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mais_is_reading 's review for:
A Restless Truth
by Freya Marske
3.5 stars
Sequels are hard. You have to keep the series’ plot moving without giving away too much, and no matter what you do, people will always compare it to the first book (favourably or otherwise).
There were aspects of this book I really enjoyed. I love that we’re getting more of an ensemble cast as the series progresses, and I appreciated the way the lore was built and clarified. We also got some glimpses/possible foreshadowing for book three, which kept me excited to continue reading.
Marske’s prose is also absolutely lovely. She employs some wonderful turns of phrase here—the kind that make me pause reading so I can turn them over in my head a few times to see what makes them work so well. It’s always a joy to read her writing, and I look forward to more of that as the series continues.
Some other reviews people have left here have lamented the lack of romance, or the fact that the book takes place in a single setting. To me, neither of these things would have been particularly noticeable in a standalone book; but because we can’t help but compare A Restless Truth to its predecessor, the change in pacing and theme stands out.
The single setting didn’t bother me all that much. They move about the ship a lot, spend time in first class, third class, the cargo hold, etc. There was sufficient change of scenery to keep me interested. The issue for me was more the fact that the entire book takes place across six days. This gives us much less room for character development, and also greatly limits the possibility of a well-developed romantic arc. The attraction between Maude and Violet is mostly physical. Which, sure, I get it. You’re stuck on a boat with a hot stranger and a suitcase full of pornography. When in Rome. But compared to the heart wrenching, pining, slow burn romance of A Marvellous Light, I can see how fwb-on-a-ship is a bit disappointing.
Characterisation was also limited by the shortened timeline. Whereas in A Marvellous Light we got to see Robin develop from a reluctant heir to a committed and integral part of the quest to save magical society, Maude undergoes very little change in the six days we get to know her. Her whole motive for the voyage seems thin. She’s travelled from London to New York and now back to London again all because she wants to do something to pay her brother back for the kindness he’s shown her. He’s the only person who’s ever believed in her, etc. And yet the whole plot hinges on the fact that Maude can convince anyone to do anything. She’s ballsy, she’s clever, and she doesn’t take no for an answer. Even curmudgeonly Hawthorne says that she reminds him of his sister in that she can make people follow her anywhere. I wish this had been explored more in her character, to give her some greater tie to the overall conceit of the fantasy. Why does she care about the last contract? It can’t only be because Robin cares about it.
This review probably sounds harsher than I mean it to be. I did enjoy it! I read it quickly, I loved the writing, and I’m still looking forward to book three. I’m hoping that one will take place over a longer time period and, now that all our characters are back in the same city, we’ll get to see Maude and Violet’s storylines developed a bit more.
Sequels are hard. You have to keep the series’ plot moving without giving away too much, and no matter what you do, people will always compare it to the first book (favourably or otherwise).
There were aspects of this book I really enjoyed. I love that we’re getting more of an ensemble cast as the series progresses, and I appreciated the way the lore was built and clarified. We also got some glimpses/possible foreshadowing for book three, which kept me excited to continue reading.
Marske’s prose is also absolutely lovely. She employs some wonderful turns of phrase here—the kind that make me pause reading so I can turn them over in my head a few times to see what makes them work so well. It’s always a joy to read her writing, and I look forward to more of that as the series continues.
Some other reviews people have left here have lamented the lack of romance, or the fact that the book takes place in a single setting. To me, neither of these things would have been particularly noticeable in a standalone book; but because we can’t help but compare A Restless Truth to its predecessor, the change in pacing and theme stands out.
The single setting didn’t bother me all that much. They move about the ship a lot, spend time in first class, third class, the cargo hold, etc. There was sufficient change of scenery to keep me interested. The issue for me was more the fact that the entire book takes place across six days. This gives us much less room for character development, and also greatly limits the possibility of a well-developed romantic arc. The attraction between Maude and Violet is mostly physical. Which, sure, I get it. You’re stuck on a boat with a hot stranger and a suitcase full of pornography. When in Rome. But compared to the heart wrenching, pining, slow burn romance of A Marvellous Light, I can see how fwb-on-a-ship is a bit disappointing.
Characterisation was also limited by the shortened timeline. Whereas in A Marvellous Light we got to see Robin develop from a reluctant heir to a committed and integral part of the quest to save magical society, Maude undergoes very little change in the six days we get to know her. Her whole motive for the voyage seems thin. She’s travelled from London to New York and now back to London again all because she wants to do something to pay her brother back for the kindness he’s shown her. He’s the only person who’s ever believed in her, etc. And yet the whole plot hinges on the fact that Maude can convince anyone to do anything. She’s ballsy, she’s clever, and she doesn’t take no for an answer. Even curmudgeonly Hawthorne says that she reminds him of his sister in that she can make people follow her anywhere. I wish this had been explored more in her character, to give her some greater tie to the overall conceit of the fantasy. Why does she care about the last contract? It can’t only be because Robin cares about it.
This review probably sounds harsher than I mean it to be. I did enjoy it! I read it quickly, I loved the writing, and I’m still looking forward to book three. I’m hoping that one will take place over a longer time period and, now that all our characters are back in the same city, we’ll get to see Maude and Violet’s storylines developed a bit more.