The super-rich control everything—including magic—in this thrilling and brilliant, contemporary fantasy from the author of the Alex Verus novels.

The wealthy seem to exist in a different, glittering world from the rest of us. Almost as if by . . . magic.

Stephen Oakwood is a young man on the edge of this hidden world. He has talent and potential, but turning that potential into magical power takes money, opportunity, and training. All Stephen has is a minimum wage job and a cat. 

But when a chance encounter with a member of House Ashford gets him noticed by the wrong people, Stephen is thrown in the deep end. For centuries, the vast corporations and aristocratic Houses of the magical world have grown impossibly rich and influential by hoarding their knowledge. To survive, Stephen will have to take his talent and build it up into something greater—for only then can he beat them at their own game.

“An Inheritance of Magic” by Benedict Jacka excels, creating a world with compelling worldbuilding and magical machinations that are truly believable. Just like in the real world, the rich stay rich and those without power or money must strive beyond their limits to make their way. 

One of the aspects I love is that Benedict Jacka sets the mysteries up right away in the first chapter. While it seems like it is a slower pace, that pace allows him to build a truly compelling world full of rich details and a premise that is authentic, especially set in comparison with the world we live in. If there is magic, the rich having it and maintaining their grip on power is truly believable. 

I also love the character of Stephen. While the character does have magic, he doesn’t have many special skills beyond anyone else so I like that the character is written as being determined and hard working in figuring out magic and how he can use it to his benefit, despite his disadvantages. I also really enjoyed his maneuvering into the world of the rich and powerful. While his journey is slower, that adds to the richness of the story and the complexity. 

If you like rich and compelling worldbuilding, full of details and a believable world where just having power doesn’t make you rich, this is the novel for you. The novel is complex, entertaining, and I definitely want to read more about the world and the characters as soon as I can. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 wells