Title: A Marvellous Light

Series: The Last Binding #1

Author: Freya Marske

Robin Blyth has more than enough bother in his life. He’s struggling to be a good older brother, a responsible employer, and the harried baronet of a seat gutted by his late parents’ excesses. When an administrative mistake sees him named the civil service liaison to a hidden magical society, he discovers what’s been operating beneath the unextraordinary reality he’s always known.

Now Robin must contend with the beauty and danger of magic, an excruciating deadly curse, and the alarming visions of the future that come with it—not to mention Edwin Courcey, his cold and prickly counterpart in the magical bureaucracy, who clearly wishes Robin were anyone and anywhere else.

Robin’s predecessor has disappeared, and the mystery of what happened to him reveals unsettling truths about the very oldest stories they’ve been told about the land they live on and what binds it. Thrown together and facing unexpected dangers, Robin and Edwin discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles—and a secret that more than one person has already died to keep.

My first Illumicrate readalong! And an adult fantasy read!

Robin has found himself in a right old mess! A new job, no clue what’s happening and basically gets roughed up…..and he meets Edwin…..

Edwin and Robin set to finding out what has happened to Robin’s predecessor, Reggie, and for the reason Robin was attacked. Then all sorts happen in the magical world that Robin didn’t know even existed!

It was a historical setting, love the language of the 1900s and the idea of having summer seasons in the city and winter in the country!

This was a really good story with great characters, steamy moments, a fab plot and also really great settings. Penhallick House library sounds like somewhere I’d love to visit along with Sutton Cottage and its maze!

Robin and Edwin were so different in character but they worked and I loved them together. Robin was so carefree and people were happy to be around him where Edwin was totally cold and closed off (understandably when you know his story).

I admit I didn’t think this book was going to be for me before I started reading BUT IT WAS! I found myself reading the designated chapters for the day for the readalong…but then I needed to read more so finished 5 days before the readlong was meant to!