KJ Charles

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. Book 1 of the Charm of Magpies series.

The Magpie Lord

Aditi

Finished it in one sitting, with a small ice cream break

Haley Murray

Demi

So I was recommended this book by a friend and I will say that I am definitely glad I read this book. Now while I didn’t absolutely fall in love with this book just because there were some details that I personally didn’t enjoy, overall I did enjoy my time reading this.

I really loved that this was a fantasy set in a historical world because that definitely isn’t something I personally have come across much or read a lot of. I also really enjoyed the time period this story was set as well as the premise of the book because again, I haven’t read too many books set in it. As well as that, I did find the main characters to be very intriguing, and both held very charming characteristics, I honestly still don’t know if I like the main relationship in this book or not. On one hand I always love a good steamy romance but part of me really feels like it was very forced and that made it actually not really as enjoyable to read about as I hoped it would be. Overall, I probably will continue this trilogy at some point, but it definitely isn’t super high on my to read list.

Aditi Verma

Anna

I was absolutely charmed with the world of this book. Characters are captivating and their banter *chief's kiss*
Narration was fine, nothing special in my opinion but conveys text well enough.

Sarah Escorsa

Actual rating: 3.75 stars. 
 
Okay, let's get a few things straight before we begin:

① YES, I did read this book semi-willingly.

And

② YES, I nearly almost practically rated it 4 bloody shrimping stars.

And 

③ YES, I am actually going to read the next book in the series.

So please go ahead and do all the gasping and fainting you need to do right now, so that we can move on and stuff. Thank thee kindly.



Nicely done! A question, though: what's with the feathers, my Little Barnacles? I mean, last time I checked arthropods didn't look like chickens and stuff. You're a weird bunch of decapods, you know.

So. I didn't DNF or hate the fish out of this book because:

① It's a delightfully improbable mix of paranormal stuff, Victorian stuff, mystery stuff and M/M romance stuff. All things improbable are slightly awesome, ergo slightly awesome this book is ← Logic is me, you say? Yes, I am well aware of the fact.

② It's light but deliciously entertaining and fun and enjoyable and delectable and stuff. It's also fast-paced and there's magic and ghosts and villains, oh my! Okay, so the mystery isn't of the perplexingly baffling kind, and I'm sure my old pal Hercule would have solved it in less time it takes to say "unleash the crustaceans, Fleet Admiral DaShrimp!" BUT. One cannot read ALL profoundly deep material ALL the time. One has to let the little grey cells rest and relax once in a while and stuff. Otherwise they might viciously retaliate by going all "we've had it! We're on bloody shrimping strike!" on your ass pincers and stuff. So this book is the quite perfect destination when an Over Heated Little Head Holiday (OHLH™) is in order.



Yes, this book is definitely the ideal candidate for days when you feel a teensy little bit like ↑↑

③ Ha ha bloody HA. I'm not the smiling type. Much less the laughing type (I find the habit to be quite repulsive, to be honest). But this little book right here had me chuckling and giggling and snickering and cackling and chortling and guffawing and snorting in the most elegantly gleeful way. Yes it did. The Positively Edible Lord Crane (PELC™) is exquisitely sarcastic and witty and funny and stuff. He jests and quips and gibes so lusciously it makes my pincers click uncontrollably. Not to mention the Outrageously Rambunctious Heating Effect (ORHE™) his mere presence has on my exoskeleton. TPEMC™ is a lord with the body and mouth of a sailor, you see. Hence lots of yummilicious swearing to be expected. And tattoos. Lots of, um, intriguing tattoos. And a hot body, too. But it's his titillating mind I'm in love with, undeniably. I couldn't care less about his physical appearance. Or the fact that he can get quite creative with desks, walls and rose gardens. And I certainly don't give a fish about his undying charm. Or his take no prisoners attitude towards flirtation. It's his brilliant intellect is what I'm lusting after here. So Poof, Gone, Harem (PGF™) and stuff. Obviously. 



Sorry, what? Lord Crane is gay, you say? So what? I'm an equal opportunity kind of girl and I don't judge. I don't share, either. Not sorry, Tiny Stephen! Besides, I'm pretty sure he'll embrace his bisexuality with merriment the moment he meets me, so there. Problem solved and stuff.

④ No, I did not kill this book dead despite the Disgusting Romance of Doom and Oblivion (DRoDaO™). No no no no no, my Little Barnacles! Lose consciousness on me again you shall not! We're done with the fainting epidemic, remember? Now get a grip and stop interrupting me, will you? So. Since finishing this book, I've been trying to figure out why to this romance wasn't quite as allergy-inducing as its colleagues. A fact that is most puzzling indeed, you have to admit. The following conclusion finally reach I did: M/M Romance is not as ridiculously lovey dovey as M/F Crap. Also, slooooooooow burn. Also, also, bloody shrimping hot sex.

» And the moral of this No Need to Contact GR Support The Fluffy Siberian Bunnies Have Not Hacked My Account Again and This is Really Nefarious Little Me Writing this Crappy Non Review Crappy Non Review (NNtCBRSTFSBHNHMAAaTiRNLMWtCNRCNRCNR™) is: magpies = Kaldar = YUM. QED and stuff.

· Book 2: A Case Of Possession ★★★



[Pre-review nonsense]

Don't look at me, the MacHalos forced me to read this. And threatened to put a bullet in my lovely little head if I didn't rate it more than 3.5 stars. What a cunningly vicious little bunch they are.

Historical Paranormal Mystery M/M Romance. Yes, that is a thing. And quite a scrumpalicious one at that.



My thoughts exactly.

➽ Full Magic and Magpies and Tattoos and Champagne Fingers and Hahaha and Well that Was Slightly Hot Oh My Crappy Non Review (MaMaTaCFaHaWtWSHOMCNR™) to come.

Juliette Raven 

I loved the magic system in this book but it was quite short I wanted more events between the main characters before they get together but I will definitely continue with this series I'm quite interested in the magic of the world even though the romance is low quality for the moment.

Ariel Himboi

Jaw dropping

The book reads easily although it uses a lot of quirky magical terms and imagery. It has comical dialogue with bits of serious issues here and there... and surprisingly-- philosophy from the characters and their morals.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this book a lot! I thought I would put it down and forget it but I was interested in what happened. AND I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED.

Though I believe what kept me reading was Stephen and Lucien. The kind of romantic trope where they hate each other but the next moment ones bent over the other in an office. At this point they are on the "I guess lovers with benefits but work, etc." gets in their way.

I love their dynamic.

And something that I loved MORE than Stephen and Lucien, the couple ( which rarely happens ), was Merrick and Lucien's strong friendship. It really made me scream with joy with every sassy interaction.

This book easily is a 4/5* and I will hopefully get to the second and third book. Unfortunately, I despise plots that form around a couple having relationship issues.

Let us see where it goes!!

The Magpie Lord

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