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frenchpants'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, and Death
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and War
toopunkrockforshul'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Cursing, Classism, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, War, Alcohol, and Suicide
Minor: Vomit, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity
abnormal_shadow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I started this book series like I start all the books i read: Bliond. I didnt know what i was getting into and i am happy to say that I had a wonderful experience with this book. The characters are all distinct and identifiable, all we it different interesting and complementing personalities. The twists that made me gasp the biggest gasps and the the loudest "omg nooooooooooo". Everyone seems to have this mutual queer understanding ang it thinks their entire friend group is astonishing. If I don't get to be the Addie in room with Violet, Maudie, Robion, Edwin, Alan and Jack, will I don't want the fucking group.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Misogyny, Blood, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Classism
Moderate: War, Racism, Gore, Religious bigotry, Child death, and Torture
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
hannahrogers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Cursing and Death
Moderate: Classism, Blood, Torture, Murder, Grief, and Bullying
Minor: Rape, War, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, and Suicide
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder and Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, Blood, Classism, Violence, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Minor: Emotional abuse, War, Vomit, Suicide, Pregnancy, Torture, Rape, Misogyny, and Bullying
booksthatburn'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
5.0
The first chapter cements George as not only the detestable and power-hungry person shown into the earlier books, but truly vicious and uncaring in pursuit of his aims. There's something extra terrible in the way he destroyed Elsie and Jack's lives and then was so concerned with hiding what he'd done that he laid a secret-bind on both of them and didn't give a shit what became of them afterwards. Now, with a trail of the dead in George's wake, Jack and his strange new group of friends have one last chance to stop him once and for all.
Much of the magical worldbuilding was set up in the first two books, but there's a focus on class dynamics which is made possible by Alan's perspective when juxtaposed with the richer and titled members of the group. For all the Blythe's money troubles, they're on a vastly different scale than whether Alan's family will starve due to accident or injury. That perspective helps make obvious that the Last Contract was meant to accomplish something it's no longer really doing, and enables the group to come up with new solutions as things spin wildly out of control.
A POWER UNBOUND is (somehow) even sexier that A MARVELLOUS LIGHT and A RESTLESS TRUTH, or maybe this is just a sign that my tastes run closer to Alan's than any of the previous protagonists. Good sex scenes provide character development in addition to titillation. Great sex scenes are so seamlessly a part of character development that to skip them would be to miss something crucial, fervent, and deeply personal about the characters involved. Jack and Alan's relationship is one of playing with power dynamics and trusting that the other person won't cross any lines, that fantasies made flesh are a wonderful kind of vulnerability, and that consent can be withdrawn mid-scene. They get the thrill of fighting without being in true danger, though it takes a while for Alan to be sure enough of Lord Hawthorne that he can accept this vulnerability with Jack. For his part, Jack is enjoying the extra level of intimacy which comes from having unknowingly read Alan's work for years, now able to use that knowledge erotically and to devastating effect.
A POWER UNBOUND is a satisfying ending to a great trilogy. The epilogue is a perfect snapshot of everyone, I cackled at Alan's attempt at an interview after the big event. I'm eager for whatever Freya Marske writes next.
Graphic: Classism, Blood, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Minor: Rape, Gore, Vomit, Gun violence, Grief, Sexism, Racism, Infidelity, and War
aileron'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
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Death, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Bullying
Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent, War, and Fire/Fire injury
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I have loved the exploration of Jack Hawthorn's character especially after getting to know him better in A Restless Truth. Alan as well was fantastic, a character that has provided some good political balance in a series where most characters belong to the upper class. Their romance was done very well, in a way that feels realistic to them but still had me kicking my feet in the air and giggling.
I adored seeing Robin and Edwin again after their lack of presence in A Restless Truth, and Maud and Violet where great as well.
The plot!! It didn't go in the direction I was expecting, and while there was less action than I anticipated, the additional world-building as well as overall plot development was top notch.
And the ending? So so satisfying, emotional and heartwarming. It also leaves room for the imagination to continue following our beloved characters to see what else they get up to.
Note to self to ask the author if Adelaide Morrisey is canonically aromantic. I loved her subplot in this and her marriage to Robin has added a sense of realism to the queer happily ever afters we get.
Overall I could not imagine a better end for this series, I am in love with these characters and this world. I also desperately need some sort of spin off or something else set in this universe. Desperately.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book. This is my honest review.
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Torture and Blood
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide, Pregnancy, Classism, and War