Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The Magistrate by Author: Keira Michelle Telford


Book cover and blurb
Title: The Magistrate
Author: Keira Michelle Telford
Genre: Dystopian SF / Lesbian Romance
THE PRISONWORLD TRILOGY -- VOLUME ONE

Poverty is rife in twenty-fourth century London, England. Crime rates are at an all-time high, and living conditions for many are bleak. Capital punishment and public hangings have been reinstated, and Magistrates, in their new role, are tasked with patrolling the streets to enforce arrest warrants and ‘terminate’ any civilians who attempt to evade justice -- which isn’t always a noble pursuit.

The laws are strict, illiberal, and unsympathetic. If you can’t afford to feed and clothe yourself, you’ll be sent to the workhouse. If you fall behind on your rent, you’ll be sent to debtors’ prison. If you’re gay, you’ll be hanged.

For Carmen Wild, the latter becomes a potentially deadly problem when the discovery of a murdered prostitute brings her back into the life of her first love -- the Madam of an East End cathouse -- and the illicit passions between them are swiftly reignited.

Author Bio
Keira Michelle Telford is the award winning author of a series of post-apocalyptic, dystopian science fiction books, The SILVER Series, featuring the character Ella ‘Silver’ Cross, and now also The Prisonworld Trilogy – a dystopian lesbian romance. She’s a British ex-pat, now living in British Columbia, Canada with her husband and 10 guinea pigs.

Yes, 10 guinea pigs :)

Fun fact: Her pet guinea pigs (all adopted from animal rescue shelters) were the inspiration for the monsters in The SILVER Series, the first one of which, SILVER: Acheron (A River of Pain), was released in November 2011.

Links



Lina returns to the drawing room with tray: two cups of tea, a jar of honey, and a pot of sugar.
“I hope your tastes haven’t changed.”
Carmen clears a space for the tray on the coffee table. “I don’t think you need to worry about that when it comes to your honey.”
“Good. I’m glad I still know how to please you.” Lina sets down the tray, bunches up her skirt, and kneels at Carmen’s feet between the sofa and the table.
She serves Carmen a drink just the way she likes it, then fixes her own.
“So where’s your partner?”
“Huh?”
“Magistrates aren’t typically allowed to wander around Tower Hamlets willy-nilly. So how come you’re here all on your lonesome?”
“This isn’t exactly official CPS business.”
“Do they even know you’re here?”
Carmen takes a sip of her tea. “I don’t need their permission.”
“Would they have given it to you if you did?”
“Probably not.”
“Rube’s still afraid of my sinful influence?”
Lina stirs more honey into her tea, scooping a drip off the edge of her cup with her finger and then licking it off with the tip of her tongue.
Carmen looks away. “I think it’s my weakness for you that he’s afraid of.”
Lina pauses mid-sip, her cup against her lips, the tempting warmth of the liquid billowing against her, the scents of tea and honey and lemon drifting into her nostrils.
Focused on controlling her breathing, trying to remain unaffected by Carmen’s words, she slides her cup onto the coffee table and leans against the sofa. Resting her elbow on the seat cushion, she looks up at Carmen.
“He doesn’t want you seeing me, does he?”
“He thinks the sight of you might stir a particular dormant inclination of mine.”
“Is he right?” Lina slides her hand over Carmen’s knee.
“No.” Carmen focuses on her drink. “It was never really that dormant.”

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