Added by 110 members
2022 Ditmar Award for Best Novel (nominee)
2022 Locus Award for Best First Novel (nominee)
2021 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel (nominee)
Set in an alternative Edwardian England, this is a comedy of manners, manor houses, and hedge mazes – a magic-infused murder mystery and a delightful queer romance. Perfect for fans of Bridgerton who'd like to welcome magic into their lives . . .
‘This book is a confection, both marvellous and light’ – Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January
Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he has actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. If it weren’t for this administrative error, he’d never have discovered the incredible magic underlying his world.
Cursed by mysterious attackers and plagued by visions, Robin becomes determined to drag answers from his missing predecessor – but he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his hostile magical-society counterpart. Unwillingly thrown together, Robin and Edwin will discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles.
Continue the thrilling series with A Restless Truth.
‘A dazzling debut’ – Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun
‘Prepare to fall in love’ – Emily Tesh, author of Silver in the Wood
‘If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you�� – Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians
Genre: Fantasy
‘This book is a confection, both marvellous and light’ – Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January
Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he has actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. If it weren’t for this administrative error, he’d never have discovered the incredible magic underlying his world.
Cursed by mysterious attackers and plagued by visions, Robin becomes determined to drag answers from his missing predecessor – but he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his hostile magical-society counterpart. Unwillingly thrown together, Robin and Edwin will discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles.
Continue the thrilling series with A Restless Truth.
‘A dazzling debut’ – Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun
‘Prepare to fall in love’ – Emily Tesh, author of Silver in the Wood
‘If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you�� – Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians
Genre: Fantasy
Praise for this book
"This romantic fantasy is full of fascinating world-building, layers upon layers of delicious magic, and characters I adored. I want to spend so much more time in this alternate England's enchanted libraries and sinister hedge mazes! The whole experience was a delight." - Stephanie Burgis
"Mystery! Magic! Murder! Long looks full of yearning! This book is a confection, both marvelous and light." - Alix E Harrow
"Equal parts fantasy, mystery and romance-with bonus murderous garden features-A Marvellous Light heralds a strong new voice in science fiction and fantasy." - Sam Hawke
"Freya Marske's A Marvellous Light is an absolute delight. I was caught from the very beginning by the compellingly realized characters, the gorgeous and deadly magical world, and the fascinating mystery. If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you." - Kat Howard
"Freya Marske has done something special with A Marvellous Light. . . . The prose is sublime, the world-building top-notch, and the magic system is fascinating and unique. But what made me the happiest is how delightfully queer this story is. Robin and Edward have my whole heart, and I adored watching their relationship blossom. In the end, I can give no higher praise than this: I wish this world that Marske has created was real." - TJ Klune
"A charming, lovingly crafted adventure full of peril, romance and wit, illuminated by sparkling turns of phrase and a pervasive sense of humour." - A K Larkwood
"That sublime prose! Her astonishing gift for imagery! And, of course, her bountiful and endless talent for writing some extremely sexy scenes. A Marvellous Light is all that and more. Perfect." - Jenn Lyons
"A completely enchanting story that sweeps you into a world of art and romance. Marske is an extraordinary talent who writes compelling characters, entertainingly awful families, and love stories like nobody else." - Everina Maxwell
"A gripping story, told in precise and sensual language, with the kind of characters that make you want a spin-off book for even the ones you've barely met. Magic, romance, and mayhem in a beautifully decorated-and occasionally actively dangerous-Edwarian setting." - Malka Older
"A magical world of exquisite refinement, where peril skims beneath manners, interiors bespeak both faultless taste and deadly secrets, and the sexual tension crescendos until it literally makes sparks fly. A dazzling debut." - Shelley Parker-Chan
"Freya's prose is so splendid that merely reading it makes me feel like I've been filled to the brim with champagne bubbles. A Marvellous Light has everything you could ever want from a book-beautiful descriptions, expertly woven worldbuilding, queer kissing, sexual tension in a library, quite a lot of William Morris wallpaper. . . . This book is brilliant on every level. It is wondrous. It is, if you will excuse a small joke, marvellous." - Alexandra Rowland
"Romantic in the best way, funny, sharp, sexy, fantastical. Prepare to fall in love with the gorgeous Edwardian setting, the sizzling character dynamics, and the murderous enchanted hedge maze." - Emily Tesh
"Mystery! Magic! Murder! Long looks full of yearning! This book is a confection, both marvelous and light." - Alix E Harrow
"Equal parts fantasy, mystery and romance-with bonus murderous garden features-A Marvellous Light heralds a strong new voice in science fiction and fantasy." - Sam Hawke
"Freya Marske's A Marvellous Light is an absolute delight. I was caught from the very beginning by the compellingly realized characters, the gorgeous and deadly magical world, and the fascinating mystery. If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you." - Kat Howard
"Freya Marske has done something special with A Marvellous Light. . . . The prose is sublime, the world-building top-notch, and the magic system is fascinating and unique. But what made me the happiest is how delightfully queer this story is. Robin and Edward have my whole heart, and I adored watching their relationship blossom. In the end, I can give no higher praise than this: I wish this world that Marske has created was real." - TJ Klune
"A charming, lovingly crafted adventure full of peril, romance and wit, illuminated by sparkling turns of phrase and a pervasive sense of humour." - A K Larkwood
"That sublime prose! Her astonishing gift for imagery! And, of course, her bountiful and endless talent for writing some extremely sexy scenes. A Marvellous Light is all that and more. Perfect." - Jenn Lyons
"A completely enchanting story that sweeps you into a world of art and romance. Marske is an extraordinary talent who writes compelling characters, entertainingly awful families, and love stories like nobody else." - Everina Maxwell
"A gripping story, told in precise and sensual language, with the kind of characters that make you want a spin-off book for even the ones you've barely met. Magic, romance, and mayhem in a beautifully decorated-and occasionally actively dangerous-Edwarian setting." - Malka Older
"A magical world of exquisite refinement, where peril skims beneath manners, interiors bespeak both faultless taste and deadly secrets, and the sexual tension crescendos until it literally makes sparks fly. A dazzling debut." - Shelley Parker-Chan
"Freya's prose is so splendid that merely reading it makes me feel like I've been filled to the brim with champagne bubbles. A Marvellous Light has everything you could ever want from a book-beautiful descriptions, expertly woven worldbuilding, queer kissing, sexual tension in a library, quite a lot of William Morris wallpaper. . . . This book is brilliant on every level. It is wondrous. It is, if you will excuse a small joke, marvellous." - Alexandra Rowland
"Romantic in the best way, funny, sharp, sexy, fantastical. Prepare to fall in love with the gorgeous Edwardian setting, the sizzling character dynamics, and the murderous enchanted hedge maze." - Emily Tesh
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