This new urban fantasy series by the author of the Alex Verus books stars a young Englishman struggling to balance earning a living, socializing with friends, and practicing his Drucraft magic. Stephen's progress is slow on all counts. His job is a boring temporary position but it's still the best job he's found and allows him to rent a shabby room near his friends. His father taught him the basics of Drucraft but vanished before he could impart many details on techniques or the magical society that must surely exist. Then an arrogant young woman claiming to be his cousin appears on his doorstep, spouts a lot of cryptic statements, offers to help him, and then sends in her thugs to kidnap him without explaining why. Although the premise is hardly groundbreaking, the unique magic system helps this book stand out in an overcrowded genre.