Review: Historical Paranormal Romance. Excellent plotting.  Adult.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 19, 2013
This novel takes place in an alternate reality about concurrent with Sherlock Holmes. (Victorian England).  Except here there is magic, and lots of it.  Curses and evil warlocks, ghosts, witches and talismans.  The plotting is fast paced from the first page on.  Backstory on the two major characters and the sidekick of the Magpie Lord is smoothly inserted, and actually germane.This is also a homosexual romance, but it stands up to the best of mainstream historical romances in quality (ie Karen Harbaugh The Vampire Viscount, Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, Sutcliffe, Foley), which is sadly rare in this genre.The brief sexual scenes are tastefully handled, but the emphasis is on character and the paranormal elements.  Too often in historical romance, the aristocratic lead shows only wealth, arrogance, elegance and a bad temper, while the other lead, usually female gets by on good looks, charm and spunk.  These characters offer more.  A moral code tempered with pragmatism, not just idealism, for one thing.  I don't have to ask "What does he see in him?"  Merrick, the sidekick, (a sort of cross between Sam Gamgee and Jeeves) is well drawn too.  The magic is vividly portrayed.  There are also touches of humour.  I also enjoyed the tattoos and the irony of Lord Crane being the Magpie Lord.  I have already reread this book twice and will preorder the sequel.  I wish it had been longer.  Hwy