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A murder mystery on an ocean liner cruising from the US to the UK in the early 1900s being solved by two women – one of whom is a magician. Both of whom are into each other. Things get spicy…and dangerous.

Summary:
When Maud voyages from the US to the UK on RMS Lyric, she finds a dead body, a disrespectful parrot, and a beautiful stranger in Violet Debenham, who is everything—a magician, an actress, a scandal—Maud has been trained to fear and has learned to desire. Surrounded by the open sea and a ship full of loathsome, aristocratic suspects, they must solve a murder and untangle a conspiracy that began generations before them.

Review:
I’m not sure how I ended up with an advanced copy of the second book in The Last Binding series – when I hadn’t read the first. I’m assuming either I requested it, not realizing it was a second book or it was sent to me based on my reading history with the assumption it didn’t matter. The series aspect is less “the story happens in a row” and more “everyone featured is living in these alternate history version of the early 1900s plus magic.” Apparently the first book in the series features a m/m pairing (Amazon, Bookshop.org), whereas this one stars a f/f pair.

I didn’t struggle too much to figure out what’s going on. The author does refrain from explaining much for the first chapter or two. But that’s because the book starts essentially in media res – with the murder happening. After that has occurred we slow down for a minute, and there’s a refresher of the rules of the universe. It didn’t take me too long to catch up and get into it.

One thing that did surprise me was the spice level of this romance. I was expecting very light spice with most encounters occurring off-screen after a fade to dark. That is not the case. Things get very explicit. Let’s put it this way….at least one of the scenes would have had to have been cut to manage to squeak in an R rating for explicitness. There are three scenes total, and each takes up a whole chapter. To me, this much spice feels like erotica jammed into a romance. I prefer the two separately.

The pairing here is grumpy/cheery. Violet is the grumpy, and I adored her. I liked Maud too, but Violet was someone I could see a whole book’s perspective on. Perhaps I’m biased since Violet is bisexual and the quintessential theater geek. I just really enjoyed her. But Maud is nice enough too. I liked their pairing well enough.

The mystery is substantial enough to hold up a plot. I enjoyed the animals and sneaking around the boat. I did think a bit more attention could have been paid to the class and race issues that sort of came up and got a bit glossed over. I don’t expect preaching in a book but it might have been interesting to at least have Maud and Violet see the second or third class areas of the ship on one of their many attempts to outrun their pursuers. (Somehow they always seemed to end up in the cargo hold instead). Maud talks with disdain of her parents only giving charity when others can see it, but Maud herself doesn’t seem to do much giving either. Violet, at least, offers to become the patron of an all-Black opera. (The real history of Black opera.)

Overall, I liked getting to know Violet, and it was an interesting world to visit. But the spice level was far too hot for what I personally prefer in romance, sliding more into an erotica category in my opinion. It also seems to me that the first book may have been quite different from this one, so readers of the first should come in aware of these differences.

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When it’s more 🌶 than you bargained for…..
If you’re looking for period wlw romance mixed in with three scenes that pack the full heat level, look no further than A Restless Truth.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

GoodReads:
This is a well-written book, it just wasn't for me.

Overall, I liked getting to know Violet, and it was an interesting world to visit. But the spice level was far too hot for what I personally prefer in romance, sliding more into an erotica category in my opinion. It also seems to me that the first book may have been quite different from this one (I don't know for certain, because I didn't read it), so readers of the first should come in aware of these differences.

*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

A Restless Truth is a historical fiction LGBTQ mystery set aboard an ocean liner and featuring Maude Blyth, whose brother Robin was one of the MC's in the previous story in this series. I thought this book would be a bit more of a continuation of the previous book, but it could easily be enjoyed without reading A Marvellous Light. I am now solidly a Freya Marske fan and cannot wait for additional titles in this series.

Maude was sent to America to retrieve both a magician and her powerful magical item, but her companion is found murdered in their cabin after they've barely left port. In her efforts to identify the magical item and the murderer, Maude befriends a menagerie of passengers, forming her own Scooby gang to snoop and perform investigations. This was a fun story, with the appearance of one grumpy aristocrat from A Marvellous Light (I do love grumpy aristocrats) whose sole purpose seems to be the foil for the other characters needling.

This one didn't pull my heartstrings as much as A Marvellous Light, but it was more of an ensemble cast so it didn't feel as intimate. I hope there are more to come in this series, and specifically would like to see the grumpy aristocrat find his own HEA.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE BOOK! Such a fun sapphic fantasy adventure. I absolutely adored the characters new and old. The capers, real and silly were well fleshed out and enjoyable. I have recommended this book for months now!!

Maud Blythe is accompanying an old woman on a ship crossing to Great Britain when she gets caught up in a murder mystery on board. Once she starts investigating, Maud makes some allies and enemies confined in the ship and risks her life and her heart. Will she and Violet, a passenger who is magical, be able to find the killer before their ship arrives?

This was a fun queer historical fantasy romp – but the magic doesn’t overtake the story, so if you like mysterious books with a bit of magic, but not an overly complex magical system, check it out. I really enjoyed A Marvellous Light, the first book in this series, and I think the writing improved in this one; great dialogue and quirky characters. While it helps to have the first book read before this one, you could read this as a standalone. There is quite a bit of spice in this book, so be prepared for that when you read it. I’m looking forward to the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Dot Com for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! I'm not sure if I liked it quite as much as A Marvellous Light, but I did like it.

In this one we have Robin's sister, Maud, and the book starts with a murder while on a transatlantic voyage by ship. There is a lot to like with this, as there is magic and the continuation of the investigation that Robin and Edwin started in the first book in the series, as well as the murder investigation. This isn't a book that you can read as a standalone, you need to have read A Marvellous Light first, otherwise you will be pretty out of your depths when it comes to the magic system, the ongoing story, and the characters.

The main couple in this book are Maud and Violet, and I loved them. Maud is exploring her sexuality and figuring out what she likes, which may involve being a wee bit bossy, and I am totally here for it. I liked how they communicated and how their relationship developed over the course of the voyage, and I liked how Violet called out things that would normally be overlooked/ignored in an insta-love sort of situation, which this was.

Definitely enjoyed this one and absolutely cannot wait for the third book!!!

I am a huge fan of historical fantasy, so many aspects of series appeal to me greatly! Some of my wishes from the previous book were more female characters and more insight into magical social circles and government. This installment had both of these in spades, which I absolutely loved!

Other things I enjoyed:

✨ We got hints of what magic might have looked like in other countries and cultures. I hope we get even more of this in the last book, because I loved it.

✨ The characters played off of each other in a really fun way, and I felt like the supporting characters (who I really enjoyed in both books) had more page time than they did in the first book.

✨ The setting being a passenger ship at sea made it feel a bit like a closed room setting to a point. There was forced proximity and no escape, so there needed to be creativity in how different things were handled. I enjoyed this quite a bit!

✨ The tone felt relatively light and fun, considering there were murders and mysteries happening. This kept the book from becoming too maudlin, and I appreciated the playfulness sprinkled throughout.



Some things I wished:

✨ There are multiple occasions of insta-love happening in this series, as well as a bit more romance and lot more spice than I typically enjoy. But I’m invested enough in the storyline that I came back for the second book and will return again for the third.

This was such a fun book. I liked it differently than the first one but it was still just as good. I loved every bit of it and I appreciate that the sex scenes were just as explicit as the first book

A sequel that totally lived up to the first book, A Restless Truth was phenomenal! I had such high expectations because A Marvellous Light is an all time favorite of mine. And while I was sad that I only got to see my dear Robin and Edwin once at the very end of the book, these new characters completely captured my heart. I could not get enough of Maud and Violet, and even the grumpy Hawthorn (I so hope book 3 will be his).

A Restless Truth begins right after the events of A Marvellous Light end. The book opens with a murder and the theft of a magical artifact (and I won’t get too specific here in case you haven’t read book one) and the rest of the story is a sapphic murder mystery on a ship! We get to explore some new magic, there’s a foul mouthed parrot who keeps everyone on their toes, a whole lot of educational pornography, and an absolutely perfect love story. Freya Marske writes such moving and creative (you may recall the magical *literally* butt stuff from the first book) love scenes. They never feel formulaic, but rather varied and perfectly crafted for the characters she’s writing them for. For Maud, this is an education and exploration of sex and what it can mean, and for Violet, it’s her first real go at a real relationship and making herself truly vulnerable. Marske has written some of the most romantic lines I’ve ever read and I have more than I can count underlined in this book.

I absolutely loved how much self discovery happened for Maud, Robin’s little sister. She is so brave in the light of so many unknowns and absolutely committed to her mission to help out her brother and Edwin. And I don’t even know where to begin with how much I fell for Hawthorn’s character. He is the surliest, most unhelpful man at the beginning of the book, and by the end he is all in to help with Maud’s mission. The rag tag team that develops between Maud, Violet, Hawthorn, and a few others felt like a family by the end and I cannot wait to see where that goes with the next book.

I cannot recommend this series enough. A Restless Truth is out now and my eternal gratitude to tordotcom for sending me this beautiful copy to read and review!

The second book in Marske's series is an irresistible queer magical mystery thriller with Edwardian England details, racy encounters, vulnerability and love, and witty banter on a ship bound for England.

A Restless Truth is the second in Freya Marske's queer fantasy mystery Last Binding trilogy that began with A Marvellous Light.

A Marvellous Light was full of details of life in Edwardian England, gay love, mystery, magic, wonderful dialogue, and plenty of heart. I adored it.

In A Restless Truth, the character of Maud Blyth (Robin's sister, introduced in book one) expects adventure when she agrees to help save the magical world by serving as companion to an elderly magician on an ocean liner.

By doing so, Maud aims to help her beloved older brother resolve a magical mystery that's been decades in the making.

But when her charge drops dead on day one, Maud must identify the murderer, try to get her hands on a magical object essential to untangling the mystery at hand--and try to survive the voyage without being murdered herself.

Maud and each of her unlikely allies are fantastic characters. The mystery element kept me hooked, and details of proper Edwardian etiquette and clothing were wonderful. Marske doesn't skimp on presenting multiple magical elements, which I loved--and she includes many detailed, saucy, passionate encounters between our main characters.

I was struck by the drastic manner in which Violet attempted to free herself from the shackles of marriage and the subsummation of a woman to her husband that was expected at the time. (This reminded me of the measures taken by the main protagonist in another book I recently read, A Study of Scarlet Women, in order to secure freedom from a stifling marriage.)

A Restless Truth is fun and quirky yet has depth, an appealingly complicated mystery, and a satisfying version of a resolution that sets up book three.

I received a prepublication edition of this book courtesy of Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tordotcom, and NetGalley.

I've been a fan of Marske's writing for years - both in a professional setting, and a more low-key setting. A Restless Truth is no exception. It's SO compelling and interesting, the characters are believable, and their story is just soooo fun to read. It's maybe one of the best of the year, I really can't recommend it enough.

I really really liked this one. I liked it better than the first book. I don't really know exactly why but I struggled with the first book. Not that I didn't end up liking it, but I enjoyed a restless truth much more.

I think it's the badass vibes of all men are stupid that really sold this one for me. It is full of funny and intelligent and conniving (sometimes) women who are just trying to solve a murder. I liked the twist at the end and I liked the little references to Robin and Edwin but Violet and Maude really stole the show for me. Lord Hawthorne also grew on me as did Ross and I could totally see the next book as being about those two.

I don't want to give any spoilers because even though I was told that you could read this as a standalone I don't think you could. It is part of a series and the magic system is kind of a continuous world building that goes from the first book as well and even though the main characters in the first book are not the main characters in this book, it is still really prevalent and necessary to know what happened in the first.

What a fun sequel. I loved all the action, mystery, romance, and magic. I loved getting to know Maud and Violet, as well as more of Lord Hawthorne. I felt like the characters had good dimensions, there was just enough steamy scenes to keep me invested and just enough intrigue in the mystery of the lost contract item that I read this in a few days. Really loving this series so far and can't wait to see how they retrieve the third part of the contract and if it will be all the characters back together again. It was almost a five star, but not quite there.

Earlier this year I delighted in A Marvellous Light, by Freya Marske. She wove a finely balanced tale of murder, magic, and intrigue. I was so excited for the sequel and pleased when I received an eARC courtesy NetGalley and Tor. I knew the sequel was going to be good. I was not prepared for it to be this.

A Restless Truth follows Robin’s sister, Maud, on an ocean voyage from the United States back to the United Kingdom. A murder most foul catapults Maud from the role of companion into detective. Out of her depth, Maud nevertheless resolves to rout a murderer and retrieve the piece of the Last Contract that her companion had been protecting. Fortunately, she collects some allies, including Lord Hawthorn from the first book, and a new character/love interest in the form of Violet Debenham, intentionally described socialite-turned-performer. That’s right—after the m/m pairing of the first book, Marske gives us a f/f romance here.

As with the first book, the romance/sex scenes are far steamier/spicier than I tend to seek out in my non-erotic fiction. But I loved the development of Maud and Violet’s relationship every bit as much as I did Robin and Edwin’s. This one is different because Maud is only gradually realizing her sexuality. Violet’s consequent ambivalence—she isn’t sure she is the right person to be Maud’s first, to guide her through this—is sweet and tender. There’s so much discussion of consent, fights over things both silly and significant, and then make-up sex. I love a book that just has some joyously normalized queer romance even though romance is not in and of itself my genre.

Fortunately, A Restless Truth has a lot more to offer than romance. This book presents a mystery, but unlike the first book, it’s much closer to a locked-room mystery. We’re on a boat! In the middle of the Atlantic! So the killer can’t exactly go overboard at any moment, and while magic is a factor, everyone who knows this is also motivated to keep the rest of the boat unaware—to avoid “unbusheling” them, if you will. This gives Marske quite a lot of room to escalate the drama and tension gradually. What begins as a straightforward mystery with a side helping of romance blooms into a tense, explosive, seditious plot that has Maud and her allies making plans, breaking plans, and eventually just fighting for survival. Whether it’s exposition or a climactic confrontation, Marske’s writing is tight and so satisfying to read. I had a busy week, so I did end up putting this book down more than I wanted to, but I didn’t want to put it down!

Maud is a delightful protagonist, though I think Violet ultimately stole the show for me. The way that Marske balances contrasts their upbringing—Maud’s sheltered life, Violet’s more worldly experiences—is beautiful. There’s a scene two thirds of the way through the book where Violet considers opening up and sharing more of her concerns with Maud and ultimately doesn’t, and it’s that withholding, and Maud’s sense of understanding, that is so heartachingly good. Sometimes, no matter how whirlwind a romance is, you just aren’t ready to divulge your most intimate secrets yet.

The supporting characters have so much to offer as well. Marske has a talent for foreshadowing, for laying out the pieces on the board in such a way that you know they are all going to come together before the end of the book, but you can’t quite see the final layout. It’s very satisfying, watching these minor characters who were introduced in the first chapters show up here and there to help nudge the plot along without it feeling too contrived or heavy-handed. Because we’re on an ocean voyage, Marske has the ability to introduce a quirky but limited cast and then work with them to advance the story.

I also love how Marske continues to build this world, its magic, and the mystery around the Last Contract. I had no idea that this book would take us away from Robin and Edwin—and it is a sign of how much I am coming to appreciate Marske as a storyteller that I found myself relishing their absence. Now I’ve met so many other characters I’ve enjoyed, and I can’t wait to see what the third book brings!

A Restless Truth was not the book I was expecting as a sequel to A Marvellous Light—it was better. That’s no mean feat for a second novel. Also, because this book is very “contained”—both in setting and characters—you could dive into this one before you read A Marvellous Light as long as you don’t mind general spoilers for the first book. Nevertheless, I would recommend you read both.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. I got half way into the prologue, and then had to go back and re-read the first book. It was definitely worth doing, and I regret nothing.
This book is a magical romp that takes place during a closed ship murder mystery. There are many, many shenanigans, and Violet and Maud make the most of them. There is everything you could imagine, including murder, kidnapping, cheetahs, a seance, reading out loud, and a very chatty parrot. Maud is extremely charming, and in need of a good therapist, but she's well matched by the outrageous Violet. They and their somewhat reluctant crew of allies and misfits are trying to protect the magical world from greedy bad guys, and they have a great deal of fun while doing it.
My only quibble is that the story leaves us on a HFN. I mean, yes, it makes sense for the rapid time frame, but I wanted more. There were a lot of loose ends left dangling, so I really need there to be a third book. (Which I'm hoping involves Hawthorne, and maybe Ross.) In the meantime, I enjoyed myself, and this was a great way to spend a Saturday.

I wasn’t really able to connect with the characters on this one as easily as the first book. I’m afraid it took me longer than I’m happy about to realize that Hawthorn was the same character that Edwin and Robin went to for help in the first book. There was a kind of summary of what happened between the last book and this one but it came far enough into the book that I had already slotted some things back together.

Everything happened really quickly in the first chapter or so and then slowed to an absolute creep. I found that things were moving so slow that I was able to forget character names and had to flip back to remind myself which isn’t a great sign. I did think the scene where she’s reading the erotica aloud to her friends was hilarious and would resonate with everyone who has ever been in a book chat group with me.

So all in all, I'm bummed I didn't click with Maud or Violet in this one but I hope that Hawthorn gets book 3. I'm interested in where the overall arc is going and I hope Edwin and Robin will make a larger appearance in that book. Seeing snippets of them being domestic and happy was wonderful.

Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

A much-anticipated follow-up to last year’s “A Marvellous Light,” it is a Sapphic shipboard mystery set in a world where aristocracy, magic and murder overlap on pretty nearly every page.

Maud Blyth has boarded the cruise ship Lyric under a false name and with a secret mission: to escort the keeper of a powerful magical artifact to the safety of Maud’s sorcerer brother in England. Two other artifact keepers have been recently murdered, and Maud is hoping her youth and relative anonymity will help deflect any sinister attention during the crossing.

When the keeper is killed and the artifact stolen on the first night out of harbor, Maud knows two things: one, that the murderer must be somewhere on the ship, and two, her best bet is to steal the artifact back before they reach land again.

Fortunately, Maud’s brother has given her sketches of his prophetic visions. A face on one page leaps out at her — a lovely blond woman — so when Maud spots her in the dining quarters, she impulsively introduces herself.

Violet Debenham is a music-hall-actress-turned-heiress, and a gifted magician to boot. She’s tickled pink to kill travel time by solving a murder — but is far too world-weary and cynical to let a naïve, earnest girl’s moral compass pull her off course. At least, not before the ghost, the jewelry thief and the suitcase of pornography come into play.

Some books make you think; others make you gasp; and a few feel as if they were written as a gift to you, specifically. This book is all three: a breathtaking romp of a plot, prose as sparkling and luxuriant as a diamond sautoir, and at the heart of it all a sense of wondrous possibility I wish I could go back and offer to my younger self. The magic system, the time pressure, the sumptuous heat of it all — Marske makes her ship a crucible, leaving the reader with a lovely, golden glow to light this waning season.

Maud Blyth has spent her life as a proper young lady, but with her parents gone, she is joining the cause to save the magicians of Britain.

This book picks up a few months after the end of “A Marvelous Light,” Maud has found the next member of the Forsythia Club in America and is bringing her back to England. When her charge is murdered by an unknown Magician on board their ship it leaves Maud scrambling for clues. Thankfully her brother Robin’s foresight provided a few hints in the form of a beautiful blonde he believes is destined to help them. Starving off boredom while crossing an ocean to declare her inheritance, Violet agrees to join Mauds game and help locate the missing contract.

This book felt like a great partner to the first. It showcases different characters but seamlessly continues the plot, and sets us up for book 3. I cannot wait to see Edwin and Robin, with Maud and Violet.

From a genre perspective it feels a little more like a game of clue. Both Maud and Violet are witty outgoing characters, and as leads they make the book feel a little more fun. Unlike the first book a large part of the characters are not magicians, and this creates an interesting inside joke dynamic when they have to use magic in public.

In the romance department this book lives up to its predecessor, Violet and Maud click together from the start. While Violet is the more experienced, Maud quickly becomes the aggressor and it causes an interesting push and pull between their physical and emotional relationship.

This definitely lives up to book 1. I loved the characters and the plot. They were definitely unique and their motivations were realistic. I liked the introduction to new players and the depth that was added to old ones.

Think this series is more narration and character exploration heavy rather than plot heavy of which I’m a personal fan.

The spice was different, but still good.

My only criticism is that there was a missed opportunity to make the cover shades of purple. Just saying.

A Restless Truth is the second in The Last Binding series, and I loved it as much as I loved the first, A Marvelous Light.

Maud Blyth (sister of Robin Blyth, from A Marvelous Light) is aboard a transatlantic voyage. She went to the United States to collect Mrs. Navenby, who owns one piece of the Last Contract, three magical items that hold vast, mysterious magic. Mrs. Navenby is coming back to England with Maud to mourn (and avenge) the death of her good friend Flora Sutton, who owned another piece of the Last Contract. When Mrs. Navenby is killed on the first day of their journey back to England, and everything silver she owned is stolen (thus losing her Last Contract piece), Maud must figure out who killed her and how to get the pieces back.

Maud elicits the help of Violet Debenham,whose face she already knew from Robin's notebook of premonitions, and Lord Hawthorn, an acquaintance of her brother Robin's partner, Edwin. Violet is daring, beautiful and rich, having just inherited a fortune from a distant relative. She also has a fair amount of magical talent. Hawthorn's magical talent was lost several years ago, but he still has the training to assist Violet in performing magical spells. They also recruit Alan Ross, a reporter, who has been given free rein by White Star Liners to interview passengers about their journeys. Ross can go places the others cannot, and can ask questions without raising as much suspicion.

Maud learns much about herself and her abilities, both as a medium (a skill she didn't know she had before this voyage) and as a strong, independent woman. Rich women in the early 1900's weren't expected to do much, even in magical families, and both Maud and Violet are determined to make their mark on the world and "do their part" to keep magic safe.

Marske knows how to write a compelling mystery as well as a captivating romance. Maud and Violet's relationship begins as just a physical one, but you watch them fall in love. The sex scenes are plenty spicy, so if that is a concern of yours, this is not the book for you! But if you love mystery, magic and queer love, you'll really enjoy this series. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

I really enjoyed A Restless Truth, and though it was a compelling sequel to A Marvellous Light! Freya Marske gives us another fun fantasy novel, this time with a sapphic love story. Though I didn't love A Restless Truth quite as much as A Marvellous Light, and I wish it had revealed more of the overall plot, I'm already excited for the next installment in the series.

Thank you to Tordotcom and NetGalley for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.