This is the 2nd book in the Last Binding trilogy, following on from the charming A Marvellous Light and picking up the plot but now with Maud, Robin’s younger sister.

The entire book is set aboard a ship, starting where Maud thought it would be ending with Maud traveling from America back home to London where she was trying to help her brother secure the second magical piece of The Contract. When the old lady Maud is acting as companion to is found dead on the first day of the voyage, Maud must hunt down the killer before even more people die, taking on the help of Violet Debenham, a scandalous magician and actress to whittle down the suspects.

Like book 1, romance plays a big part in this story as Maud explores her attraction to the vivacious Violet. There are absolutely toxic elements in Maud and Violet’s relationship, Maud is incredibly inexperienced and infatuated, Violet is experienced and sexually confident but guarded and sets the rules and boundaries in what she will allow to show of herself emotionally. Maud will accept anything if it means she has Violet, even if it means she never completely has her, so she often resigns herself to less emotional commitment or truth from Violet because the alternative is she doesn’t have her at all. You could argue this makes this a relationship built on fear of losing the person and desperation and greatly imbalanced in power, Violet takes love but isn’t necessarily good at giving it, although she does try show it in her own way. I say all this and yet I would probably bend over backwards for Violet too for a moment of her time, I would have no dignity whatsoever, so I can’t just Maud.

With this being the middle book, the plot isn’t resolved by the end, so don’t expect much closure however it’s nicely set up for the final instalment and I appreciate the continuous thread of the plot but with side characters getting their moments and making each book feel different. I do wish the book had more locations that just the liner however the writing still makes it enjoyable, with a good selection of characters, 2 FMCs I could root for and a romance that i was invested in.

Overall I did enjoy this book so thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful next volume in The Last Binding trilogy, featuring a sapphic couple on a ship across the Atlantic. I really enjoyed the romance, the drama, and the magic of it all - these books are winners every time.

Thank you to the publishers and too netgalley for giving me an e-arc in exchange of a fair review.

Firstly, I would like to admit that I was *behind* in even starting this series. However. I have read book one and two within a few weeks and I am obcessed. I am so glad that I already have book three as it will be getting read soon. I need to know the conculsion, and I am obcessed with these pairings and how they slowly begin to weave themselves around my heart (and each others, I guess).

I did not know that mysteries on a ship was something that ticked so many boxes for me... but apparently it can do no wrong... And neither can Freya Marske.

A sapphic locked room (boat) mystery with magic and wizards? I coudn't ask for more. It was so much fun!

Closed door mystery, quirky and sapphic amateur detectives, and HIGHLY unlikely allies?

Need I say more! Dive in!

Magical and comfy, this was actually such a fun murder mystery. Full of action, great pace and unravels so brilliantly and the twists were unbelievably smart!

This was very good! The first book is my favorite still, but this was a solid read.
I love Freya's magical writing. The characters are amazing, and it always feels like I know them.

A Restless Truth was a great follow-up to A Marvellous Light and gave Maud a chance to step out of Robin's shadow. The murder investigation was interesting and exciting and furthered the overarcing plot of the trilogy. I liked spending more time with Hawthorne and the introduction of his love interest. The romance between Maud and Violet didn't have the same room to breathe as Robin and Edwin's did, but that was because the book was set across a week-long voyage, which isn't enough time for the same kind of romantic resolution as we saw for Robin and Edwin, especially when Violet very reasonably has some high walls protecting her from others. I could see that there needed to be a choice between a tight plot over a short time frame or leaning more into the romance and why Freya Marske seemed to give more to the investigation.

She set a high bar with A Marvellous Light and while A Restless Truth didn't reach it for me, it was still a very enjoyable read and brought a lot to her overall story.

Definitely nothing specifically wrong with this book - a good follow up to the first in the series, and continues the story and the questions brought about by the Last Contract well. But I wasn't as excited by the first book as everyone else seemed to be - a decent story with really, really good sex. This one was a decent story with decent sex that just didn't have the same emotional connection as the first. And I am rating it based on the sex, as that seems to be a massive part of this series (no complaints there).

I think part of the lower rating is that it's essentially the same story as the first book, except with wlw romance and set on a ship, rather than mlm and racing around the English countryside. But hopefully all working towards a much more stormy ending.

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I wasn't very invested in this book from the start but hoped that if I stuck with it, I'd grow to.
Unfortunately that didn't happen, I didn't connect with it at all but I still stuck with it until the end because, although the writing style did not seem to be my thing, it was still well written.

Murder, mystery and romance were what drew me in but around 50% through the book, I felt surprised that there was still another half to go because it felt by that point that it should have been almost finished and about to begin wrapping up, so maybe it should have been around 25% shorter?

There was a few 🔥🌶 scenes and I thought these were written really well, considering Maud is inexperienced. Violet is very patient and thoughtful in this regard and their scenes were flirty and fun.

Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Another fantastic instalment of what is fast becoming one of my favourite series! Loved the relationship between Maud and Violet. Murder, magic and romance what more could you want!!

A Restless Truth is an amazing historical fantasy and the perfect follow up to A Marvellous light. Many Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Picture this- you’re brother is currently in the midst of a magical conspiracy and you want an escape, so you go on a nice new ocean liner.
However the woman your meant to be looking after dies on the first day, and now you have to go inspector cluedo and find out who killed them, whilst being very attracted to an actress on board you have to work with.
The best description I saw of this online- Knives out on the titanic with a F/F love story.

The plot is absolutely sublime. Thrilling, a perfectly paced mystery with a wonderful dash of romance. The pacing was superb and kept me invested throughout. I loved Maud and Violet- even if they did sometimes frustrate me at the start they do develop a great relationship and it was so fun to see it play out. All the side characters were well written.

If you loved the first book, definitely give this a try- same humour and writing style, completely different story to be told.

I so desperately wanted to love this as much as I loved A Marvellous Light and it didn't quit reach the mark. AML was in my top books of 2022 and I had such high hopes for this follow up but I just didn't warm to the characters in the way I did to Robin and Edwin. This definitely doesn't work as a standalone book, you have to have read AML to follow the story and at times I wish Freya had done more to refresh my memory. Will I read the final installment of the trilogy, yes! Bring back Robin please! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

A Restless Truth is a sapphic historical fantasy and the sequel to A Marvellous Light. The story picks up where the first book left off with a focus on Edwin’s younger sister, Maude. I really enjoyed how it continued the overarching plot while also giving Maud (and Violet) her own story and chance to shine! Maud is such an endearing character who really comes into her own, the confident and independent Violet complements her perfectly. I really liked the dynamic between all of the characters, their interactions are often full of humour and heart.

The story features a good dose of murder, mystery and spice. With the whole book taking place on a ship making a transatlantic crproximity and sense if claustrophobia really added a new layer to all of those aspects. I also enjoyed learning more about the magic system established in A Marvellous Light, it’s so unique and lots of fun!

I can’t wait to read the final instalment in the trilogy, A Power Unbound, especially after seeing who the main pairing will be! 👀

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this review in exchange for an honest review.

this was spicy and i enjoyed it so much

loved being back in this world that is quickly becoming one of my favourite fantasy magic universes! i loved maud in the first book, so was a delight to be back with her as the main focus of this sequel, getting her own happy ending. maud and violet (and hawthorn, honestly) were SO much fun as they tried to help maud discover who had killed her elderly charge - who, to maud's eternal frustration, had not divulged WHICH item she owned was the magical artifact maud needed.

like many others i absolutely loved the first book and was worried this wasn't going to live up to that, but i can safely say it did! i did miss edwin & robin a wee bit, but there were enough mentions of them to satisfy my little heart & the joy that was maud and violet was distraction enough. both maud & violet are stubborn, wield their femininity powerfully & are loyal to a fault to those they love.

i think i would have loved it a little more if there was more.. diversity of setting. i am like the last person who will ever willingly board a cruise ship so that might have affected my feelings a little

A good sequel for the first book.
I find it linear with the prior one’s style, would still recommend this series!

Wonderful book. I truly felt this lived up to the first in the series! Full of adventure, and I loved the way the main couple got a HFN rather than a HEA, especially with the MC being so young and inexperienced. Beautifully written, and I absolutely love the magic system of this series. Can't wait for the third book!

This book is follow up A Marvellous Light, A Restless Truth, which I have not read but I will do in the near future.

If you enjoy a good read murder, mystery, that includes magic and is set on the high seas then you are set with this book.

A stunning follow-up to A Marvellous Light, A Restless Truth is the second instalment in The Last Binding series. Full of magic and mayhem, follow Maud as she finds herself at the centre of a murder mystery - her only hope being to solve it before her journey across the Atlantic ends. Just as exciting and fantastical as the first book, this series is perfect for fans of S.A. Chakraborty and V.E. Schwab!

I loved this book SO MUCH that as soon as I finished it the first time, I went back and read it again. Not sure if I've done that since I was a teenager (I'm now 42).

Sapphic magicians. Edwardian style. Seriously hot sex scenes. Murder. Mystery. I devoured it all.

"I know a few fairy tales with truth in them."

A lovely sequel to 'A Marvelous Light' that brings its reader back into the wonderful descriptions and flow of a Victorian magical world.

With a small cast of protagonists that all contrast and compliment each other, as a reader you are routing for their successful the whole way. The main story following Maud and Violet, two characters that carry the story with ease and brings out the emotions of the readers. The side characters also a wonderful addition in adding more humor and curiosity into the story, giving more insight into the larger plot of the series and more questions for the reader to consider.

Alike to 'A Marvelous Light', the story brings scenes with spice - ones that are a little more amped-up than the original.

Greatly looking forward to the next addition to the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this eARC, I am voluntarily leaving a review.