Light-hearted, engaging and rather steamy fantasy fiction
Freya Marske is an Australian author who seems to have a direct link to my brain, as she’s written a trilogy that offers exactly what I want from a fun read. I picked up the first book in her trilogy, A Marvellous Light, on a whim on my library app, in the mood for something fun and escapist. It is set in the early 1900s, in an alternate Britain where magic is real, practised in secret by magical families. Robin Blyth, a non-magical aristocrat, is drawn into this world, and a mysterious adventure unfolds as he tries to uncover a magical secret with world-changing consequences.
Marske’s stories bring together ground that will be familiar to readers of fanfiction, with some truly original world-building. All three books are adventure romances, and all the protagonist couples are gay pairings. It is so refreshing to read a series where this is treated as completely normal, and the relationships are given the depth and arcs that are often missing from, say, representations of gay relationships in TV shows. They’re not completely removed from their historical contexts, but the characters are unquestioningly supportive of each other’s identities. Marske’s decision to not use their sexuality as a source of conflict is a great one.
Alongside the progressive approach to sexuality, Marske also has a thoughtful approach to race. Many authors, and indeed readers, would see the historical setting as an ‘excuse’ to exclude all but white characters. Marske brings a more inclusive but still historically relevant approach. From the start we are introduced to characters of Indian origin (at a time when Britain was still colonising India), and attitudes to race are explored through the character of a black singer in the second book. Marske perhaps doesn’t give herself time to go into these issues in great depth, but the nods and references that are made show a sincere desire to engage with the experiences of people – particularly women – of colour in a white supremacist empire.
The themes aren’t the only thing that brought to mind fanfiction – there are some very steamy sex scenes. I for some reason hadn’t been expecting these, so it took me a little by surprise, but each contributes to the development of the characters and their relationships, and felt in keeping with the narrative and the world.
I seriously enjoyed this series, and found each book well-plotted, well-paced, and with interesting, engaging characters.
A Marvellous Light
The first and probably most gripping in the series – I couldn’t put it down. It introduces key concepts like the ‘cradling’ magic system. This is such an interesting and original take on magic – a hard thing to achieve. I love the way Marske weaves the concept of consent into her magic system too. It really builds a kind of culture of consent across their whole world, which plays out in relationships and events across the three books.
I found Robin and Edwin the most compelling couple in the series. All the characters are believable, but these two felt the most real somehow. The smaller cast of characters in this novel also gives more breathing space for the couple, and the reader more time to engage with their interior lives.
A Marvellous Light is a great start to the trilogy, bound to leave you wanting the next.
A Restless Truth
We move from Robin to his sister Maud, and from sweeping country estates to the confinement of a trans-Atlantic liner. Maud is a charming character, who we met in the first novel. She is placed at the centre of an ensemble cast, and paired with the lively, confident and eccentric Violet. There’s a bit of an Agatha Christie feel to this book, with the ocean liner setting and plenty of thefts and counter-thefts. It’s an exciting read, and it’s impressive how much Marske manages to convincingly plot int eh relatively small canvas she has given herself.
Given the constrictions on time – the book takes place on just one voyage from the US back to England – the sex scenes did at times feel like interruptions to the plot. There is a great sense of urgency and pace in the novel, which leaves one thinking ‘do they really have time for all this?’. But once again, the scenes help us learn about the characters, and it is often in these scenes that the characters develop most. So they still feel purposeful.
Middle books of trilogies are infamously difficult, but Marske pulls this one off with aplomb. It both feels complete in itself, and builds towards the concluding novel. A fun read which raises questions and plants the seeds for the final piece.
A Power Unbound
We return to England, with its country estates and London townhouses. This time we’re with Lord Hawthorn, who we first met in the first book, and Alan Ross, who we met in the second. Their relationship is the central one, and once again Marske deftly ties the contours of their relationship to the progression of the plot. The ‘darkest’ of the romances, it is an insightful examination of the catharsis relationships can offer, and the power of openness in restoring emotional wellbeing. Each couple stands unique across the series, but in each there is the underlying message of the healing power of honesty, with oneself as much as with ones partner.
The culmination of the events that have driven us through the first two books could easily have felt anti-climactic, but Marske achieves a status quo breaking conclusion which both undercuts and satisfies our expectations.
It really felt like this is the series teenage me had been waiting for, and I’m glad it finally arrived. If you’re into magic, equality, and love stories that are the ideal mix of realistic and fantastical, give this a go. I for one will definitely be picking up Marske’s latest work, Swordcrossed.
Have you read any of Marske’s books? What did you think of her world building and characters? And are you as excited as me that this kind of book exists? Please do share your thoughts in a comment!
The Feminist Gadabout 