Blog Tour: A Conventicle of Magpies by L.M.R. Clarke @lmrclarkeauthor @RRBookTours1 @castrumpress #RRBookTours #AConventicleofMagpies #Bloodskills

I am thrilled to share this amazing new book! A Conventicle of Magpies is the first book in the Bloodskills duology, and today we have an exclusive excerpt for you, and a chance to win a signed copy of the book!

Rook is a thief, and entirely unapologetic about it as she’s determined to do anything to ensure her mother and siblings survive the squalid and dangerous streets of Stamchester.

Rook slips in and out of the homes of the ruling elite of Stamchester, the Avanish,like a shadow taking what she needs without regret.

Why should she? Had the Avanish not stolen her own people, the Saouiasei, from their own homes years before and transported them across the ocean to Stamchester to work as virtual slaves?

And, now the Avanish had no more use for Rook and her people, where they not determined to dispose of them?

The Avanish had already laid waste to a swathe of Saouiasei homes, a region which had become known as ‘The Scar’, in an attempt to drive them out?

However, Rook was not the only person hiding in the shadows. A far more dangerous figure was haunting the filthy streets of Stamchester striking fear into Avanish and Saouiasei alike; Billy Drainer, a serial killer who not only murdered his victims but drained them of every ounce of their precious, life giving blood.

For within blood was a highly sought-after commodity, the ability to enhance a person’s natural abilities through the art of Bloodskill. To be faster and stronger than a normal person was something those with money were willing to pay handsomely for.

‘A Conventicle of Magpies’ is a fast-paced gaslamp fantasy adventure set in a Victorian-inspired world. Perfect for fans of Charlie N. Holmberg’s Spellbreaker and Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

Safe and sound in the Magpie’s Nest, Rook divested herself of her corseted dress and heels and returned to the comfort of a shirt and trousers. The young woman fell into an armchair, threw her booted feet onto the battered coffee table, and plucked up a newspaper. Even though she’d been out all day, she hadn’t seen the latest in the Stamchester Review. As she scanned the page, Rook shook her head, and a lock of black hair fell over her face.

YET ANOTHER BLOODLESS CORPSE

At two o’clock this morning, a police constable came upon the scene of yet another gruesome murder. The body, which has not yet been identified, was found on the southbank end of the Buxridge Bridge. Like the other five bodies found in similar circumstances over the last few months, the corpse appeared to be drained of every last ounce of blood. Suspicion for this killing falls once more on the elusive fiend known only as Billy Drainer, although Inspector Kip Kerstammen declined to comment on this observation.

Rook licked her thumb and flicked to the next page. Inches and inches of news stretched through the broadsheet, as always full of sensationalism and very little fact. Only two parties enjoyed Stamchester’s string of murders: so-called Billy Drainer himself, whoever he was, and the newspapers. Both made significant gains from the events. News was always a profitable commodity in Stamchester, but blood was more valuable than gold. Those corpses weren’t bloodless for no reason.

A cough came from the doorway. Rook glanced up from the grim columns. A slim figure stood in the doorway, a tiny girl at the end of her teenage years. Pigeon stood in the low doorframe that led to the main Nest bar and jerked her head. The action sent her mass of dark curls tumbling to one side.

GIVEAWAY!!

(International)
Click the link below for a chance to win a signed edition of A Conventicle of Magpies

Enter HERE

I received a copy of this book from the Author and R&R Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Conventicle of Magpies is the first book in the Bloodskill duology by L.M.R. Clarke.

This is a Gaslamp Fantasy story.  Gaslamp fantasy takes the historical elements from Victorian London and has a science twist.  

This story takes place in the town of Stamchester. A generation ago the Avanish have conquered this area and they brought the  Saosuíasei people over to work for them.  Now the government wants to rid itself of the Saosuíasei people. What they have not counted on is the Conventicle of Magpies and the Shadow Jaguars. 

This story was amazing!  Being a lover of steampunk I knew I would love a gaslamp fantasy novel.  And just look at that cover.

Once I got going in this book I found it hard to put down.  I was sucked into this world fully, the storytelling is wonderful and I was able to picture this setting with ease.  I loved Rook and Kestrel’s friendship and all of the mystery surrounding Rook’s family. I can not wait to find out more about all of these characters in book 2.  

Something is mentioned casually towards the end of the book so I am hoping to see an alliance form in the next book!

February 1st
Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com
Books Rambling and Tea (Review) https://booksramblingsandtea.com/
Debjani’s Thoughts (Spotlight) https://debjanisthoughts.wordpress.com/
Phantom of the Library (Review) https://phantomofthelibrary.com/
@brendajeancombs (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/brendajeancombs/
The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

February 2nd
Gwendalyn’s Books (Review) https://gwendalynbooks.blog/
I Smell Sheep (Review) http://www.ismellsheep.com/
Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com
Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com
I’m All About Books (Spotlight) https://imallaboutbooks.com/

February 3rd
Rambling Mads (Review) http://ramblingmads.com
@better_0ff_read (Spotlight w/ Review to follow) https://www.instagram.com/BETTER_0FF_READ/
@joanna.zoe (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/joanna.zoe/?igshid=1xipr7pa6a9zl
@_ebl_inc_ (Review) https://www.instagram.com/_ebl_inc_/The Magic of Wor(l)ds (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/the_magic_of_worlds/

February 4th
Book Review Crew (Review) https://bookreviewcrew.blogspot.com
Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/
Sophril Reads (Review) https://sophrilreads.wordpress.com
@dreaminginpages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/dreaminginpages/

February 5th
@ypsylynn (Spotlight w/ Review to Follow) https://www.instagram.com/jypsylynn/
Bonnie Reads & Writes (Review) https://bonniereadsandwrites.wordpress.com
The Invisible Moth (Review) https://daleydowning.wordpress.com
Michelle Meng’s Book Blog 3 (Review) http://michellemengsbookblog3.simplesite.com/
@hoardingbooks.herdingcats (Review)  https://www.instagram.com/hoardingbooks.herdingcats/