Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

35 reviews

li_reading's review against another edition

5.0

I take back anything I said about being mad that this is part of a series (although the waiting will kill me) because I never want this to end. I am in love with this book and these characters and you best believe I will be pre-ordering the sequel at the earliest opportunity.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Bullying

Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Death, and Murder

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, and Homophobia

fleurofthecourt'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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Classism and Racism

kathleencoughlin's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.75

A compelling story that mixes fantasy, romance, and historical fiction. I do love a classic gay longing dynamic and when the stiff, reserved character learns to shed their pricky exterior by having to spend time with a charming yet earnest new acquaintance. The book is on the longer side, but it didn't feel like it was dragging at all, plus intrepid readers are rewarded by a couple of spicy scenes. The magic system was interesting but not groundbreaking. Also, isn't the cover is absolutely gorgeous?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Torture, Murder, Kidnapping, Outing, and Sexism

Minor: Racism, Blood, Ableism, Cursing, Death of parent, and Drug abuse

blueberries's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Kidnapping

content warning:

attempted drowning

erynlasbelin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Self harm, Cursing, and Ableism

Minor: Vomit, Colonisation, Outing, Classism, and Racism

dododenise's review against another edition

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? Yes

3.0

Maybe my expectations were too high for this book but sadly it didn’t do it for me. 
I could see so much good in it, but it couldn’t draw me in. I barely ever take this long to finish a book these days and I had to force myself through the last quarter. 

I couldn’t care less about the mystery. It just didn’t intrigue me. So as soon as character moments ended, I wasn’t interested anymore. 
The character dynamics were fun and Edwin and Robin’s relationship were the best part of this book. Nothing really new or exciting about them, but definitely still enjoyable to read.

In the beginning I was also very intrigued by the magic system. I love a magic system that feels very scientific. But slowly I got bored of it. Edwin kept rambling about it but he couldn’t tell me anything new that could peak my interest again.

I don’t know. I’m just a bit sad that the book I had been excited about for so long ended up being an exhaustive read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Misogyny

Minor: Violence

jenthefictioner's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Although this book was stunning for a debut, there was one scene in the second half of the book that felt like it was filler content. It felt like it was something to push the word count to the required minimum. Yes, there was a detail that was later used, but I feel like it could have been written differently.

Although the enemies-to-lovers trope was well done, it felt a little underwhelming. They didn't quite feel like enemies in the beginning, but there is a fine line between what was here and abusive, so I can be okay with "a little underwhelming".

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, Cursing, and Murder

Minor: Homophobia

The story's setting is during the very early years of the Edwardian era (1908), during which homosexuality was widely unaccepted.

paperbrownies's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping

Minor: Suicide

horns_and_ember'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Classism, Kidnapping, Ableism, and Bullying

Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Sexism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent

stardustandrockets's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-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

5.0

All the stars! Please read this book! It reminds me so much of Deep Magic by Diana Wynne Jones. The magic system is super cool based on Cat's Cradle and once you've spent your magic for the day, that's it; you have to rest it like a muscle.

Robin and Edwin are so loveable and the jock/bookworm vibe they have going sends me!

I literally can't say enough nice things about this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, and Self harm

Minor: Alcohol and Blood