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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It really was just filler but it was fun. It was interesting how it was supposed to be about the lesbians but it really just felt like the build up to whatever’s going to happen between Hawthorn and Ross in the third book. Like we learned more about Violet in the last 10 pages than anything else and are we ever going to get another POV chapter of either of them again?
While I enjoyed returning to this magical version of England and the Blyth family, Maud's part in this mystery and adventure didn't quite have the same pull on my heart that Robin and Edwin had. I did enjoy seeing more of Hawthorne (and am looking forward to book 3 when he and Ross return), but Violet and Maud didn't quite click. Violet especially was too removed and held apart, even than Edwin in the first book. It was nice to see more of the mystery unfurl, and meet more of the players, but I do miss the sharpness and ache of the first book.
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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Complicated
So much fun—and a rare occasion where I think I prefer the second to the first book in a series. While at first I was hesitant knowing it was a different cast of characters, Marske’s magical cradling of characters into being is only getting stronger. It’s delightful to get to know them—and Maud’s ADHD brain is so much fun to follow!
adventurous
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:
Yes
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. I loved A Marvellous Light and have reread it multiple times, but I was reluctant to read the sequel when I found out it wasn’t about Robin and Edwin. Unfortunately, I was right to hesitate. I really didn’t vibe with either of the main characters in this book, the romance bored me (I ended up skipping through a lot of it) and tbh I found a lot of the plot repetitive. Some parts were genuinely good and funny, and I am another of those who found herself liking Lord Hawthorne, much to my surprise, so I still hold out hopes for Book 3, but I doubt I will revisit this one unless it’s to remind myself of the plot before moving on
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I definitely liked this better than the first in the series but there still seems to be a war between an interesting mystery and the desire to force a queer relationship. I love that this series has queer stories I just wish they were better thought out
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No