Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

120 reviews

anna_hepworth's review against another edition

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

3.5

What I thought I was getting was fantasy adventure (magic in England in the ~1910s) with a romance subplot. What I got was the type of romance plot that doesn't appeal, with a varnish of fantasy adventure sub-subplot, and quite a lot of sex scenes. Maybe if I'd had the right expectations, I'd have appreciated this story more.

As it was, there are lots of interesting details, and there were some fabulous paragraphs. But I finished it somewhat out of spite, and because I have book two out of the library, waiting for me to read it. I did want to know what happened, but I didn't really want to have to deal with the romantic couple and their emotional miscommunications. 

I can see that there are some interesting overarching plot threads, with three items to be found, and three books to find them in, so I have hopes that book two won't slump. 

Overall summary: world building fantastic, plot a bit rough, characterisation a little off and occasionally veering towards farce, writing shows promise, particularly as this is a debut novel. 
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reinydays's review against another edition

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

3.5

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beepbeep101's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? Yes

5.0

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pvp_niki's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? No

5.0

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lauragracel's review against another edition

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

5.0

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caelfind's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

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lollymac's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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

4.25

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oatmeal_oatmeal's review against another edition

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2.5

Mixed feelings here. I love the premise of historical, fantasy, mystery, drama, and romance mingling together and having a nice party, but I feel like none of them are balanced in a satisfying way. (Fantasy without expansive world building so lore payoffs don’t feel earned, mystery without enough defined clues so the big reveals don’t hit how they should, etc etc.)

It was also difficult for me to finish due to the beginning having a fairly slow pace. There’s a lot of exposition to dig through before things pick up about a third of the way through. I mostly continued because I enjoyed the prose— I personally enjoyed the descriptions of interior design and opulence in Edwin’s family home.

Also there are a few graphic sex scenes in this book and that threw me off, though it’s mostly on me for not checking the content warnings (which will come in clutch in the future).

For better or for worse, there are only around 4 likeable characters, and that’s by design. While I enjoyed the two lead characters, I’m not sure I’m invested enough to continue this series.
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tiffany_sostar's review against another edition

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2.75

I really wanted to enjoy this book so much more than I did. The characters are great! The mystery is engaging! The spice is hot!

But I’m constantly irritated by authors who write magical alternative histories and include the worst parts of our own history. In this case, so much homophobia. Just trust that your characters can still have conflict and struggle even without oppression! Also patriarchy. Why. It’s a magical alternative world, why is this necessary?! And also so much whiteness and some racism that I can’t tell if the author recognizes or not. The homophobia and patriarchy she’s obviously aware of and having her characters frustrated with it, but the racism just seems to be there unquestioned. It’s not necessary.

The parts outside of the oppressive systemic issues were great and without the inclusion of totally unnecessary homophobia, patriarchy and racism, I would have given this a 4.5. But it did have those parts and they really wrecked it for me. 
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fishfish's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

I am sincerely, unbelievably grateful and happy to have read this book and could barely put it down most of the time. Would recommend.
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