4 stars

I absolutely loved Marske’s first installment in the Last Binding trilogy, and I was hoping that the sequel would be just as good. To my delight, it was a worthy follow-up.

Because the series is a bit of a genre mash-up (the first book was a historical fantasy romance murder mystery), I wasn’t completely sure what to expect from the sequel. Would it continue the first book’s quest to hunt down the items (coin, cup, and knife) of the Contract? Would we follow Robin and Edwin, the heroes and newly-established couple of the first book? Or would this be a ‘sequel’ as in a romance series, where each book can be read as a standalone story? As it turns out, the macro-plot—hunting and securing the items of the Contract—continues, but Robin and Edwin only figure in the epilogue. The story centers around Maud, Robin’s sister, who is travelling back to England from America after having located and collected the woman who holds one of the Contract’s items, a cup. Like the first book, this is a historical fantasy romance murder mystery; the woman in possession of the cup is murdered and Maud must both solve her murder and locate the cup, while also falling in love with a magician named Violet Debenham. Could you read this as a standalone? Technically, there is enough explanation of the Contract for you to hobble along with the macro plot, but I do think that both the struggle over the cup and the ins and outs of magician society would be too confusing to a new reader unfamiliar with <i> A Marvellous Light. </i>

As a sequel, <i> A Restless Truth </i> delivers all of the fun of the first novel but still feels completely fresh. The characters are a mix of British, American, and ex-pat, and we get to see some well thought out cultural differences in magical society between the Old and New Worlds. Maud is a whirlwind of a character, very unlike her staid and practical brother Robin, and heaps of fun to follow around. The circumstances of the setting—the trapped-in-here-together isolation of an ocean liner and the time crunch of having to solve the mystery within the five days of the voyage—add a sense of excitement and urgency that’s a little more lighthearted than the ‘remove this curse before it kills me’ drama of the previous book. The chemistry between Maud and Violet is appropriately sexy, and I really appreciate that their relationship, while both steamy and stimulating, is clearly in its early days; it would have felt odd to be seen as a true forever love after five (admittedly very full and revealing) days on ship.

One thing that I hope to see illuminated further in the final (upcoming) novel of the trilogy is the various powers and immunities possessed by nonmagical people. In the previous book we discovered that <spoiler> Robin possesses foresight. </spoiler> In this book, <spoiler> Maud is revealed to be a medium and another character has a strong resistance to the effects of magic spells. </spoiler> I hope that we learn more of how this fits into the worldbuilding in the next book.

The side characters were all quite good and I particularly hope that Lord Hawthorn has a significant role in the next book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed <i> A Marvellous Light, </i> as it is a worthy follow-up that expands upon the established magical world. As purely a romance, it was nothing particularly special (Violet and Maud’s relationship follows a few standard sapphic tropes, which is a shame as I usually prefer wlw romances but I liked Robin and Edwin’s relationship in the previous book better) but what makes this book, and the series overall, so fun is the eclectic genre mashup and the way all of those genres interlock and work together.

[This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. However, I am a Bad Reviewer and did not get around to downloading it in time, so I read a published copy from my local library.]

'A Restless Truth' by Freya Marske is the second in a series (and you will enjoy it more if you read the previous novel). There is magic, mystery, and sapphic romance (with a healthy dose of spice). Overall a bit hard to follow at times but if you liked the first one you'll want to check this one out too.

A thrilling second installment in this trilogy, often tough to achieve! I loved the locked-door sense of the ship, and the preview of what's to come for Jack is so good.

Thank you Tor Books for sending me an ARC!
.
Unfortunately I DNFed this, it just didn’t catch my attention and maybe I’ll get into it again when Imm in the perfect headspace to give this another try!

Marske packs so much into this book—a murder mystery on a BOAT, sapphic romance, magic—and does it so well. This book is beautifully written, sexy (so spicy), and fun. The magic is interesting but I have found the magical world fairly easy to understand in the Last Binding series. I was captivated by the story, which is complex and took me a little while to put together. I never get tired of reading Freya Marske's writing. I can't wait for the next installment of the series, which I'm sure I will devour as quickly as I did the first two!

Unable to review at this time. Will review at a later date. I'm cleaning up my netgalley in order to review 2023 books. This book sounds delightful and will read once fully caught up on my account. Thank you for this opportunity! I look forward to reading this book!

A Restless Truth was one of my most anticipated releases (despite not reading its prequel A Marvellous Light before requesting this as an ARC). It was a lovely introduction to Freya Marske and an even lovelier introduction to a WLW-centric fantasy book with very low stakes.

I will say, I loved it until I didn’t, and that is partly due to the fact that I knowingly read this without reading the first book in the trilogy. I was a little lost when it came to the magic system and the plot itself, and while it was not difficult to understand or keep up, it fell a little flat and was almost boring.

One of my biggest issues was feeling like I was lost. Suddenly an action-packed scene/sequence was happening and I had no idea how we got there. There seemed to be a disconnect in the chapters, and the fact that the book takes place in 6 days felt jarring.

On the other hand, I loved Maud and Violet. Violet most of all. I wanted so much more of her and I was delighted to see a woman who was so sure of herself sexually. I do wish both women had been aged a bit; they felt too young and that took me away from the intensity of their time together.

Overall I am very glad I read this, and I am grateful to have received an ARC! Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan and Freya Marske for sharing this story with me.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC of this title. I enjoyed reading this title. Would recommend for my library.

You had me at magic and murder! The Last Binding trilogy is a highly recommend for lovers of queer, history, and fantasy reads. Definitely need to start with A Marvellous Light though to catch it all as the characters really follow through.

A Restless Truth follows Maud Blyth as she sets off for New York in search of adventure. She ends up finding so much more, caught between a murder, a romance, and a hilariously disrespectful parrot, Maud is truly in for the adventure of a lifetime! Stranded on a ship in the sea, Maud and Violet are determined to solve the mysteries of past and present and untangle the web of a generations-long conspiracy.

This was such an enjoyable book, and I look forward to completing the trilogy! I really find it easy to connect with the characters (well, mostly the parrot!) and find myself rooting for them. If you throw in a little magic and mystery, it really is the best combination. Not only are the characters and story enjoyable, but the writing style is so captivating that I truly felt lost in the realm of the story.

Thank you to Tor/Forge and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In the sequel to “The Marvelous Light”, Freya Marske explores female sexuality and love in a brave and daring manner. Picking up with a new set of protagonists, Maud Blyth and Violet Debenham, Freya Marske continues the narrative of The Last Contract while simultaneously developing both characters and setting up a simmering romance between the pair. She juggles all the fantasy and romance elements with a bold dash of intrigue and mystery. And just as with the first book, you fall in love with both Maud and Violet, despite their flaws and imperfections. 

In the process, Freya Marske also develops many of the secondary characters, creating a larger world involved in the mystery of the contract and further shares the story of how the Forsythe club found the three items in their possession. While the immediate problems are resolved by the end of the novel, there are enough loose ends to keep readers coming back for the next novel. I have my suspicions as to who the third book might feature but I can’t wait for the next story in the series. The world is well developed, it’s fun, full of threats but also a wonderful blend of romance and magic. The sex scenes and romance between the women is brave and daring, sharing a meaningful relationship and steamy exploration.  

If you love romance and magic and you liked the previous novel, I highly recommend A Restless Truth. The magic and intrigue will hook you but the romance will keep you coming back for more.

I adored A Marvellous Light and was NOT disappointed with the sequel. Not only did I love the romance and the sapphic pairing but I loved all the side characters and storyline.

The characters were so enjoyable and easy to connect with. I love how the theme of ‘Restless Truth’ was woven throughout the pages. I loved Maud and Violet so much and how well their dynamic worked. The humanness and vulnerability and stubbornness they both shared was so beautiful. I LOVED Hawthorn so much and cannot wait for the third book.

The humor and sensuality in this book were delicious. The writing was so eloquent and the story, atmospheric. I couldn’t put this book down. I loved still feeling connected to the first book’s characters while enjoying a brand new pairing. The plot and the manhunt and cat and mouse chase was BRILLIANT.

Atmospheric, action-packed, and clever, A Restless Truth by Freya Marske is the second installment in her Last Binding series. Maud Blyth follows in the footsteps of her brother Robin, one of the main characters in the preceding book A Marvellous Light, as she dips her toes into the unexpected mystery she encounters aboard the Lyric, a White Star luxury line ship.

When Maud’s elderly traveling companion is killed on the journey from New York to England, Maud suspects it is the work of magicians whose goal is to unite the separated parts of a magical contract, with the intention of using that contract for nefarious purposes. Together with the help of a scandal-ridden actress/magician from New York named Violet, an erotica-peddling thief named Ross, and an extremely reluctant peer of the realm, Lord Hawthorn, Maud must comb the massive ship to find the killer (or killers). Determined not to disappoint her brother Robin and his partner Edwin, the non-magical Maud uses her relentless perseverance to find the truth, thrilling in the subterfuge, magic, and menagerie in which she finds herself. Along the way, she explores her budding attraction to Violet, a woman reluctant to share more of herself than necessary, though the two come together before long.

Marske, who set a high bar with A Marvellous Light, manages to follow through in this sequel. The story is confined to the ship, but the lush descriptions of its decor, fixtures, and accompanying lifestyle bring a sense of atmosphere that draws in a reader and brings to mind The Titanic. Marske’s lush writing also shows itself in the handful of sex scenes between Maud and Violet, vividly portraying the attraction shared between the two.

Ultimately, although A Restless Truth is relatively narrow in focus when compared to the first book in The Last Binding series, it nevertheless builds upon the magic first seen in A Marvellous Light. The final book in the trilogy, A Power Unbound, is due for release in November of 2023, and will follow two new main characters: Ross and Lord Hawthorn, whose at-odds relationship sets a tension in this book that will likely draw readers in for the final installment.

As with Marske's debut, this book is magical, fun, and sexy! I loved the setting. I found the middle of the book to drag on a bit, but overall, lots of fun!

I possibly liked this even more than A Marvellous Light (and I really liked that one)! Adventures on the high seas! Romance! Danger! Sexy TImes! Oh boy, book 3 cannot come fast enough….

<I>ARC Provided by NetGalley<I>

Ok, I'll get this out of the way because I don't want it to actually be the theme or how I finish this review, but this was definitely different from it's predecessor, A Marvellous Light . At first I had interpreted the difference as "not as good", but upon finishing it, I'd change my mind to think it's a different good, especially since it moves the overarching storyline forward.

I loved the intro, and then struggled to about 40% in. I decided to take a break (a few months actually) and despite that being a long time for a book pause, I dove back in and included an audiobook to help guide me to the end. Not only did it enhance the reading experience (loved the narrator Aysha Kala!), but reading it at 2-3 speed was a breeze. Though it seems like it was the only way to get through the last part, I believe the actual story itself also kicked into the next gear: the characters and their depth, some surprises and truth be told, it started to just became fun, and I loved that. I knew that we'd get this type of fun as it was truly hinted at the start of the book, yet I just didn't see it between 20%-40%.

I believe if I had read it all in one go, this would be an easy 5 stars. But because of how I struggled at the beginning and then needed that break - I felt it would be an imposter 5. So 4 it is, but I'm still holding it in high regard because I am now set and ready for the third and final book in this historical, queer, magical series! Bring it on!

An enchanting, adventurous historical fantasy romance with sparkling prose and delightfully difficult characters. While I missed Robin and Edwin (both of whom are largely off page due to plot reasons), this sophomore story lets Maud and her partner in crime shine in the spotlight and embark on the next chapter of The Last Contract and its associated mysteries. While this installment’s pacing wasn’t entirely smooth sailing, the characters are so much fun that I didn’t mind the occasional stalled momentum in plot. This series remains delightful and I can’t wait to see where Marske and her growing cast of co-conspirators take us next.

Thank you to @netgalley , @tordotcompub
and @freyamarske for this advanced copy in exchange
for an honest review.

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

Do you like historical sapphics? How about on a boat?
Solving a murder mystery? Oh. and there is
✨MAGIC✨

When I saw that a new sapphic fantasy was coming
out, I had to get it and I was thrilled when NetGalley
came through with the ARC. In this brilliant murder
mystery, we follow Maud Blyth (sister of Robin Blyth
from A Marvellous Light - the first of the trilogy) as she
is trying to keep an eye out for Mrs. Navenby as she
travels across the Atlantic Ocean with a key piece of
the Last Contract, but poor Mrs. Navenby is offed in the
first chapter, so now Maud, and her accomplice Violet
Debenham (a magician) must try to solve the murder,
along with others in their crew.

If you like mysteries with a bit of sapphic spice, this
book is for you. If you love to read about the yearning
for love that is forbidden within society and happenings
behind closed doors, this is the book for you. I loved
the characters, even the foul-mouthed Dorian the
parrot. If you like low fantasy, where magic is among
the non-magical folks, then this is also the book for
you. I cannot wait for the third part of this trilogy.

I do want to preface that I have not read A Marvellous
Light (I do own it though) and I was able to follow along
pretty well without having read the first book, so if
you're looking simply for sapphic fantasy, I highly
recommend it. However, I do also want to note that A
Marvellous Light is queer MLM as well. I will be going
back and reading it now that my review has been
finished.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

#bookstagram #bookish #bookreview #sapphicbooks
#queerbooks #wlw #lgbtqbooks

Despite its intriguing premise (what if we kissed on a boat while trying to solve a murder mystery and we were both girls????), I found this series continuation a bit too dull to grab my interest. That said, the writing style is light, cheeky, and very readable if you can get yourself in the mood to continue, and I do find the author's characters consistently easy to root for. I think I just have to accept that I dislike historical fantasy set in this particular era! I believe fans of Alix Harrow and Lev Grossman will absolutely eat this series up, and I hope the author continues to delve into the stories of side characters and expand upon this world for her doubtlessly widespread fans.

One of my most eagerly awaited sequels of all time, and it didn't disappoint! A Restless Truth pops you right into the action, from the very first chapter the game is afoot and the mystery is waiting to be solved. Maude is such a delightful character, I was beyond excited when I realized this sequel would be a sapphic tale with her in the lead. While the story can sometimes feel thin compared to the spicy aspects, I do find this book balanced the romance and plot a bit better than the first did.

When I read A Marvellous Light last year it abruptly and unwaveringly became the standard for it’s genre. It was MARVELLOUS *wink wink* in every aspect.

When I first heard the series would continue with a sapphic lead I was ecstatic, I couldn’t wait to dive back into the spectacular world of The Last Binding, to get lost again in the mystery and mayhem of it all. BUT although excited, the critic in me wasn’t sure if I’d be as enamored with TRT as I was with TML (only because the severity in which I loved Robin and Edwin was quite the unmatched experience- nothing could compare to that wonderment and overwhelming love that I felt for them).

The expansion of the world in this second installment wasn’t much but evidently far more brilliant and elaborate than I could’ve imagined. Here we follow Maud and new characters that were DELIGHTFUL. I fell more in love than I would’ve thought I would and I immensely enjoyed the mystery, the hilarity of unexpected obstacles as Maud attempts to retrieve parts of The Last Contract and most of all the romance was just as sweet and swoony as the first.

The only thing that I wasn’t too keen on was the boat setting. To me, it felt like the story was confined to one place in a claustrophobic sense. It felt like it didn’t allow for the story to go it’s full potential and because of that the book did drag for me a little bit. It wasn’t much though and I still deeply enjoyed it in its entirety
.

Overall, Marske is absolutely brilliant and incredible and I cannot wait for more in this series!