A Power Unbound

No one is more disappointed than me with this rating. I absolutely adore The Marvellous Light, A Restless Truth was also a ton of fun with amazing character moments and humour but this instalment is probably going to be my biggest bookish disappointment of the year (I hope. I don't want any more).

My favourite part about the book is seeing the old characters back! I adore Edwin and Violet so much — Edwin/Robin were also such a joy to see again. The cast interactions and the found family was very heart-warming, especially seeing Jack appreciate those around him. The plot was satisfying enough for the most part, except that it all ended in a very convenient way but I could forgive it if the romance was as good as before.

As you can probably guess, it was not. It felt very physical and lacking of the emotional bond and understanding between the characters. Only at the end do we see a more vulnerable side to the two characters but it was a little too late. The focus is very much on the physical aspect of their relationship and the sexual tension they have which, sadly, isn't all that well done in this book (I'm saying this actually being so hyped for this romance after A Restless Truth). I felt like the author really could've done so much better with this couple given their difference in social status and different life experiences. It was such a good contrast and I'm left disappointed.

The smut scenes were very kinky and the author was really leaning into the dominant/submissive tropes that sadly I despise (so it's defo a me thing). Also roleplay during smut scenes is just so off putting to me personally — i just really didn't think it was as well written as in book 1. 

Soft DNFd it once and I wanted to DNF it again but pulled thru for my love of the series.

I will miss this cast of characters so much, it was fun a fun ride but next time I read the books, I might just skip this one.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the eARC

this I reckon was my favourite book in the series. it very nicely concluded the series and delivered a lot of the wondering thoughts and questions that I had. The choice of main characters was surprising but worked out well.

Better than [b:A Restless Truth 59807966 A Restless Truth (The Last Binding, #2) Freya Marske https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642534531l/59807966.SY75.jpg 94199553], not as astonishing as [b:A Marvellous Light 53217284 A Marvellous Light (The Last Binding, #1) Freya Marske https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634067514l/53217284.SY75.jpg 80535939]. A Power Unbound focuses on Jack Alston aka Lord Hawthorn, and Alan Ross, whose antagonistic relationship that began in Truth evolves into a somewhat kinky enemies-to-lovers romance. But for my money, the reason to finish out this trilogy is the strong presence of Edwin and Robin from Light. Edwin, especially, has a crucial role to play in the Big Six's* quest to stop the bad guys from amassing unlimited magic and power. It's rewarding to see Edwin come into his own as a skilled magician, but Marske really puts him through hell, and his beloved non-magical Robin can only be of limited assistance. Jack and Alan's insults and fights seem petty in comparison. Marske triumphantly burst onto the scene with The Last Binding trilogy, so her follow-up will be eagerly anticipated. I wonder where she goes from here. *Maud and Violet are back too. Violet is fine but Maud IMHO is more annoying than endearing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tordotcom Publishing for providing an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I am so thankful that Tordotcom granted me an ARC of A Power Unbound – the last book in The Last Binding trilogy, a series that has absolutely captured my heart. I adore the first book in the series – A Marvellous Light, and liked but didn't love the second, A Restless Truth...I was a little worried that A Power Unbound would leave me wanting by the end. THANKFULLY, it did not.

It really did not.

A Power Unbound took everything I liked from the previous books and expanded on it. All the characters you fall in love with in the prior novels make appearances again, and to my ultimate joy, become something of a found family. A found family where they actually CARE about one another, and it isn't just that they're working together. This was glorious, and I'm so happy that Marske went this way with the series.

The main characters in this book are Lord Hawthorne (to my delight) and Alan Ross (aka Alonzo Rossi), the journalist from the second book. Hawthorne starts off the book by being his rather stoic, grumpy self, but then we rather quickly see him realize that all he's doing is pushing people away. He opens up (slowly) and allows himself to actually join the aforementioned found family. Alan Ross is quite the character. He does everything that he does simply to protect and provide for his rather large family. He's not quite trustworthy, but he's fascinatingly interesting, and you find yourself really trying to figure out what he wants.

Together, Hawthorne and Rossi and like a bonfire. They build off each other, pick at each other, and provoke one another into fights. It shouldn't work. It shouldn't at all – there's too big of a power difference between the two of them, but dang. They make it work. (And DAMN, Freya Marske, you weren't joking when you said this one was the kinkiest/dirtiest book of the bunch. WOAH.) I love, love loved watching Hawthorne and Rossi open up to one another and realize that yes, they do actually like each other. Surprise!

When it comes to the plot itself, I don't want to give too much away. SO I will simply say this – every single character had a part to play here, and no one was given ‘too much' to do at the end. The resolution of the entire series required EVERYONE in a way that I am so satisfied with. The found family had a purpose besides love!

Thank you, Freya Marske for writing such a fantastic LGBTQ+ series. I cannot wait to pick up your next work. Five stars.