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cowardlyteaman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Cursing
Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Classism and Racism
oddgreyhound's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
it was just a really cute book. It took me forever to get started, and I was very confused at first but I'm so glad that I read it!!
I loved the sloooow burn so so much!!
all in all a wonderful book!!
I loved the sloooow burn so so much!!
all in all a wonderful book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
arf27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Violence
asipofcozy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
4.0
I was quickly enraptured into A Marvelous Light. The story-telling, the magic system, even the characters and their complex backgrounds astounded me.
I loved how intricate and unique the magic system was. Basing the magic around cradles (a Childs game with string) and intricate hand moments and just the fact that the magic itself was quite complex. Not being able to use magic outside of a "contract", how humans are affected by magics and their contracts, and how there is a limit to the use.
I will say that at times, we needed more explanation on the magic system. It took me awhile to put together that the magic was using cradles to facilitate an action. Also, we were given information about the magic system quite late into the book, which would have helped explain a lot of moments and discussions that were had between the characters.
To quickly mention the writing style. The setting of this book is 1908 English and the author does a great job at portraying proper English of that particular time. That being said it felt jarring at times. Sometimes the sentences were quite strange and there were phrases that stuck out that I had no clue to the meaning. It's not necessarily a bad thing. It just took a moment to get into the writing style and the "proper" English of the time period. However, the first 50 pages were headache inducing.
The plot also had a lot of twists and turns. Moments that you thought were giving away parts of the plot only to find out you were quite wrong. There were a few moments that I was right in my assumptions but the whole mystery aspect - most of my guesses were wrong in that respect.
And then there was our beloved characters Robin and Edwin. Out of the two, I feel like Edwin had the most growth and that Robin was there to help him with that growth. When reading Edwin's backstory, the abuse that he faced and continues to face, and his fear of getting hurt - all I wanted to do was give him a big ole hug. He hides behind books and reason - while useful can leave you sheltered from the world and emotions...which he reflects on quite a lot. Robin had some development and had moments of privilege that he also acknowledges as fault.
The chemistry those two had, had me at the seat of my chair for a majority of the book (just saying).
I am definitely looking forward to picking up the rest of the series!
I loved how intricate and unique the magic system was. Basing the magic around cradles (a Childs game with string) and intricate hand moments and just the fact that the magic itself was quite complex. Not being able to use magic outside of a "contract", how humans are affected by magics and their contracts, and how there is a limit to the use.
I will say that at times, we needed more explanation on the magic system. It took me awhile to put together that the magic was using cradles to facilitate an action. Also, we were given information about the magic system quite late into the book, which would have helped explain a lot of moments and discussions that were had between the characters.
To quickly mention the writing style. The setting of this book is 1908 English and the author does a great job at portraying proper English of that particular time. That being said it felt jarring at times. Sometimes the sentences were quite strange and there were phrases that stuck out that I had no clue to the meaning. It's not necessarily a bad thing. It just took a moment to get into the writing style and the "proper" English of the time period. However, the first 50 pages were headache inducing.
The plot also had a lot of twists and turns. Moments that you thought were giving away parts of the plot only to find out you were quite wrong. There were a few moments that I was right in my assumptions but the whole mystery aspect - most of my guesses were wrong in that respect.
And then there was our beloved characters Robin and Edwin. Out of the two, I feel like Edwin had the most growth and that Robin was there to help him with that growth. When reading Edwin's backstory, the abuse that he faced and continues to face, and his fear of getting hurt - all I wanted to do was give him a big ole hug. He hides behind books and reason - while useful can leave you sheltered from the world and emotions...which he reflects on quite a lot. Robin had some development and had moments of privilege that he also acknowledges as fault.
The chemistry those two had, had me at the seat of my chair for a majority of the book (just saying).
I am definitely looking forward to picking up the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Vomit, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Classism, and Murder
Minor: Death, Suicide, Murder, Violence, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
maryellen's review against another edition
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: Kidnapping, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Bullying, and Confinement
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexism, Blood, Grief, and Chronic illness
gooseboy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
an interesting magic system mixed with a highly compelling romance plot made this book very enjoyable for me! got through it in a little over a day.
side note, did anyone else read robin's dialogue as male hawke from dragon age 2, or was it just me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Homophobia and Death of parent
lolatarantula'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Finally some good fucking food.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Violence and Emotional abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
indiaaaa'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? 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: Car accident, Death of parent, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Misogyny
welgan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
I really enjoyed this story and these two characters, especially Edwin who spoke to me at an emotional level. The themes and social problematics we see through the main characters (especially the harm family can do and self-esteem in a world where you're not enough by birth) were very interesting. An the way the magic works in this world was enchanting and original.
I don't know if I'm going to read the other two books in the series as I feel less interested by the other main couples, but the story and world is interesting enough so that I'm now considering it.
Warning if you're not an enjoyer of spicy scenes : there are detailed intimacy moments between the main characters. It's strong, woven into the story, helping their development and emotion-focused, but they are also long and detailed, so if that's not your preference, you know. It's usually not what I am looking for myself, but I liked the characters, and I liked the way the sex scenes were described more than other works I may have read, with a more intense focus on the character's feelings.
I don't know if I'm going to read the other two books in the series as I feel less interested by the other main couples, but the story and world is interesting enough so that I'm now considering it.
Warning if you're not an enjoyer of spicy scenes : there are detailed intimacy moments between the main characters. It's strong, woven into the story, helping their development and emotion-focused, but they are also long and detailed, so if that's not your preference, you know. It's usually not what I am looking for myself, but I liked the characters, and I liked the way the sex scenes were described more than other works I may have read, with a more intense focus on the character's feelings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
I don’t know why I allowed this to sit on my TBR untouched for so long. It was an utter delight—a pleasure to read.
There’s some authors whose writing style make reading their books like swimming upstream. Not that it’s bad, but it just feels incongruent with the way your mind works, and so digesting the words takes effort and concentration. Then there’s some who just have a way of crafting sentences that feels so satisfying. Like a scalp massage. That was the way it felt to read this book, for me.
The prose was so elegant and yet accessible. And the characters! So achingly endearing, it almost hurt. I loved this book. A lot.
There’s some authors whose writing style make reading their books like swimming upstream. Not that it’s bad, but it just feels incongruent with the way your mind works, and so digesting the words takes effort and concentration. Then there’s some who just have a way of crafting sentences that feels so satisfying. Like a scalp massage. That was the way it felt to read this book, for me.
The prose was so elegant and yet accessible. And the characters! So achingly endearing, it almost hurt. I loved this book. A lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Terminal illness
Minor: Homophobia and Toxic relationship