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REVIEW: Spectred Isle by K.J. Charles
Green Men: Spectred Isle – K.J. Charles
Archaeologist Saul Lazenby has been all but unemployable since his disgrace during the War. Now he scrapes a living working for a rich eccentric who believes in magic. Saul knows it’s a lot of nonsense…except that he begins to find himself in increasingly strange and frightening situations. And at every turn he runs into the sardonic, mysterious Randolph Glyde.
Randolph is the last of an ancient line of arcanists, commanding deep secrets and extraordinary powers as he struggles to fulfil his family duties in a war-torn world. He knows there’s something odd going on with the haunted-looking man who keeps turning up in all the wrong places. The only question for Randolph is whether Saul is victim or villain.
Saul hasn’t trusted anyone in a long time. But as the supernatural threat grows, along with the desire between them, he’ll need to believe in evasive, enraging, devastatingly attractive Randolph. Because he may be the only man who can save Saul’s life—or his soul.
First, isn’t the cover art gorgeous! <3<3<3
This book gave me happy goosebumps. This book also spooked me although I am rarely spooked. This book gave me a pleasant case of book hangover. Therefore I declare this as K.J. Charles’ best book to date.
The story is told in dual POV of Saul Lazenby, a disgraced archeologist and Randolph Glyde, an aristocratic arcanist. Both lonely men, both war veterans dealing with the pain and trauma of war. The two kept meeting at certain places and their mutual attraction was undeniable. I enjoyed their banter and Charles’ brilliance at creating dialogue and prose had me mumbling some lines and chuckling at the clever turn of phrase. Randolph is what is usually described as sardonic and tends to evade questions. But when he does say what he really thinks, usually when talking to and about Saul, I can’t help but internally squeal because it’s clear that he loves/adores/worship Saul. Saul is what is described as a tender but scarred soul. I greatly admire him and his resilience. He was just suddenly thrust into another war he had no idea existed but he didn’t back down. Sometimes in a love story, I tend to love one of the pair more than the other but here, I love them both so much.
The rest of the Green Men deserved books of their own. Sam is getting one (hooray!) but I am conflicted because it’s m/f. Yeah, OK, they can’t be all gay as much as I want them to be. Barney and Max definitely should have their own HEA (love ‘em!).
The world building and the magic system are awesome! Rooted in myths and folklore, seamlessly integrated into post-world war 1920s and very convincingly delivered. The time and place was very palpable and imagining the War Beneath and the Great Summonings scared the hell out of me at 3 a.m.
Please do read this book even if you are not into MM.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: Time for Heroes
Artist: The Libertines
Album: Up the Bracket(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35118935-spectred-isle)
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Whyborne & Griffin: Bloodline – Jordan L. Hawk
Between his bullying father and dissolute brother, Percival Endicott Whyborne has quite enough problematic family members to deal with. So when his sister returns to Widdershins asking for help solving the mystery of a derelict ship, Whyborne is reluctant to get involved. Until, that is, a brutal murderer strikes, leaving Whyborne and his lover Griffin no choice but to take the case.
The investigation leads them deep into a conspiracy of blackmail, murder, and darkest sorcery. But worst of all are the secrets held within the family itself, one of which will destroy everything Whyborne believed to be true, not only about his family, but about himself.
A few W&G books ago, I was complaining about how there is too little magic spells in the books. Finally, Bloodline had Whyborne performing the level of badass magic I always wanted to see. This installment also had the kind of revelations that turns worlds upside down and it would seem very hard to top everything that happened in this book. It even felt like it was an ending of sorts with that closing scene and if it did end here, I would be happy knowing they got their happily ever after. But luckily, Jordan L. Hawk in her infinite goodness, gave Whyborne, Griffin and Christine another adventure so yay let’s meet them in Alaska.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23202149-bloodline)
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The Raven Cycle: The Dream Thieves – Maggie Stiefvater
Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after…
Not gay per se but I love Ronan and he swings that way so this is highly recommended. Actually, I didn’t notice that he was gay until I read the reviews but he was always been my favorite of the four boys so it’s a nice bonus. I liked this second book better (possibly my fave in the series) as I now have a clearer grasp of what Gansey was all about (I struggled with that on book one) and we get to know Ronan’s family and why he’s so damn angry all the time. Ok, it’s not just all Ronan and his family. Adam has his issues. Blue is still great and Noah is Noah. The adults have more active roles. The Grey man is worth getting to know as well. I could say something about Gansey too but really, I just adore Ronan.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17347389-the-dream-thieves)
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Hexworld: The 13th Hex – Jordan L. Hawk
Romance. Magic.
Murder.Dominic Kopecky dreamed of becoming a member of New York’s Metropolitan Witch Police—a dream dashed when he failed the test for magical aptitude. Now he spends his days drawing the hexes the MWP relies on for their investigations.
But when a murder by patent hex brings crow familiar Rook to his desk, Dominic can’t resist the chance to experience magic. And as the heat grows between Dominic and Rook, so does the danger. Because the case has been declared closed—and someone is willing to kill to keep it that way.
The 13th Hex is the prequel short story to the all-new Hexworld series. If you like shifters, magic, and romance, you’ll love Jordan L. Hawk’s world of witch policemen and the familiars they bond with.
This is where you get to find out about the witch and familiar whose relationship made Cicero green with envy in the first book, Hexbreaker.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29474747-the-13th-hex )
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REVIEW: The Servant’s Heart by Missouri Dalton
The Servant’s Heart – Missouri Dalton
Terence has spent his life in the shadows. Even now, far from his home country serving the Lady Linnaea, he lurks behind a servant’s mask. But secrets like his cannot be hidden away forever, and as his mask starts to slip, the castle weaponsmaster, Iolyn, begins to take more notice of him. Will budding romance be enough to shake Terence free of his past? Or will he always be stuck in the shadow of a tainted bloodline?
This is interesting enough for me to want to read it as a full-length novel. The romance angle here was like,”we’re both gay so why don’t we hook up” so I was more into the story rather than shipping Terence and Iolyn. The royal couple reminded me of Mathias and Esta from Prisoner and lightning magic seemed badass.
Without the obligatory m-m relationship, this would work pretty well on its own but the short story structure might not be the best medium for all the great ideas the writer had.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17372742-the-servant-s-heart)
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A Charm of Magpies: Flight of Magpies – K.J. Charles
Danger in the air. Lovers on the brink.
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.
I’m sad about Stephen Day’s decision about his job. I’m sad that this is the last book. I love this series and I wish this could just go on and on. Heck, I want to be a magic police.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21529170-flight-of-magpies)
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REVIEW: Prisoner by Megan Derr
Kria: Prisoner – Megan Derr
A man whom all men fear…
General Dieter von Adolwulf has led the Scarlet Army of Kria to victory for the past decade, holding the infamous field known as the Regenbogen against Kria’s hated enemies—the deceptive Illussor and the ruthless Salharans. War has waged between the three nations for longer than anyone can remember, but no one has held the Regenbogen as well as the notorious Wolf of Kria and his fearsome army.
A man who fears nothing…
Returning home at the end of the year, the Scarlet Army is attacked in the dead of night by a single man who manages to kill hundreds before he is finally captured. A Salharan soldier with no name, no purpose but to kill, he refuses to bend to the Wolf who takes him prisoner and forces upon him a despicable Krian name.
A man with nothing to lose…
When the rest of his army is slaughtered by Illussor soldiers desperately seeking his prisoner, Dieter determines to hold fast—both for answers and in revenge for the men he lost. But answers and revenge are hard to come by when surrounded by secrets and treachery, and the man least likely to kill him is the prisoner who most wants him dead.
I started reading the first few chapter but I couldn’t go on. I got lost and couldn’t figure out what was what so this book lingered on my shelf for months. Then I found the audiobook on Youtube and loved the narrator’s voice. Sean Crisden’s voices for most of the main characters were perfect. I think only Iah’s voice was off since he sounded like an old man.
This is one of the best enemies to lovers stories I have read. I live for Beraht and Dieter. I could listen to them bicker all day. Sol and Iah was kind of meh for me but I like them nonetheless. The female characters are not annoying so yay! Kalan deserves his own story.
The world and the magic of the three countries were equally fascinating. Each country has their own well-defined culture and language. I love the name of the Krian generals (Scarlet, Cobalt, Verdant, Saffron), the curses each nationality use but I wanted to see Illusor magic. Illusor was probably the less defined of the three.
This is probably a 4.5 stars but I would go ahead and give it a perfect score since I really enjoyed the book and I like the cover art.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect(source: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11116507-prisoner)
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REVIEW: A Case of Possession by K.J. Charles
A Charm of Magpies: A Case of Possession – K.J. Charles
Magic in the blood. Danger in the streets.
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…
Hooray! Finally get to meet the other justiciars! The author made it seem like a tedious, bureaucratic job but magic police are cool. Kind of wanted Saint to have a book of her own. Still wishing there was more magic, the author put most of them at the end of the book. Loved the balance of power between Lord Crane and Stephen Day. Love this series!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18074870-a-case-of-possession)
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REVIEW: Threshold by Jordan L. Hawk
Whyborne & Griffin: Threshold – Jordan L. Hawk
Introverted scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne wants nothing more than to live quietly with his lover, ex-Pinkerton detective Griffin Flaherty. Unfortunately, Whyborne’s railroad tycoon father has other ideas, namely hiring Griffin to investigate mysterious events at a coal mine.
Whyborne, Griffin, and their friend Christine travel to Threshold Mountain, a place of dark legend even before the mine burrowed into its heart. A contingent of Pinkertons-including Griffin’s ex-lover Elliot-already guard the mine. But Griffin knows better than anyone just how unprepared the detectives are to face the otherworldly forces threatening them.
Soon, Whyborne and Griffin are on the trail of mysterious disappearances, deadly accidents, and whispered secrets. Is Elliot an ally, or does he only want to rekindle his relationship with Griffin? And if so, how can Whyborne possibly hope to compete with the stunningly handsome Pinkerton-especially when Griffin is hiding secrets about his past?
For in a town where friends become enemies and horror lurks behind a human mask, Whyborne can’t afford to trust anything-including his own heart.
This one takes our beloved trio out of town. Expect complaints from Whyborne. Scary aliens from outer space or possibly other dimensions and ex-lovers make their presence known. Christine is Christine but to be honest I don’t particularly feel attached to Griffin here or even in the first book. He really does love Whyborne but I don’t really go squeeee over the two them. Could be that I have come across characters similar to Griffin in most books. But his loyalty to Whyborne counts in his favor so he’s fine and their chemistry as a trio adds color to the book. Another minor complaint: I wish there was more magic but it’s understandable given that Whyborne still learning that we don’t see a lot of spells.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17840306-threshold)
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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi1A9s6WTiw?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=375]
This one of my favorite movies of all time. Years and years ago, I had watched this almost everyday when one of our local channels kept showing this movie as a filler during their early days of broadcast. Back then, I was too young to know who the Goblin King was. One of my cousins told me before "oh, that guy is a singer". I was like, “oh, ok”. Little did I know that I would end up worshipping Jareth the Goblin King when I discovered music at 13.
I like Sara but I want to be Toby ^_^ Toby came back to Labyrinth and to Jareth.
