Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - A Marvellous Light

A very tight story with a surprising amount of character development for the first in a trilogy (I'm used to characters being fairly static until book two). There's very few details mentioned that aren't used later in the book. Any lose threads left hanging are clearly meant to keep the overall plot going in the sequel.

The magic system is a good balance of hard and soft, with clearly defined rules that still allows for creativity. Information about it is balanced well through the book with us learning bits and pieces along with the non magical character. There's very little info umping.

Both leads are likable in different ways and are also relatable in different ways. It's clear which narrative voice you're reading as the point of view switches back and forth and this switching is used well for dramatic irony. The failures to communicate that happen have clear and logical character motivations behind them and as a result are frustrating for the intended narrative reasons.

Four stars due to some minor pacing issues and a few one or two things I don't feel were foreshadowed well.

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bergha1998's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

I think it’s a lovely story, I just found the pacing a bit off. It took me awhile to really get into it. But as soon as the characters get fleshed out more and the mystery grows it is quite enjoyable. I also didn’t expect so many spicy scenes.

Fantasy Mystery, MLM Romance, 2 1/2 🔥

“You look like a Turner painting and I want to learn your textures with my fingertips. You are the most fascinating thing in this beautiful house. I’d like to introduce my fists to whoever taught you to stop talking about the things that interest you.”

“I am nothing like you, and yet I feel more myself with you.”

“And I’m sick to death of being afraid, and I want you. Enough to risk it. More than enough. You make me feel like something—extraordinary.”

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laraloops's review against another edition

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dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I saw some describe this as enemies to lovers - it is more acquaintance to lovers. Well written and ok prose. Felt like a Jane Austen book but if there were magic and if the characters were gay which is not an insult, I have wished for that kind of story. It was also not cut to black on the spicy bits which was nice.

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mollybear888's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

3.75

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raineydayreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

5.0

I don't even know where to begin. Beautiful prose. Beautiful characters. Beautiful story. 10/10 no notes.

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gooseboy's review against another edition

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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~~

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ninoshmino's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-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

I had to push through a certain amount of resistance at the beginning of this audio book — I’m generally put off by depictions of the upper class and landed gentry, unless they’re brutally satirical (or whimsically satirical, I guess? Can’t hate on Jeeves and Wooster) or all about the innate inequality and corruption of it all (yes I’m a stereotype) — anyway, its charm and gentleness quickly wore down my reflexive Marxist grumping. IMO it falls slightly more into “romance with intriguing fantasy elements” than “fantasy with romance plot” — but both the worldbuilding and the relationship pull their weight to drive the story. I found Edwin’s character arc to be really rewarding, focusing on his journey towards finding/making his place in a world that belittles him. Robin’s wasn’t as compelling, and his circumstances don’t greatly change from the beginning to end — or rather, the change is all external.

I did find out that it’s very awkward to listen to hot sex scenes while at the gym or on the bus, so I’ll probably get the sequel from the library. But I love the world enough to want to linger in it for another story, and I’m hoping Marske will continue to write in this world. And hey! It turns out that (some of) the rich people are corrupt, and the innate inequity of the situation was commented enough to satisfy my grumpy inner Marxist literary bitching.

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xandry's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

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