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A Judgement of Powers

An Inheritance of Magic Book 3: urban fantasy from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus novels
Brief Description
The super-rich control everything—including magic—in this thrilling and brilliant contemporary fantasy series from the author of the Alex Verus novels. Stephen Oakwood's ambitions used to be simple: pay his bills, track down his father, and take care of his cat. Maybe study a little magic after... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3799
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The super-rich control everything-including magic-in this thrilling and brilliant, contemporary fantasy series from the author of the Alex Verus novels.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The super-rich control everything—including magic—in this thrilling and brilliant contemporary fantasy series from the author of the Alex Verus novels.

Stephen Oakwood's ambitions used to be simple: pay his bills, track down his father, and take care of his cat. Maybe study a little magic after work, if he had time.

Now it's a year later, and he's got everything he wanted. But it's come with a price.

The Winged, a mysterious group involved with his father, have noticed Stephen, and they want him to join them—or else. His career as a corporate locator has hit a dead end. His new job as bodyguard to Calhoun Ashford is proving a lot more lethal than expected due to assassination attempts from outside the House, and possibly also from within.

To survive, Stephen's going to need allies of his own. Along the way, he's going to have to figure out the secret of his own gift, and what it means. The cults, Houses, and corporations of the magical world are locked in an endless battle for dominance, and Stephen is beginning to realise that he's going to have to pick a side... before someone else picks it for him.

In this series:

An Inheritance of Magic

An Instruction in Shadow

A Judgement of Powers

Series: The Inheritance of Magic Series

View all
  • An Inheritance of Magic
    Book one in a new fantasy series of super rich magical dynasties and warring heirs - from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus series. For readers of contemporary fantasy who enjoy the methods and magicians of dark academia . . . ANYONE CAN USE MAGIC - IF THEY CAN AFFORD THE PRICE . . . In a world where...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • A Judgement of Powers
    The super-rich control everything—including magic—in this thrilling and brilliant contemporary fantasy series from the author of the Alex Verus novels. Stephen Oakwood's ambitions used to be simple: pay his bills, track down his father, and take care of his cat. Maybe study a little magic after work, if he had time. Now it's a year later, and he's got everything...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Instruction in Shadow
    The sequel to An Inheritance of Magic. A new fantasy series of super rich magical dynasties and warring heirs from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus series. This book is perfect for readers of contemporary fantasy who enjoy the methods and magicians of dark academia.
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Instruction in Shadow
    MAGIC. POWER. GREED. The ultra-rich control magic—the same way they control everything else—but Stephen Oakwood may just beat them at their own game in this exhilarating contemporary fantasy from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus novels. Stephen has emerged victorious against the schemes of his aristocratic family. Now he finally has the opportunity to do what he's been wanting...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780356520001

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 November 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Benedict Jacka is the author of the Alex Verus series, which began in 2012 with Fated and ended in 2021 with Risen. He's studied philosophy at Cambridge, taught English in China, and worked at everything from civil servant to bouncer before becoming a full-time writer. For information about his books, settings, and releases, check his website at benedictjacka.co.uk or his Twitter at @benedictjacka.

Also by Benedict Jacka

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  • Bound
    Alex Verus can see the future. But he never thought he'd see this day. Manoeuvred by forces beyond his control, the probability mage has made a terrible choice: he's agreed to work for his old master once more. Richard Drakh, the sadistic dark mage Alex escaped as an apprentice, has him in his clutches again. And this time, he won't...
    Paperback
    $2600
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  • Marked
    Alex Verus is tracking down dangerous magical items unleashed into the world by Dark Mages. However, when the Light Council decide they need his help in negotiating with the perpetrators, Alex must use all his cunning and magic to strike a deal. The ninth novel in the urban fantasy series which began with Fated—the Alex Verus novels are magic-filled fan...
    Paperback
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  • Fated
    Camden, North London. A tangled, mangled junction of train lines, roads and the canal. Where minor celebrities hang out with minor criminals, where tourists and moody teenagers mingle and where you can get your ears pierced and your shoulder tattooed while eating sushi washed down with a can of super strength beer. In the heart of Camden, where rail meets...
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  • Fallen
    Everything is on the line for probability mage Alex Verus in the tenth urban fantasy novel from the bestselling author of FATED. Once Alex Verus was a diviner trying to live quietly under the radar. Now he's a member of the Light Council who's found success, friends... and love. But it's come with a price - the Council is investigating...
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  • Veiled
    Veiled by Benedict Jacka REBEL NO MORE Alex Verus is a mage who can see the future, but even he couldn't have seen this day coming. Alex has agreed to join the Keepers, the magical police force, to protect his friends from his old master, the Dark Mage Richard Drakh. Going legit was always going to be difficult for an...
    Paperback
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    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Inheritance of Magic
    Book one in a new fantasy series of super rich magical dynasties and warring heirs - from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus series. For readers of contemporary fantasy who enjoy the methods and magicians of dark academia . . . ANYONE CAN USE MAGIC - IF THEY CAN AFFORD THE PRICE . . . In a world where...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Burned
    Alex Verus has a magic shop in Camden, London, and an uncanny ability to see the future. But suddenly everyone can see Alex's future. The Mage's Council of Great Britain has named him a traitor and ordered his death in seven days’ time, and there's no way anyone can get out of that. Alex's friends—Luna and the other apprentices he's...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Available
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  • Forged
    Alex Verus faces his dark side in this return to the bestselling urban fantasy series about a London-based mage. To protect his friends, Mage Alex Verus has had to change - and embrace his dark side. But the life mage Anne has also changed, forming a bond with a dangerous power. She's pursuing everyone she's got a grudge against -...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Taken
    Welcome to Fountain Reach. Ancient seat of the Aubuchon dynasty. Majestic setting of the White Stone tournament. Alex Verus' (not necessarily reliable) reputation attracts all sorts. Most are plain bonkers. Yet there's one invitation he just can't refuse. At Fountain Reach, Alex is perfectly placed among the noted and notorious to figure out why apprentices have been vanishing. But the...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Hidden
    Hidden NEVER LOOK BACK Alex Verus is a diviner who can see probable futures—a talent that's gotten him and his friends out of many a tough scrape. But what happens when someone doesn't want Alex's help? Alex's friend, the life mage Anne, distanced herself from him when she found out about his past as a Dark apprentice. Now she's in...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Instruction in Shadow
    The sequel to An Inheritance of Magic. A new fantasy series of super rich magical dynasties and warring heirs from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus series. This book is perfect for readers of contemporary fantasy who enjoy the methods and magicians of dark academia.
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • An Instruction in Shadow
    MAGIC. POWER. GREED. The ultra-rich control magic—the same way they control everything else—but Stephen Oakwood may just beat them at their own game in this exhilarating contemporary fantasy from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus novels. Stephen has emerged victorious against the schemes of his aristocratic family. Now he finally has the opportunity to do what he's been wanting...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

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