This second part of the Inheritance of Magic trilogy was just as absorbing as the first. I loved learning more about the magic system that Jacka has created for the trilogy and Stephen, the main protagonist, is a great underdog character who defies the odds (and his lack of resources) to show how powerful someone with morals and determination can be against a corrupt system. Very much looking forward to the final part of the trilogy. Fingers crossed it will come soon.

Liked this so much I read it for a second time. Satisfying urban fantasy series. I really enjoy Benedict Jacka’s storing telling. I am always happy to spend time with his characters, his plots are engaging, and there is enough humour lighten things and keep me happy. The whole is totally believable fiction. I say this because book two in the series doesn’t move the big story on much at all. But that’s okay for me. We learn a little more about Stephen, the main character, and more about his parents and the extended family. A little more about the magic system being used. A little more about The Houses. There are little hints that things are going to continue to build up as the series continues. Next book please. Now would be nice. Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

An Instruction in Shadow is the second book in the Inheritance of Magic series by Benedict Jacka. This is set in an alternate London in England with a sigil and sigil crafting based magic system This really gets into the main character's Stephen's mother's side of the family and there's some fights where he's learning to craft and use his new sigils to protect himself against the Winged society who are trying to recruit him for an unknown reason. I just really enjoyed this sequel for how real the setting is and how human Stephen is and comes across. Just a guy with a magical talent trying to earn a living in the expensive city of London. I always enjoy a good contemporary urban fantasy and this was just easy to read and kept me engaged with the story. I did get an e-arc of this from the publisher off Netgalley but also bought the Broken Binding special edition.

I had intended to read the first book before diving into this one, to remind myself of the world all over again. But when it came to it, with all the self control of a sugar-hyped toddler, I simply tucked into this one after glancing at the excellent opening sentence. And then read most of the night, finishing it in one greedy session. Stephen continues to be a compelling and sympathetic protagonist. He reaches out to his mother, which doesn’t go all that well for either of them. He doesn’t get the support, or affection that he’s seeking from her. Or answers to his questions about the circumstances around her leaving without staying in touch. However, his half siblings turn up evidently wanting some sort of contact with him, particularly young Bridget. His father’s disappearance is increasingly bothering Stephen, who not only is missing the main person in his life after his mother left, but is coming to the conclusion that he probably needs Stephen’s help. Meanwhile, Stephen is continuing to do his best to keep a roof over his head and food on the table – an ongoing challenge in these times of spiralling costs and increasing bills. I found it refreshing that an urban fantasy tale set in contemporary London addresses the continuing financial crisis so many people are facing. The action scenes are gripping and I particularly enjoy the interesting magic system and the way it is parcelled up and utilised for the convenience of the wealthy. Stephen has to rely on his natural talent and work very hard to construct defence spells that others born into magical families can buy off the shelf. It would have been all too easy for Stephen to appear as a downtrodden victim in the middle of all this misfortune and I’m delighted that he doesn’t. All in all, this is a thumping good read that I couldn’t put down. It would have been a solid ten from me if it hadn’t been for the very abrupt ending, which I found joltingly unexpected – one of the disadvantages of reading ebooks over the printed version. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and look forward to getting hold of the next book. While I obtained an arc of An Instruction in Shadow from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own. 9/10

Satisfying urban fantasy series. I really enjoy Benedict Jacka’s storing telling. I am always happy to spend time with his characters, his plots are engaging, and there is enough humour lighten things and keep me happy. The whole is totally believable fiction. I say this because book two in the series doesn’t move the big story on much at all. But that’s okay for me. We learn a little more about Stephen, the main character, and more about his parents and the extended family. A little more about the magic system being used. A little more about The Houses. There are little hints that things are going to continue to build up as the series continues. Next book please. Now would be nice. Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.