This was a confusing episode in this series. I enjoyed myself, but this felt like so much background material and not much action that moved the story forward in a meaningful way.

There was so much time spent in exploring the history and worldbuilding. If this helped me or the main character Stephen understand better what's going on, it might be forgivable. However, we get SO much background and still are so confused at the end of this book.

I've really enjoyed getting this series as advanced reader copies. I liked this but I didn't love this one.

really a 3.75 ⭐

This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Benedict Jacka is offering us a fresh take on the urban fantasy genre. Fans will certainly find a good entry to the series. We finally have closing threads from the first 2 books and the world and story is finally opening up. Astute readers will know where this is going, but Jacka certainly doesn't answer much on what should be coming up next. The pacing was a bit slowler that the last few entries but the action delivered was fantastic. A Judgement of Powers does suffer a bit from middle book syndrome. With the plot being left open towards the end. The direction of the story feels a bit uncertain other than the few clues we are being given. A move probably done on purpose to keep fans wondering, but part of me thinks this may make the series lose some people who want qastronger hook to keep them around.

However, I'm looking forward to see what is coming next for Stephen. Things are shaping up to be very exciting.

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

Still enjoyable, but this book suffers from being toward the middle of this series with less action and more worrying about who is friendly, who is not, why he got his "extra" powers, and what to do next. The pace does pick up very nicely toward the end of the book and I look forward to seeing where this all leads.

I received a free copy from Berkeley Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date November 4th.

I requested a copy of this title because it's book three of an ongoing series I've been following. In A Judgement of Powers, young Stephen has finally made contact with his missing father in an urban fantasy London where powerful Houses collect power from magic wells. Meanwhile, the secretive order trying to recruit him is increasing the pressure, and his part-time job guarding his aristocratic cousin from his own House is getting more dangerous.

This book is a bit outside my usual taste. It's very much in the line of Red Rising, Will Wight's books, Name of the Wind--centered around Young Man Who Levels Up. The inherent conflict in this style of narrative is that it glorifies a guy who is just so hardworking and talented that he advances to positions of great power--while simultaneously depicting a inherently unfair world where power is clearly not merit based. Jacka is excellent at depicting the minutae of an unfair system--there was a great arc in book two on how the well finding industry sucks in poor people with promises of big windfalls, forces them to buy licenses and finding stones rigged to fail within months, and then sets them loose burdened with debt and competing against armed raiders who steal their finds. Stephen himself grew up poor and spends a fair chunk of each book worrying about making enough money for rent and food,

However, Jacka is also painfully avoidant of making any sort of statement that could be construed as political. With a plot about rival sinister societies who control media and politicians and steer the forces of history, you'd think that they'd have at least some politically relevant ideology, if only to lower taxes for the rich. But Jacka athletically pirouettes over any opportunities for systemic commentary. In Stephen's world, apparently the solution to the trap of grinding poverty is to be smart and special and make it by yourself as an entrepreneur with no bosses.

After spending two paragraphs picking the book apart, I do want to emphasize that I enjoyed it. A Judgement of Powers is compulsively readable, and Jacka has an excellent touch with the pacing. It's clear that he intends to write a book a year in this series for another decade, and the power build is carefully calibrated to keep up the tension. Stephen learns more about magic and gets greater powers--but the deeper in he gets, the more formidable his opponents. Stephen's not always the most politically canny protagonist, but he's persistent, stubborn, and loyal to his friends. The book ends on a relatively climactic battle that provides closure for Stephen's arc in this book while also leaving clear hooks for next year's sequel.

Recommended only if you like Red Rising or The Will of the Many. I do find the books compelling, despite their political spinelessness, and I look forward to reading book 4 next year.

When I requested I didn't realize this was the third book in a series, and ended up binging the series over the weekend. This was fantastic!

One thing I definitely know about this author is that his ability to craft unique universes shine in this series and in this latest. Poor Stephen can’t catch a break, and he has so many avenues for his future, and none of them are a great prospect. His family, a shadow organization, and his path to a career are his only way to freedom, and he is forced at the end to choose one…what a great addition to the series, and I love how Stephen just makes lemonade out of lemons when everything is his world seems to keep him from peace. This is an action-packed, well-written, captivating urban fantasy book at its finest. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series! That said, this book definitely feels like a bridge. There is some action, but not a lot happens to move the plot forward. Stephen is still working through some things and I think book four will have a lot more momentum. Still a good read!

A Judgement of Powers by Benedict Jacka, a really well done 3rd book. I am always on the lookout for Jacka's new books because I know I am going to love them and this one is no exception.