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A review by iwasalilacsky
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
3.75 stars
Thoughts: (There is definitely a spoiler or two in here but nothing major. Read at your own risk!)
Where to begin? After finishing this one, I ran straight to the comments to see if I was the only one who was basically falling asleep for the first half of the book, and found out that I am not in fact alone. This book truly has a slow start. Somewhere in the middle though, you cannot help but be caught up in the grouchy and surly flirtationship these two fools have. Bookish Edwin ‘stick up his butt’ Courcey has only a little teaspoon of magic in comparison to his rude, sexist, partially classist and annoying magical family. They never let him forget about it either. He never knows where he fits in and is content with it (in his grumpy way) at this point until cursed (and well fit) Robin ‘without a thought behind those eyes’ Blyth stumbles into his life. Robin is daring without knowing anything about magic, and is in awe of the simplest things that Edwin does. However, he makes sure to poke and prod him to bring out his temper to his own (as well as my) amusement. It’s honestly down right adorable how much these two really did not want to like each other, and when they finally do like each other it gets hot hot hot (like seriously the spice level gets to explicit). With this all being said, their relationship saves the book. The storyline while it sounds intriguing just didn’t deliver to me as much as I would have liked. A good amount of this story is put into characterizing Edwin and Robin or just being overly descriptive to what is happening or to their surroundings. I would have liked to know more about Reggie and Edwin’s past, Miss Morrissey or even more about Edwin’s family in a way that wouldn’t have me just rolling my eyes. The only other relationship that is brought up often is between Robin and his sister, and I really like her, so content with that.
Overall an enjoyable read. I read a comment that said this reads like a top-tier fanfiction and now that won’t leave my head because it is the perfect way to summarize it.
Would I recommend this and to who:
Fans of fruity historical fiction with a dash of magic and spice
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book & Audiobook
How did I discover this:
Stumbled upon it on Libby and thought why not.
Pace:
Slow beginning and then jumps to a medium pace.
Cover thoughts:
It is very pretty. I like the tapestry vibe and choices of color.
POV: (single or multi)
Multi
Quotes:
'I am nothing like you, and yet I feel more myself with you.'
"Every time you touch me it's exactly what I want."
"I hate this ... I hate that this is what magic is to you ... It's not supposed to be bad. It really is - something marvellous."
“Tell me to stay, stay for you, and I will.”
“You’re hardly nothing … you made me see the future.” “I think we’ve established that wasn’t me … We don’t know if it’s even – them. I think it was latent. Triggered.” “I wasn’t talking about the visions.”
“You make me feel like something – extraordinary.”
Thoughts: (There is definitely a spoiler or two in here but nothing major. Read at your own risk!)
Where to begin? After finishing this one, I ran straight to the comments to see if I was the only one who was basically falling asleep for the first half of the book, and found out that I am not in fact alone. This book truly has a slow start. Somewhere in the middle though, you cannot help but be caught up in the grouchy and surly flirtationship these two fools have. Bookish Edwin ‘stick up his butt’ Courcey has only a little teaspoon of magic in comparison to his rude, sexist, partially classist and annoying magical family. They never let him forget about it either. He never knows where he fits in and is content with it (in his grumpy way) at this point until cursed (and well fit) Robin ‘without a thought behind those eyes’ Blyth stumbles into his life. Robin is daring without knowing anything about magic, and is in awe of the simplest things that Edwin does. However, he makes sure to poke and prod him to bring out his temper to his own (as well as my) amusement. It’s honestly down right adorable how much these two really did not want to like each other, and when they finally do like each other it gets hot hot hot (like seriously the spice level gets to explicit). With this all being said, their relationship saves the book. The storyline while it sounds intriguing just didn’t deliver to me as much as I would have liked. A good amount of this story is put into characterizing Edwin and Robin or just being overly descriptive to what is happening or to their surroundings. I would have liked to know more about Reggie and Edwin’s past, Miss Morrissey or even more about Edwin’s family in a way that wouldn’t have me just rolling my eyes. The only other relationship that is brought up often is between Robin and his sister, and I really like her, so content with that.
Overall an enjoyable read. I read a comment that said this reads like a top-tier fanfiction and now that won’t leave my head because it is the perfect way to summarize it.
Would I recommend this and to who:
Fans of fruity historical fiction with a dash of magic and spice
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book & Audiobook
How did I discover this:
Stumbled upon it on Libby and thought why not.
Pace:
Slow beginning and then jumps to a medium pace.
Cover thoughts:
It is very pretty. I like the tapestry vibe and choices of color.
POV: (single or multi)
Multi
Quotes:
'I am nothing like you, and yet I feel more myself with you.'
"Every time you touch me it's exactly what I want."
"I hate this ... I hate that this is what magic is to you ... It's not supposed to be bad. It really is - something marvellous."
“Tell me to stay, stay for you, and I will.”
“You’re hardly nothing … you made me see the future.” “I think we’ve established that wasn’t me … We don’t know if it’s even – them. I think it was latent. Triggered.” “I wasn’t talking about the visions.”
“You make me feel like something – extraordinary.”