Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

144 reviews

kayladaila's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious slow-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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent, Body horror, Blood, Bullying, Gore, Homophobia, Outing, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Murder

clairew97's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? N/A

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Kidnapping, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide, and Terminal illness

Minor: Alcohol and Blood

jneverland's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Death

kaitlinnoodles's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Bullying

Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders

booksthatburn's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

A MARVELLOUS LIGHT is about Edwin and Robin, initially in each other’s company through a bureaucratic mistake. Robin had been cursed when he was unable to provide unknown assailants with information his (missing) predecessor had also denied them. Edwin was supposed to be liaising with whomever held that office, and instead proceeded to try and remove the curse. The actual plot is pretty straightforward, with only a few more twists after that. The action is solid (especially the bit in the maze) and I like several of the secondary characters, but the heart of this is absolutely Edwin and Robin’s relationship as they’re continually in each other’s company.

The rapport between Edwin and Robin slowly builds, lagging behind the intensity of each man’s buried attraction to the other. Robin adjusts pretty quickly to the existence of magic (a situation made much harder to ignore by the harsh nature of his introduction). Edwin’s focus is on trying to remove Robin’s curse, initially thinking of their acquaintance as very temporary and somewhat reversible. Much of the book is spent on Edwin’s family’s estate, with his siblings whose pranks range from frustrating to cruel. 

The worldbuilding is pretty subtle about placing the era, the setting is one where magic exists within the otherwise real history of the British Isles. Since I wasn't trying very hard to place it I was content to know it's a while ago, but after the invention of cars. I'm sure there are clues to place it more precisely if I looked hard, but the story wasn't trying to trouble me with those. It did more with the ways that magic could be secret, and the key seems to be that (in England, specifically), it's tied up in old money and old families since magic is passed through bloodlines. 

I enjoyed this immensely and will definitely read the rest of the series. The ending sets up a clear idea for the arc of the series, and I'll happily read more in this setting even if Edwin and Robin don't stay as the protagonists.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Torture, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Ableism, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Violence, Blood, Bullying, and Drug use

Minor: Self harm, Suicide, Child death, Death of parent, and Vomit

breadbees's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Torture

Minor: Abandonment, Outing, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, and Confinement

asnecessaryasbread's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Minor: Suicide and Death

olijordan's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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? No

4.25

So I was skeptical about a woman writing MLM romance because more often than not I have read just sexualised encounters where it’s just about the sex over the romance. I’m glad to say that was not the case here. The romance was utterly adorable and woven in so nicely that I was screaming like a child. 

The plot was amazing and though I found it hard to understand the magic system at first, you get the hang of it and you kinda expect that when you pick up a fantasy novel.

The book was amazing and I cannot wait to see where it takes the boys but regardless Miss Adelaide Morrissey will forever be my favourite character in this

My only fault was there was a lot of similes in the start which felt repetitive to continually read what it was “like” but the author very much found they’re groove after the first few chapters and it was beautiful and explicit which I appreciate 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

Minor: Vomit

delz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

4.0

A little mystery, a little magic, throw in a little spicy romance and there you have a Marvelous Light.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content

Moderate: Death

mandkips's review against another edition

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Emotional abuse, and Death

Minor: Death of parent and Homophobia