Stephen's mother left when he was a baby, his father disappeared three years ago. Since then he's been living hand to mouth, gradually improving his Drucraft and finding wells for a magical corporation. He has discovered that he is the unacknowledged and oldest grandchild of a new, but powerful, magical family, but his grandfather wants nothing to do with him and has named one of Stephen's half-brothers as his heir. His other two half-siblings are actively attempting to eliminate him from the running, despite Stephen having no interest in becoming the head of the House. When one of Stephen's old friends starts running his mouth off at work about Stephen having magical powers the police are called and Stephen loses his job, it seems like all he faces are bad options, a suspicious offer from a man called Byron who seems to hold sway over Stephen's half sister, dodgy off-the books well raids, or acting as a security guard for his half-brother. Stephen learns more about the politics of the world he has been thrust into, but can he keep himself alive? So hard to review. I loved this, and yet, did it get us anywhere? This most definitely felt like the middle book in a series, but it also feels too big a story to get wrapped up in just three books. I wonder if, like Alex Verus, Stephen is gradually creating friendships and alliances which will help him win through eventually. Can't wait for the next book.

I really enjoyed reading this book - finished it in two days - although half the time I wasn't really sure what was going on. This is the second book in the series, and I'm looking forward to the third. . Stephen Oakwood is the main character, now living on his own and supporting himself (barely). He is working on his magical craft (searching for new Wells and creating and selling sigls), and searching for his missing father. Then he meets a man who is the head of a new magical group who claims he can help Stephen find him. Stephen is living a dangerous life - several people have followed and/or attacked him, and a lot of the book is Stephen dodging bad guys, and trying to figure out who is behind these people and what they want. I received an e-arc of this book from publisher Ace Books and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

An Instruction in Shadow is the second book in Benedict Jacka’s Inheritance of Magic series and follows straight on from the conclusion of the previous book. This is an urban fantasy series set in London in which magic can only be wielded via the use of sigls – the domain of the super-rich except for those, like our protagonist, Stephen, able to make their own. If I were to nitpick, I might have preferred this book to progress the plot a little more in its own right. The author ends on such a cliffhanger that the book ends up feeling like an extended set up for the next in the series. But that’s a minor quibble. Stephen’s character and magical skills do develop throughout the book and we do get to see more of many of the side characters introduced during An Inheritance of Magic. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward immensely to the next instalment.