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. And 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. And 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 realize that he's going to have to pick a side . . . before someone else picks it for him.

A Judgement of Powers by Benedict Jacka is engaging and fast paced, a great addition to the series, growing Stephen's world and continuing to send complications his way. I love the way the character evolves and learns better solutions for his problems even when he falters or finds even worse situations coming his way.

It is not just Stephen that grows but the world, as we learn more about the world of magic as it is presented in this world and the different powers that exist around the various groups. We learn more about the Winged but also Stephen's family and his friends. I like the way Stephen is slowly finding his purpose as well.

If you read the other books in the series, you will like the continuation. I do recommend reading the others as it will help you to understand this novel better. But the story itself is engaging and fast paced. I love the way Stephen solves his problems and I can't wait for more from this author.

Rating: 5 out of 5 allies ~~ Andrea Rittschof

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