I love The Magpie Lord! The only complaint I have is that it's too short. That's partly just wanting More Now, and partly wishing that the author had expanded on some of the backstory. For example, there's a scene where Crane tells Stephen why he got his tattoos. The author drops some hints about it earlier in the book, leads up to it nicely, then just says that Crane told Stephen without actually telling the reader. Sigh.
Overall, though, the writing is very good. I particularly like KJ Charles' sense of humor. The scene where Crane shows Stephen around the ancestral pile had me giggling all through lunch.
Some of that is foreshadowing and she gets around to explaining things later in the series. Not helpful when you want the explanation now, though. There are also 4 short stories available for free download where stuff happens.
I love what happens with the tattoos later, which I won't spoil you for. I also love the dialogue in general, but specifically the exchanges between Crane & Stephen and between Crane & Merrick, and any time Crane tells someone to get stuffed in true Victorian fashion. And I completely adore Stephen. My biggest complaint with the Magpie series is that it only has 3 books in it (and the aforementioned short stories).
I just finished Charles' collection of Simon Feximal short stories. They weren't bad, but I didn't like them as much as the Magpie books.
I'm also just starting to work my way through Jordan L. Hawk's Whyborne & Griffin series. They're another M/M Victorian-era couple, but this series is set in Massachusetts and has a lot of references to Lovecraft in it (Dr. Percival Endicott Whyborne got his doctorate from Miskatonic University). I've only read the first book so far, but I liked it. And Whyborne & Griffin eventually get a crossover with Simon Feximal, which is why I read those stories.
So much stuff to read, so little time. But I've now completed 120% of my reading goal for the year on Goodreads, and I'm on track to finish another book tomorrow.
The bit at the end of The Magpie Lord, where Crane's tattoos moved between his skin and Stephen's was very cool. I'm looking forward to seeing what else they decide to do.
I love Merrick. I've always had a soft spot for proper British manservants who don't let their employers get away with crap.
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chiming
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Date: 2015-07-01 01:53 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2015-07-01 01:56 am (UTC)From:Have you finished The Magpie Lord yet? What did you think?
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Date: 2015-07-02 03:27 am (UTC)From:Overall, though, the writing is very good. I particularly like KJ Charles' sense of humor. The scene where Crane shows Stephen around the ancestral pile had me giggling all through lunch.
no subject
Date: 2015-07-02 03:53 am (UTC)From:I love what happens with the tattoos later, which I won't spoil you for. I also love the dialogue in general, but specifically the exchanges between Crane & Stephen and between Crane & Merrick, and any time Crane tells someone to get stuffed in true Victorian fashion. And I completely adore Stephen. My biggest complaint with the Magpie series is that it only has 3 books in it (and the aforementioned short stories).
I just finished Charles' collection of Simon Feximal short stories. They weren't bad, but I didn't like them as much as the Magpie books.
I'm also just starting to work my way through Jordan L. Hawk's Whyborne & Griffin series. They're another M/M Victorian-era couple, but this series is set in Massachusetts and has a lot of references to Lovecraft in it (Dr. Percival Endicott Whyborne got his doctorate from Miskatonic University). I've only read the first book so far, but I liked it. And Whyborne & Griffin eventually get a crossover with Simon Feximal, which is why I read those stories.
So much stuff to read, so little time. But I've now completed 120% of my reading goal for the year on Goodreads, and I'm on track to finish another book tomorrow.
no subject
Date: 2015-07-03 12:55 pm (UTC)From:The bit at the end of The Magpie Lord, where Crane's tattoos moved between his skin and Stephen's was very cool. I'm looking forward to seeing what else they decide to do.
I love Merrick. I've always had a soft spot for proper British manservants who don't let their employers get away with crap.