Flight of Magpies (Charm of Magpies)

I liked the characters and the story was good. It has strong female characters that got room in the story without taking over. Enjoy!

very pleased

I just finished binge reading A Charm of Magpies trilogy by KJ Charles, which is M/M historical fantasy set during Victorian England and choc full of magical mysteries. I'm not a huge fan of murder mysteries as they tend to be too grim and dark for my tastes but I didn't have to worry about that with KJ Charles' writing because she peppers her stories with so much wit and humor. The books never become too gruesome and have their own charm instead. It was a lot of fun to read about Lord Crane, who was sent to China because his father wanted to get rid of him but he unexpectedly thrives there for more than two decades. He has lots of escapades all over Shanghai and the nearby region, together with his manservant Merrick. He inherits the title when his father and brother mysteriously die. He meets the magician Stephen Day when he urgently needs magical assistance. Shenanigans ensue, adventures were had, slow burn romance was developed, and the main characters learn more about themselves as they go along. I loved how sweet the romance was between the two main characters, they both had to work hard and make sacrifices for their relationship. They really are such a good match for each other. This series was my introduction to KJ Charles' writing and I will definitely check out the rest of her backlist. Highly recommended for readers of various genres: historical romance, fantasy and murder mystery.