#last binding trilogy

[hermitknut]

So I got an early copy of A Power Unbound (third in the Last Binding Trilogy, after A Marvellous Light and A Restless Truth) and I won't spoil anything, obviously, but hot damn. Wow. That is a) how you end a trilogy and b) uhhh hot damn. Ahem.

I knew what the pairing was gonna be, and after the first two books I knew it would be good, but... look, I've gone from Hands of the Emperor to A Taste of Gold and Iron to A Power Unbound, and it's all about the power dynamic and the route to real, certain consent amidst complicated circumstances and everyone's personal baggage, and asfjhsdkjfhskdjfhsd. A Power Unbound doesn't deal with fealty the way A Taste of Gold and Iron does, but it does deal with loyalty and trust and what it means to have power and honestly, I'm a little obsessed.

If you haven't read A Marvellous Light yet, I highly recommend it (and the whole trilogy). Book one is about a gay edwardian magician and his non-magical counterpart and their investigation into a dangerous curse (and, ahem, each other); book two is a lesbian magician/non-magician pair conducting heist-like shenanigans on a cruise ship (the non-magician lesbian and the non-magician gay man are siblings, and the investigation and the shenanigans are related). Book three is another pair of queer men, who we stay with through the third act of the magical-danger-plot and also through them figuring each other out. The sex scenes are explicit and so is the emotional unravelling, I thoroughly enjoyed all three books and I can't wait for 3 to be out so I can talk to more people about it!!

[leonstamatis]

“I didn’t come running all this way for your condolences,” Adelaide huffs. “I would like something a little more substantial.”

Robert’s brow furrows. “Substantial…?”

“Sir Robert Blyth, I’d like to propose a marriage.”

If Adelaide could bottle up Robert’s surprise, she’s absolutely certain she could make a killing. Unfortunately, she’s no magician; the power of it all is reserved just for her, in this moment, and will live on only in her memory.

(In which Miss Morrissey settles her own affairs, seeing as no one else sees fit to leave things as they are.)

[illiteraterabbit]

A Power Unbound - Freya Marske

★★★★★ (5/5)

Date Started: 10 February 2024 Date Finished: 16 February 2024

"The past could turn you into a strip of paper with a single side, so that comfort and vulnerability slid away down the invisible channels and couldn't be grasped."

Kind of funny to post only a review for the final book in a trilogy, but unfortunately this blog didn't exist when I read the first two, so consider this my personal review for the series overall. Note: It is going to be a glorious, glowing and raving review focusing on this third book overall as it is what primarily weighs on my mind. All three of these books are firm 5 star ratings in my heart of hearts, and I will not budge on the matter.

I'm already a well established fan of historical fantasy, so when I stumbled upon A Marvellous Light back when I still worked at Barnes and Noble it felt like a matter of fate. I was in love with the world from the start and knew I would read as many books as it took to get to the end of the overarching plot line. A Restless Truth enchanted me just as much as the first book, though in a completely new and different sort of way. It was refreshing and fun and left me in dire anticipation for the release of the final book of the trilogy.

And that brings us to A Power Unbound. A book hasn't stressed me out as much as this one did in ages. And I mean that in a good way, of course! The stakes felt appropriately high, and that meant they felt apocalyptic. It might seem impossible to weave a romance within the lines of a book of apocalyptic stakes, but Freya Marske absolutely managed it.

The violent, aggressive, off-putting love between Alan and Lord Hawthorne felt just as desperate as everything else. It was a force to be reckoned with, and it knocked me off my feet every chance it had. Robin and Edwin may still be my favorite couple, but the romance between Alan and Jack definitely felt the most satisfying. Maybe it's because it was at least partially stretched across two books - maybe it was just because it was so... Well, everything it was. I don't know, but I did love every second of it. I don't like to talk plot much when I review books, because I personally hate reading a glorified summary when I seek out other reviews, but I can tell you that this book wrapped up everything perfectly. The ending was satisfying in more ways than one, and the epilogue perfectly reminded me how much I loved every single character throughout this series. I could not recommend this series any more intensely. If you are searching for a wonderful queer fantasy, it's waiting for you here.

I can't wait to see what Freya Marske writes next. I promise I will be a dedicated reader for life.

And with that:

"I would take your heart between my ribs and guard it like my own. Is there any way I could make you believe it?"

[whimsicalmeerkat]

Time to marathon read all three Last Binding books. I’m sure I’ll be fine without sleep.

[jackwolfes]

Edwin/Robin // A Marvellous Light// 3021 words // M rated

@kinktober2023 Day 22: Bondage

[all kinktober fills]

It is still rather scary, being so helpless.

Time and stubborn determination teaches Edwin Courcey to create wondrous things one-handed, but he’s rather sure that nothing in the world could make magic possible with his hands completely bound. He is learning, and doing it self-taught at that, but some things really are impossible.

What is not impossible, apparently, is trusting Robin Blyth with something like this: this being Edwin's hands pressed palm to palm with another man lacing red ribbons slowly around his fingers. His wrists are already tied together tight enough that he knows he won't be able to get out, without being so tight that he hurts himself. Robin works the ribbon round the back of Edwin's hands in artistic patterns, occasionally hooking them around his knuckles and letting the silky material nestle in the tender skin between each digit.

Enrapt, Edwin watches him work. His head feels foggy. This sort of vulnerability — this sort of submission, even — feels profoundly safe. It still takes effort to remind his racing pulse of that, though. Or, perhaps, the slam of his heart in his throat is anticipation. Excitement.

"Almost done," Robin says, sounding unsure of himself as soon as the words are out. "It'll be a bloody miracle if I don't cut off the feeling in your fingers one of these days."

Read on AO3

[andrewminyardslawyer]

Just started Power Unbound and the tension with Alan and Jack is so good already

[rainhorizons]

i am now realizing i should probably tab all of robin’s visions before reading the second and third book…

[wlwbookshelf]

A RESTLESS TRUTH - FREYA MARSKE Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ A Restless Truth is a magical read, perfect for anyone who loves a good mystery and a well-crafted romance. The relationship between Maud and Violet is endearing and relatable, and the setting is beautifully described, transporting you to another time and place. The mystery at the novel's heart is intriguing and engaging, keeping you guessing. Freya has a talent for weaving in enough elements of A Marvellous Light so that it feels like a sequel and gives an overarching plot but has a self-contained narrative. The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job, significantly differentiating characters!  I had to double-check if it was one or two narrators. Many thanks to Macmillan for an audiobook ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[nerdsandthelike]

@wipbigbang ANOTHER STORY COMPLETED!!

Story Title: The New Blyth Traditions

Fandom: Last Binding Series- Freya Marske 

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49775521

Summary:  

Maud steeled herself and forced the words out of her mouth. “If you have a mistress-” Her words sounded slightly strangled, but she was saying them. “I should still like to know. And perhaps to meet her too. So I don’t worry about you. I would rather know, even if it is something you are not proud of.” Robin sank down into a chair without even bothering to remove the white cloth cover and ran a hand over his face. “I’m afraid it’s rather more complicated than that.”

Maud confronts Robin about what he has been hiding from her since Penhallick. Upon her return from America, she has her own secrets to share.

Warnings: None

Characters: Maud Blyth, Robin Blyth, Edwin Courcey, Violet Debenham 

Pairings: Robin Blyth/Edwin Courcey, Maud Blyth/Violet Debenham, but the real focus is Robin & Maud

When I Started: December 7, 2022 

How I Lost My Shit: Too many fics, too little time.

How I Finished My Shit: I started the next scene because I had a deadline for this very bang. And then I finished that scene because of one of those "write 3 sentences on your current WIP" post. My brain has been fighting me on this one!!

[lucky-numberme]

[ID: Selection of A Power Unbound that reads, "Despite the gulf between their lives, they had this in common: neither of them was given to trust. Both of them had been twisted up by the plain facts of their existence. The past could turn you into a strip of paper with a single side, so that comfort and vulnerability slid away down invisible channels and couldn't be grasped. Except, perhaps, if you bent your will towards unlearning your own history. If you let yourself soften and be porous. Even if only like this, in silence, and at an angle." End ID]

this fundamentally changed me as a person

[bbybmo]

edwin noticing robin’s reaction to the roman pamphlet is like an old-timey equivalent to edwin hearing the grindr notification from robin’s phone if you think about it and i found that quite funny they’re so unserious

[kiwim7]

alan ross watching the ocean from the lyric and such

heres the ref i used for the main pic

[daveyfvckingjacobs]

this is funnier to me that just posting the screenshots w the names you’re welcome

[transgaypiratesanta]

I’m rereading a marvellous light, and I just wanted to share what my copy of the book looks like.

[kaojenart]

Sketchy concepts for Alan And Jack from A Power Unbound! I love this series and miss these characters already!

[eklaize]

Hi, just wanted to say I've casually found your art of the captive prince on my dash and I love it. The characterisation, the composition, the light!!!!

Thank you for your work, it's amazing.

Thank you so much! That makes me very happy.😊 I started these fanarts a bit as a side project to just try new things and different subject matter with my art and it turned out I really like drawing these two characters.