A Judgement of Powers - (Inheritance of Magic) by Benedict Jacka (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In a world where magic is controlled by wealthy families and vast corporations, one young man will need all the help he can get in this riveting contemporary fantasy from the author of the Alex Verus novels.

Stephen Oakwood's ambitions used to be simple. Pay his bills, track down his father, and take care of his cat. Maybe study a little magic after work, if he had time.

Now it's a year later and he's got everything he wanted. But it's come with a price.

The Winged, a mysterious group involved with his father, have noticed Stephen, and they want him to join them or else. His career as a corporate locator has hit a dead end. And his new job as bodyguard to Calhoun Ashford is proving a lot more lethal than expected due to assassination attempts from outside the House, and possibly also from within.

To survive, Stephen's going to need allies of his own. And along the way, he's going to have to figure out the secret of his own gift, and what it means. The cults, Houses, and corporations of the magical world are locked in an endless battle for dominance, and Stephen is beginning to realize that he's going to have to pick a side . . . before someone else picks it for him.

Review Quotes

Praise for Benedict Jacka and the Inheritance of Magic series
"One of the most satisfying contemporary fantasies I have read in a long time. . . . an enchanting journey into a world where sorcery may be for sale, but agency is beyond price."--Wall Street Journal

"I just added Benedict Jacka to my must-read list."--#1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher

"The new magic system introduced in this series . . . continues to fascinate, and the stories will remind readers of classic urban fantasies (such as the "Dresden Files" series from Jim Butcher), as Stephen's world gets more dangerous and he powers through each setback by learning bigger and better magic and paying a higher price each and every time."--Library Journal

"Benedict Jacka gives us a flawed protagonist but ensures we are always on his side. . . . Benedict Jacka is one of my must-reads."--#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris

"A world of magic usually known only to the rich and powerful is put to the test in the page-turning urban fantasy that launches an intriguing new series. . . . There's lots of promise to this eat-the-rich world. Readers will be eager to see where things go next."--Publishers Weekly

"This is quickly becoming one of my favorite new series, especially in the urban fantasy genre. If you want to explore a new magic system in a world filled with political intrigue, then you should check out this series."--Game Vortex

"Jacka has drawn a potent new world of magic controlled by a privileged few, and Stephen Oakwood is the sigl-wielding rebel we didn't know we needed."--New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill

"A captivating, compelling story."--SFX Magazine

About the Author

Benedict Jacka is the author of the Inheritance of Magic series and the Alex Verus novels. He's studied philosophy at Cambridge, taught English in China, and worked at everything from civil servant to bouncer before becoming a full-time writer.