A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies #2) by K.J. Charles — Starting July 17th, 2021

[Eesh]

Magic in the blood. Danger in the streets.

Lord Crane has never had a lover quite as elusive as Stephen Day. He knows Stephen’s job as justiciar requires secrecy, but the magician is doing his disappearing act more than seems reasonable—especially since Crane will soon return to his home in China. When a blackmailer threatens to expose their illicit relationship, there's only one thing stopping Crane from leaving the country he loathes: Stephen.

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 on 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. Crane isn’t sure if he can ask him to.

The rats are closing in, and something has to give…

Book 2 of the Charm of Magpies series.

[Cherryblue]

up to chapter 3
(view spoiler)[
i'm enjoying this so far. i really like crane's character, he handled that man blackmailing to expose his relationship with Stephen well by threatening him and not showing his fear.
i think Leo should just come clean to her fiance about her second marriage and fuck him if he didn't want her because she got divorced
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[Eesh]

Cherryblue wrote: "up to chapter 3

i'm enjoying this so far. i "'

(view spoiler)[I thought Crane handled it well. Also, I completely agree about Leo. I mean, how great can the guy really be if he can't get over a divorce and is that fucking stuck in his own beliefs? She also has the guy on a pedestal and I don't think that's good for the relationship. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherryblue]

up to chapter 7
(view spoiler)[
there's a lot of things happening that need solving at the same time. and those giant rats sound disgusting, of all the things whoever made them get to choose they picked rats!

and i don't remember them mentioning that crane is a source of power in the first book. is that what him being the magpie lords mean?!
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Cherryblue]

Quirks wrote: "Cherryblue wrote: "up to chapter 3

i'm enjoying this so far. i "'

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
yeah she talked a lot about how honest and good he is. i think she sees her self as a bad person so she is shocked that a guy like him wants to marry her which is bullshit
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Cherryblue]

up to chapter 11
(view spoiler)[
oh their secret is out! i'm so glad his friends didn't make his coming out harder for him. hopefully now that esther know were his powers are coming from and his relationship with crane they will get back together because that conversation were stephen asked crane to take a break was heartbreaking.

(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Cherryblue]

finished
(view spoiler)[
crane always manage to get kidnapped lol
they finally said i love you to each other yay! and Merrick was right when he told crane that Stephen might feel less than crane because he's not as rich or pretty and crane might not treat him as an equal without even knowing (i liked that Merrick called him out on that) and it showed when stephen said he doesn't believe that someone like crane want someone like him.
i really enjoyed this one, we definitely saw more of their relationship than the first book which i liked
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Cherryblue wrote: "up to chapter 11

oh their ..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah, the break scene was so sad. They care about each other so much but the position they're in sucks. And the fact that they're both guarded in their own ways, and for different reasons, makes it even more heartbreaking. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I really enjoyed this book. More than I'd expected to. The romance is still an ongoing things for me, but I absolutely loved the mystery plot. It was so interesting, even if it did include giant rats (gross!). (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Cherryblue wrote: "finished

crane always manage to..."

(view spoiler)[Lol, yeah. Crane needs to be more careful. And I agree about what Marrick said as well. But also, I think the whole thing stems from them being uncertain about their importance in the other's life. But now that they've admitted their feelings, that should get better. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

I'm planning on reading the third book at the beginning of next month. Let me know if you'd like to join.

[Cherryblue]

yes! i want to read the third book. any date is good with me :)

[Eesh]

How about the 1st?

[Cherryblue]

sure!

[Eesh]

Great! Here's the thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Cherryblue]

thank you! :)