A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
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Web ID: 15255764Historical Fantasy Murder Mystery / Queer Romance
I liked this book even more than the first one! Maude is a fascinating character. She freely admits that she frequently makes choices or takes actions simply because her mother wouldn’t approve. Both Maude and her brother Robin recognize that their parents were not good people. They were emotionally distant and deeply concerned with appearances. Maude considers herself a rebel. Meanwhile, Lord Hawthorn refers to her as a “ball of righteousness”. I missed Robin and Edwin in this story, but I understand why they couldn’t be more involved while Maude was on an ocean liner from America back to England. However, I loved the small ways that they were still involved. Robin gave Maude a notebook full of all the visions he had that might involve her voyage. Edwin’s love language is knowledge and it’s clear that he’s spent the last several months expounding on all the magical theory Maude could stand to listen to. Even though they let Maude go off on her own adventure, both Robin and Edwin care about her very much and tried to do what they could to help her succeed. I found the magic system easier to follow in this book. I liked the way rings were introduced as a slight variation practiced in America. It made the magic feel more real, the way a language has different dialects based on location or cultural groups.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Excellent Sequel
A sequel to a book I enjoyed that I've seen described as sapphic Knives Out on a boat? Yes please! Thankfully, The Restless Truth lived up to my - admittedly high - expectations. If I'm being honest, I actually enjoyed it a smidgeon more than the first one. This time, we follow Robin's sister, Maud. I enjoyed the glimpses we had of Maud in A Marvellous Light and was excited to see more of her here. She's a young woman trying to make sense of her place in the world and who she is. I also really liked her love interest, Violet. In many ways, she's unlike Maud. She's flippant, bold, and unfussed by scandal, but with a softer side as we get to know her. I also found myself really rooting for their romance. Mostly, this was such a fun roller coaster of a book! There's a mystery, trouble, and a sapphic romance! There's magic, a disrespectful parrot, and a menegerie of animals on a ship! Honestly, what's not to love? I received a free copy from Netgalley in return for a honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Magical romance and adventure
The entirety of the novel takes place onboard a ship and this time around the romance is sapphic. Marske adds many layers to the Last Contract story here with flashbacks to the original founding of the Forsythia Club, mediums who can be possessed by ghosts, the addition of three more people to Edwin and Robin’s side, and a non-magician at least partially immune to magic. This was good fun: steamy romance, magic-steeped adventure and danger-laced escapades, and giggle-inducing moments aplenty. Can’t wait for the next in the series!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com