Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

9 reviews

bergha1998's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Colonisation, Alcohol, Cursing, Violence, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Misogyny

gondorgirl's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Bullying

Moderate: Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Cursing, and Sexism

beaubaggins's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

5.0

Gay mlm magical mystery! I had no idea this was a trilogy when I started it, but I’m already checking out the next one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Classism, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

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

4.25

It is the absolute best feeling in the world to be reading a book and loose track of time.  A Marvelous Light swept me up in its magic and love story, until I had finished the book in a matter of hours.
A Marvelous Light follows Robin Blythe, a man struggling to balance the conflicts in his life, as he is thrown into a world o magic he never knew existed. With the help of magician (and kind of enemy?) Edwin, the two must undercover the source of danger for Robin, as well as magicians everywhere.
This novel was the historical fantasy I never knew I needed. I adored the Edwardian England setting  with the magical undertones. The writing was also phenomenal, and it flowed well with the pacing of the story.
That being said, I do wish the love story was a bit more developed, but that is just a personal preference:)
Overall, I would highly recommend to anyone interested (though as always, check trigger warnings before reading).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Torture, Trafficking, Death, Bullying, and Suicide

Moderate: Ableism and Racism

raen99's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content

Moderate: Chronic illness and Gaslighting

Minor: Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

aardwyrm's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious slow-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

4.0

In the subgenre of (frequently queer) alternate magical history set anywhere between 300 and 75 years in the past in an approximately earthlike but supernatural world where conspiracies happen, this one ranks highly. The characters are solidly sketched, the mysteries don't advertise themselves too aggressively, the romance is both engaging and plausible, and the worldbuilding has some real originality to it. A lovely little creampuff of a book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Death

Minor: Death of parent and Ableism

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious 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? No

3.5

a marvellous light is, all in all, an enjoyable debut novel and start of an interesting trilogy. the book's delightfully written--the prose is indeed sublime and there were times i couldnt help but pause and sigh, admiring and reveling in it; the magic is, well, magical and creative, and i like how it's also used to good effect in certain situations. the scenes with bookshops, libraries, and books are also a balm to my soul. and while some of the characters can be frustrating, privileged assholes, robin and edwin are wonderful both individually and tgt (the latter is, in fact, painfully relatable in his fears for [redacted] and love for books): they are simultaneously tropey yet subversive; their sex scenes are sexy, sensual, and lovely; and i love how their relationship is imbued w/ respect, consent, and understanding.

still, i find sth just a lil lacking, hence the not-4-stars. the book could be tightened up more, i think, as rn some chapters kinda drag a bit. the mystery, while interesting, lacks a certain oomph and isnt as thrilling as it could be. what i mean is the reveals could be worth more, considering all the painstaking trouble the main characters go thru for them. in sum, i think this book works as a well-written romance above anything else, and i'll be keeping an eye out for the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Gaslighting, Death, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Outing

Minor: Colonisation and Death of parent

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

The interplay between Robin (jock/sunshine) and Edwin (grumpy/intellectual) is magnificent in this book. You see them from their initial dislike of each other, to tentative trust, genuine friendship, and eventual romance. Edwin is shown to be a complex character early on – he is considered a relatively weak magician and scorned by his family, yet he has a strong sense of justice and academia. Robin could have easily been the stereotypical aristocratic jock who’s never encountered any hardship but throw in a complex relationship with his deceased parents and Freya really opened up his character. 

 

I LOVED the magic system; developing spells around the game of Cat’s Cradle - and the way Freya used it to demonstrate Edwin’s handicap (needing physical string for spells) with summoning his power – it was so different from anything I’ve read before yet was oddly reminiscent of the academia associated the magic system in The Laws of Magic series by Michael Pryor (same era, also Aussie author = get around them!). 

 

The plot was full of murder, mayhem, unresolved sexual tension (and then very resolved sexual tension; the spice in these books is definitely NOT PG rated kiddies) and lots of character bonding/comfort over the traumas from their respective families. Be aware that A LOT happens in the first few chapters in terms of major plot points and character introduction, so I’d recommend taking it slow to let it sink in. 

The story is wrapped up nicely by the end but is also set up very well for the next book. I eagerly await the next instalment as well as re-reading this book over and over (hello new comfort read!) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Homophobia

jennikreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Bullying

Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Homophobia, and Chronic illness

Minor: Suicide and Death of parent