A Marvelous Light
Summary:
Set in an alternative Edwardian England, this is a comedy of manners, manor houses, and hedge mazes: including a magic-infused murder mystery and a delightful queer romance. For fans of Georgette Heyer or Julia Quinn's Bridgerton, who'd like to welcome magic into their lives...
Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he's actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. If it weren’t for this administrative error, he’d never have discovered the incredible magic underlying his world.
Cursed by mysterious attackers and plagued by visions, Robin becomes determined to drag answers from his missing predecessor – but he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his hostile magical-society counterpart. Unwillingly thrown together, Robin and Edwin will discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
This book was adorable. I loved the elements of details sprinkled throughout including the references Tiffany lamps (a favorite growing up in Chicago) and William Morris wallpaper. Through in a conspiracy across magical and mundane governments, crazy families, and some awesome sidekicks and this is a fun nonstop action read. There is a really interested magical system with a lot more layers than I was expecting. I’m intrigued to learn more in the subsequent books.
Edwin and Robin are thrown into an uneasy alliance, which of course gives them plenty of room to let the romance slowly unspool. It wasn’t quite enemy to lovers, but it was certainly reluctant friends becoming something more. The last third includes some elements that were a little predictable, some lost trust, some higher stakes, but the resolution had just enough twists to keep it compelling. I’ll certainly be continuing the series!
Warning: Contains repeated violence.
Rating: 4 stars!
Who should read it? Fans of historical fantasy with a slower build.
Want to read the whole series?
A Restless Truth (The Last Binding #2)
A Power Unbound (The Last Binding #3)