This is the third book in The Last Binding trilogy, and I highly recommend reading books one and two first.

In this epic conclusion, we learn about Jack’s background and his binding; see the team come together in London trying to get the last piece of the Last Contract and to thwart their enemies' plans to steal power from England’s magicians; and experience highborn Jack falling in love with journalist, thief, and dirty books peddler Alan (Alanzo).

And may I just say that the love story between Jack and Alan—from the antagonism and animosity to opening up through role play to seeing tenderness between the two—is delicious. As it turns out, perhaps Jack and Alan both misjudged each other when they originally met in A Restless Truth.

These books are sizable but definitely worth the commitment if you enjoy historical romantasy and queer romance.

I listened to the audiobook version and enjoyed being whisked away by Josh Dylan’s narration. I liked his different vocal choices and accents and how he slipped between the various personas that Jack and Alan present to the world.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

I’ve sat for a few days before writing this review because I’ve had a hard time putting my thoughts into words. This series is so special to me and I’m so incredibly happy with the ending to the trilogy- this book does such a great job with ending both the overarching plot as well as the individual character stories from all three of the books.

Going into A Power Unbound, this trilogy was already one of my favorite fantasy series and this book cemented its place for me. I’m so excited to see what Freya Marske does next.

Excellent! This was my favorite book in this series, I’ve loved them all but this one was special. The relationship between Jack and Alan is beautifully rendered. Raw, unapologetic, and passionate. This book is both wildly sexy and incredibly tender. Marske has built a breathtaking world and filled it with incandescent characters. I feel like I know them. They have a depth of humanity that I rarely find in fantasy. Particularly with Jack, I find that he has so many multitudes but that I truly know and understand him. This is a beautiful series and this final installment made my heart sing from beginning to end.

What a wonderful conclusion to an engrossing series. Prior to A Power Unbound, I felt no connection to Jack and Alan, and could even say I disliked them as characters. Narrator Josh Dylan helps to pain the picture author Freya Marske has laid out and does a fantastic job lending voice to the characters. I ending up loving the persnickety duo, and Dylan's voice definitely played part to that. Previous main characters are still very much a part of the story, and I love the way the world is built and everyone is introduced in due time over the course of the series. Heart wrenching at times, A Power Unbound definitely serves justice where justice is due.
If only we could have a spin off of Alan's fiction...

4.5 stars

If you haven't yet tried this series, I highly recommend it. It's one of my favorites in the last few years, especially the first book. You do need to read the series in order, and I think this last book in particular is best read without spoilers.

As the final book in a series, this one had a lot riding on it. While I think that it was completely successful in being a very enjoyable book in its own right, it didn't quite reach the heights I'd hoped for as a culminating point for the trilogy.

Nearly every element worked for me. I really liked the audio narration and felt it was a great fit for the book. I loved both MCs, loved their dynamic, loved the setting and the return of characters from previous books. The sex scenes were the hottest of the three books, for my particular tastes. I love reading about characters who enjoy role playing in the bedroom and always find scenes where the MCs are trusting one another with the vulnerability of revealing their kinks to be really emotionally charged. Much of the plot was a real banger as well, about halfway through I was really impressed with how cracking the story was, though that feeling sort of fizzled out as things drew towards the end of the book.

There was nothing wrong with the plot or the ending. It just didn't have that feeling of all the puzzle pieces slotting into place that I was craving. It felt a bit more haphazard than I'd have liked. And real life is messy and complicated, so endings of course can be as well. But I was hoping the conclusion would feel as tightly plotted as the first book, and for me it didn't quite get there. I did not reread the first two books before this one, so maybe when I do a full reread of them one after the other I'll enjoy the ending more. There was only one plot element that cropped up in this book that I had no memory of from the former books, so I think in general readers should be ok to read this one without recently reread the others.

I really liked getting new MCs and a new setting for each book, but I wonder if that took away from that triumphant feeling of finality a bit? Maybe an epilogue from the POV of the MCs from the first book would have made it feel more full circle? I'm not sure. I did really love the epilogue as it was though. The importance of found family above all else was a really lovely end note. And I liked that not only characters who had found romantic love were focused on. One of the characters definitely read as aro and possibly ace and I appreciated that so much.

So, overall, as it stands on its own I enjoyed this book a great deal and would absolutely highly recommend it. The series as a whole is a delight. But in terms of this final book wrapping everything up and really ending with a bang, it didn't quite deliver for me.

A Power Unbound is the third and final book in the Last Binding Trilogy. After the loss of his twin sister, Jack Alston wants nothing more than to be done with magic for good. He is drawn back in due to the possibility of a dangerous ritual being performed that will risk all of magical Britain. He and his friends enlist the help of thief and writer Alan Ross to find the final part of the Last Contract. Jack must return to his family estate where the ritual is to be held.

This book was such a good conclusion to the series! I love an enemies to lovers story! This one did not disappoint. Jack and Alan have absolutely blazing chemistry. I really love the magic system in these books. The found family element is also top tier. I will read anything by Freya Marske and even if this is the end of the series I would happily read more stores set in this world if she ever decides to do more.

I listened to the ALC of this book. Josh Dylan did a fantastic job with the narration!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Tor for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

In the third and final (sad face) installment of Freya Marske’s The Last Binding trilogy, our motley crew faces down an institutional power grab that will change the nature of British magic forever. This time, they’ve involved journalist (and legendary short king) Alan Ross, much to the chagrin of the curmudgeonly Lord Hawthorn. Hijinks, political upheaval, and plenty of kissing ensue.

Rarely does a book make me do an actual physical happy dance while I’m listening to it--and in public, no less! This series is a bit outside my usual sphere of comfort (lit fic til I die, you know the drill), but it has given me so much joy over the past few years. This book was no different, and Marske did an excellent job tying the three narratives together while still focusing on Alan and Jack’s budding relationship. The pitfall of the second book (which I did also enjoy, don’t get me wrong) was that it felt disconnected from the trilogy, but A Power Unbound feels firmly within the world of the series. My only criticism is that it feels like it’s missing a crucial scene between Alan and Jack that gets referred to by each of the characters multiple times, but we don’t see. It felt like an odd choice to leave it out of the narrative when it’s clearly so important. All in all, 4 out of 5 fae stones.

What a great end to this trilogy! I was a bit worried after not liking book two as much as book one, but this one was my favorite yet! Josh Dylan is also an excellent narrator. I came for historical fantasy and stayed for the lovely writing and spicy romance.

This was an enjoyable “romantacy” set in Edwardian England. I had read the first book, but never got around to the second. That did not interfere with my enjoying the third one.
The characters from the first two books are back to some extent in this one. Jack, Lord Hawthorn, and Alan Ross are the main protagonists. I enjoyed their banter and the love-hate between them. The fantasy/magic part added to the story. As the other two books, this one is a bit spicy, but that did not, take away from the story for me. It also had its fair share of comedy. I listened to the audio version of the book, and the reader did bring the characters to life and made it very enjoyable to listen to.
In all this was a great story, and I do hope we will get more books in The Last Binding series.

I really enjoyed this. This is a really ambitious series and Marske stuck the landing. Good narration too!

Thank you to MacMillian Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

From the beautiful covers to the magic of found family, the Last Binding trilogy has been a delight. The final installment, A Power Unbound brings all of our protagonists together but with a special focus on Jack Alston, who acts as a begrudging older brother/protector to our heroes. It was wonderful to see all of the previous characters working together to prevent a magical tragedy.

Marske continues to be a master of witty dialogue. While still steamy, the romance also reveals quite a bit about how Ross and Jack move through their worlds.

DNF at 14%. I hate most books within books. And this has quotes of some writing on of the characters did. And it's so obnoxious cause I have a hard time following what the story is vs the story within the story. I don't have patience for this.

The beginning was gutting and intense and then the book itself is dragging and the more it goes on, the less I care about the characters or what happens to them.

I received this as an advanced reader copy of the audiobook. Loved the narrator. Wish the book was better.

Banter, Biscuits, Bangin'. We close out Freya Marske's Last Binding Trilogy with "A Power Unbound." We have had be gay, do crimes. Be gay, do crimes on a boat. Now get ready for be gay, and stop the corrupt government officials from getting away with everything.

This time our POVs are Jack Alston, Lord Hawthorn, and Alan Ross. Characters we have previously spent time with, but now we dive deeper. Secrets that have been teased through the series are revealed. Some folks desperately need to be struck about the brain cage a lot. But with all the magic in the country on the line, folks are willing to break decorum.

Narrated by Josh Dylan, I swear you spoke faster so I'd hit the spice right when I was entering the grocery store.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC! Out November 7, 2023.

Reasons to read:
-A great finale
-Spice must flow
-Banter
-Dinner parties, with violence
-Comeuppance!
-The threads I was interested in tied together wonderfully

Cons:
-Gotta keep the guy who punches closer to doorways and more aware gents. Swear this has happened a couple of times.

I was so captivated by the first book in this series. Then the second came out and I was not approved for the ARC of the book but of the audiobook instead. I enjoyed the narrator but the story is very complex and I was left a little underwhelmed, assuming that the audio format was my issue.

I was eager to see where things would go with the contract and how all the characters would get pulled back together in this third installment. Once again, I was not approved for the ARC of the book but just of the audio version. Despite my experience with the previous audiobook, I decided to give it a try. I absolutely loved the narrator and think he did a fantastic job bringing the characters, particularly Hawthorne, to life for me. But even with a more careful listen and the understanding that I would probably prefer a read to a listen, I found myself struggling with this one. I think, in the end, it was not the format that was my issue so much as the story itself.

I just wasn't drawn in to the characters' lives or the world the same way in the two subsequent books. It's still a great series, and it is possible that reading them all in sequence closer together would work better, but I definitely thought it started stronger than it ended. It's possible that this is one that needs to be read all in a massive go though, because there is a lot going on here and I found it hard to keep all the moving pieces cohesively together over time. The series started strong enough that I will definitely give it another try though - this time hunting down books at the library as soon as this final installment is available there!

I know it's a trilogy, but... could we please have a book four anyway?

What a difference a few well-written books can make! In <i>A Marvellous Light</i> Robin and Edwin are struggling to fight something much bigger than themselves more or less on their own. <i>A Restless Truth</i> finds Maud and Violet almost forcibly drawing allies to themselves to solve something they can't do alone. And by <i>A Power Unbound</i> the Scooby gang has shifted from individuals to a closeknit group who care about one another like family, whether they are or not. Lord Hawthorn himself has a wonderful character arc, slowly growing from a bitter malicious person to a more caring version of himself without losing his sharp personality.

As established in previous books, magicians in England are in danger. Ruthless people want power and will do anything to get it, no matter who stands in their way. Lord Hawthorn gave up on magic a long time ago, but finds himself drawn back into that world to protect others. Alan Ross hates the aristocracy and wants nothing to do with them, but is willing to set aside his pride for the sake of his family. The two of them are surprised to discover they have more in common than expected.

The romance between Ross and Hawthorn has a different dynamic than any of the other couples in this series without being any less intimate. Negotiating boundaries, setting a safe word, prioritizing consent, including after care... ugh I just love to see a healthy relationship depicted on page!

And the romantic language? Usually authors' efforts at writing romantic lines come off corny or silly to me, but not here. Some of the words Ross and Hawthorn speak to one another caught me off guard with their passion.

On a personal note: I read this book entirely for fun because I love the series. I was not expecting the level of realism in the characters that I encountered. Imagine my shock at having to completely stop and relisten to a section of the book because it clarified something about my irl partner that I had never understood before. Saying you can't learn anything from fiction is a pernicious lie.

Speaking of listening - I highly recommend the audiobook version of this story. Josh Dylan has a very pleasant narration style and gives a great performance.

3.5 rounded up. I admit I wasn't excited about Hawthorn being a main character in the third book, but I enjoyed his POV and learning more about him and his backstory. The same goes for Ross, who I didn't find interesting when he was introduced in A Restless Truth, but he grew on me quite a bit throughout book three. That said, I wasn't feeling the romance as much in this one. I did like Jack and Alan as characters, as well as their interactions and the discussions on class inequality, but the romantic chemistry wasn't there for me. I also found the power imbalance role-play somewhat off-putting; however, that comes down to personal taste. That aspect of their relationship was entirely consensual, though, so those who enjoy (or at least are not bothered by) role-play/kink should love the steamy scenes.

Jack and Alan may be the focal characters, but the final installment brings together all of the favorites from the previous books and gives each character their time to shine - while delivering some fantastic found family moments. These were the best parts of the book imo.

I love the magic system and world that Marske created, and thought most of the plot threads were tied up nicely. Overall, it was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

(Although I'm not sure why the marriage between a gay man and a female side character at the end was necessary. I understand it was for appearances and didn't interfere with his relationship with his partner, but a heteronormative wedding wasn't required for the plot or for the series to have a happy ending, so it was a strange development.)

The audiobook is narrated by Josh Dylan, who does a good job voicing so many different characters.

The third book of The Last Binding is here and I can't believe it's been almost two years since I first read A Marvelous Light. I think the first book will always be my favorite, but this one lived up to its predecessors and was a nice ending to the trilogy.

Jack and Alan have an entertaining begrudging allies to lovers relationship, with so much more emotion than either of them thought would come of it. We learn more of Jack's backstory in this one and there's a line in the start of the book about "sets wanting to remain together" that was simply heart wrenching as we learned more about Jack and his sister.

This book shows off more of the sentient house hold/magician owned land and it was so fun to see that play out with Spinnet House. I loved the epilogue and have a lot of feelings about it that I'll keep to myself for the sake of remaining spoiler free!

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

What a good series! This was another great addition and conclusion to the The Last Binding series. I loved the moments with all the characters we have grown fond of throughout the series. I know this story was mostly focused on Jack (Lord Hawthorn) but I think I would have preferred just a bit more of the group all together. Found families are my favorite and I think that is where this book really sparkled for me. And that ending...wow what a great finale! This story had some lovely spicy bits too. Part of me wishes it had changed perspectives just a bit to revisit some of the couples from the previous books but that's just for me and not really a flaw with the book. But as a conclusion, this book manages to touch on everything that came before and wrap it all up in the midst of the new storyline - quite the accomplishment. Josh Dylan was a great narrator and managed to keep the pace and juggle all the characters. I would absolutely recommend this series - it's great fun! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have really enjoyed this whole series. The worldbuilding and magical system were interesting and unique. I definitely want to go back and reread them all in a row.

TBH Jack and Alan are my least favorite of the main couples across the three books, but I still found them quite charming. It was nice to spend some more time with Edwin and Robin (my real faves) and Maud and Violet. I had a little trouble keeping track of the plot over the three books, because I didn't reread the earlier books, but I didn't find that I particularly minded getting a little lost. I would call this book a little kinkier and plotier than the other two, but i definitely wasn't bothered by either of those things.

Very grateful to Netgalley for early access.

A perfect ending of the Last Binding series!

This book centers on Lord Hawthorn and Alan Ross, both of whom we met previously in the series.

At the beginning we get a flashback to how Hawthorn's uncle and cousin stole his and twin sister's magic and the blow that dealt them. Then we're back to the story's present where Hawthorn and his friends are trying to figure out how to find the third piece of the last contract before those who would use it for ill do.

We get a lot of adventure, intrigue, double crossing and a heated battle of a romance between Hawthorn and Ross. Personally I love the push and pull dynamic of their relationship.

Definitely worth the read if you're into romance/fantasy!