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sunlit_music's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
The sex scenes in this novel are tastefully written. Content warning for: emotional abuse between siblings, non graphic violence, character deaths, characters murdered, non graphic torture inflicted by the antagonists onto other characters.
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder
nicamooch's review against another edition
- 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
(My singular gripe was that some mishaps in the middle of the book felt a little too easily overcome/solved but that’s it. Honestly, just reading Marske’s prose makes me ascend so I didn’t even care that much lmao)
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Bullying, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Self harm, Homophobia, Sexism, Ableism, Cursing, and Blood
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
** I was gifted a copy of the book by TorUK & Black Crow PR for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, kidnapping, torture, murder, blood, death, death of a parent, bullying, injury, homophobia, sexual content
Magic + London – two things that when put together will instantly spark my interest in picking up a book, and Freya Marske has combined them to create an enthralling world and fantasy romance story with a touch of mystery that was an absolute delight to read!
Set in Edwardian England A Marvellous Light introduces us to Robin Blyth, an amiable baronet who accidentally gets appointed as the government liaison to a hidden faction of magicians living amongst the upper classes of society.
Edwin Courcey, the very reclusive counterpart liaison for the Magical Assembly, turns up to work to find Robin in place of his usual associate and is none too happy about it. However, when Robin is cursed by faceless individuals hunting for an item that was in the possession of his predecessor – whose disappearance is becoming more and more of a mystery – Robin and Edwin put aside their differences to get to the bottom of it all.
We are instantaneously thrown into this secret world alongside Robin from the get go so I will admit I was a little lost at first. However, Marske’s fantastic prose both seamlessly draws you into the story and beautifully brings the characters together.
The worldbuilding predominantly focuses on the intriguing magic system which is rooted to one’s ancestry and family land, and the implementation of which is based off of the game of Cat’s Cradle. Hence for much of the story we are swept away to lavish country estates owned by aristocratic families with a magical background and the details to the settings were exquisite.
What I particularly loved though was that as the story progressed we got to see both the action side and the domestic side to the magic – each giving an insight into its marvels as well as its horrors.
The central mystery actually takes a back seat for much of the book, though don’t get me wrong it was a very gripping and explosive subplot all the same. Much more emphasis was put on the characters and their developing relationships, particularly our two protagonists. Through their individual perspectives and interactions with other characters Marske lays bare their personal strengths and struggles as well as touching on the harsh realities of society and its attitudes towards gender and sexuality at the time.
I instantly warmed to Robin and Edwin. They had great chemistry from the moment they met and their coming together was a beautiful transition from reluctant allies, to friends, to much more. The development of trust that forms between them was so wholesome and the ensuing romance has probably topped the charts for the steamiest I have ever read but it was also very endearing.
All in all this was a really fun debut and I look forward to further escapades with these characters and learning more about this magical world – I’m especially curious to discover more about the Magical Assembly – in the books to come!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Misogyny, and Chronic illness
Minor: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Outing, and Racism
caseythereader's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
- A MARVELLOUS LIGHT is one half magical murder mystery, one half slow burn queer romance.
- Robin and Edwin are a wonderfully mismatched pair, and the world they inhabit is unlike anything I've read in a long time, with an inventive magic system woven into the structure of Edwardian high society we know.
- I did feel like it dragged quite a bit, unfortunately: there necessarily needed to be a lot of speculating and planning happening. One of those books where a thing happens and then we discuss and re-discuss it, you know?
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Chronic illness