Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Rag and Bone
SERIES: Rag and Bone #1 , The World of a Charm of Magpies
AUTHOR: KJ Charles
NARRATOR: Cornell Collins
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 5 hours, 37 minutes
RELEASE DATE: January 26, 2018
BLURB:
It’s amazing what people throw away…
Crispin Tredarloe never meant to become a warlock. Freed from his treacherous master, he’s learning how to use his magical powers the right way. But it’s brutally hard work. Not everyone believes he’s a reformed character, and the strain is putting unbearable pressure on his secret relationship with waste-man Ned Hall.
Ned’s sick of magic. Sick of the trouble it brings, sick of its dangerous grip on Crispin and the miserable look it puts in his eyes, and sick of being afraid that a gentleman magician won’t want a street paper-seller forever—or even for much longer.
But something is stirring among London’s forgotten discards. An ancient evil is waking up and seeking its freedom. And when wild magic hits the rag-and-bottle shop where Ned lives, a panicking Crispin falls back onto bad habits. The embattled lovers must find a way to work together—or London could go up in flames.
REVIEW:
I’m feeling a bit sad right now. I’ve had such a wonderful time listening to the books set in this universe and this book marks the end. I’m not sure I’m ready to say goodbye, so I am fervently hoping there will be more books with Ned and Crispin in the future.
They were such fascinating people. When you pick up a book set in Victorian England you expect to read or listen to characters of the ton, with titles, privileged in one way or another. Because let’s face it, most of the books set during this time period follow just those people – or maybe that’s only been my experience. Anyway, that’s not the case here. Ned is just shy of dirt poor and Crispin is living with the threat of being neutralised by the justiciary for being a reformed warlock.
Both of them won my heart early on and I loved watching them together, which is another thing that I really did like, they were already a couple when we meet them, for the most part they are solid – part from Crispin’s lure of blood magic. Their story wasn’t about meeting and falling in love, it was about staying in love and fighting for each other, helping each other, growing. It was beautiful to be a part of it.
I’ve said it before, but it bears mentioning again. This world is incredible – and addictive. And KJ Charles has this incredible way with words that makes you see it all in front of you, and not only that but really experiencing it as well. It’s detailed and complex, and so are her characters. Another thing that I really loved was the many variations of magic and that they are tied together.
I’m starting to think that Cornell Collins is magic. His narration certainly is. I love how he makes the listener experience everything through Crispin and Ned. Both the good and the bad – and I loved every second.
This has been such a wonderful adventure and I’ve made many more friends. I can only hope I’ll see more of them in the future. If you for some reason haven’t read or listened to these books, go back to the beginning and get ready for something amazing.
RATING: 
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