Innate Magic

Written by Shannon Fay

Narrated by Peter Kenny

From debut author Shannon Fay comes the first novel in the enchanting Marrowbone Spells series featuring Paul Gallagher, a lower-class magician who aspires to high society through spells, wits, and irresistible charm.

Delightfully cheeky, unquestionably charming, and sometimes maddeningly naive, cloth mage Paul Gallagher is desperately trying to make a name for himself in a reimagined postwar London. But in a world where magic is commonplace, sewing enchanted clothes is seen as little more than a frivolous distraction. Paul is hiding a secret, however: he possesses a powerful—and illegal—innate magic that could help him achieve his wildest dreams.

Unfortunately, Paul confides in the wrong person—his latest crush, Captain Hector Hollister—and is drawn into a sinister plot that risks reigniting the machinery of war. To make matters worse, the pretty American gossip reporter Paul just met reveals her personal quest to expose a government cover-up may be related to Hollister’s magical goals. When Hollister threatens the life of Paul’s dearest friend, he realizes that his poor judgement has put not only his family and friends in danger, but also the whole world.

The only way to set things right may be for Paul to undergo the dangerous ritual to become Court Magician—the most powerful magician in the country. But is becoming part of the institution the best way to enact change in a terribly unjust society?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781713614883

Shannon Fay

Shannon Fay is a writer living in K’jipuktuk/Halifax, Canada. She attended the Clarion West Writers Workshop in 2014 and has a day job editing manga. She lives with her biggest critic (a very vocal, very fluffy white cat) and her biggest supporter (a very kind human). When not writing novels and short stories, she likes to go ice-skating (in the winter) and play board games (year-round). Innate Magic is her first novel.

Reviews for Innate Magic

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Really not for me. I got about a third of the way through and couldn't tolerate the self-obsessed, sex-obsessed, maker-of-bad-choices protagonist any longer as he got himself twisted further and further into weird plots. I skipped to the end to see if it was worth finishing - and thought I was reading an excerpt of the next book; it's a completely different plot, and a different POV, in the last chapter. Skimmed back a bit, and apparently those weird plots just keep twisting further and further into weirdness - and their consequences lead to the plot and problems for the next book (thus the last chapter). If you enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora or The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - if you like manipulators and twisty plots - try this, you may love it. Not me.

[ladycato · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a highly enjoyable book that feels both cozy and original in so many ways! I was fortunate enough to get an early copy and sent along a blurb:"Innate Magic romps about a magic-infused mid-20th century London with a plot packed with both charm and grit. What a fun kick-off to a new series!"