A Case of Possession

K.J. Charles

2014 • 159 pages

Ratings23

Average rating4

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…

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Series

3 primary books8 released books

#2 in A Charm of Magpies

A Charm of Magpies is a 8-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2013 with contributions by K.J. Charles.

#0.5

The Smuggler and the Warlord

#1.5

#2.5

Series

4 primary books13 released books

#2 in The World of A Charm of Magpies

The World of A Charm of Magpies is a 13-book series with 4 primary works first released in 2013 with contributions by K.J. Charles and K J. Charles.

#3.5

Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

Brittanie

Not quite as satisfying as the first book but still a great story about magic and mayhem.
There was a little bit of drama between Crane and Stephen that was a bit annoying but I suppose it was the author's attempt at making the characters more realistic and relatable so I can understand its purpose. I also found the mystery here to not be as interesting (perhaps because it was less magical until the very end), and was a little uncomfortable with the Chinese imagery being shoehorned into this very Victorian English POV.
While it was nice to see more of Stephen's work and colleagues, I would like to see more of what it is exactly Crane does. It seems that everyone white he worked with in China also finds themselves now back in London and it's a bit odd and convenient to the plot here.
Overall a solid read but is really only for those who find themselves invested in these characters after the first book, because that can be read as a standalone.

May 27, 2020

Jolin

Like the first book in the series I flew through this book. The K.J. Charles did an excellent job of balancing the characters in this book and allowing them room to more fully develop. The crime they were trying to solve in this book came to a much more satisfactory conclusion than the first one, in my opinion. Look forward to reading more by K.J. Charles.

April 5, 2016