Scan barcode
ashley_mrose530's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a cute book. I really liked the magic system and the world building. I did have many of the same questions that Robin had that never really got answered, mainly what happens to the magicians that are born outside of the main families, but this didn't bother me too much because they weren't really necessary to the plot and I'm hoping they might get answered throughout the series.
I liked the main characters, Robin and Edwin. Their motivations and wants were easy to follow and I sympathize with Edwin's desire to separate himself from his family. I also empathize with Robin's need to deal with his family's estate but not wanting to because it's overwhelming. That happened to me and my wife a couple years ago and it was so much to deal with. I definitely understand his desire to run away from it.
I liked how their relationship developed too. It was nice and slow, never feeling like it was trying to rush their feelings for each other. I think pacing of their relationship went perfectly with the pacing of the plot.
I think the only reason I didn't give this five stars is because I never got fully immersed in the story like I would have with a five-star read. I don't know why, I just always felt distant from it. Maybe it had something to do with the writing style, or maybe it's just because I'm a lesbian, I don't know. It was still a great story though and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I liked the main characters, Robin and Edwin. Their motivations and wants were easy to follow and I sympathize with Edwin's desire to separate himself from his family. I also empathize with Robin's need to deal with his family's estate but not wanting to because it's overwhelming. That happened to me and my wife a couple years ago and it was so much to deal with. I definitely understand his desire to run away from it.
I liked how their relationship developed too. It was nice and slow, never feeling like it was trying to rush their feelings for each other. I think pacing of their relationship went perfectly with the pacing of the plot.
I think the only reason I didn't give this five stars is because I never got fully immersed in the story like I would have with a five-star read. I don't know why, I just always felt distant from it. Maybe it had something to do with the writing style, or maybe it's just because I'm a lesbian, I don't know. It was still a great story though and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
heidinay's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
We started with the audiobook, but the narrator really started to grate on us. I reread the hardcover from the beginning and enjoyed it much more. Be aware that the spicy bits are pretty spicy.
emsuleiman's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lucindashirreffs's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
2.75
Didn't have a goddamn clue what was going on half the time but it was fun nonetheless
joannabren'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? It's complicated
3.0
It was fine! Predictable at times and sort of random at others, but the main relationship was cute.
hegerst's review against another edition
5.0
After finishing this book, I felt like I had known Freya for years. And, even though I know the adventure is not over, I mourned not being able to stay curled up in Robin and Edwin’s heads for as long as I wanted.
A Marvelous Light is beautifully balanced between world building, storytelling, and romance. Its characters are complex and relatable, many times in ways that had me laying down the book to stare at my ceiling and ponder my own psyche. I love love love them and can’t wait to dive in to the rest of the series.
A Marvelous Light is beautifully balanced between world building, storytelling, and romance. Its characters are complex and relatable, many times in ways that had me laying down the book to stare at my ceiling and ponder my own psyche. I love love love them and can’t wait to dive in to the rest of the series.
starrybooker's review
4.0
What a delightful little fantasy book. I picked this up as something fun to read in between all the horror and nonfiction I’d been reading, and this was just the delight I wanted it to be.
I would class this more of a romance than a fantasy, but the magical world was fleshed out enough that I was interested and intrigued. The plot was fairly pacey as well, but the two highlights were the prose and the chemistry.
Marske writes in a way that’s beautifully descriptive without being floral or weighty. I found myself wanting to highlight sentences nearly every other page, and every word felt precisely chosen. This was doubly the case when it came to the two lead characters describing each other.
Despite my general dislike of romance, Robin and Edwin managed to claw their way into my heart. I absolutely loved those two, and was completely sold on their romance. The actual plot takes place over the course of about two weeks, but their relationship never feels rushed. Their vulnerabilities and tentative feelings are eeked out across the story, and you absolutely believe that these two are utterly head over heels for each other.
The story alternates between their POVs, which works really well for the story, but their voices could do with being a bit more distinct. It sometimes took me a page or so to realise who we were following.
For me the two biggest weaknesses were the action scenes, which often felt either rushed or underwhelming, and the other characters, who felt loosely drawn at best. I get that a romance book will focus pretty single-mindedly on the love interests, but it left a lot of the side characters feeling a little two dimensional. This was particularly a problem considering a lot of the poorly-written characters were women (which, odd, for a female writer, but hey ho). It doesn’t help that the sequel has female POV characters but is generally agreed to be the weakest of the trilogy lol. Some of the references (or lack thereof) to Britain’s colonial empire and Marske’s use of nonwhite characters I also found to be a bit, off? And maybe that’s just a character POV thing, and maybe Markse takes it all apart later in the trilogy, but yeah. Felt odd.
I would class this more of a romance than a fantasy, but the magical world was fleshed out enough that I was interested and intrigued. The plot was fairly pacey as well, but the two highlights were the prose and the chemistry.
Marske writes in a way that’s beautifully descriptive without being floral or weighty. I found myself wanting to highlight sentences nearly every other page, and every word felt precisely chosen. This was doubly the case when it came to the two lead characters describing each other.
Despite my general dislike of romance, Robin and Edwin managed to claw their way into my heart. I absolutely loved those two, and was completely sold on their romance. The actual plot takes place over the course of about two weeks, but their relationship never feels rushed. Their vulnerabilities and tentative feelings are eeked out across the story, and you absolutely believe that these two are utterly head over heels for each other.
The story alternates between their POVs, which works really well for the story, but their voices could do with being a bit more distinct. It sometimes took me a page or so to realise who we were following.
For me the two biggest weaknesses were the action scenes, which often felt either rushed or underwhelming, and the other characters, who felt loosely drawn at best. I get that a romance book will focus pretty single-mindedly on the love interests, but it left a lot of the side characters feeling a little two dimensional. This was particularly a problem considering a lot of the poorly-written characters were women (which, odd, for a female writer, but hey ho). It doesn’t help that the sequel has female POV characters but is generally agreed to be the weakest of the trilogy lol. Some of the references (or lack thereof) to Britain’s colonial empire and Marske’s use of nonwhite characters I also found to be a bit, off? And maybe that’s just a character POV thing, and maybe Markse takes it all apart later in the trilogy, but yeah. Felt odd.
praxagorathesmophoria's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
pkiwi's review against another edition
5.0
Everything you wanted from gay nineteenth-century wizards. Looking forward to the next book.
rai's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0