Mini Reviews: M/M Paranormal/Urban Fantasy – A Case of Possession, Flight of Magpie, The Long Way Home

 
 

In A Case of Possession, Lucien and Stephen try to figure out where their relationship is going while they work with Stephen’s group of magic practitioners to solve some murders. In Flight of Magpies, Lucien and Stephen struggle to find balance in their relationship as Stephen’s work and more magical dangers keep piling up. In The Long Way Home, a psychic works with a skeptical cop to solve a case of missing teenage boys. Enjoy my mini reviews for these three m/m paranormal/urban fantasy books!


A Case of Possession by KJ Charles

Book Cover - A Case of Possession by KJ Charles
Title: A Case of Possession
Author: KJ Charles
Publisher: KJC Books
Book Number: Book 2
Pages: 194
Rating: 4 stars
 
Review:

This was another great book in this series! I liked that the romance didn't fall into place too quickly and perfectly after the previous book, that the two men obviously still wanted each other but were still unsure what the other wanted and what sort of commitment they themselves were willing to give. They're a cute pair though, and that 15" height difference is so insignificant to the story, but I kinda dig that too since I've never read about such a vertically mismatched couple :-P Other than that, I liked all the same things. Great plot, great characters who are imperfect but mostly good, a bit of humor, interesting magic---especially those tattoos and all the magpies! And the narration by Cornell Collins was great again, natural and perfect for the characters. Overall, I enjoyed the second book in this historical urban fantasy series!

This audiobook also includes the short story "A Case of Possession" (I think the ebook does too, or you can get it for free on Smashwords), which takes place after Book 2. It's not necessary for the story, but it gives a touch more insight into the characters and has a little plot involving more magical danger. It was too short and connected to the story for me to rate it separately, but I enjoyed it.

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*

 
 

Flight of Magpies by KJ Charles

Book Cover - Flight of Magpies by KJ Charles
Title: Flight of Magpies
Author: KJ Charles
Publisher: KJC Books
Book Number: Book 3
Pages: 212
Rating: 4 stars
 
Review:

This was a great conclusion to Lucien and Stephen's story! I loved all the same things---characters, plot, mystery, magic, relationship---but this one got a little more dark and intense than the others, and I felt for these imperfect but lovable characters. Stephen was overworked and worried about trying to fix everything. Lucien was upset that Stephen had no time for their relationship and was going to get himself killed. There were gruesome murders and unusual magic and unexpected romances and relationship struggles and bits of humor and steamy Dom/sub sex scenes and moving tattoos and sweet, loving moments. Lucien and Stephen were both well-written and developed with flaws and nuance that I came to appreciate more as the series went on. The audiobook narration by Cornell Collins was great again too, natural and perfect for the characters. Overall, this series was a combination of intense, sweet, and fun, and I really liked it!

This audiobook also includes the short story "Feast of Stephen" (I think the ebook does too, or you can get it for free on Smashwords), which takes place after Book 3. It's not necessary for the story, but it gives a more final and touching ending. It was too short and connected to the story for me to rate it separately, but it was sexy and sweet.

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*

 
 

The Long Way Home by Z.A. Maxfield

Book Cover - The Long Way Home by Z.A. Maxfield
Title: The Long Way Home
Author: Z.A. Maxfield
Publisher: Maxfield Publishing
Pages: 314
Rating: 3.5 stars
 
Review:

I liked Kevin and Connor and their relationship---a lonely soul hiding away and struggling with psychic powers and a broken soul still trapped in the past and needing closure for the lover he lost as a teen. Even though this wasn't super memorable, the characters were mostly likeable and were cute together. Their feelings came on kinda fast and sudden, but in a way that worked well enough. The author seemed to do a good job acknowledging the difficulty, for both partners, of dating someone who's former lover died. The mystery was decent, though it wasn't believable to me that the characters wouldn't notice or consider the obvious. There was a lot of heaviness in this book---past loss of a lover, kidnapping/murder/rape/sexual abuse of minors, psychic powers with harsh emotional and physical side effects---but it wasn't without light. There was a happy ending, for our main characters. The audiobook narration by J.F. Harding was good; it sounded natural, and I could usually tell characters apart. Overall, this wasn't a light read, but it wasn't too dark either, and it did have a nice romance. I enjoyed this.

Trigger/Content Warnings: *SPOILER* Dog death (a sick dog gets put down right at the beginning of the book). Mentions of rape and sexual abuse of a minor by an older family member. Many instances of vomiting. One instance of domestic violence (Connor punches Kevin) that is acknowledged as being not ok. *END SPOILER*

*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*

 
 
 
 

Talk to me!

Have you read any of these m/m paranormal/urban fantasy books?
Have you ever read a romance about characters with a big height difference?
Do you ever find yourself appreciating the depth of characters more as a series goes on?
Are you ever frustrated by characters not noticing something obvious in a mystery?

 
 
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