Review by Booklist Review
Marske's final, thrilling entry in the Last Binding trilogy reunites beloved characters as they use their wit and guile to thwart the power-hungry men plotting to steal magic from all of Britain. After a childhood trauma killed his twin sister and took his magic, Jack, the Earl of Hawthorn, knows the agony of having one's magic taken unwillingly. He's tried to avoid all magical society, but when the power grab comes to a head at the annual Equinox Gala hosted at his ancestral home, he finds himself inextricably at the center. Jack also finds himself reluctantly drawn to Alan, the scrappy, pickpocketing, porn-peddling journalist who helped the gang in A Restless Truth (2022). Jack and Alan's relationship teeters between lust and disgust and draws lightly from dominant-submissive role-playing. True to the enemies-to-lovers trope, the two men's standoffish exteriors melt away as their escapades become more tender and vulnerable. On the night of the gala, the group crafts an intricate, heist-like plan to steal the three pieces of the Last Contract from their enemies in a wild confrontation involving ancient fae, dashed illusions, and blood sacrifice. A charming, heart-thumping close to a world and characters fans won't be ready to let go of.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Marske's showstopping final Last Binding historical fantasy doubles down on all the romance and magic that made the previous books in the trilogy so delightful. After the events of A Restless Truth, only one object binding the Last Contract, a centuries-old fae bargain that "left magic in the hands of humans," remains to be found: a silver knife. Violet Debenham suspects it's hidden somewhere within Spinet House, her recent inheritance, so she, her paramour Maud Blyth, and Jack Alston, Lord Hawthorn--the women's "glorified bodyguard"--comb the house for clues. This proves a difficult task; Jack muses of Spinet House, "It was a fortress. It was a musical, magical puzzle-box. It was a fucking headache." Luckily, they have allies in some welcome and familiar faces from the series, including Robert Blyth, Edwin Courcey, and Adelaide Morrissey. Help also comes, much to Jack's chagrin, from dashing journalist Alanzo Rossi, who has a handy ability to repel magic, though Jack is suspicious of his motives. Time is running out, however, as Jack's villainous, power-hungry cousin, George Bastoke, is determined to find the knife himself, hoping to use the Last Contract to consolidate magic for his use alone. As the stakes ramp up so too does the tension--and the attraction--between Jack and Alanzo. Marske again demonstrates her talent for balancing romance and fantasy action. This does the series proud. (Nov.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
The pursuit for the final piece of the Last Contract is coming to a close. Jack Alston, Lord Hawthorn, would rather stay as far away from magic as possible after the death of his twin sister, but keeping his friends safe is important. Yet it seems they will also need the assistance of writer and thief Alan Ross, whose materialistic and opinionated attitudes will result in more harsh words--and a large pot of simmering sexual tension. When Jack's ancestral seat, Cheetham Hall, becomes the epicenter for a lavish celebration hiding a dark and twisted plot, Jack, Alan, and their friends discover that nearly everything they knew about Britain's magic origins will be washed away in bloody sacrifice. Sharp and pointed dialogue keeps all the relationships moving forward. Twisting plots lead to surprising answers and futures for the Blyth siblings and their partners, and delightful interactions with spirits and near-sentient homes create fanciful moments. VERDICT The final book of Marske's "The Last Binding" series, after A Restless Truth, is a satisfying conclusion to a charming, queer historical fantasy trilogy.--Kristi Chadwick
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