The Magpie Lord (Charm of Magpies, #1)

by 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.

• ISBN10: 1619221144
• ISBN13: 9781619221147
• Publish Date: 2 September 2014 (first published 3 September 2013)
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Samhain Publishing Ltd
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 210
• Language: English

Reviews

[moraa]

“Two death sentences? Really? I mean, you look very well, considering.”

3.5 stars

I knew I was having too much fun when I didn't see the end coming. It wasn't bad, I just thought there would be more of the book to read.

[jamiereadthis]

Both the plot and the romance hustle and move, especially for a first novel. But what surprised me this time: there’s a mean spiritedness to the tone that didn’t sit well with me. Every second stray character is dismissed as a bitch or an idiot. Even between the two leads, who pretty much fall into friendship and defend each other right away, the same harshness and violence crops up. It’s to a purpose— in fact, it’s all to a purpose, plot-wise— but it rubbed me the wrong way in a way I wasn’t expecting.

Which confounds me, because I’m sitting here having recently read and loved books with much worse things than sneering at villagers or throwing tantrums and furniture. But here it feels… unexamined? The Le Guin and the Reisz, the Pacat and the Walton; they’ve made me rethink some presumptions. Confronted me on some blind spots. This book just feels like it has some of the blind spots I’ve recently had to address.

I dunno. It surprised me. I’m still working through what I think. And I liked the book; there’s good stuff within it. I just wanted less casual violence; a different vocabulary for it, I think. More examination thereof. Less raging, more thinking. A core that’s tender, not snide.

And I say all this to mark it, how I’m aware of a difference. Not to pick at the book. I just need to digest what’s changed within myself. Whatever it is, I like it. I don’t want to go back.

[bookperson]

Wow, what a book! 5/5, loved it with all my heart.

TW: homophobia, suicide

Firstly, I'm not a big fan of historical fiction. But when magic is involved... sign me up baby!
Secondly, that book was amazing. It reminded me of Widdershins (Whyborne and Griffin series) by J.L. Hawk, but different. Widdershins was good, but too historical for my taste, all these anachronisms and language, I couldn't get into easily. Also Whyborne and Griffin were both anxious and couldn't express their feelings (understandable), but in The ML both main characters are open-minded and open-hearted good guys, and I loved them both (even though I didn't like Stephen at first, he grew on me and is the best). The Magpie Lord is more casual, closer to our language and with better magic imo. Also Britain setting with the character that grew up in China. And tattoos! And did I said magic? Yes, gimme all of it.

It was action packed, but also filled with humor and tension between main characters (as I said in one of my comments - 0 to 60 in 3 seconds!) and the best part - idk how but author escapes all possible tropes of mm romance, so every time something happened between characters I wasn't prepared and my heart just exploded.

Also, didn't you like where one character is tall and other small? But both strong, sharp, smart and with attitude. Whew, I need to stop. Or do I? On to the next book!

[Melanie]

I picked up this book as part of the Wizard's book club put on by @WizardBooks (who is the fabulous author [a:Tiffany Reisz|4480131|Tiffany Reisz|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1337395840p2/4480131.jpg]). She doesn't write PNR, but loves wizards and hence started this book club. This was the first book and I'm so glad she picked it. I don't know think I would've found this one on my own.

This book had great characters. Our first hero was the black sheep of his predominate family. Normally that would make you a bad person. Well, Lucian was exiled to China from his English family because the family was not so nice and Lucian didn't fit with their ways. When both his father and brother die, Lucian inherits not only their land and title, but also their enemies.

Stephen Day comes to help Lucian with some of his magical problems, but isn't real happy about it. After all, the Vaudrey family has done some pretty bad things to the Day family. There is an uneasy attraction between Dan and Lucian from the get go, but with people trying to kill Lucian does put a damper on things.

Also, there is Merrick. He is a secondary character in this story, and I have thing for them. He is Lucian's servant. He is very loyal to Lucian, but there is no romance or anything between them. I LOVED Merrick. He was my favorite character, by far.

This story has it all. The plot is suspenseful. The characters are intriguing and lovable. The banter between the three men is hilarious. The sex between just the two is hot. This book was a page turner. Thanks again to Tiffany Reisz for pointing me towards this book. I will be looking for book two.