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An Instruction in Shadow

Inheritance of Magic Book 2: urban fantasy from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus novels

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An Instruction in Shadow

By: Benedict Jacka
Narrated by: Will Watt
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MAGIC. POWER. GREED. The ultra-rich control magic-the same way they control everything else-but Stephen Oakwood may just beat them at their own game in this exhilarating contemporary fantasy from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus novels.

*buy a copy in hardback to receive a beautiful, limited foiled edition*

Stephen has emerged victorious against the schemes of his aristocratic family. Now he finally has the opportunity to do what he's been wanting to do for a long time: track down his father.

But doing so won't be easy. Stephen's not so isolated any more, but the contacts he's making in the magical world-everyone from the corporation he works for to the mother he's just beginning to reconnect with-all have agendas of their own. And now a new group is emerging from the shadows, calling themselves the Winged. Their leader, the mysterious Byron, promises that he can show Stephen how to find his father...but he wants something in return.

Following that trail will throw Stephen into greater danger than he's ever faced before. To survive, he'll need to use all of his tricks and sigls, and pick up some new ones. Only then will he be able to prevail against his enemies...and find out who's really pulling the strings.

'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

'Captivating, compelling' SFX

THE INHERITANCE OF MAGIC SERIES:
Book 1: An Inheritance of Magic
Book 2: An Instruction in Shadow©2024 Benedict Jacka Dark Fantasy Fantasy Magic
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A Judgement of Powers cover art
A Judgement of Powers By: Benedict Jacka
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It's sort of okay but second book even though 6+ hours somehow has nothing interesting happening. Also main character seems to be a little too childish.

Actually not much

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I enjoyed this book more than the first one, there is definitely a good base and as the books go on the stories will get better.

I think some of the story telling is quite basic and a little bit cringey but it's ok.

I don't really like the narrator, some of the accents used are pretty bad.

Will look out for the next book.

An interesting story but sometimes quite basic

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I hope you make the next one soon I enjoyed all of this book I listen to it in one go. I’m quite annoyed though that you ended it on a cliffhanger but fine fine. Can’t wait till the next one. You did the great job.

I really love this book series. I can’t wait till the next one.

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Narrated by Will Watt.
This picks up directly after An Inheritance of Magic ends, and by this time I've become accustomed to the word 'sigl' (pronounced to rhyme with giggle. See my review of book #1 in this series, An Inheritance of Magic.) Stephen Oakwood is growing into his magic, though still learning. He's still wary of his family, the Ashfords but when he loses his well-seeking job, thanks to a loud-mouthed friend - he ends up taking a job with the heir of the Ashford family who seems to be cut from a different cloth from the other Ashford siblings, but he's being courted by a dangerous representative of a magical cult, who is teasing him with possible news of his missing father. He manages to negotiate his way around a potential rival and his murderous brother, but at the end of the book he's still not found his father, so there's obviously another book to come. Sadly this means that there's a semi-cliffhanger with parts of the story resolved, but the greater part not. I think I've mentioned before how much I hate unresolved endings. Not sure when the next book in the series is out. The narrator is good, differentiating well between the voices.

Good

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I liked this book very much, looking to read next one. Good performance too.

Like it

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