Flight of Magpies (A Charm of Magpies Book 3)

I’ve been putting off reading this one because I couldn’t face the end. And now… *gross sobbing*It’s over! What’ll I do without my kinky dandy?I was going to say this is the best one of the series but then I looked at my reviews for the first two and realized I gave them 5 stars too! Duh, I’m going with 5 on this one but I feel restricted. I'd much prefer to go with 7 or 12.Crane and Stephen haven’t been together all that long but they are so devoted to each other and that shines through right from the beginning. I truly in my heart of hearts believe they are soul mates and that crazy Magpie Lord may have even had a hand in bringing them together. The events that transpire in this book only cemented my feels on this.The case in this one kept me guessing. I’ve loved the whole magpie tattoo thing since it started happening, but the extra meaning behind it in this one satisfied my inner perv while also managing to be sweet with a hint of poignancy.I was also delighted to find out the name of the guy who showed up in Rag and Bone! Bad boy is bad. He *might* need a spanking to deal with some of that sass.Merrick is still his usual snarky self. I’ve loved his friendship with Crane from the beginning. He may be Crane's henchman, but that doesn’t preclude him from giving Crane the business nor does it mean Crane’s exempt from an ass whooping.“You can’t work the stove, can you?”“I’m the eighth Earl Crane and the twelfth Viscount Fortunegate. I don’t have to work the stove.”Crane is a lot of things-he's a bit pompous, exceedingly blunt and a whole lot vain, but he's loyal. What I like best about him is even if he disagrees or fights with those he loves it never occurs to him that they would ever not be in his life. It's probably part arrogance and part his domineering nature, but I find his lack of timidity refreshing.Now, there are few things I like better than kink and a size difference, but you add in some dirty talk, a dandy and face melting sex and...I read a lot of kink and there are a lot of permutations of doms, but Crane is that rare breed that is absolutely not going to be topped from the bottom. They are playful, cheeky and quick witted with a lot of innuendos bandied about between them, but Crane is always in control. And Stephen loves it. In the bedroom or hall or wherever, but Stephen is not a shrinking violet outside of their kinky shenanigans.He loved Stephen's bloody-minded determination, enraging though it often was, and his terrifying powers, and his fierce, fragile pride, but he loved them all the more when Stephen set them aside and surrendered utterly, giving himself to Crane without reserve.There sex was so ON FIYYYYYAHHHHH that I had pancake eyes and *may* have burst into song...Blood, sugar BAYYYYYBEEEE He's magik. Sing it with me!And... there went my face. My face melted right off my face."Two for joy. That would do very well indeed."

I don't want to write this review because it would mean the story of Lucien and Stephen is over and though I feel like we got the ending they deserve I'm also selfish and I already miss them. Miss the interaction between them, the way their relationship built up. With the difference in their status, their personality and what each brings into the relationship. There is something that WORKS between them even if you wouldn't guess that.As usual Stephen is over-worked and though Lucien generally understands that for Stephen he IS his job, he is more than just frustrated because he can see what it does to him. He wants him ALIVE and WELL and it doesn't seem like his job will be allowing that for long. He is tired of London and the restrictions that are always there around them but he WON'T give Stephen up no matter what even when Stephen himself is (almost) willing to let them go when everything becomes overwhelming. There is just too much to DO and so little time to do it in.Stephen's prodigy Jenny Saint is accused of stealing, and it becomes worse when she supposedly steals The Magpie Lord's ring which is powerful but also HIGHLY sentimental for him. When he realizes her alibi is a relationship between her and Frank Merrick he basically loses it. His partner Esther has her own reasons for taking a little break from using magic and her job in general which leaves Stephen almost on his own to deal with horrible deaths of policemen. But besides all that there is one thing he promised Lucien he would do and well, sort of "forgot" with all the things on his mind - Lady Elise Bruton. Remember her? In the first book she was the only survivor from the coven who tried to take charge of the Magpie Lord's power (meaning Lucien's blood..). It feels like no one is on his side. Though he has Lucien, what he wants, what he offers Stephen freely - his love, his arms around him and also his help - is something Stephen is still struggling to accept. Which frustrated Lucien enough to blow up a punching bag. Wait, what? Yeah.. there is also something wrong or rather TOO powerful going on in the magical connection between them.In the end the Magpie Lord's power - THEIR power - was always in working together. In being one, in trusting in one another and that's what it takes for them to unravel all the little bit and pieces together - the cop killer, the thief, the missing ring, the Council's irresponsible behavior towards the justiciaries, the power shift between them and last but not least their final nemesis.I'm heart broken to let this book and series go. I'm so glad we'll have 3 more books even if not of these two (maybe we'll get a little appearance? pretty please?). I loved everything about the relationship of these two. The way they connected, how their relationship evolved. Though I'm not a big fan of D/s it felt like with them it simply worked and I could understand why sexually Stephen needed to let go at exactly the point Lucien needed to be the leader, to call the shots (which interestingly enough was a shift from their behavior outside their bed chamber). I think that in the long run though it would still be their "thing" it might change with the way their relationship evolved and both men realizes what they need from one another and what they are willing to give and change in themselves to make this relationship work.Final words - this series is a MUST READ. It has everything anyone would even need - A beautiful relationship buildup of too strong characters. Banter galore between more than just them. Hilarious moments to highlight and laugh just thinking about them again. Mystery and action. A very interesting and different setup in Victorian London filled with magic.A MASTER PIECE. These two have been MY joy.Feast of Stephen: Like in the previous novels, this is an extra bonus epilogue of our two favorite MCs including Merrick and Jenny Saint (now Merrick's significant other). I think it was originally published on it's own but as it seems it's added on the very end on the current edition.Ever wondered what a low key day would be like for these two couples? Be prepared for a TREAT. FINALLY the four of them go to the retreat Lucien have promised to take Stephen and there they spend a fun evening together, getting to know each other a bit better and get used to living together. Jenny is really sweet, I wish we got more of her (together with Merrick!), she might be a bit intimidated by our Lord Crane but I think it won't take her long to loosen up once she sees how he is in person. We get another story of the guys back from their time in the far east as well as the sexy times Stephen promised to sometime try with Lucien.At the very end there is a promise of the story of Jonah Pastern. He was a sort of a villain in this one though it was easy to see he wasn't mean or cruel about it. His story is told in Jackdaw (I'll be getting into it ASAP).More @ Ultra Meital Reviews.

Booo, I'm so sad to have finished this series, I loved the dynamics of Lucian and Stephen, (with special mention of Merrick, plus several supporting characters) and will miss them terribly, but hello spin-off series with a new character we met in this book.This book is the best of the series, I can see how far KG Charles has come in writing intimacy and emotions throughout this being one of her earlier series written. I didn't reach the same heights of satisfaction with the earlier books in this series, that I did with the Society of Gentlemen series, and I'll put it down to writing experience gained with each book written. Having said that, the Magpie series has been such a fun ride, and so worth it to get to the magnificence of this book, which I really didn't want to end.What's not to love? A supernatural murder mystery, magic, KJ . Charles's masterful dry wit that had me sniggering into almost every page turned, the swoon-worthy romance of an established couple moving forward... with a bit of angst drama thrown in due to circumstances. And the sex scenes turned up the heat several notches.I highly recommend these books, everyone who reads historical romance should have KJ Charles on their must read list.

I have bloody loved this series. Flown (see what I did there) through all 3 books in a couple of days.Stephen and Crane are perfect MCs, and the perfect foil for each other - the penniless practitioner with enough power in his talented hands to stop an army - and the exiled gentleman, returning home reluctantly from the East to a world he finds dull and stifling in the extreme. At least he does until he meets Stephen.The chemistry between these two is brilliant and explosive and even though they have a little rocky patch in this book, it doesn't let up right to the end.The plotting is tight and full of enough twists and turns to maintain the excitement right to the end. The denouement is excellent and the final short story at it's conclusion wraps up the series very nicely, ending with a bittersweet twist as one side character takes off into the beginning of a new story (Jackdaw).I know what I shall be reading next.

Well, that was edge of my seat, thrills, spills and lovely character development. I do not plan to post any spoilers in this review but this book really does bring thrilling resolution for Lucien Vaudrey and Stephen Day’s story in a series that blends drama, sex, supernatural shenanigans and dry humour.I know that there are several novels set in the Charm of Magpies world and I intend to read them all but this is a plea to the author, I want to know if Lucien, Stephen, Merrick and Jenny Saint, take the slow route to China along the Silk Road and what adventures befall them there. I’d read that series!

As well as the novellas. This a terrific blend of several genres — adventure, magic, historical — and two fantastic heroes. Clever and often funny dialogue, action that's not too action-y nor does it interfere with the character-driven elements of the narrative. Wish there were going to be more...?

This was a such a good series, it just can’t be the end, I need more about all the gang and they can’t just wander off into the sunset. With that said I’m looking forward to reading Jonah’s story.

KJ Charles really is at the top of her game.Volume Three of the Charm of Magpies sees Stephen Day and Lucien Vaudrey again pulled into magical mispractice, as a plot to ensnare them develops. It seems that others want to gain control of the Magpie Lord bloodline and huge source of power that comes with it. The battle and murder scenes are satisfactorily bloody and bizarre, all leading to a confrontation between good/bad/sort of bad/mostly good.That will make sense if you read the book!