Status Updates From Le charme des magpie

The dirty talk in the sex scenes is ugh ugh barf but I do enjoy their kind of fucked up romance dynamic. Neither of these leads is normal and it works pretty well. The book does suffer for not letting those complicated backstories breathe. There are all these notes that are dropped then plowed on by.

Managing heavy backstory in a short book is hard and the main plot does carry itself well enough but I am still annoyed that major pieces of worldbuilding backstory get swept under the rug. Maybe I’ve been reading too much nonfic. I want the story about the tattoos! Don’t just tell me it was funny and not tell it. AUGh.

I do like a nice genre-historical. I’m curious about the world building and I do not think I’ll get as much of it as I’d like.

It rollicks along and it seems to be a pretty short read. Let’s see how it turns out.

it was already a pretty good story with some interesting characters, but all of a sudden things got SOO GOOD, and the characters got SOO funny and charming and just all around so enjoyable. If I needed any reason to pick up the next book immediately, it was the last 20% that did it.

savile row mentioned in a fantasy novel :o

running away? no! tactical retreatment…

“Vicar, I’ve let it be known that I don’t propose to run my affairs with threats, intimidation or the abuse of power. That, in fact, I’m not like my brother or my father. I hope this has reached your ears.” [...] Crane smiled and leaned closer. “The thing is,” he murmured, “between us...I’m quite like them.”
Im sorry but this man Crane is so attractive wtf.

“My father was no dearer to me than I to him, [...] I couldn’t tell you which of us was happier when I went to the other side of the world, but I assure you, I would not be within five thousand miles of here if he were still alive.”
[...] “Oh, but he was your father.” [...] “Surely there should be filial love—forgiveness—especially in a noble family—”
“No,” said Crane."
SAY IT FOR THE PPL IN THE BACK!!

okkk merrick. icon!

🥹

I like it so far! The characters and tone is lighthearted and the plot is plotting a bit.