Kim Dare - Magpie

Everet has found his perfect place in the nest. As a raven, he’s ideally suited to his new role in the nest’s security flock. Some of the jobs it entails have been far more enjoyable than others, but when he’s called to retrieve a magpie, whose got himself into trouble in a local human club, it becomes a truly life changing experience.

Magpie shifters have always been looked down on by other avians. Just as attracted to shiny things in their human bodies as they are in their avian forms, everyone knows they’ll do anything for money—and they’re not above stealing what they can’t get by more honest means.

Kane knows what being a magpie means, and he’s got the bruises to show for it. When Everet rescues him from his latest scrape, Kane knows better than to believe the raven will actually take an interest in him and his welfare, but it’s just possible that Everet is different to any other man Kane has ever met.

Comment: This is the sequel to Duck! by Kim Dare, a story I really loved in the past although it had some elements of BDSM, something I don’t usually care for in my reads. These stories are shape shifter novels in a world where the focus is on avian shifters and how their society is structured, as the key characteristic of the avian is seen in the human too.

Everett is a raven shifter and is charged with the security of the nest where he lives. Kane is a magpie he rescues after knowing he caused some trouble with the humans. Everet isn’t eager to do this because magpies are known for their recklessness and the last thing he wants is more trouble.

Kane doesn’t what he can to survive and as a magpie he believes he only is good for one thing, which makes his personality troubled, something being on drugs doesn’t help either. But when Everet rescues him, he thinks a chance for a new person to take care of his needs is about to start.

In this story we have the same world as in the first book and we get to see some of the characters from that book, after some time has passed. This is always nice as it allows the reader to know a bit more of what has happened to characters we love. In the first book Everet wasn’t very memorable, but he did show up a couple of times. In this book obviously we get to know him a bit more, especially about his thoughts and the way he see himself and his position in the nest. He is a follower of rules.

Kane, on the other hand only wants what’s best for himself. He is doing drugs because others hooked him up but he can’t let go and his mind can rest while he doesn’t have to do any thinking. When Everet rescues him, he takes charge of his life and takes him on to take care of, to be responsible for him and the first thing he does is to make him detox. Of course, Kane tries not to, but eventually he gives in, always thinking he can find someone better. While the story moves along we see some qualities in Kane’s defense system against more prejudice and fear, but I have to confess I didn’t warm up to him that much. I think that after some time he should have changed his behavior more, even knowing some of those traits I didn’t appreciate were part of his personality.

The thing is, after a while I liked Everet and his actions showed how a good person he was, and in the end, although I was glad they had an HEA, I still think Everet deserved someone more devoted to him, and part of me still doesn’t see Kane as that person. Yes, Kane has a lot to deal with, many awful childhood experiences, not much of a respectful or ideal examples in his life, but…he could have changed, despite the fact I know it’s not easy to change your mind after hearing something for so long…

After finishing the book I have to say I didn’t like it as much as the other one. Curiously, this one didn’t have so many details about a BDSM relationship as Duck!, and in a way I was glad because it’s not something I enjoy that much. Anyway, this leads me to believe the author wasn’t very sure what to make of them, because there was some talking about it here and there but I don’t think it was that focused.

So, all in all, a good effort, entertaining read but that’s all. I wasn’t as eager to see the end and it didn’t have that special balance of romance/angst the first book had so well.