As someone who absolutely adored the first two books in The Last Binding trilogy, I had so much faith that this final entry would stick the landing, and it absolutely did! I loved how Alan and Jack, and their relationship, was fleshed out while still including the characters we know and love from the previous books. Freya Marske's prose is utterly incredible and enchanting, and made this book a joy to read. The plot was spectacular, and made for a satisfying finale to an amazing series.

An incredible ending to what is now one of my favourite book series of all time. 4 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan/ Tor and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There was so much going on!! there is so much I want to say, but I also don't want to spoil, ughhhhhhhhhhhh!

So this book, this beautiful book is the finale to the Last binding trilogy in which we follow the story of Jack, the bratty Aristocrat and Alan the part time conman, part time journalist and part time gay erotica writer. So basically the privileged vs the un-privileged and a lot of other moral and emotional and cultural factors. The story is basically a race, the race that began in book 1 between (obviously!) the good guys and the bad guys as to who will get their hands on the pieces of the LAST CONTRACT - the last known piece of magical contract between the fae and the magicians that could possibly change the way magic works (in the bad way - obviously!).

As much as I was anxious about them saving magic with no contingencies, the character arc that we got especially for Jack was remarkable. From being Edwin's annoying prick of an ex in book 1, to the one dependable man on the cruise in book 2 to this one where he was ripped open with all his past pain, loss, trauma and grief out in the open and then to se him develop a tender beautiful bond of understanding with Alan was so brilliantly written. But also as much as I enjoyed seeing the character development for Jack and Alan, without any doubt, Edwin stole the friggin show.

To conclude, a solid finale with a thoughtful, passionate, steamy queer romance with an amazing cast and crew of people who has kept us entertained for a long time. I truly did not want this trilogy to end. I will dearly miss the banter and the comfort of these characters.

TW: Death, violence, betrayal, homophobia.

[2.5]

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

After years of avoiding the magical world, Jack Alston finds himself dragged into the thick of a plot to track down the final piece of the Last Contract before their enemies can do the same. Not only that, but he’s forced to work with journalist Alan Ross, who makes no secret of hating Jack and everything he stands for.

Now, see, I knew fairly early on in A Restless Truth that I was going to fall hard for Jack Alston, and by the end of that book alone, I had. It’s a real testament to Freya Marske’s development of her characters and the way she utilises his POV, how much further and harder I managed to fall in this final instalment.

The exploration of his past, and his relationship with his family, with magic, and with magical society was so so good. Honestly some parts of it were so gratifying to read and so precisely what I was hoping for, it felt like reading fan fiction of his character perfectly tailored to me. Phenomenal.
Without spoiling anything, I really appreciated the lack of miscommunication trope despite the overarching plot, Jack really said 'we are going to talk about this whether you like it or not' and I love that for him.

The overall construction of the plot was so satisfying, once you hit that reveal and you look back on everything that’s happened so far and realise the signs were there all along, so good. The use of the dual POV to not only supply us with the most revealing perspective for certain events, but also omit key details without letting us know we’re being kept in the dark, love it.
And as usual, I just absolutely love Marske’s writing style, it’s never overly flowery but there’s so many standout lines and metaphors that just perfectly capture emotions or interactions, weather, scenery, everything. It’s stunning.

Maud and Jacks’ dynamic was so enjoyable to read, and of course (!!) seeing more of Robin and Edwin again was a joy, and seeing the slow and begrudging development of their relationship with Jack really added a layer to all of their characters.

I am so sad to say goodbye to this series, this world and these characters. It so quickly became one of my favourite fantasy series I just can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you NetGalley and PanMacmillan for my advanced copy of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely charming end to a trilogy I have thoroughly enjoyed. I will be keeping an eye out for books published by FM in the future!

"I would write you into immortality. I would trap you in ink and wear the pages next to my skin until they fell apart. Kiss me until I know you. Kiss me until you know me, and unmake me, and love me anyway." - WOW!

4.5 stars rounded up!

I was eagerly anticipating this final instalment in the trilogy, and found it a little bit of a mixed bag, saved by a solid final act. Marske’s prose is good, though there’s an occasional reliance on just dropping some chunks of character backstory or motivation, which may be related to the shifting POVs book by book (more on that later). I did find the beginning pretty slow going - the ‘magical house’ stuff isn't nearly as charming as it thinks it is, and dragged a little for me. Then, there’s a mid-book twist that just wasn’t seeded thoroughly enough for me - we’re in the character it relates to’s POV for half the chapters beforehand, and there’s not even a hint of anything bubbling underneath. Perhaps the thing that causes the twist happens ‘off stage’ in between chapters, but if there was any nod towards this in subsequent chapters pre-reveal it was so subtle I missed it. It feels a little bit of a cheap trick to pull a twist like this without having at least some breadcrumbs along the way, but the way it was resolved did pull me back in - so kudos on that front. I love that we have these slightly complex, morally grey characters in this book in particular.


The choice to shift POVs book by book is a slightly odd one to me, as it feels like it gives us a bit less time to really get to know each of these characters. There’s a bit of a trend with some similar series to swap POV characters each book - after hooking us in with one specific coupling or set of characters in the first. I must admit I don’t quite get it - reading the second book in this trilogy I found myself missing the POV characters from the first - it was odd to be thrown into the heads of characters that were barely in the first novel. It was slightly less jarring in this one, as we’d spent far more time with these characters in the second book (albeit not in their ‘heads’) and all characters who were POVs in the previous books were present in this final one, though the non-POV characters did feel a touch flattened at times, rather than feeling as well rounded as they previously had for quite a bit of the book. I do wonder if authors feel they have to sandwich the female characters POVs in the centre of a trilogy as a way to draw interest for a queer female led novel in this genre - its a real shame if this is the case, as these types of female led stories should be able to stand on their own, but fair play if its a way to get more Sapphic led fantasy read, I suppose.

Tangent aside - as a working class person I enjoyed the exploration of class in this book, though at times it was a touch heavy handed. Whilst Alan’s anger is understandable, it did get a little tiresome on occasion, and I’d have loved to see a bit more of the joy that exists in these working class characters lives than just the fury and sadness (there’s a couple of moments of this toward the end, in Alan’s memories, but I could have used more!) - although I do applaud Marske for attempting to broach something this genre often ignores and the nuance present at the end re: the complexities of class was great, it’s a tricky subject without a clean resolution; I’m glad she didn’t cop out and tie up this thread with a neat bow. The central romance did feel a touch rushed at first (again, perhaps this is because we didn't see inside these characters' heads when they interacted previously?), but the sex scenes were suitably sexy - phew! - probably the best of all three series, and I was really sold on it by the time we got to the ending. This was probably a solid three star read for me until the final third or so of the book, which nudged it up to four. This final portion (when they reach Cheetham Manor) was WONDERFUL- the characterisation and pacing felt settled by this point, we got into the nitty gritty of what we’d been pursuing this whole trilogy, and I was totally sucked in by the romance - I almost wished we’d gotten there earlier, and spent more time in this setting. The exploration of Jack’s trauma once back in his home was beautifully executed, and I genuinely shed tears at the ‘swing’ scene. Overall, some slight pacing and characterisation issues aside, this was a strong and enjoyable conclusion to the trilogy, and I’m excited to read whatever Marske releases next!

What a brilliant conclusion to a fantastic series! The connections between the characters and how the series seamlessly flowed was beautiful. I'm very excited about Freya Marske's next story.

The third and last of The Last Binding trilogy this book bought all our protagonists neatly together as they desperately try to find the missing piece of the Last Contract and keep all of it from falling into the wrong hands. It was nice to see the whole gang together and the different interplay’s between characters that it gave.

I love the magic system in these books, particularly the relationship between magicians and the houses they have pledged themselves too – and we got to see plenty more of that as Violet tries to uncover the secrets of the peculiar house she inherited. Without giving away any spoilers I will say that I loved that the house seemed to have it’s own personality too.

We also got to learn more about what happened to Jack and his sister when they were younger and what it was exactly that led to the loss of his magic.

The final showdown was everything I wanted it to be, bold, dangerous, magical and desperate. I was glued to the story willing it to turn out well. I loved the ending as well, I love a story that gives a proper end and this one certainly satisfied that need.

I won’t say any more about the plot as I don’t want to give anything away but this was an excellent end to the trilogy, I thoroughly enjoyed all three books and will certainly be looking out for any future books Marske writes.

A Power Unbound is the perfect conclusion to this trilogy. It’s full of beautiful descriptions, especially of emotions, and I’d happily read an entire book on every single side character—each and every one is fleshed out and feels like a real person, not a two-dimensional plot stand-in.

A Marvellous Light has been a favourite since I read it last year, and A Power Unbound was one of my most anticipated releases this year. Fortunately for me, it lived up to my hopes. I actually enjoyed it more than A Restless Truth, in part because this book finally brings together the entire reluctant found family.

Perfect for fans of:
- found families
- very queer friendship groups
- sentient houses that turn into their own characters
- grumpy love interests
- a bit of spice

Honestly, you can read this for the plot, for the spice or for both and you’ll be happy either way.

There was one plot point—a betrayal of sorts—that didn’t feel quite developed or explored enough. It irked me, but it didn’t inhibit my enjoyment of the book.

Take a look at the content warnings before heading into this and start with A Marvellous Light if you haven’t started the series yet.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for an advance copy.

I've enjoyed this trilogy and I think this final book was the best of the tree - mainly because we get to see all the characters from the previous books together for most of it. I feel so invested with them all and it was great watching characters you've got to know so well separately engaging with each other and working together on a ...big mission to save magic?

Honestly, the magic system in these books, and the folklore that is built around it, is still a bit of a mystery to me. I didn't think about it too much, just sort of trusted what the characters were telling me. I felt like one of the non-magical characters for most of it, not a clue what's going on but very invested anyway.

Jack and Alan are SOOOOOOO good together too! Their stories come together so beautifully and they really work to push each other at every given opportunity. It's entertaining, hot and very, very overdue because I didn't really get that out if the last book with Maud and Violet.

If you've read this series and we're also a little underwhelmed with the second, this one definitely deserves to be read, even if it is a smidge long!

A perfect ending of the amazing trilogy. I didn't know if anyone could come close to beating Edwin and Robin as my favourites, but darn it, Jack and Ross are up there with the greatest. In the third instalment of her saga about power struggle, treason, heartbreak and passion, Freya Marske ramps up the pressure as she guides the characters towards the finale (oh, the finale!!!). We have twists and turns, explosive announcements, magical houses and sexual tension. I loved the author’s attention to detail and being able to create memorable characters, to get under their skins and flesh them out as living and breathing people. Jack is a great example of a character taken to the next level in this book, as we get to know his past and his struggles. I loved his connection with Alan, based on trust and free will, more like two equal partners despite the differences in their status (and inclination), and I think the way in which the author presented their relationship was respectful as well as steamy. The conclusion to the book is perfect and in a tone with the general message of the book, about magical obligation and responsibility. It is hard to write about this book without spoilers, but these are these are the locations of three of my favourite scenes: Jack’s library, The Barell and the oak. There. If you want to know more, please read the series. It is SO worth it.

I loved the first book in this series, enjoyed the second and was really looking forward to A Power Unbound. I enjoyed the relationship between Jack & Alan but the rest of the plot let it down for me, and I felt that they never quite got the chance to shine. A solid read, would read more from Freya Marske, but just didn't quite strike the right balance between fantasy and romance for me!

I really love this world and I'm honestly so sad to leave it, but the ending of this series was so clever. I spent most of the book wondering how the hell they were gonna get out of this, but the conclusion was satisfying and wrapped everything up.

I did find it a bit hard to keep track of the characters. Because of the way the books are set out, there are some characters in this that we haven't heard from since the first book so I really struggled. There was also the fact that the two POV characters were referred to by their last names or first names depending who's perspective it was. But I got it all straight by the end!

The audio was fantastic, they captured Jack and Alan's voices perfectly and was really pleasant to listen to.

I would recommend reading this series all at once so that you don't have so much to remember, but overall it was a really strong trilogy!

With A Power Unbound, Marske at last centres a book on Jack Alstom - Lord Hawthorn - one of the more enigmatic of the gallery of magicians and magic-adjacent individuals we've seen in this series, and a character who's always had a whiff of brimstone about him (Violet, you may recall, asked him to ruin her in A Restless Truth). As a reminder, the first book, A Marvellous Light, largely follows Sir Robin Blyth, our non-magician gateway to the world of these books, a Civil Servant and the Home Office's liaison with the enchanted world, and Edwin Courcey, his magician counterpart, as they fall in love while the second book, A Restless Truth is more Sapphic in tone, with Maud Blyth and the aforementioned Violet getting to up all sorts on an ocean liner. Behind the personal entanglements, though, a dastardly plot is evolving, a scheme to take all of the power of the British magicians into one pair of hands. This has proceeded as the conspirators find pieces of the "Last Contract" and as Jack, Edwin, Maud and others seek to prevent that.

A Restless Truth also introduced Alan - journalist, radical, peddler of smut, and thief - as a sort of counterweight to Jack and - given the previous books - that means there is a big element of will-they, won't they in A Power Unbound. The powerful distaste between the two men, a distaste with its roots perhaps in a contrast between Alan's working class suffering and Hawthorn's hauteur, has not gone away but since the events of A Restless Truth Alan has also been enlisted in the last-ditch effort to save British magic. Marske does a terrific job here at unpeeling layer after layer of Alan's feelings - his resentment of those who, as well as being born with wealth and power, have inherited magic too; his revulsion at what was done to Jack to remove his magic (yes - finally, we're learning more about what has been going on, and it's riveting!) and his desire to protect and nurture his family.

Plus, of course, his attraction to Jack...

Fantasy novels can often be accused of ignoring real social conditions, as well as being oblivious to the actual politics of a world in which magic is real, but Marske inverts this, making questions of power, agency and privilege central to the narrative. It's perhaps in keeping with this that when things get steamy between Jack and Alan (sorry, minor spoiler, but surely you expected that? It's not just me?) the liaison between titled aristocrat and scrabbling guttersnipe doesn't dodge those same issues of power and consent, with some lovemaking scenes where these things are in fact central to the sexiness, Jack and Alan negotiating their relationship by stages through some saucy role-play.

And yes, if you're a reader of a traditionalist hue who doesn't an appreciate these themes, maybe this book might not be for you - but I would still encourage you to at least try it. There is also plenty of conflict, scheming, magical combat and racing for time, as the clock counts down and the villains finally make their move - enough to keep any reader satisfied even if they don't really get on with the more tender parts of the story.

For me, A Power Unbound does several difficult things very well. It rounds off a complex through-plot, which Marske has made us care intensely about. It does justice to the historical background of the Imperialistic, Edwardian setting, without uncritically adopting the prejudices of the time (this is shown most fully in the Queer narrative strand, one of the reasons it would be a mistake to see this as something secondary). It does credit to characters we've come to love. And, even at this late stage in the trilogy, it gives us a great deal of new information to round out, explain and motivate pretty much everyone.

Lastly - and of course not lastly - it tells a rattling good, exciting story in its own right and totally lands the ending.

In short, I'm sad to see this series end, but it goes out firing on all cylinders, the perfect ending to the trilogy.

At the core of the narrative lies Jack Alston, Lord Hawthorn, who yearns for a peaceful and secure existence but finds himself reluctantly pulled back into the realm of magic when a perilous ritual threatens every magician in Britain. Jack’s multi-faceted character, marred by the loss of his twin sister and his rejection of magic, adds profound layers to the story as he becomes embroiled in an exhilarating adventure.

As the plot unfurls, the stakes soar, and the narrative takes a shadowy and theatrical turn. Murder, magic, and romance intermingle within a labyrinth of concealed truths, ensuring that “A Power Unbound” keeps readers perched on the edge of their seats, forever guessing at what might come next. The climactic events that transpire on Jack’s family estate bring the series to an astonishing and unforeseen culmination.

@freyamarske has masterfully woven a tale brimming with magic, mystery, and romance, leaving readers entirely content and yearning for more. This book is a must-read for fans of the series and an enticing invitation for those new to @freyamarske enchanting world.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A power unbound is the brilliant and steamy conclusion of this trilogy and this book is absolutely perfect! Alan and Jack are not only magnificent main characters and their bickering and flirting so good and involving, but this book gives the reader the chance to put everything together. Every clue, every characters, every story come to an end. We finally know about lord Hawthorne and his twin, about the Last contract, about what's happening to all the characters we know from book one and two in this compelling last book. It's funny and filled with many steamy scenes and bickering, secrets and lies and all kind of magic.
Unforgettable

A very decent finale!

Surprisingly, I enjoyed this last installment more than the previous two books. I think, this is one of the series which quietly grows on you, especially, the complexities of the magic system and the depth of this magical conspiracy, which is the at the heart of the story.

It helps that I have liked Jack's character from the beginning and reading his story felt fantastic. I also really liked Jack and Alan's relationship. It was bit on a spicier side but was very delightful and kept me hooked throughout the book.

The ending can be a bit controversial but in all honesty, it didn't bother me much. I ended up loving this found family of magicians so much more than I had expected.

3.5 (rounded down)⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

For me I was a bit meh about the first book, really liked the second (totally bucking the second book slump trend I have had this year) and the final instalment whilst better than the first didn’t continue its upward trajectory from the second for me.

I did overall like this series, and I really liked the premise as well as the authors writing style and characters. I would definitely read whatever they write next.

An amazing finale to one of the best trilogies I've read in years! I've adored The Last Binding series, and this is a spectacular end to it.
The series started with A Marvellous Light, continued with A Restless Truth, and ends here with A Power Unbound. For those unfamiliar with it, it's a very sexy, spicy alternative history magical story. The setting is the early 20th Century, the Edwardian period. Magic is a secret, held and used mostly by certain aristocratic families and their servants but generally kept away from the rest of the population. There's murder, there's mystery and there's romance.

All three elements are definitely present here. But in different ways to the earlier books. There's no retreading of old, familiar ground here. Where A Marvellous Light was very much a mystery introducing the world and its players, and A Restless Truth was a murder mystery treasure hunt set on an ocean liner, A Power Unbound is probably a lot more straightforward. There's one of the three treasures remaining to be found, but the hunt for it only occupies the first half of the book. After that it's a race to stop the villains from enacting their evil plan, which involves strategy, teamwork, magical secrets and an understanding of magical theory. All of the pieces have been very cleverly put in place in the earlier books, and this is really all about them coming together to save the day.

Each of the stories in the series has two different point-of-view characters, and that tradition is continued here too. This time it's two already established characters, Jack Hawthorn, the lord with the terrible reputation seen in both the earlier two books, and Alan Ross, the journalist, thief and pornography peddler introduced in A Restless Truth. All four of the previous point-of-view characters are here playing major parts too, and it's fascinating seeing them from new perspectives. Character development has been really well done across the series and that really pays off here.

World building has been another strong element too. This book again builds on the groundwork done by its forerunners. We learn more about how magic functions in this world, really as the characters themselves learn and adapt their own knowledge. It can be fairly complex but never seems to bog the narrative down in too much detail, and when it does it's usually poking fun at Edwin's love of bogging down conversations with too much detail. There's enough in there to follow the action without ever feeling like a treatise or essay on magical theory.

Appropriately, given the name, this is at heart a story about power. This is reflected in different ways. There's magical power, a recurring theme but here taken to dramatic extremes as the villains try to seize more of it for themselves. There's political power too, and politics plays more of a lead role here as Hawthorn is something of a political beast and Alan is something of a political commentator. The structures, dictates and forces within both the magical and the mundane political establishments all play a part and it's interesting seeing them being explored more. There's also a lot about inequalities in power. Exploring this through the medium of Alan and Jack is fascinating. On the surface Jack has all the power. He's got his wealth, his status, his standing, his magical friends and acquaintances. He's also big and strong, a man of physical power as well as political power. This definitely creates tension between the two, but it's really interesting seeing how it plays out, how it's explored and how it makes them both feel.

It's also fascinating exploring Jack's past too, and I loved how the story slowly let the truth of what happened in his youth unfold and be revealed. It was subtle and emotional and very well done.

Then there's the sex. Oh boy, is there the sex! If A Marvellous Light was all about a slow building tension, a love that dare not speak its name, with yearning glances and longing hearts, and A Restless Truth was about an enthusiastic education in corruption, A Power Unbound is about a very different kind of sex. This is enemies to lovers, it's fantasies about power inequality and force, about taking and being taken, and about two men who know what they're doing trying to figure out just what they want. It's very hot, very sexy, but what I particularly loved was that for all of this, there was a discussion about consent, about limits and safe words, albeit in a way that felt more in fitting with the Edwardian landscape rather than forcing modern terms and values in there in an artificial way. It was very clever, very thoughtful and very appreciated. It also fitted in perfectly with the novel's core ideas about the importance of power and consent.

A Power Unbound is a wonderful end to a magical series. I loved it.

i gave the other two in this trilogy four stars and for most of this book i would have given it the same! it's fun, the gang is back, i was digging the romance, i love the magic system. but the last chunk of plot felt messy and incredulous and lacked the propulsive thing that makes these books work. it's still good and for a lot of it i was like !!! yes !!! mouth open on the train etc. but :( i love violet and maud forever though, kiss kiss girlies.