I am fascinated by K.J. Charles\' A Charm of Magpies series
featuring Stephan Day and Lucien Vaudrey, the Earl Crane,
and set in an alternate version of Victorian England in
which magic is an acknowledged presence in the world.
Stephan is a justiciar who polices abuses of magic and Crane
is descendant of the magical magpie Lord. Together, they are
a perfect conduit for the power of the magpie. Their love
and passion brings forth a magic that renews Stephan\'s
powers and threatens his very existence.
Stephan has seen the violation that comes from stripping
individuals of their magic. It is something he works to
prevent and would never do himself. Yet, he knows that the
other justiciars are becoming suspicious about where
Stephan\'s power is coming from. If he doesn\'t admit the
truth, he may be found guilty of vile acts of magic. If he
does admit the truth, he may hang for his homosexuality.
Stephan is struggling with how to protect himself and his
lover while they work together to find out who is
controlling giant rats to kill people who all share Crane\'s
ties to China. The danger mounts from all sides as Stephan
and Crane work to solve the mystery while sorting out what
the future holds for them.
A CASE OF POSSESSION is an exciting addition to an
enthralling series. I thoroughly enjoyed so many elements
of this story— the magic, the mystery, the relationship, and
the characters (to name just a few). Stephan and Crane are
both dealing with heavy burdens that add depth to the story
and highlight the emotional strength that accompanies the
magical energy that permeates their relationship. K.J.
Charles provides quite a bit of back story for Crane as his
life in China provides critical clues for solving a mystery
that kept me guessing until the very end. I appreciate the
characters of Stephan and Crane more with each story and am
excited to see what\'s in store for us in book three.
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.
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