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questingnotcoasting'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
thecolouryes'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: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gore, Suicide, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexism
micheala's review against another edition
4.0
Thankfully, I did end up enjoying it. I think book 1 focused 60/40 on the romance vs plot, book 2 was 30/70, and book 3 is 50/50. Book 1 is a Sunshine/Grump (a trope I love), book 2 is a murder mystery with a side of holiday romance, and book 3 is hate to love (a trope I don't usually enjoy)
Both as an individual book, as well as the conclusion to the trilogy, I think this did a really good job. I liked the character growth we got between Alan and Jake as we/they found out more about each other. I also appreciated that they, like Edward and Robin, got on the same page with a good amount of the book left (~50-60% as opposed to Violet and Maude who didn't manage that until the very end, and ended their book with me unsure if they would keep seeing each other let alone have a HFN never mind a HEA)
From a fantasy perspective, I loved how much worldbuilding we got in this book. Seeing the exploration of the magic was fascinating and definitely increased my enjoyment.
I'm very happy where this trilogy left off, and I'll be interested to see what Marske puts out next - these have all pulled a little more angsty then my personal preference, but the quality is amazing so depending on tropes I'll give the next thing a shot.
Not quite a content warning, but the sexual encounters are all rape fantasies. The two characters have explicite concent and boundaries discussed prior, however if power imbalances and "not" being able to say no is a trigger, I would suggest skipping this.
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
katebird'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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Suicide
noodletheriddle's review
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Rape
ladythana'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: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Torture, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
purrson'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: Grief and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Suicide
centrifugepolitics'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
Minor: Suicide
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: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Vomit, Grief, 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: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Gore, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War