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The Third Magpie
A tender-hearted hero struggles against oppression and betrayal as the tension steadily builds in this captivating and thought-provoking story.
“It’s a page turner with heart and brains and although there is beautiful language and at times real romance, the author does not pull her punches when it comes to the shattering climax. This story stayed with me long after I read it.“ – Joanna Barnard (Best selling novelist and inaugural winner of the Bath Novel Award)
"The book is incredible. It’s hard to categorise; a thriller, a mystery… The ending had me in tears." [TOP 1000 REVIEWER] [VINE VOICE]
A loving couple
Cosy cottage
Idyllic garden
Living life on a knife edge
Together, Finn and Sophie defend their ‘Little Eden’ from the corrosive ideas and divisive society beyond their garden wall.
For Catherine, the 17 year old daughter of a local dignitary, English lessons with her tutor Finn, are a chance to rebel against her pre-ordained future.
But neither Finn nor Sophie anticipate the impact the manipulative teenager will have on their lives.
Catherine’s abusive mind games may have devastating consequences.
"Catherine...is as chilling a young woman as I've seen in a book in a long time, she wields her power like an AK47." - Neema Shah (Author of 'Kololo Hill')
Reviewers on Amazon and Goodreads are "An absolutely gripping read, I literally could not put it down. Terrifying, powerful, and stunningly told, this is a story that needs to be read. Highly highly recommend."
"With revelation after revelation, the tension mounts through to a brilliant finale. It’s hard to read it without reflecting on our own times and, ultimately, upon ourselves." [VINE VOICE]
"...conjure a feeling of creeping dread that makes it impossible to put down even though you know the worst is coming. Wonderfully written, the beauty of the prose only seems to make the horror of its message all the more stark."
"...a fascinating, twisty tale which feels uncomfortably close to our own troubled times."
"...an addictively readable page-turner and with a vulnerable, tender-hearted hero the reader can’t help but root for. A highly original and thought-provoking debut."
"A book for our times, it’s a must read...The characters are so real, it’s impossible to not become invested in their fates."
"I always see things coming, and rare are authors that can successfully deliver a final twist I can't foresee! And yet MS Clements superbly I'm still recovering!"
"I really found myself rooting for the protagonists and was moved to tears by the conclusions. An excellent book."
“It’s a page turner with heart and brains and although there is beautiful language and at times real romance, the author does not pull her punches when it comes to the shattering climax. This story stayed with me long after I read it.“ – Joanna Barnard (Best selling novelist and inaugural winner of the Bath Novel Award)
"The book is incredible. It’s hard to categorise; a thriller, a mystery… The ending had me in tears." [TOP 1000 REVIEWER] [VINE VOICE]
A loving couple
Cosy cottage
Idyllic garden
Living life on a knife edge
Together, Finn and Sophie defend their ‘Little Eden’ from the corrosive ideas and divisive society beyond their garden wall.
For Catherine, the 17 year old daughter of a local dignitary, English lessons with her tutor Finn, are a chance to rebel against her pre-ordained future.
But neither Finn nor Sophie anticipate the impact the manipulative teenager will have on their lives.
Catherine’s abusive mind games may have devastating consequences.
"Catherine...is as chilling a young woman as I've seen in a book in a long time, she wields her power like an AK47." - Neema Shah (Author of 'Kololo Hill')
Reviewers on Amazon and Goodreads are "An absolutely gripping read, I literally could not put it down. Terrifying, powerful, and stunningly told, this is a story that needs to be read. Highly highly recommend."
"With revelation after revelation, the tension mounts through to a brilliant finale. It’s hard to read it without reflecting on our own times and, ultimately, upon ourselves." [VINE VOICE]
"...conjure a feeling of creeping dread that makes it impossible to put down even though you know the worst is coming. Wonderfully written, the beauty of the prose only seems to make the horror of its message all the more stark."
"...a fascinating, twisty tale which feels uncomfortably close to our own troubled times."
"...an addictively readable page-turner and with a vulnerable, tender-hearted hero the reader can’t help but root for. A highly original and thought-provoking debut."
"A book for our times, it’s a must read...The characters are so real, it’s impossible to not become invested in their fates."
"I always see things coming, and rare are authors that can successfully deliver a final twist I can't foresee! And yet MS Clements superbly I'm still recovering!"
"I really found myself rooting for the protagonists and was moved to tears by the conclusions. An excellent book."
- GenresDystopia
506 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2020
14 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 7, 2020
Brutal and sublime
Not just an excellent book, but an important one as well. MS Clement’s brilliant debut is a dystopian love story that does what all the best dystopian stories do - conjure a feeling of creeping dread that makes it impossible to put down even though you know the worst is coming. Wonderfully written, the beauty of the prose only seems to make the horror of its message all the more stark. Though set in the imaginary (but unnervingly plausible) totalitarian state of New Albany, the story of an immigrant trying to survive a racist regime so he can stay with the woman he loves is incredibly real and sensitively handled by Clements. It’s perhaps too simplistic to say if you enjoyed The Handmaid’s Tale you’ll love this - basically, if you have a shred of empathy at all within you, you can’t help but be moved by this brutal but sublime tale. Everyone should read it!!
Not just an excellent book, but an important one as well. MS Clement’s brilliant debut is a dystopian love story that does what all the best dystopian stories do - conjure a feeling of creeping dread that makes it impossible to put down even though you know the worst is coming. Wonderfully written, the beauty of the prose only seems to make the horror of its message all the more stark. Though set in the imaginary (but unnervingly plausible) totalitarian state of New Albany, the story of an immigrant trying to survive a racist regime so he can stay with the woman he loves is incredibly real and sensitively handled by Clements. It’s perhaps too simplistic to say if you enjoyed The Handmaid’s Tale you’ll love this - basically, if you have a shred of empathy at all within you, you can’t help but be moved by this brutal but sublime tale. Everyone should read it!!
June 8, 2021
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Third Magpie is set in a terribly plausible dystopia which doesn’t feel far enough at all from society’s current issues.
The story follows Finn and Sophie who are wildly in love and hope that is enough to carry them through all of their challenges, differences and the secrets they each keep. Sophie is from a family of wealth and privilege, and is used to getting what she wants, but when what she wants is Finn – an immigrant who must be monitored, tagged, restricted and sometimes disciplined, for the greater good of the society they live in – she finds it harder to reconcile her love with what others insist is true.
For his part, Finn is trapped. He loves his wife, but desperately wants out of the shrinking cage he finds himself in. He wants to reunite with his family, live and work freely, and be treated as if his life has inherent value, instead of just having his uses. Things get even worse for him when spoilt little rich girl, Cat, chooses to play her dangerous power games with him… threatening his family, his life, his humanity.
The question is whether Finn and Sophie can weather the storm they have unwittingly sailed their marriage into, and whether they can not only save themselves, but expose what their country has become in its quest to become a utopia (but only for the ‘right kind’ of people).
With a very slow build-up for the first half of the novel, M.S. Clements immerses the reader in this society of exclusion, authoritarianism and constantly-tightening rules, and in the lives and backstories of the two main characters. It was a little confusing at times, early in the story, as it wasn’t always clear who the characters were, their relationships to each other, or the nature of the society they live in – all of these things are revealed gradually as the initial stages of the story unroll.
Then, halfway through, there is a change of pace – an increase in danger and in the feel of urgency – as Sophie begins to uncover some dark truths and Finn’s torture at the hands of Miss Fry intensifies. Obviously, the subjects covered here are distressing and very topical, as the us-and-them alienation spirals out of control. It was particularly disturbing to see how very easy it is to ruin a person’s life, or even that of a whole race/country – simply divide and conquer.
As well as all the subterfuge, secrets and lies and betrayal, there is also a strand of hope: how far are we willing to go to protect and save those we love?
Gripping and suspenseful, this is a dark love story which forces the reader to consider the way ‘outsiders’ are treated and what ‘family’ really means.
'‘Why do they keep doing this to me? To us?’ said Finn.
All affection dissolved away with his question. Wary of the inevitable argument, she removed his arm from her shoulder. Criticism was counterproductive. The permanence of decisions made by New Albany’s elite must remain unchallenged by dissent. It is the will of the people.
‘It’s not personal, darling. It’s not against you and me.’
‘Not against you. No, you’re right.’'
– M.S. Clements, The Third Magpie
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The Third Magpie is set in a terribly plausible dystopia which doesn’t feel far enough at all from society’s current issues.
The story follows Finn and Sophie who are wildly in love and hope that is enough to carry them through all of their challenges, differences and the secrets they each keep. Sophie is from a family of wealth and privilege, and is used to getting what she wants, but when what she wants is Finn – an immigrant who must be monitored, tagged, restricted and sometimes disciplined, for the greater good of the society they live in – she finds it harder to reconcile her love with what others insist is true.
For his part, Finn is trapped. He loves his wife, but desperately wants out of the shrinking cage he finds himself in. He wants to reunite with his family, live and work freely, and be treated as if his life has inherent value, instead of just having his uses. Things get even worse for him when spoilt little rich girl, Cat, chooses to play her dangerous power games with him… threatening his family, his life, his humanity.
The question is whether Finn and Sophie can weather the storm they have unwittingly sailed their marriage into, and whether they can not only save themselves, but expose what their country has become in its quest to become a utopia (but only for the ‘right kind’ of people).
With a very slow build-up for the first half of the novel, M.S. Clements immerses the reader in this society of exclusion, authoritarianism and constantly-tightening rules, and in the lives and backstories of the two main characters. It was a little confusing at times, early in the story, as it wasn’t always clear who the characters were, their relationships to each other, or the nature of the society they live in – all of these things are revealed gradually as the initial stages of the story unroll.
Then, halfway through, there is a change of pace – an increase in danger and in the feel of urgency – as Sophie begins to uncover some dark truths and Finn’s torture at the hands of Miss Fry intensifies. Obviously, the subjects covered here are distressing and very topical, as the us-and-them alienation spirals out of control. It was particularly disturbing to see how very easy it is to ruin a person’s life, or even that of a whole race/country – simply divide and conquer.
As well as all the subterfuge, secrets and lies and betrayal, there is also a strand of hope: how far are we willing to go to protect and save those we love?
Gripping and suspenseful, this is a dark love story which forces the reader to consider the way ‘outsiders’ are treated and what ‘family’ really means.
'‘Why do they keep doing this to me? To us?’ said Finn.
All affection dissolved away with his question. Wary of the inevitable argument, she removed his arm from her shoulder. Criticism was counterproductive. The permanence of decisions made by New Albany’s elite must remain unchallenged by dissent. It is the will of the people.
‘It’s not personal, darling. It’s not against you and me.’
‘Not against you. No, you’re right.’'
– M.S. Clements, The Third Magpie
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
March 15, 2020
The Third Magpie is a riveting dystopian novel set in a stifling and intimidating environment which parallels many aspects of current political and religious agendas in our own world. M S Clements is brilliant at creating an atmosphere of increasing menace with characters we care about, as well as ramping up the tension and fear. It’s hard not to turn to the end of the novel to see what happens, but it would be a mistake to rush ahead instead of savouring every page of this unique book.
July 22, 2020
The Third Magpie is a dystopian romance that’s terrifying in its plausibility.
Finn is a teacher and a loving husband, but in the eyes of the government he is a foreigner (He’s Irish) and as such his freedom is severely restricted. His wife,Sophie’s father is high up in the government so that helps, but human rights are almost non-existent for the ‘tagged’ and free speech is a thing of the past.
This is a tale of power, of oppression and love.
The horrifying part of this tale is that it feels like we are only a small step away from this possible future.
It is a character driven story of romance, but it’s a dystopian chiller at heart. I found it moving and terrifying at the same time. A thoroughly engrossing read.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and an eARC of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Finn is a teacher and a loving husband, but in the eyes of the government he is a foreigner (He’s Irish) and as such his freedom is severely restricted. His wife,Sophie’s father is high up in the government so that helps, but human rights are almost non-existent for the ‘tagged’ and free speech is a thing of the past.
This is a tale of power, of oppression and love.
The horrifying part of this tale is that it feels like we are only a small step away from this possible future.
It is a character driven story of romance, but it’s a dystopian chiller at heart. I found it moving and terrifying at the same time. A thoroughly engrossing read.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and an eARC of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
September 24, 2020
The prose is beautiful and eases you into a dystopian world that is as captivating as terrifying. I went through the chapters unable to stop reading, needing to know everything would be fine but knowing it wouldn't. I was terrified of the heartbreak I knew the author was preparing me for. And that final chapter... I always see things coming, and rare are authors that can successfully deliver a final twist I can't foresee! And yet MS Clements superbly succeeded: I'm still recovering!
I was obsessed with this novel for days while reading it, leaving me unable to do anything but think of Finn and Sophie, wonder of possible outcomes, digest the food for thought that this too plausible world meant, make my own situation as an immigrant/alien feel uncomfortable, fill my head of "what if?"...
A novel for fans of Atwood and Dalcher, and yet, while I've loved reading the Handmaid's Tale, Vox and Masterclass, The Third Magpie dethroned the books of both those authors in my heart.
I was obsessed with this novel for days while reading it, leaving me unable to do anything but think of Finn and Sophie, wonder of possible outcomes, digest the food for thought that this too plausible world meant, make my own situation as an immigrant/alien feel uncomfortable, fill my head of "what if?"...
A novel for fans of Atwood and Dalcher, and yet, while I've loved reading the Handmaid's Tale, Vox and Masterclass, The Third Magpie dethroned the books of both those authors in my heart.
July 16, 2020
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You know that feeling you get? When you are deeply invested in the characters, but you know something really bad is going to happen to them? And you are scared to continue because you love them so much and you don’t want to see them hurt? “The Third Magpie” is a brilliant, compelling, amazing dystopian romance about Finn and Sophie, and one of the best books I have read this year!
Is it really the author’s debut novel? It’s so hard to believe because reading this book was like reading a classic! Beautiful style of writing and a compelling plot made me glued to the story. Even the way the story is designed, with flashbacks of Finn’s childhood, peaked my interest from page one. Moreover, there are many shocking twists, where everyone holds secrets. You never really know who to trust. Also, the author paced the story so well with the buildup, and the climax is just unforgettable.
If I had to sum my love for this book in one word, it would be Finn! An unforgettable character, Finn is someone who immediately won me over. He is the underdog with the heart of gold. It was heart-wrenching to read the experiences he faces. He has the innocence of a child, and emotionally vulnerable, and you just want to get in the pages and take care of him. I loved his undying love for Sophie and the lengths he goes through just to be with her. There are so many devious characters that Finn encounters, but he still fights for what is right. Finn is easily one a character I will never forget ever!
Overall, this book left me speechless! I love it SO much. Thanks for reading and excuse me while I continue to bawl over the ending.
March 25, 2020
Chilling and gripping in equal measure. At its heart, it is a love story - about a fragile but courageous man and the sacrifices he is willing to make to be with the woman he loves. But the world it depicts with its terrifying brutality and oppression of those not born as 'true patriots' is all the more unnerving by how close to the truth it cuts. It's a masterfully created dystopia but could easily become a reality. In a world currently crippled by a pandemic and the ensuing fear and restrictions to civil liberties, it felt at times disturbingly prophetic. But I could not look away as the skill of the story-telling and its relentless chase towards its heartbreaking conclusion were too powerful. I'm sure I will be thinking of Finn and Sophie for many years to come.
May 21, 2020
The Third Magpie is a dystopian romance set in an insular post-Brexit England, now called New Albany, that is approaching Atwood's Gilead in some of its strictures. Sons are revered, young women are once again chattels, to be married off in the most advantageous deals, and those foreigners remaining in New Albany are treated as second class citizens, tagged and subject to even stricter rules. Finn, an Irishman, married Sophie before the new rules came in and opted to stay to be with the love of his life, but accepting the Draconian rules he has to live under is hard, even though Sophie is the daughter of a high up government minister. Sophie and Finn muddle along, she a nurse, he an English teacher, but when the new governor of their region employs Finn to give his manipulative teenaged daughter extra lessons, events are set off that will make surviving in this environment a nightmare for the couple, and will place their lives in jeopardy.
Despite being 525 pages long, I did find this an engaging read, wanting to find out what would happen to Finn and Sophie, but particularly Finn. Clements mixes an awful lot into the plot - parallels between New Albany and the marriage market in Jane Austen's world feature strongly in Finn's extracurricular lessons with the awful Cat; then of course there is the ghettoisation of foreigners and the SS-like treatment meted out to them, not to forget Sophie's privileged status and inserts from Finn's pre-New Albany life.
As is often the case with first novels, there are many different themes competing for attention as the author feels compelled to use all their ideas, and consequently, it sometimes lost pace. I felt there was a 350-400 page novel trying to get out from under the complexity; for me some streamlining would have generated more suspense - but I read far more thrillers than romances.
Despite being 525 pages long, I did find this an engaging read, wanting to find out what would happen to Finn and Sophie, but particularly Finn. Clements mixes an awful lot into the plot - parallels between New Albany and the marriage market in Jane Austen's world feature strongly in Finn's extracurricular lessons with the awful Cat; then of course there is the ghettoisation of foreigners and the SS-like treatment meted out to them, not to forget Sophie's privileged status and inserts from Finn's pre-New Albany life.
As is often the case with first novels, there are many different themes competing for attention as the author feels compelled to use all their ideas, and consequently, it sometimes lost pace. I felt there was a 350-400 page novel trying to get out from under the complexity; for me some streamlining would have generated more suspense - but I read far more thrillers than romances.
January 19, 2021
“They didn’t need to coerce the people to accept them. They understood the lies the people wanted to hear, and the public rewarded those liars with influence.”
This is a novel about the persistency of love in the face of terror and oppression.
Reading ‘The Third Magpie’, there’s a point where your imagination falls victim to the shock of the book’s all-too-believable reality - M S Clements opens the trapdoor and through you go.
She’s fooled you with the beautiful, lyrical quality to her writing that plants you firmly into a world so close to our own. There are early chapters portraying idyllic scenes of childhood, family, marriage, and friendship. This is a very charming English landscape. It’s familiar. And yet, there are disturbing hints of a darkness, signs that all is not as it seems.
The book is a real page turner, drawing you in and leaving you wanting to know more. Where the novel succeeds is in its interweaving of the normality of life with the harsh realities of a suppressive regime. The main characters of Finn and Sophie are well drawn and extremely likeable, their differing backgrounds and their decision to marry exposing them to the full scrutiny of the state. Their battle against both deliberate and subconscious discrimination forms the heart of their story and the decisions they have to make – and the more you learn, the more the state’s mask slips to reveal the black, rotten heart beneath.
With revelation after revelation, the tension mounts through to a brilliant finale. It’s hard to read it without reflecting on our own times and, ultimately, upon ourselves. We walk the line.
This is a novel about the persistency of love in the face of terror and oppression.
Reading ‘The Third Magpie’, there’s a point where your imagination falls victim to the shock of the book’s all-too-believable reality - M S Clements opens the trapdoor and through you go.
She’s fooled you with the beautiful, lyrical quality to her writing that plants you firmly into a world so close to our own. There are early chapters portraying idyllic scenes of childhood, family, marriage, and friendship. This is a very charming English landscape. It’s familiar. And yet, there are disturbing hints of a darkness, signs that all is not as it seems.
The book is a real page turner, drawing you in and leaving you wanting to know more. Where the novel succeeds is in its interweaving of the normality of life with the harsh realities of a suppressive regime. The main characters of Finn and Sophie are well drawn and extremely likeable, their differing backgrounds and their decision to marry exposing them to the full scrutiny of the state. Their battle against both deliberate and subconscious discrimination forms the heart of their story and the decisions they have to make – and the more you learn, the more the state’s mask slips to reveal the black, rotten heart beneath.
With revelation after revelation, the tension mounts through to a brilliant finale. It’s hard to read it without reflecting on our own times and, ultimately, upon ourselves. We walk the line.
August 4, 2021
In the totalitarian state of New Albany, patriotism rules with brutal force by the ruling political elite. Foreigners are treated worse than second class citizens, tagged as outsiders with no legal defence against humiliating and sometimes deadly sanctions. Know your place, tow the party line, or face the hangman’s noose. Like all great dystopia, it’s a chilling reflection of societies and attitudes we’ve come to know.
The story follows Sophie and Finn, a couple who married before the draconian rules came into force. Sophie is a nurse and daughter of a government minister. Finn is an outcast foreigner, a teacher with suffering mental health. The first half of the book is a slow burn, immersing us into the lives of the main characters and their relationship. The love and affection they hold for one another is heart-warming, and all the more chilling as the story changes pace and we see their world unfold.
Filled with startling and devastating revelations, the novel takes a raw look at prejudice, othering, and the depths humanity can sink to in order to preserve power structures. I'm still reeling from the ending. A gripping page turner.
The story follows Sophie and Finn, a couple who married before the draconian rules came into force. Sophie is a nurse and daughter of a government minister. Finn is an outcast foreigner, a teacher with suffering mental health. The first half of the book is a slow burn, immersing us into the lives of the main characters and their relationship. The love and affection they hold for one another is heart-warming, and all the more chilling as the story changes pace and we see their world unfold.
Filled with startling and devastating revelations, the novel takes a raw look at prejudice, othering, and the depths humanity can sink to in order to preserve power structures. I'm still reeling from the ending. A gripping page turner.
June 28, 2020
I absolutely loved reading about the different relationships in this novel. The romance between Finn and his wife Sophie is complicated by the rules and regulations of the dystopian world, as they attempt to protect one another from a fateful end. With Sophie being in a very privileged position, and Finn attempting to just make it through the day without taking a step out of turn, their contrasting experiences make for a pair that compliment one another so well.
Finn's journey had certainly not been smooth sailing, and throughout we are left wondering what his past contained which led him to being so vulnerable now. When he is hired to teach Catherine, the tables are turned and the dynamic between an oppressed adult man, and a entitled young girl makes for a capturing read. Mirroring the position of power taken by Sophie's father, Catherine plays an interesting role in this story which I thoroughly enjoyed following.
Whilst this is the perfect blend of a romance and dystopian fiction, I was left wanting to know more about the dystopian concept, and in some parts I had hoped that the political and restrictive background had been focused on just a little more. However, the subtle reminders added an extremely interesting layer to the narrative throughout.
Sitting at over 500 pages long, I was apprehensive at the potential for my attention to be lost in places. However, with themes of human rights, control, power, and oppression, this was a very engaging read. I was extremely impressed with how well this was written and the authors ability to keep the reader engaged.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and will definitely be recommending it to my dystopian loving friends. I gave it a four star review on Goodreads, and will have M S Clements on my list of authors to watch.
Finn's journey had certainly not been smooth sailing, and throughout we are left wondering what his past contained which led him to being so vulnerable now. When he is hired to teach Catherine, the tables are turned and the dynamic between an oppressed adult man, and a entitled young girl makes for a capturing read. Mirroring the position of power taken by Sophie's father, Catherine plays an interesting role in this story which I thoroughly enjoyed following.
Whilst this is the perfect blend of a romance and dystopian fiction, I was left wanting to know more about the dystopian concept, and in some parts I had hoped that the political and restrictive background had been focused on just a little more. However, the subtle reminders added an extremely interesting layer to the narrative throughout.
Sitting at over 500 pages long, I was apprehensive at the potential for my attention to be lost in places. However, with themes of human rights, control, power, and oppression, this was a very engaging read. I was extremely impressed with how well this was written and the authors ability to keep the reader engaged.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and will definitely be recommending it to my dystopian loving friends. I gave it a four star review on Goodreads, and will have M S Clements on my list of authors to watch.
July 21, 2020
This has been a different read did me I rarely read many dystopian tales and I'm now questioning why!
A truely interesting read and a page turner with tension building throughout. The story drew me in and held me captivated in what is an all too believable scenario.
The actual storyline is disturbing with Finn and Sophie at the heart of it. They are married, but under the new stricter rules of New Albany, one is a considered a member of the social elite and the other a outcast foreigner. Their love for each other means that they choose to stay married and obey the strict rules enforced upon them daily. However they dream of being able to live a normal life.
There are many twists and turns throughout, right to the final page. It's dark, intense, beautifully written and utterly compelling. On finishing I felt like I had personally been held captive and then released.
Highly recommend.
A truely interesting read and a page turner with tension building throughout. The story drew me in and held me captivated in what is an all too believable scenario.
The actual storyline is disturbing with Finn and Sophie at the heart of it. They are married, but under the new stricter rules of New Albany, one is a considered a member of the social elite and the other a outcast foreigner. Their love for each other means that they choose to stay married and obey the strict rules enforced upon them daily. However they dream of being able to live a normal life.
There are many twists and turns throughout, right to the final page. It's dark, intense, beautifully written and utterly compelling. On finishing I felt like I had personally been held captive and then released.
Highly recommend.
September 24, 2020
What a powerful and heartbreaking story!! Masterfully weaved out of memories, dramatic story turns, gentlest tenderness and brutality. The complex characters are relatable while being sketched out by a few words- the author really knows how to use the language for the greatest effect! The story is that of love all enduring and like all great books, it has many layers and facets. It makes one question oneself and one’s reactions to the happenings in the story. Set in a dystopian world it is scarily familiar today! A hugely enjoyable read!
February 7, 2020
Thought-provoking debut
MS Clements’ The Third Magpie offers a devastating dystopian vision of the chilling consequences of ‘othering’ in a fascinating, twisty tale which feels uncomfortably close to our own troubled times. The terrifying regime of New Albany is laid bare in an addictively readable page-turner and with a vulnerable, tender-hearted hero the reader can’t help but root for. A highly original and thought-provoking debut.
MS Clements’ The Third Magpie offers a devastating dystopian vision of the chilling consequences of ‘othering’ in a fascinating, twisty tale which feels uncomfortably close to our own troubled times. The terrifying regime of New Albany is laid bare in an addictively readable page-turner and with a vulnerable, tender-hearted hero the reader can’t help but root for. A highly original and thought-provoking debut.
June 11, 2021
This was an awesome read. A world filled with prejudice places some people in an unbearable position. All because of where they are born. As I read it gave me understanding and worry of how real this type of world could come to be. I was riveted and couldn't wait to pick it back up when I would have to put it down for any reason.
September 12, 2021
This is dystopian fiction at its best. Believable and heart-breaking. New Albany feels like a world that could so easily exist, built on fear, cronyism, hypocrisy and mis-guided philosophy. A story of love, sacrifice and the struggle for power, take this as an allegorical warning.
I highly, highly recommend this and love that it’s lengthy and immersive. A gripping and thought-provoking read.
I highly, highly recommend this and love that it’s lengthy and immersive. A gripping and thought-provoking read.
November 15, 2020
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you
A story of the manipulation and evil, love and betrayal.
A twisted tale, well presented to draw you in and wanting the innocent and downtrodden to prevail in a world controlled by the chosen few.
A reflection of the twisted world we inhabit today
A story of the manipulation and evil, love and betrayal.
A twisted tale, well presented to draw you in and wanting the innocent and downtrodden to prevail in a world controlled by the chosen few.
A reflection of the twisted world we inhabit today
March 23, 2021
Absolutely loved this, impressive world-building using elements of The Handmaid's Tale, with a little Hunger Games and 1984 mixed in and still completely original. Nobody is what they seem, everybody is doing what they can to survive and the ending will completely break you.
July 16, 2020
Highly recommended.
Thoroughly enjoyable read. Believable, likeable, characters and gripping story. Excellent writing.
Thoroughly enjoyable read. Believable, likeable, characters and gripping story. Excellent writing.
March 16, 2021
If you like dystopia with a message, this one's for you.
July 23, 2021
The Third Magpie by MS Clements is a superb dystopian thriller with at its core a heartbreaking story of inequality, segregation and love in near impossible circumstances. I was utterly gripped - what a tense, skilfully-written and politically sophisticated page turner. Am still thinking of the protagonists Sophie and Finn, and the superbly-rendered, villainous Cat. It's hard to believe this is MS Clements' debut. With glimmers of Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale and Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses, but with a style and story all the author's own, this is a truly impressive, terrifying novel with, as other reviewers have pointed out, a palpable sense of creeping dread and a truly shocking ending - highly recommend.
June 16, 2023
The Third Magpie combines a compelling love story with a sinister, dystopian setting. Because of his birth elsewhere, main character, Finn, is condemned to a life of only partial freedom and robbed of the privileges given to others. When he is given the job of tutoring the commandant’s daughter, her machinations threaten both his marriage and his life. The Third Magpie presents us with a chilling back drop that too often mirrors the political values we see reflected in our own. Gripping and tender in equal parts. Had me racing to the end.
March 4, 2021
This is a wonderful book. It does get close to the bone in the way it dissects what can happen when democracy falls apart but it never gets preachy. The story and the characters are always at the forefront. The prose is beautiful with elegant turns of phrase. The characters are well drawn, in particular Cat who is as chilling a young woman as I've seen in a book in a long time, she wields her power like an AK47 but her story is told with the gentlest touch.
September 21, 2025
This book is beautifully written and thought-provoking. It is part political thriller, part poignant romance. The dystopian scenario is very credible, and the detail of the behaviour it creates in its winners and losers is very creative and disturbing. The protagonists struggle to survive psychologically tortuous circumstances, and you will be rooting for them to escape from page one, even though they don't seem to realise how much they need to escape, and how soon.
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