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kers_tin'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Suicide and Death
marleywrites's review against another edition
dark
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
4.0
Very gay. Very good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
anna_wa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Misogyny, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Sexism
Moderate: Classism and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Racism
katievh's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Blood, and Bullying
Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, and Murder
ally_reads_'s review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Bullying
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Suicide and Death
friends2lovers's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
I was hesitant to pick up another romance novel so soon after finishing Emily Henry’s Book Lovers, which sadly did not meet my expectations. But, A Marvellous Light was great! I was so engrossed I read it in 3 days. The magical world Marske has created was really immersive in a way reminiscent of the wizarding world of Harry Potter. There were many similarities between the two, but it wasn’t so similar that it felt like a copy-cat. I enjoyed all the characters, and am looking forward to the second book in the series being released later this year.
_______________
Series: The Last Binding № 1
Genre: Fantasy Historical Romance
Setting: September 1908 (Edwardian era) in London, England
Hero: Sir Robert "Robin" Blythe, brown hair and eyes, baronet, athletic, extrovert
Hero: Mr. Edwin Courcey, fair haired, blue eyes, tall and thin, bookish
Point-of-View: 3rd person, past tense, alternating between Robin and Edwin
Tropes/Themes: opposites attract, forced proximity, teaming up to solve a mystery, hero in peril, fish out of water
Format/Edition: Kindle ebook (borrowed from BPL via Libby), published in November 2021
Length: 451 pages, 122k words
Read Date: June 26, 2022
Heat Rating: Medium
Flames: 3🔥🔥🔥
Density: 2.3📑📑
Intensity: 3💓💓💓
Burn Speed: 3💨💨💨
Overall: 2.8 (↑3) 🌡️🌡️🌡️
Sex Scene Details: 🔥Ch 15, 50%, HJs, then a BJ that fades-to-black. 🔥Ch 18, 61%, erotic massage using some kind of tingly finger spell, anal sex. 🔥Ch 27, 92%, anal sex.
※ My star and heat ratings are explained → here
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Torture, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, and Death of parent
rorikae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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
4.75
'A Marvellous Light' by Freya Marske is a charming and heartfelt fantasy romance set in a magically bent Edwardian England.
In need of a job after his parents' death, Robin Blyth is swept into a civil service position knowing little about the job. His predecessor mysteriously disappeared but that is only the beginning of strange occurrences on his horizon. When Edwin Courcey appears in his office, he introduces Robin to the world of magic that has been living just under Robin's nose. When Robin is accosted by a group of men with fog obscuring their faces who place a curse upon him, Robin will have to work together with Edwin to discover what his predecessor was digging into that interested these men. As the two men learn more about the history of magic in England, they also come to learn more about each other and attraction begins to blossom.
Marske has created a story that is a perfect blend of magic, romance, and mystery. In shifting perspectives, we come to learn about the magic in this world through Robin's eyes and the complications of it on a family basis from Edwin's perspective. The story was extremely well paced, steadily moving forward the mystery while also allowing the reader to delve into the growing friendship and attraction between Robin and Edwin. Both are dealing with their own family and personal struggles that get woven into the larger story.
Marske utilizes Robin's perspective to introduce the reader to the magic system in an understandable fashion that leaves open more for the following books in this series. I can't wait to read the next novel, especially since it is sapphic and follows Robin's sister, Maud. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a magical world, engaging characters, and a dash of romance. In particular, if you liked 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' but were looking for something a bit shorter or if you enjoyed 'Sorcerer to the Crown,' I think you will thoroughly enjoy this novel.
In need of a job after his parents' death, Robin Blyth is swept into a civil service position knowing little about the job. His predecessor mysteriously disappeared but that is only the beginning of strange occurrences on his horizon. When Edwin Courcey appears in his office, he introduces Robin to the world of magic that has been living just under Robin's nose. When Robin is accosted by a group of men with fog obscuring their faces who place a curse upon him, Robin will have to work together with Edwin to discover what his predecessor was digging into that interested these men. As the two men learn more about the history of magic in England, they also come to learn more about each other and attraction begins to blossom.
Marske has created a story that is a perfect blend of magic, romance, and mystery. In shifting perspectives, we come to learn about the magic in this world through Robin's eyes and the complications of it on a family basis from Edwin's perspective. The story was extremely well paced, steadily moving forward the mystery while also allowing the reader to delve into the growing friendship and attraction between Robin and Edwin. Both are dealing with their own family and personal struggles that get woven into the larger story.
Marske utilizes Robin's perspective to introduce the reader to the magic system in an understandable fashion that leaves open more for the following books in this series. I can't wait to read the next novel, especially since it is sapphic and follows Robin's sister, Maud. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a magical world, engaging characters, and a dash of romance. In particular, if you liked 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' but were looking for something a bit shorter or if you enjoyed 'Sorcerer to the Crown,' I think you will thoroughly enjoy this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying and Violence
Minor: Suicide and Death