“A Marvellous Light,” Freya Marske’s debut novel, is filled with magical queer moments. The lead characters, Robin and Edwin, were charming and relatable. However, I found the numerous background characters overwhelming. With their repeated names and nicknames, it was challenging to keep track of who was who throughout the story.

The plot also failed to captivate me. Perhaps my disinterest in fantasy magical novels is at play, but it simply didn’t resonate with me. The magical elements felt underwhelming. Magic required a simple piece of string to work, which I found puzzling and distracting. 

On a positive note, I thoroughly enjoyed the blossoming gay romance between Robin and Edwin. I appreciate an author who builds a magical novel centred around queer characters. Since this is the first instalment of a trilogy, I commend Marske for continuing to explore queer themes in subsequent novels. However, I must admit that I’m not entirely sure if I’ll continue reading the rest of the series. It just didn’t quite satisfy my expectations.

If you’re a fan of queer fantasy magical literature, I recommend giving this novel a try. It’s highly acclaimed, and I could be the only one who doesn’t enjoy it.