Wayward Reviews

Book Synopsis

Book Details

Pages: 384

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Pan MacMillan

Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he’s actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. If it weren’t for this administrative error, he’d never have discovered the incredible magic underlying his world.

Cursed by mysterious attackers and plagued by visions, Robin becomes determined to drag answers from his missing predecessor – but he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his hostile magical-society counterpart. Unwillingly thrown together, Robin and Edwin will discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles.

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Review

* Non-Spoiler Review*

My first book of 2022 and what a read it was! I received this book from my illumicrate book and was quite surprised by the book they choose. As this is a non-spoiler review, however, I would like to point out that there is some spicy season in this book that might catch people by surprise. That is all I am going to say without spoiling anything.

We are introduced to Robin Blythe, a newly appointed Baron upon his father’s death. Unfortunately, his parents have left the estate in a mountain of debt and for him to manage this problem he needs to work. He is appointed to a minor government position which he believes is a reflection of how his parents treated people in society. However, he knows that this position will help towards getting his household organised.

Sadly the first day on the job he finds out this post is for people who have magical understanding – which he never realised existed. Confronted by the magical liaison Edwin, who was less than pleased that he has a novice to the magical world, everything for Robin get’s turned upside down.

After the horrendous meeting with Edwin, Robin is attacked by some mysterious magician who put a curse on him in order to find out where his predecessor has hidden a contract. Edwin feeling somewhat responsible to help Robin lift the curse set out to find out how they can lift it and what Robin’s predecessor was up to.

I really loved the whole plot, to me, this is a modern fantasy adventure story. Set in an alternative Britain where magicians exist, hidden in plain sight of the world. While a lot of the story is character-driven, you get to understand the workings of the magical set.

I enjoyed both Robin and Edwin as the main characters. Well rounded and flawed, they were compelling to read about and I found that as the story progressed they naturally grew along with it. Which can be quite difficult to portray in the three-week timeline that this story happens in.

I don’t really want to say anything more without spoiling the plot, but it was a face-paced adventure where I found myself absorbed in what happened. I would highly recommend adding this to your TBR.

Spice Rating: 4/6 – See my rating system here

Book Rating: 4.5/5