First of all, I find the cover of this book appropriate, eye catching and clever.
I love reading books set in history and I love a good victorian fantasy/thriller. I enjoyed the writing style and thought it was more or less appropriate given the time setting. The author was also very descriptive throughout which really helped with keeping the visuals clear.
I liked Rook's character. She is tough and practiced thief in a gang of lady's, who are fighting to bring about justice to their society. Blood is a powerful and valuable source, "enhancing speed and strength and agility", and people are being killed for it.

"Billy Drainer stalks the night,
Ready to give you all a fright.
Seven swift knocks to your head,
Drains your blood and then you're DEAD!"

The elite want the minority gone, furthermore Billy Drainer is picking them off, so in order to take control and survive, they must unite with others.
This book is exciting, fast paced and keeps you wanting more.
My only criticism is, I found some of the formatting strange in parts and the newspaper text hard to read, but overall, I think it's an interesting story and I will be certainly tuning in for book two.

Set in a fantasy version of a Victorian city, Rook is a member of the oppressed minority of society. She is also a member of a all female gang that works undercover to bring justice and order to the women in their society. The ruling elite wish to wipe them out and in addition there is a Jack the Ripper type character killing them off. Rook and her fellow gang members must join forces with another gang to try to help their people overcome both the serial killer and the governing class.
This is a thrilling and intelligently written story. The characters are exciting, resourceful and adventurous. The plot is fast paced and diverse. Themes of the book are among others oppression, genocide, power and injustice.
A dark Victorian thriller but with a very modern take. I can't wait to read the concluding part.

An exciting and well written story that kept me hooked and I thoroughly enjoyed.
Excellent world building and character development, a plot that flows.
I can't wait to read the second part of this duology, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

***I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

“How can anyone hate us just for who we are?”

A Conventicle of Magpies is set in Victorian era, a world where the Avanish have enslaved the Saosuíasei. It follows the story of Rook, a Saosuíasei and a thief with proficiency to use Bloodskill. Rook has grown up in a world that hates and discriminates against her race, the Saosuíasei. She's a member of the Conventicle of Magpies, one of one of the city’s most notorious gang. But when they learned that the the Avanish wishes to exterminate them all, it was time to fight for freedom and equality in an unequal world. To top that, there's a serial killer haunting the streets preying on Saosuíasei, draining their blood to satisfy the elite's demand.

****
A+++ for the amazing cover! It's beautiful, detailed, and appropriate for the book.
The Conventicle of Magpies is action packed and fast paced. So much is happening! The sequence of events was well laid out and the scenes were rich with details. I enjoyed the entire book, especially the rising rebellion. The characters are likeable especially Rook! She's unapologetic, resourceful, and tough. I love how the magic system is based on blood and the mystery element. LMR Clarke's writing style is easy to follow and has a good mix of dialogue and description. I'm sure things will get even better in the next installment! Can’t wait!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the book

Rook works as a thief with the titular Conventicle of Magpies to help take care of her mother and sisters after the death of her father. In her work she must contend with a serial killer and the Avanish rulers of Stamchester who look down upon the Saosuiasei who live in the Shambles. But when the Avanish accelerate their plans for Stamchester, will Rook be able to protect herself, let alone those she cares about?

Clarke writes an interesting world that seems to be influenced by their Northern Irish upbringing. Rook and her best friend Kestrel are strong and capable heroines, but not without their own weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and flaws. A lot of the plot tension come from the complications that arise from Rook sticking to a conviction that fighting against oppression must be done the right way, not just the easy way, lest she and her friends make themselves worse than the Avanish rulers.

The story is fast paced, and I kept reading on and on wanting to know what happened next. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the second book.

A Conventicle of Magpies is one of those novels that demanded my attention, right from the start. No, I take that back. It was before I even started reading it. The cover, theme, and description were enough to captivate me.

I went into this novel with a lot of high expectations, which may not have been entirely fair of me. I say that because I want you to understand just how much A Conventicle of Magpies blew me away. I was captivated, by the characters, the trials they went through, and the mystery at hand. It was the perfect storm as far as my imagination was concerned.

A Conventicle of Magpies is the first novel in The Bloodskill Duology, and I am going to sit here eagerly awaiting the next installment, as I’m quite desperate to find out what happens next in Rook’s journey.

First, the cover of this book caught my eye and then after reading the description I just had to read it. I was not disappointed! I loved this story and I can't wait for the second book in this series!

A Conventicle of Magpies
(The Bloodskill Duology Book 1)
by LMR Clarke
BooksGoSocial Publishers
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read the book! What a delicious delight!
This is such a lot to unpack I don't know where to start! It's in an alternate Victorian era but racism is very much alive to the point of thriving uncontrolled! Sexist ideas are present but probably the same as it was back in Victorian times which was bad enough!
There are Skilled and Unskilled people. Skilled are people that can inject blood into themselves and get a boost of power or skill such as quick speed, strength, jumping high, etc. Blood is in high demand.
The story is based around a group of women of the underdog group that steal, spy, but not kill for pay. They are good at what they do. They are called the Magpies. They are a secret society. Their male counter part is a group called the Jaguars. The Jaguars have no qualms about killing. The Magpies' leader is someone who the Governor wants very badly!
There is also a serial killer picking off the minority group. The Governor is happy about it since the killer is killing off the people he hates.
The Governor has thought up other ways to torment the poor and the minority. When he puts his plan in place things get drastic! Lots of action, suspense, thrills, unpredictable situations, and frightening what ifs! I was terrified for the gals!
It ended with some loose ends and plenty more to do so I can't wait to read the next book! I would not call it a cliffhanger. It did conclude this story but it just dangled more trouble to solve in the next. I loved this book!
It is a great female, and females, solving problems, fighting evil, they are the underdogs, and helping others. One gal has a slight romance going but mostly it's about a family of unrelated girls, and some family, bonding, trust, and good vs evil. These girls rock!

This novel was a fun take on dystopian segregation. I loved the creation of the Conventicle and that it was a female powered organization. Rook was a determined heroine; and I enjoyed her as a character, but I felt like she wasn't as flawed as she could have been. The novel had a lot going on; and I almost wish it was a little longer so that we could build the enemy a bit more.

So we have a few issues happening right off the bat, Billy the Drainer is on a murdering rampage, the drive by the Governor to wipe out their entire community, and then a bit later we have a missing sister, a rescue mission, and potential experimentation and collection of blood. Lots going on!

We only got one little glimpse of the Governor who seems to be the driving force of the hate against Rook's community but I didn't feel like I could enough of his character or the lifestyle difference to really develop my own hate of him as the reader. I actually found myself more concerned with the Jaguar and even Ozdo's brief appearance was questionable, I thought she was going to have a bigger role than she did.

Billy the Drainer had a very Jack the Ripper feel; and yet it seems he is going to be set up to be someone important. I'm not sure I can see an excuse for his murders to make him redeemable if this person is who we are led to believe it is at the end of the novel.

There were a few pacing flaws, and as much as I appreciate the conscious effort to be inclusive, I felt like Kestrel's trans status was placed there just to have a representation. I felt like if the story was going to include this trans character and give her a leading role, that we should have been a bit more open with her life-struggles rather than just briefly mentioning a fear once or twice.

Aside from a few little issues that I think will be taken care of during a final edit; I think this was a solid novel and I am looking forward to book 2.

A Conventicle of Magpies by LMR Clarke is a Victorian mystery adventure that leaves the reader wanting more.
The tale follows Rook, a girl who lives an alternative lifestyle as a pickpocket and much more. She belongs to a Conventicle of Magpies thieving group to help provide for her sick mother and sisters at home. The city is being hunted by a serial killer, draining his victims of their blood because, in this world, blood is a valuable commodity. No one is safe from the killer, not even Magpie’s girls.
The city is at war. The poor and rich hate each other and show it throughout the book. The impoverished steal from the rich and the rich turn their noses up when the poor are near. The police will not help the poor when they become victims of the killer’s blade. So, the only hope they have is Magpie’s girls and the Jaguars. It’s a race to try to survive in this hard-tough industrial world where everyone is out for themselves.
I felt Clarke brought a fleshed-out world to life with the darkness and despair around every corner. Rich with Victorian style and flair that would make Sherlock Holmes feel at home, this would be one mystery he would be intrigued to find the killer.

Let me start by saying the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous, it was one of the main reasons why I decided to request this book as it caught my eye straight away!

On the whole, A Conventicle of Magpies was an excellent read and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey that we were taken on throughout this book.

From the start I loved the vibe of this book, there is a very Victorian/Jack the Ripper kind of feel throughout the first chapters which grabbed my attention. And all credit to the author as they kept this theme going throughout the whole book, which definitely kept me hooked onto this one.

I found A Conventicle of Magpies to be really easy to read, and that is in no way a criticism! It just flowed so well through the plot and before I knew it I was halfway through the book, I was so desperate to find out what would happen next that I just kept on turning the pages.

Whilst the idea of two sides being opposed to each other and one trying to remove the other from society isn't the most original plot, the way the author wrote made us feel like it was a brand new trope. The introduction of the authors own groups (the Saosuíasei and Avanish) only helped that feel.

And with the introduction of Rook's sister being missing, Billy Drainer our Jack the Ripper-esque serial killer and the bloodskill aspect (discussed further below) this book was not short of other interesting layers to elevate the story to a higher level.

I would like to praise LMR Clarke for the bloodskill aspect within this book. I've seen a lot of magic/fantasy ideas as to how people gain their skills but never through bloodwork, so that was a nice new introduction.

I have to say though my favourite part of this book was the Magpies, the way this book was very female led, and how strong and supportive they were of each other and the Saosuíasei people around them. It's nice to see some female representation!

This isn't to say that the Jaguar and every other character in this book wasn't excellently written, it's just that, for me, Rook stole the show.

The ending of this book was absolutely excellent too, it rounded the story off perfectly but also left it open for later books to be written. And I, for one, will be picking up the next book in the series when it's written.

I throughly enjoyed this book. I think the characters were great and the storyline kept you gripped throughout. I really can't wait for the next book as I really want to know what happens next.

The Conventicle of magpies ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Conventicle of magpies takes place in a world where blood can be used to be faster, stronger,... Skilling. The main character, Rook, starts as a thief and ends up as a leader. The drainer gave me jack the ripper kinda vibes. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to a serie about Rook and the rest of the Conventicle of magpies.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


The cover of this book drew me in and really set the vibe for the entire book. This book had a slow start and I was unsure if I was going to bet able to really get into the plot. Once the first few chapters are completed the book picks up drastically and you can't put it down.

Our main character, Rook, is a morally gray character who steals and fights to not only provide for her family but also protect them. Rooks best friend Kestrel was one of my favorite characters she was a complex side character or MC #2. Rook is trying to protect her family and everybody like her from the Avanish people, the cities elite. The elite do not find value in human lives that are not of their own race. A Conventicle of Magpies (ACoM) faced a lot of racial ideas head on and discussed the value in every life. It was a great way to pull in real life problems but it still let you escape from reality. The magic system, Bloodskill, was intriguing and played a big part in how the book progressed. The author thoroughly explained the skill and how it works as well as why it does not always work. I never felt confused how they were able to accomplish certain tasks in one chapter but in the next not able to. There are multiple side stories/quest that it was hard to anchor yourself to the true plot of the book. The plot itself seemed more like a concept versus a main goal which was sometimes confusing.

I plan on reading the second book.


<spoiler> The ending of this book kind of missed its mark. I sat there and was really unsure what I expected but I don't feel like anything was truly resolved. The team rescued Mama Magpie but that originally felt more like a side quest and not the arc of the ending. I was also disappointed by the synopsis making me think there will be more of Billy Drainer and instead we sometimes saw him in the Alley. I was intrigued by the possibility of his identity but it was not explored enough in the first book. I am assuming it will be in the second so I am excited to read more about that.

“…and as death approached, Líbhas cast herself over the edge of the precipice rather than fall into the hands of the enemy. The Spirit of Tuachiad, who had loved Líbhas like his own daughter, would not let her die. Before her body hit the churning sea, he lent his Skill and transformed her into the most beautiful magpie the world had seen. The bird swooped upward in a blaze of light and blood, and beat the usurpers back with claw and wing. And evermore the magpie watched over the Saosuíasei, keeping them safe from all harm."

A tale of a people whose land was stolen to be exploited then they were snatched to another area with claims of opportunity only to end up in squalor to live & die miserably. Not fast enough though, as then the colonizers plotted to kill them outright. Great, gritty Victorian steampunk type setting. The worse atrocities can be committed in plots by the most banal looking people is something that has been proven time & again. By the smallest most mediocre men sitting around a table full laden plotting the demise of defenseless while cutting off the fat of the land for themselves. In this tale blood is used to enhance abilities so blood is precious. The main character is the best of her group in using her blood to keep her family alive with Skill: aptitudes you are born with amplified with a shot of more blood. Death by a thousand cuts until you forget what you are but the need to remember is what becomes paramount to fight another day for yourself & others. So, rise back up again & become the phoenix, you never know what you will find in the old stories that were more than just tales to while away the time in winter..

A Conventicle of Magpies takes your classic heist plot and transposes it to a roughly Victorian-inspired world riven by class and race differences and marked by the struggle for survival against the odds.

We follow Rook, a member of the Magpies, an all-female gang sworn to protect Saosuíasei women, and if that involves thieving or other petty crime, so be it. But the Saosuíasei are suppressed by the Avanish, who are looking to eradicate their race from the map of the city and will stop at nothing to achieve their ends. Rook and her friends become embroiled in this power-struggle as the situation in the slums where they lives tips into violence and all-out war.

I particularly enjoyed the way LGBTQ+ and asexuality were woven into the story without feeling heavy-handed at all. You can tell this is a topic of some importance to the author. Overall, the story is fast-moving and engaging with never a dull moment - at times, it almost felt too fast, possibly due to the constraints of the YA label onto accepted wordcounts.
There were enough tantalising hints strewn about the book about things to come that kept me guessing and that make want to pick up the second book to find out more about what happens (and to learn if my guesses were correct).

There were a few typos and continuity errors (for example, in one scene, Rook is drinking beer from a cup, but when she later shatters it, it spills tea), but not so frequent to really bother me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes YA fantasy without the usual romance tropes and books that don't shy away from exposing young readers to difficult topics.
I can see this book being very popular with younger readers, but to me, the true test of children's or YA books is always if they will appeal to all audiences, and this does. There is enough action, friendship and intrigue to entertain on the surface, while beneath the excellent writing are layers of deeper issues such as race, segregation, loss, poverty and many more. I haven't been the target audience for this for at least 20 years, but I still enjoyed it very much and am looking forward to the second book.

I was kindly given this book for free by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this amazing book. A Conventicle of Magpies follows Rook into the world of the Avanish and Saosuiasei where the Avanish believe they are better than the others. We follow Rook's adventures in the conventicle as she deals with a mass murderer on the loose named Billy drainer. I think this book created a whole new level into the world of fiction taking a look at blood skill, which helps trained individuals heighten their strength, hearing, seeing , etc. this book was amazing from start to finish although some of the language did confuse me from time to time. highly recommend

I was given a free eARC copy of this book through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I found myself wanting to learn more about this world and how it operated as well as keep up with the mysteries behind some of the characters.

I think by far, my favorite part about this book was the world the author created. It is unique and well thought out. The author has a way with creating tension which instills curiosity in its reader. I found myself making assumptions about characters and surroundings, missing the little breadcrumbs the author placed until they were ready for the reader to discover the truth.

I also want to mention the way the author described a character who just happens to be in the LGBTQ+ community was phenomenal. I have read too many books where you find out in the first chapter in a very forced way. However, in this book, it is never even thought of or mentioned until an appropriate time. I was happy to see an author not create a character and have their whole identity be their identity or sexual orientation. It is the way I picture the future of books with LGBTQ+ characters in books. Where it is not a forced characteristic, but a part of who they are.

I think my only critique of this book was how easily the main character got in to trouble even though she was supposed to be the best. I also find myself thinking about how she would talk about things that were potentially sensitive to the story line or someone’s possible life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy with a little bit of victorian steampunk vibes. I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Ready for book 2!

I absolutely LOVED this story! The characters are real and gritty and hopeful despite the immense hardships they endure on a daily basis. The Nest of Magpies is such an interesting concept, and along with their male counterparts, I found to be very enjoyable to read about. There are so many points from our own reality that can be seen in these pages, and I'm glad the author chose to take a few difficult subjects and invite the reader to not only ponder similarities, but apply empathy to circumstances and relationship dynamics from another point of view.
Excellent writing, and I do hope we will get to meet the Magpies again in the future!

A Conventicle of Magpies is a Victorian era gaslamp fantasy and the first book of a new duology by L.M.R. Clarke. Released 6th Jan 2021, it's 178 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

There is a lot to unpack here. Overall, it's a well written and engaging YA paranormal fantasy with an ensemble cast of (mostly) female protagonists. They belong to a motley gang of the local ethnic minority who are sneak thieves, cat burglars, pickpockets, and "problem solvers" (but no murder). The paranormal element comes from blood based magic (trigger warnings for blood, violence, suicide, trauma, etc). The characters are well rendered and distinct. I had no trouble remembering who was who. There is a Jack-the-Ripper subplot whose many victims are exsanguinated carefully (blood magic, again). There are several intertwining plotlines and not all of them are resolved by the end of the first book, strongly foreshadowing the second book in the series.

I liked the LGBTQ+ positive character portrayal and found myself engaged and invested in the story. There is some strong language and mature content here (mostly violence and mature themes, not for the sexual content which isn't egregious).

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This novel is set in a dystopian future (?), where the line between the haves and have not is clearly delineated. I enjoyed the fact that the females were the heroines, very strong characters and were not relegated to being arm candy. I look forward to more from this author.

I love a good thief, regardless of their moral status. And Rook is the best thief in the Nest. She is also one of the Saosuíasei in Stamchester and therefore barely even a third class citizen.


LMR Clarke has created in A Conventicle of Magpies a world rife with storylines to pick through and characters to sink into. We start with a clipping of The Stamchester Review about the “plague” of Saosuíasei in and around the city and how they must be stamped out. Already, Clarke is setting up the racial and nationalistic tensions between the Saosuíasei and this world’s version of the Moral Majority, the Avanish. Throughout the story, we are constantly reminded of the placecment of the Saosuíasei–they live in the slums of the city, crammed together as a community, while the Avanish and other nationalities live “properly.”

To make matters worse, there is a serial murderer on the loose collecting Saosuíasei blood, a la Jack the Ripper. See, in this world, another important layer to the social construct, is the idea of bloodskill. Bloodskill is used to enhance the user’s bodily functions: strength, sight, hearing, reflexes, etcetera.

We learn all of this before the story starts properly via newspaper and letters between the politicians on the Avanish side. Then, we meet Rook and the thieves guild, The Magpies. Rook is the best thief in the Nest and adores Mama Magpie, one of the most powerful women in the city as a shadowy figure with lots of stolen secrets used as protection. There is also Kestral, a trans woman with a romance going with a boy who is a turncoat-turned-double-agent for another local activist group, The Jaguars.

Have I mentioned Rook’s being a plant in a important official’s home to try to learn of the Avanish’s plans to wage a war on the Saosuíasei yet? Or the fact the Rook’s sister and father are both at least seemingly dead but with an air of mytsery? I didn’t think so.

A proper review of the story is difficult, because there are many disparate threads woven together and the pacing feels both painfully slow and much too fast. I almost wish this had been pulled into a trilogy, with the spying and fleeing from the possiblity of being caught plotlines filling this novel, then delving into the Jaguars further plans and the Billy the Drainer mystery cropping up in the second, with a wild resolution in the end novel. Alas, as it is, it’s a good story, but a little stilted throughout. Having a serious cliffhanger certaintly helps in leading the reader to want the second book in the serious, but also makes much of what has happened so far feel too far away and over too soon.

I worry about how this will all come together in the end, with the plotlines all so far flung. There is perhaps too much happening all at once with little breathing room for the reader. This story felt very similar to many in this genre of fantasy thief with a found family, but I did love the worldbuilding. The world is full to bursting and feels like the threads will be woven into an actual tapestry. In many ways A Conventicle of Magpies feels like a grand d&d adventure with the world evolving around, but ever revolving off screen in an unknowable way, a ragtag group who are just doing their best to hold themselves and their loved ones together.

I’m fairly likely to read the second book when it comes along. I don’t know if I’ll love the series. I barely know if I love this book in and of itself. But I’m intrigued. Sometimes that’s enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with a digital galley for review.

I enjoyed reading this book but had some issues with it. The first 3/4 were mainly world building and a set up for the last quarter of the book.

The last quarter of the book gave rise to questions that will hopefully answered in the next book.

Also, for a plot concerned with one culture subsuming another, very little detail about those cultures was given. This may be rectified in the next book.

In Stamchester, an alternate Victorian era city, divided between the haves and the have-nots, blood gives some people extra powers when injected. Rook, a member of the have-nots, is not only a very adept bloodskill but an excellent thief. She is part of a group of women called the Magpies after their leader who are all named after birds and who work to help people get justice in a society that cares nothing for them. There was also a male group called the Jaguars who had been more willing to use violence but, after their leaders were captured, they have disbanded...maybe.

As if the streets on the poor side of the city aren't dangerous enough, a serial killer is terrorizing the inhabitants who have little protection - certainly not from the authorities. In fact, the Governor is quite pleased with this turn of events since, to him, it's just that many fewer he has to get rid of because he has plans for that part of the city and the poor folk have no place in those plans.

A Conventicle of Magpies (The Bloodskill Duology #1) is the first in a new YA fantasy series by LMR Clarke and what a great beginning to a new series it is. It is well-written with plenty of action and adventure to keep the reader glued to the page. There is some interesting world-building and great characters who are easy to either root for or hate. This is a compelling story about friendship, family, and trust and what people are willing to risk for those they love. But Clarke doesn't shy away from dealing with broader issues and underlying the alternate Victorian landscape is some very contemporary commentary on colonialism, inequality, and gender. However, as integral as they are to the story, she never descends into preachiness or allows it take over the narrative.

Overall, I loved this book but I do have one complaint. As the first in a series, Conventicle does end on a cliffhanger so now I will have to wait impatiently for the next book to arrive.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Books Go Social for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

Cracking book. Really got into this. Interesting story, good characters. I'll be keeping an eye out for book 2.

First off, it was a bit weird with the blood factor thingy, but it was also an interesting and intriguing story, where survival not only depends on the strong but the cunning, the wise, and a lot of blood magic. Rook and Kestrel were the saving grace for their family and would let nothing and no one, stop them from protecting them.

Author LMR Clarke (https://lmrclarke.wordpress.com) published the novel “A Conventicle of Magpies: A victorian fantasy adventure” in 2021. This is the first book in the author’s ‘Bloodskill Duology’. The author has published four novels.

I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The story is set in a ‘universe’ where those with ’skills’ can ‘burn’ their own blood to enhance those skills. The novel has been categorized as a ‘dark Victorian thriller’. In our timeline, it would be set in the late 19th century. The primary character is 21-year old Rébh Artur, commonly known as simply Rook. She is a member of the Conventicle of Magpies and is an accomplished thief. That is in part because she can enhance many of her skills. She steals what she needs to keep herself, her mother, and her sisters alive. The Conventicle also takes on commissions. These are mostly to right wrongs against the Saosuíasei people. Her people.

The Avanish run the city of Stamchester. They are wealthy and middle-class who have virtually enslaved the Saosuíasei. The Saosuíasei live on the squalid and dangerous side of the river in the area known as the Shambles. That is where Rook and her family live.

The situation is beginning to change and not for the better. A serial killer is haunting Stamchester and one of his victims was a friend. The killer drains all the valuable blood from his victims. The Avanish controlled police are doing little to protect the Saosuíasei. The governor of Stamchester, Kel Dreidchain, would like to clear the Shambles. Replacing the Saosuíasei with more living space for the Avanish. The death of any Saosuíasei is of little consequence to him.

This all leaves Rook with the challenge of keeping her family safe. She is often out at night when the serial killer is about and must stay clear of his clutches. She must also avoid the raids upon the Shambles by the Governor’s men. When one of the Magpies is imprisoned Rook must take action. She joins with the resistance group Shadow of the Jaguar to free her.

I enjoyed the 6.5+ hours I spent reading this 231-page fantasy novel. The plot of this novel is like many fantasies. What is different is blood being the fuel for those with magical abilities. I am looking forward to the next book I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

A Conventicle of Magpies by L.M. R. Clarke is a Victorian fantasy adventure. The book is set in Stamchester, a city similar to Birmingham, England.

Rook is a thief who steals to help support her family. Her father abandoned the family several years ago so Rook stepped up to help her mother. She joined a gang called The Conventicle of Magpies. The gang has become sort of like an adopted family of mostly honorable criminals. Everyone has bird names – Magpie, Pigeon, etc.

In Stamchester, the Saosuíasei, are fighting a class war against the ruling elite, the Avanish. There is also a serial killer, Billy Drainer, that looks extremely familiar to Rook. She thinks that he is Saosuíasei and possibly her father.

Billy Drainer could be compared to Jack the Ripper. However, I think that he has an almost reasonable reason for killing. I don’t think he is killing out of hate or because he wants to hurt anyone. It’s more like the victims have something that he needs in the same way that a vampire needs bloood.

Rook takes a job as a housemaid in order to spy on the happenings are the governor’s house. She ends up also assisting with a prison break. During the prison break, she discovers some information about her missing sister. The powers that be are very interested in the sister’s blood. Rook has to get to the rest of her family before something happens to them.

If you like historical fiction with some steampunk nuances, I think that you will enjoy A Conventicle of Magpies.

If you have a fear of birds (ornithophobia), don’t worry because there aren’t any real birds out for blood. However, if you have fear of theft (Kleptophobia), beware because people will steal your valuables and maybe your blood.

This was an interesting read. I had quite mixed feelings about it, honestly, but overall I liked it. It's kind of a clash of various genres in my opinion, and is a little different to what I'd usually go for. The plot is kind of complicated to describe but it involves a group of girls called the Conventicle of Magpies, an equivalent male group called The Shadow of Jaguars, and a longstanding feud between the Avanish people and the native Saosuiasei. The main character, a Magpie who goes by the name of Rook, is also trying to figure out who the mysterious murderer is that's going around and killing Saosuiasei people, known as Billy Drainer. Oh, and some people have magical abilities, too, including Rook. Magic burns through blood, so some people even inject blood for extra power.
Inequality is a big theme throughout, and a horrific Avanish plan is uncovered exploiting the Saosuiasei for their blood. Rook has to go undercover, and a group of Magpies even breaks into the high-security prison where the worst criminals are kept. I'm probably not doing any of this justice, but hopefully you get the gist of some of the story.
Something particularly good about this is Rook's best friend, a woman going by the name of Kestrel. She's actually transgender, which would have been rather uncommon during the time period the book is set in. Rook is really protective of her, and the whole Conventicle of Magpies is wonderfully accepting. Her character was great in so many ways; she's tall and large, but she giggles about boys and wears heels and makeup all the time (which Rook could never understand doing).
Another character of interest is a boy called Pit, who Rook was very close with. He's half Avanish, and when he decided to work for the Avanish police (or the 'Filth') Rook pretty much cut all ties with him. Rook has to decide whether she can trust him anymore, or if he is truly one of them.
My main criticism of this book was that the dialogue seemed rather clunky and awkward, and the book was just a little slow going at times for me. But it was unique and interesting and I still enjoyed reading it. There are some very poignant themes, there's action, there's mystery, and there's emotion. 4 stars!

This was an adventure and so much fun to read. GREAT CHARACTERS. Sometimes the secondary characters take away from the plot, but not in this book. A great story. Incredibly well written.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Conventicle of Magpies by L.M.R. Clarke is a beautifully written, gaslamp fantasy, set in a Victorian-inspired world. It is the first in the Bloodskills Duology and I’m so excited to read the next book!

When I say fast-paced, I mean it. It started off with a bang and kept going through the whole book. I was engaged and couldn’t put this one down.

I am obsessed with the world building. Gaslamp fantasy is just such a unique genre and this author created such beautiful imagery. I need more world building like this. Absolutely wonderful.

Not only that, but the characters are absolutely compelling. Our heroine, Rook, is amazing. She is such a well rounded character. The side characters are also really great. I felt like I knew the people I was reading about.

I loved this book. I can’t wait for more. Highly recommended!

I loved this book! The author really tried to stay true to the victorian thriller theme. the characters, the setting, and the plots all made sense and were interesting!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

The book is as intriguing as the cover. Characters are fantastically written and i would recommend

Such a great book! I enjoyed reading this one so much! I highly recommend this book. Side note: the cover!!!!

After I saw the cover, I knew I wanted to read this book — then I read the description and that want turned into a need.
A Victorian-esque fantasy/thriller isn’t something I read often, but is also somehow right up my alley.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

The characters were great, as was the setting, and I really loved how fast paced it was. In every chapter, something exciting happened to keep me reading — and isn’t that what we all want in a book?

My only criticism of the book is that I found the formatting unusual at times, and the inclusion of the newspapers made things a little hard to read, but other than that, it was a great story and I recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my advanced copy. All opinions given are my own.

often times, i discover that i do not enjoy a lot of arcs. however, this was a different case. it turned out to be an exciting story that I thoroughly enjoyed. most of all, there was actually plot! which i appreciate greatly