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justinlife 's review for:
A Marvellous Light
by Freya Marske
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sometimes I need reminded that while I enjoy reading critically, some books are just fun.
A Marvelous Light is a lovely romp though magical England in the early 20th century. Think Downton Abbey but like magical. Marske successfully fits in a M/M romance, a murder mystery, and the foundation of a magical realm. I appreciated how she approached magic and it’s uses. In her world, magic is like a contract, which was a neat take. What I didn’t like is the trend I’ve seen recently magic blood purity and how much magic someone has is what they have. This is my least favorite fantasy trope. Fortunately it’s used minimally and usually by people who aren’t necessarily good. One of the aspects of her magic that I did enjoy was the use of Fae magic. While not in the forefront, it makes it interesting to see how that has impacted the magical community of this world. The magic users aren’t necessarily good people, which I appreciated.
When it comes to the romance of the story, I found it entertaining that she basically wrote an athlete/nerd, m/m romance in magical Downton Abbey. Robin, a brave boxer, ends up as a magical liaison through a clerical error. While Edwin, a bookish guy who barely has magical ability is the person he should liaise with. It’s a fun story with some steamy moments. When those moments happen is funny b/c the first time it seems to come out of nowhere and BAM- sexy times!
The book is still dealing with a homophobic culture so seeing the characters navigate that and find a way to come through it and find something meaningful was refreshing. The focus wasn’t on the homophobia, though. It was there. It was about finding a connection through it.
Overall, this is a great read. It’s lots of fun, interesting, and nicely paced. It’s a breath of fresh air. There’s some great cheesy dialogue and creative twists and turns. Would recommend for a breezy good time.
A Marvelous Light is a lovely romp though magical England in the early 20th century. Think Downton Abbey but like magical. Marske successfully fits in a M/M romance, a murder mystery, and the foundation of a magical realm. I appreciated how she approached magic and it’s uses. In her world, magic is like a contract, which was a neat take. What I didn’t like is the trend I’ve seen recently magic blood purity and how much magic someone has is what they have. This is my least favorite fantasy trope. Fortunately it’s used minimally and usually by people who aren’t necessarily good. One of the aspects of her magic that I did enjoy was the use of Fae magic. While not in the forefront, it makes it interesting to see how that has impacted the magical community of this world. The magic users aren’t necessarily good people, which I appreciated.
When it comes to the romance of the story, I found it entertaining that she basically wrote an athlete/nerd, m/m romance in magical Downton Abbey. Robin, a brave boxer, ends up as a magical liaison through a clerical error. While Edwin, a bookish guy who barely has magical ability is the person he should liaise with. It’s a fun story with some steamy moments. When those moments happen is funny b/c the first time it seems to come out of nowhere and BAM- sexy times!
The book is still dealing with a homophobic culture so seeing the characters navigate that and find a way to come through it and find something meaningful was refreshing. The focus wasn’t on the homophobia, though. It was there. It was about finding a connection through it.
Overall, this is a great read. It’s lots of fun, interesting, and nicely paced. It’s a breath of fresh air. There’s some great cheesy dialogue and creative twists and turns. Would recommend for a breezy good time.