I received this eARC from Netgalley.com and am providing an unbiased review.

Before I say anything, I am a big fan of the Alex Verus series that this author has blessed the reading world with, so starting a new series, with a whole new concept of magic, was basically a no-brainer to request to read. Thankfully, I was chosen, and am so happy!

This first book in what looks to be a good series, has our main character in a pit of depression. Well, he's stressed, living paycheck to paycheck, in bare minimum housing, sulking in the memories of a mother that abandoned him , a father that taught him a little magic then disappeared, and he is alone (except for a cat) in the world. From there, that chance encounter opens his eyes more to the real world around him, and a glimpse of how those with magic tend to be in powerful positions - family or otherwise. Thus begins his immersion into this new world, learning more about magic than he could even guess at before.

Jacka's writing style ahs always been easy to read, and flows well in the tale he weaves. This version of the magic system is so different than the Verus series yet different from so many other writings, it is like a new concept. I don't know how to describe it, but to me it seems to make sense, and I am curious about certain effects, which may come out in future books. Though the world building and description were good, I felt a little out that there was not much going to the description of the main character. Maybe it is something that will be expanded on later, but we do have the bare bones and was enough to enjoy the tale.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Thank you to NetGallery for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever seen a lot of money? Not an extra paycheck, a mortgage payoff, or a scratch off prize, but real money. The kind that lets you live in your own little pocket of reality where things go your way all the time, and if they don't, it's not like it matters because there's no real consequence outside of mild disappointment. Really, only about one percent of the world has, and chances are, that's not you.

In Jacka's version of London, one percenters and magic go hand and hand. Magic, or drucraft, is something that the common person in the know might be familiar with, used the cheap knockoff version that breaks the day after the warranty expires, and relied upon in a way that only leads to a cycle of debt, but only those with real money have access to the resources necessary to acquire real magical power.

Stephen is a 21-year-old man who was taught drucraft as a child, but never met anyone outside his family who knew about it. Abandoned by his mother as a child, Stephen is trapped in limbo after his father disappears three years ago, leaving a note telling him to wait for him and practice his drucraft. Unwilling to commit to a lifepath while waiting for his father's return, Stephen is stuck with soul crushing minimum wage jobs and all the financial stress that comes with them. He has supportive friends, and a loyal furbaby named Hobbes, and his drucraft obsession to tide him over.

Then one day, strangers start appearing on his doorstep with promises of opportunity, education, and a career in drucraft beyond his wildest dreams. Then one day, strangers start appearing on his doorstep trying to throw him into an unmarked car in the middle of the night. Then one day, strangers start appearing on his doorstep wanting him to do them a favor. And then all of a sudden, Stephen knows he's in trouble.

Nothing good comes from being a political ant that gets on the radar of the one percent. It's a shame he has no idea how he got there in the first place, only that he needs to scramble to survive.

Jacka does a great job of building a new world completely separate from the previous Alex Verus universe, with a new magic system and new characters. Stephen is at an in between age where he's old enough to have some independence, maturity and life experience, but young enough that he has a great deal of energy and mental flexibility to adapt on the fly. An engineer at heart, Stephen analyzes situations and his tools to maximize their potential and strategize. A magician by trade, Stephen puts in his time doing hours, weeks, years of the same skill over and over again until he's achieved a mastery of something that provides a solid foundation that would normally be taken for granted.

There were many instances throughout the book where I scoffed and rolled my eyes about how obvious something was, or how mightily convenient something happened, only to be caught by surprise later in the book to realize, yes, wasn't that strangely convenient and have it turn into a deliberate plot point with consequences. Some very promising groundwork has been laid that promises an exciting, tightly-woven series.

I loved jumping into this new story and world of Jacka's.
This is a world where everything magical is bought and controlled by the super rich. Our main character, Stephen, does not have access to that kind of money. But he does have access to magic, because he has inherited a natural talent for it, which seems to be fairly uncommon.
I am really looking forward to continuing this story. It's clear there is so much to discover about who Stephen's mother is and what actually happened to her. And what happened to his father?! Gosh darn it, I'm not good at being patient! :)

Benedict Jacka sets up a brand new world with "An Inheritance of Magic." As he admits in his intro, this book is the first in a series, so its main purpose is to introduce the reader to a new world and a new magic system. I really enjoyed the characters and the "secret" world of magic or drucraft, seems to hidden and in plain sight at the same time. The main struggle is outlined well and the ending is a nice hook. If you have read Jacka's other series this will be a different pace and has the potential to be just as epic.

While you can definitely tell that this is the first book in a planned series, I did enjoy it a lot. There is a lot of set up for the story--the world, the magic, characters and their backstories, etc. However, I think this exposition was pretty well balanced with the movement of the plot. The cast of characters was really compelling and it was fun to read about the main character sort of coming to terms with this world he didn't know much about. Not to mention a the cat! I love the cat.
This is a really interesting contemporary fantasy which explores the idea that magic is controlled by the wealthy and the elite, and the consequences for catching the attention of those groups. The world building is compelling and magical, and the characters are just as good. I think this is going to be a really popular release this fall as a great, and very accessible, work of contemporary fantasy!

A thoroughly entertaining start to a new series. A recommended purchase for collections where UF and Jacka's previous work is popular.

I loved the Alex Verus series and was optimistic about this new series. It's set in a different world than the Verus novels, so a good portion of the book is setting up the rules of the new world and how drucraft works. It got off to a slow start for me, but I enjoyed it and am already waiting for the next book in the series.

I enjoyed the use of the magic elements in this book, it had everything that I was hoping for. It had what I was looking for from Benedict Jacka's writing and it worked with what I was hoping for. It had what I enjoyed from the Alex Verus series. The characters worked great in this world and I didn't want the story to end. This was a great start to this story and can't wait for more.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

As much as I enjoyed the author's previous series (Alex Verus), I think that this one will be even better.

While this book does have a lot of setup and introduction (world building, defining magic system, basic character background, support character introductions), it never really detracts from the movement of the plot. And the plot really does move. The main character's life is in a major bogged down period when he is confronted with revelations about the "magic world" that he was slightly aware of, briefly kidnapped, escapes, and makes the decision to move his life in a major new direction. He finds that he can trust very few people in this new world that has opened up before him, but we can be pretty sure that in future books he'll find more true friends (and perhaps family) that will act as his support system.

And not least of all, there is a kick-ass cat that plays a major role and promises to be a continuing character. Meowr!

The glossary at the back of this book was a great addition, and I just hope that it is included at the front of subsequent volumes.

I am really looking forward to seeing where the author takes this new series in subsequent books.

An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka, I always enjoy Jacka's books and this one is no exception. A different universe and style of magic than his other series but very enjoyable!

An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka is a thrilling contemporary fantasy novel that explores the concept of magic being controlled by the wealthy elite. The story follows Stephen Oakwood, a young man who is on the brink of discovering the hidden world of magic. However, he has limited opportunities and no training, except for his potential and a minimum wage job. But when he catches the attention of a member of House Ashford, he is thrown into the world of magic headfirst.

The plot is fast-paced and exciting, and the characters are well-developed and complex. Jacka's world-building is superb, and he creates a vivid magical society where wealth and power are everything. Stephen's journey is captivating, and the reader can't help but root for him as he navigates this new world.

Overall, An Inheritance of Magic is a brilliant addition to the contemporary fantasy genre. Jacka's writing is engaging, and the story is both thrilling and thought-provoking. This novel is perfect for fans of The Magicians and The Dresden Files.