Friday Mini Reviews #34: A Charm of Magpies series by K.J. Charles
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The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles ( A Charm of Magpies #1)bought
Synopsis from Goodreads
A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell.
Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry.
Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude... and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual.
Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.
Warning: Contains hot m/m sex between a deeply inappropriate earl and a very confused magician, dark plots in a magical version of Victorian England, family values (not the good kind), and a lot of swearing.
Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US($3.44)/UK(£2.01) | The Book Depository
8/10
I have to thank Betsy, my personal book guru, for this series. Otherwise I'd never have found it. The Magpie Lord was tremendously entertaining, sharp, and witty and had a lovely blend of few of my favorite genres: historical fiction, fantasy and romance.
The main characters - Lord Crane, a thirty seven year old aristocrat who spent twenty years of his life in China and Stephen Day - a young and powerful magician working in London have so much powerful chemistry and snark between them that along with a clever plot this book was a pure pleasure to read.
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Книгу я эту обнаружила по рекомендации моего личного книжного гуру, Бетси, и читала всю серию одним махом с огромным удовольствием.Свежо, мило, каверзно, харизматично и прекрасная пара главных героев вкупе с умным сюжетом честно не дают читателю скучать. Несмотря на то, что это историческое фэнтэзи с элементами М/М романа, читать очень рекомендую.
bought
Synopsis from Goodreads
Magic in the blood. Danger in the streets.
A Charm of Magpies, Book 2
Lord Crane has never had a lover quite as elusive as Stephen Day. True, Stephen’s job as justiciar requires secrecy, but the magician’s disappearing act bothers Crane more than it should. When a blackmailer threatens to expose their illicit relationship, Crane knows a smart man would hop the first ship bound for China. But something unexpectedly stops him. His heart.
Stephen has problems of his own. As he investigates a plague of giant rats sweeping London, his sudden increase in power, boosted by his blood-and-sex bond with Crane, is rousing suspicion that he’s turned warlock. With all eyes watching him, the threat of exposure grows. Stephen could lose his friends, his job and his liberty over his relationship with Crane. He’s not sure if he can take that risk much longer. And Crane isn’t sure if he can ask him to.
The rats are closing in, and something has to give…
Warning: Contains m/m sex (on desks), blackmail, dark pasts, a domineering earl, a magician on the edge, vampire ghosts (possibly), and the giant rats of Sumatra.
Amazon kindle US/UK
8.5/10
So far this is the strongest book in this series (and I've read everything up to date). Really engaging plot, and the sparks between Lucien and Stephen fly all over the place now that they are in the relationship.I loved that despite such a difference in their stations both characters interacted as a pair of equals and they were both powerful in their own right.This was absolutely wonderful, gripping and lush!
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На настоящий момент - это самая сильная книга серии ( а я знаю, я прочитала всё, что в ней издано). Очень хороший, энергичный сюжет, да и искры между Люсьеном и Стефаном так и сыпятся когда они начинают полноценные отношения.Мне особо понравилось то, что несмотря на такую разницу в социальном статусе, оба считают себя равными друг другу и являются сильными характерами - будь то Лорд Крэйн с его контрабандистским прошлым или Мистер Дэй с его магией, которую подпитывает его любовник. Очень советую.
A Flight of Magpies by K. J. Charles (A Charm of Magpies #3)
bought
Synopsis from Goodreads
Danger in the air. Lovers on the brink.
A Charm of Magpies, Book 3
With the justiciary understaffed, a series of horrifying occult murders to be investigated, and a young student who is flying—literally—off the rails, magical law enforcer Stephen Day is under increasing stress. And his relationship with his aristocratic lover, Lord Crane, is beginning to feel the strain.
Crane chafes at the restrictions of England’s laws, and there’s a worrying development in the blood-and-sex bond he shares with Stephen. A development that makes a sensible man question if they should be together at all.When a thief strikes at the heart of Crane’s home, a devastating loss brings his closest relationships into bitter conflict—especially his relationship with Stephen. And as old enemies, new enemies, and unexpected enemies paint the lovers into a corner, the pressure threatens to tear them apart.
Warning: Contains hot-blooded sex, cold-blooded murder, sinister magical goings-on and a lot of swearing.
Amazon kindle US/UK
8.5/10
Ooh, what an ending! Brilliant! This is a book which starts with a bunch of troubles for Stephen and Lucien and it gets progressively worse for Mr. Day, until he feels like he will break under pressure. Both have to overcome a lot of personal issues and at last find a compromise for their future together. A very bloodthirsty book, which I especially enjoyed reading. *grinning*
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Ууу, какая кровавая концовка! В этой книге Люсьену и Стефану приходится пережить множество неприятностей в личном и профессиональном плане. особенно нелегко приходиться мистеру Дэю да так, что иногда ему кажется что от напряжения и физического истощения он просто сломается. Однако обоим удаётся победить противостоящих им врагов и наконец согласиться на компромисс по поводу совместного будущего. Просто прекрасно написано!