An Inheritance of Magic (Stephen Oakwood #1)[September 22, 2024]

[Yanique, Thread Master]

This is a Buddy read for An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka starting on September 22, 2024.


Happy Reading!

[Nirkatze]

Whoo! Thank you! For people suffering from Alex Verus withdrawal!

1. An Inheritance of Magic (Sept 22)
2. An Instruction in Shadow (Oct 22) [link]

Audio: Not on Hoopla or A+.
Ebook: Not on Hoopla, Open Library, or KU.

[Tonari no Emily]

Very tempted... But will probably wait till next year to reread the first and read the second. Just confirmed the third book has been written and should be sent to his editors soon if not already done so. Gotta love authors who can publish roughly once per year!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Don't Inherit the Magic... Consume it ;)

[Nirkatze]

This was soooo good though--hoping that feeling with stick on reread. This could be my comfort replacement for the Scholomance series--reread each year before next book comes out...

Is it a confirmed trilogy? Or more long-running like Alex?

[Tonari no Emily]

Long running! He said he plans on writing these through the 2020s so hopefully we can look forward to one per year

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

We read too many books... so all the random facts go in one ear and out the other...

I coulda sworn I talked about how this was a series, when I talked about how Jacka outlined this one more than Alex Verus from the start... where Alex Verus didn't get a series outline until book 2-4, which left it constrained by decisions made when book 1 was basically a standalone...

I also never made time to read any of the articles Jacka wrote on his website to deep dive into the magic system here...

[Ann-Marie]

I am looking forward to this one, it'll be a first-time read for me and I hope I don't end up hating the ending once the series is completed :)

[Tonari no Emily]

Timelord Iain wrote: "We read too many books... so all the random facts go in one ear and out the other...

I coulda sworn I talked about how this was a series, when I talked about how Jacka outlined this one more than ..."

You very well might have! Lol I think I was very late to the first BR so I probably didnt fully read all the comments
Or i just forgot 🤷‍♀️

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Some of my comments lately feel like me saying "you guys need to listen to me better", which leads to me rambling on extra with other things, trying to make it clear that's not what I meant, like adding the part about us reading too much...

I also just kinda assume anything is a series until proved otherwise with some bold blurb saying "start of a new trilogy / climactic conclusion to the XYZ trilogy by Author Name Here"

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "We read too many books... so all the random facts go in one ear and out the other...

I coulda sworn I talked about how this was a series, when I talked about how Jacka outlin..."

Speaking of climactic conclusions, ready for another cozy sandwich?

The Dragon in Winter came out August 20th, when we weren't paying attention...

[Ann-Marie]

Read this today and I liked it well enough. (view spoiler)[It is definitely the first in the series, more like a very long intro. The magic system was interesting and I really loved that the cat was named Hobbes and that he not only survived those assholes's attack but is like a super cat now <3 I would have given this 3 stars for the stupid ending but I bumped it to 4 because of Hobbes. Looking forward to continuing next month with the second book :) (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

(view spoiler)[ the mom thing? (hide spoiler)] we had a whole debate last year about the difference between a cliffhanger and a plot hook…

I think Jacka calls what he did in Alex Verus 6-11 plot hooks and I generally called cliffhangers… in fairness he’s probably right, but his plot hooks leave me wanting more right now…

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "[spoilers removed] we had a whole debate last year about the difference between a cliffhanger and a plot hook…

I think Jacka calls what he did in Alex Verus 6-11 plot hooks and I generally called ..."

Yup that. I understand unresolved issues in a series but so little was explained in this one, it was essentially a long prologue - Here are the characters and this is the magic system, we'll get into the story in book 2 a year from now, suckers!

[Diana Stormblessed]

Just started this one. Really digging it so far. My first book by the author and I’m into it.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Love it. My first book by this author. Excited for the next one and to check out other series of his.

[Felina]

Oh! Sounds like another Verus read is in our future.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

This series is similar to Alex Verus, but Jacka describes this one as having more Progression Fantasy elements, with starting off as a noob vs well-versed in the magic system, and that whole catalog kinda reminds me of LitRPGs...

[Felina]

I just got to the part where (view spoiler)[ they hurt Hobbs! (hide spoiler)] I’m enraged!!!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

SORRY :D

That's like a major plot point of the book, and the MC's main drive for developing his magic... good from bad...

[Felina]

Now I’m invested. Let’s get those mf-ers!

[Ann-Marie]

Felina wrote: "Oh! Sounds like another Verus read is in our future."

If I ever do re-read it I will not read the epilogue in the last book lol

[Felina]

Oh, this is your opportunity to write a fanfic epilogue for all of us.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

and he died... the end... I think that was the gist of Ann-Marie's sentiments :D

She'd rather he died... or that the council all died and real change was enacted...

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "and he died... the end... I think that was the gist of Ann-Marie's sentiments :D

She'd rather he died... or that the council all died and real change was enacted..."

I'd rather he died than the ending happen as it did! But if it were up to me then the White Council would have been blown up and completely reformed and Alex and his cohorts would have been lauded as the heroes that they were, not just immediately return to the shady business as usual that had been taking place for years and years.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

See?... I covered both bases perfectly :D

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "See?... I covered both bases perfectly :D"

For real though, am I wrong?????

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

No... I just read so much that I let alot slide...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "This was soooo good though--hoping that feeling with stick on reread. This could be my comfort replacement for the Scholomance series--reread each year before next book comes out...

Is it a confir..."

Started my re-read... 10 seconds in... Authors Note: Welcome to my new series... I plan to keep working on it for the next 10 years or so...

Question: Answered by the author...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Re-reading is reminding me of everything I thought the first time around, and then some... (view spoiler)[

1) I'm expecting Stephen to loop in his friends at some point, when he has enough going to kit them out...

2) The real world economics of it all are realistic and depressing... turning magic into as much of a Big Business conspiracy as any other business...

3) The MC has alot of advantages, given his oddities, and hopefully the origins of these oddities are explained in future books, when he builds connections and sources of knowledge...

4) This series has the potential to go Full Gundam + magic... (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Felina wrote: "Oh! Sounds like another Verus read is in our future."

I would love that

[Diana Stormblessed]

Felina wrote: "I just got to the part where [spoilers removed] I’m enraged!!!"

I was honestly going to put down the book and not continue. Glad I continued.

[Nirkatze]

If anyone wants to see the old thread from last year, you can find it [here]. I found it interesting to look through our old notes. I still noticed a lot of the same things, but some new stuff too.

One of the things I appreciated both reads is how Stephen's looks (view spoiler)[has been as much a curse as a blessing. You hear about this more with women--one of my friends likes to follow a youtuber who gives advice for how to reject unwanted admirers--but you rarely hear about similar problems with men, as it's assumed that anyone who is "hot enough to get any women he wants" is happily exploiting said looks and not at all inconvenienced by them. That might be a sort of... byproduct of toxic masculine culture, the whole "boys don't cry" so they certainly don't complain about all the women they aren't interested in hitting on them.

There were several parts throughout the book where Stephen mentions he felt someone watching him. And it could have been the goons or even Byron (who "melted into shadows" at the end, and was that literal or figurative?). Byron definitely must know the Father who Stephen's been getting advice from, since he recognized the rhetoric. I'm thinking the Watchers are possibly what the Father hinted at near the end--that Stephen's abilities were endowed upon him by some being, and that being is watching him to see how he does... the times he felt that unseen eye were all times when he was about to make a breakthrough in Drucraft.

And of course, the Ashcroft family is such a bunch of assholes it's a miracle the place doesn't smell like a sewer. I love a good comeuppance story, and I am so looking forward to Stephen showing them up Big Time as the series progresses.

But the winner of everything is of course, Hobbes. I love that he got his revenge already in this book! Him beating up that goon was such a great avenging moment, and Hobbes getting beaten was such a horrible point! DO NOT MESS WITH THE CAT! Parallels to John Wick, of course, but better, because the pet doesn't die, and the PET gets revenge. (hide spoiler)]

I am so frickin' glad it's less than a month to the next one1!!!!

[Diana Stormblessed]

Nirkatze wrote: "If anyone wants to see the old thread from last year, you can find it [here]. I found it interesting to look through our old notes. I still noticed a lot of the same things, but some new stuff too...."

Love your post. Will also go and read the thread from last year’s br. And also can’t wait for three book 2 br!

[Felina]

Okay…hmmmm, I’m almost done with the audio and I’m bored to death. I trust Jacka and I understand he wrote Verus without a plan for a series and this time he wants to plan this out better. I get that but I’m struggling. Nothing is happening. Drucraft, a bad guy chases him, drucraft, he’s tired, drucraft…yawn. I will obviously be going forward with this series but, rough.

[Nirkatze]

Aww, that's a bummer! Sorry it's not hitting with you Felina!

[Ann-Marie]

This was an extended prologue so I can see why you may have been bored, Felina. I am planning on giving the next a try and decide then whether to continue as they are released or not.

[Felina]

I finished. I liked it but Stephen is no Alex. I do intend to continue regardless. I agree, this book really set the stage and now I have hope that the story moves from here.