For those who missed it, An Inheritance of Magic released yesterday in the UK and worldwide! Here are a couple of the more high-profile reviews, lightly edited to avoid major spoilers.
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 from Jacka (the Alex Verus series). Twenty-year-old Stephen Oakwood ekes out a life in modern-day London by working low-wage jobs and renting a room in his aunt’s house. The only thing that really matters to him is fulfilling the promise he made to his father just before the man disappeared two years ago: namely, to keep practicing his drucraft, or magic. Stephen’s growing skill draws the wrong kind of attention, however . . . when people start trying to murder him, Stephen realizes he’s got much more to learn about the elite world of drucraft, its internal power struggles, and what his family has to do with all of it. Jacka provides immense detail about the ins and outs of drucraft, which will please fans of hard magic systems but occasionally slows down the story. Still, there’s lots of promise to this eat-the-rich world. Readers will be eager to see where things go next.
Young men living alone with their cats seem to be trending literarily. Benedict Jacka, the prolific author of the Alex Verus series, joins in with an appealing vision of contemporary fantasy in “An Inheritance of Magic.”
Stephen Oakwood is a young Londoner in a dead-end job; his mother left when he was a baby, and his father has mysteriously vanished. He has little going for him besides a few close friends, his pet cat, Hobbes, and a secret: Behind his closed bedroom door, Stephen practices magic, or “drucraft.” It is vaguely known in the wider world but dismissed by many as a weird hobby, while others hoard its secrets: In fact, the most powerful families, corporations and governments control it.
Stephen comes to understand the full truth about the commodification of drucraft when his distant cousin Lucella visits him as part of her plan to become heir of the Ashford family, a wealthy clan who wield both magic and wealth. The internecine battle she drags Stephen into imperils the life of the one thing in the world he has to care for: his beloved cat . . . Stephen’s tale makes for one of the most satisfying contemporary fantasies I have read in a long time; cozy and human, with some good fight scenes to boot. The succinctly explained treatment of magic even makes sense.
“An Inheritance of Magic” is an enchanting journey into a world where sorcery may be for sale, but agency is beyond price.
And as usual, there are plenty of reviews on the book’s Goodreads page.
For those of you in the US and Canada, the book gets its North American release on October 10th.
Hello! Canadian here. You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to this book! I loved the Alex Verus series and read the online chapters for Inheritance of Magic. I was/am hooked already. Needless to say, I’m insanely jealous of the 5-day head start that the rest of the world has! Thank you in advance!
Congrats again on the book release!
To say “I’m looking forward to listening to this book” vastly understates my excitement.
I mostly do audiobooks, so I listened to the sample on Audible UK and I love the new narrator, Will Watt.
I was always a huge fan of Gildart Jackson’s narration of the Alex Verus series. And Will Watt’s style is clearly different which is great: a new voice for a new series. Even in that short sample, I think Will Watt’s performance is going to be a winner. (the woman’s voice he did was so well done!). I might be crazy for doing it, but I’ve asked for the day off on Tuesday so I can listen to it without, you know, having to worry about getting any work done.
Just finished listening to An Inheritance of Magic. Will Watt’s narration was absolutely stunning. The story is tumultuous? traumatising? exciting? Man, I feel like I have had the rug swept out from under me, right at the vinegar stroke! Please god, let there be a second book ready to drop, because these suspenders are killing me!
Congrats! Super excited to start this new saga!
An excellent start to the new series. Given its a year before the next book I decided to make it last and limit myself to a chapter a day. Some chance! I just couldn’t put it down and am now in the process to going through it again a second time.
There is a lot going on and the magic system (and the world setting) needs some understanding to get the best out of this book. I’m looking forward to the “Ask Luna” (or perhaps Ivy) column to get answers to the detailed questions!
Looking forward to a Reddit session or perhaps some additional context in the coming weeks…
I bought the audio book from Amazon and there is meant to be a downloadable glossary (and Ashford family tree?) somewhere although I can’t find it. Any tips on where I should be looking?
Bill, in your library right below the “Listen Now” there is a “View PDF”
Thanks Horacio but sadly that doesn’t appear on my screen under the “listen now” in Library. I’m sure that it will appear on the internet somewhere in the near future or perhaps be replaced/updated by an Ask Luna. The truth is, what I really want, is Book 2
Bill, there are a couple of ways you can access the PDF.
First, from the audible app, play the title & then tap the name of the book to open the player screen: you have to be on the player screen, not looking at it in your library. On that player screen, tap the three dots at the top of the screen, then tap on “Accompanying PDF” to download it to your device.
The other option is to visit the Audible web site. Click on the link for your library at the top of the page, scroll down to the book and then click the “View PDF” button.
As far as I can tell, you can’t download it from the Amazon site.
I hope this helps.
Many thanks found it! Very useful too!
Posted 5 star review on Good Reads and Amazon. Loved the characters,the magic system and the action sequences and the political intrigue! Congratulations on the novel. A brave change considering how successful the Alec Verus series was! Some authors would have played it safe by staying in that world! Bravo Mr Benedict a story well told!
I just finished Inheritance. I was a huge Alex versus fan. This promises to be just as good. Hope your working on the sequel