a little slow to start, but once I was sucked in, around 30%, I couldn’t put it down or stop thinking about it.
Not only did I become invested in Edwin and Robbins mystery and romance, I became invested in the larger story of what was happening in this world and will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
The blatant misogyny of the mainstream British magical community, and the fact that these powerful secrets were kept by women who are considered not worth educating, make me very eager to see this world get turned on its end by women!
I put off reading this, because I’ve been “off“ fantasy for a bit. However, the continued positive reviews finally convinced me.
It was a little slow to start, but once I was sucked in, around 30%, I couldn’t put it down or stop thinking about it.
Not only did I become invested in Edwin and Robbins mystery and romance, I became invested in the larger story of what was happening in this world and will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
The blatant misogyny of the mainstream British magical community, and the fact that these powerful secrets were kept by women who are considered not worth educating, make me very eager to see this world get turned on its end by women!
bogwalker's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Dull. This was a chore to finish. I didn’t find the story at all engaging, unfortunately.
lexibooksssong's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
sarinqar's review against another edition
3.0
3,5⭐️ está bien aunque el final se me hizo un poco apresurado, lamentablemente su mayor problema es que se nota a leguas que es una primera parte, se plantea una trama para desarrollar en siguientes libros que en mi opinión debilita el argumento principal de esta primera novela y aunque el romance actúa como trama complementaria al misterio presentado, no me resulta lo suficientemente fuerte para equilibrar una pobre trama de misterio, además de la pobre construcción de sus antagonistas, dos personajes que son revelados y despachados en tan corto periodo de tiempo que es imposible que te genere algo más que indiferencia.
cammylou's review against another edition
5.0
This was an actual delight! Magic! Romance! Edwardian England!
Absolutely gorgeous.
Robin managed to hold his tongue on something truly unwise like You look like a Turner painting and I want to learn your textures with my fingertips. You are the most fascinating thing in this beautiful house. I’d like to introduce my fists to whoever taught you to stop talking about the things that interest you. Those were not things one blurted out to a friend. They were their own cradles of magic, an expression of the desire to transform one thing into another. And what if the magic went awry?
Absolutely gorgeous.
amanda_c_s_'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? It's complicated
4.25
becksgoesbookish's review against another edition
5.0
A magical, murder mystery, romance set in Edwardian England? Say no more!
I was lucky enough to get an audiobook copy of A Marvellous Light from NetGalley. And not only is this story utter perfection in general, but the narration (arguably the most important aspect of an audiobook) by David Thorpe is spot on. If you’re like me, you may find yourself listening to certain chapters more than once
I was lucky enough to get an audiobook copy of A Marvellous Light from NetGalley. And not only is this story utter perfection in general, but the narration (arguably the most important aspect of an audiobook) by David Thorpe is spot on. If you’re like me, you may find yourself listening to certain chapters more than once