Oh my goodness, I enjoyed this. It was a random read from Netgalley, a debut from Breanna Teintze, published by Quercus. I didn't intend to read it until closer to the publication date (8^th August) but I glanced at it out of curiosity and got sucked right in.

Corcoran Gray is an outlaw wizard, pitted against the Mages' Guild who have imprisoned his grandfather. He's got no money, no friends, and he's on the run. Could it get any worse? The answer is, of course, yes. Ms Teintze has used the age old method of the worst thing she can think of to her character… and after that, making it even worse. Good for her! It works. The magic system is more than harsh on its users. Gray suffers, but never gives in.

Poor Gray, you have to feel sorry for him, but this is not a pity party. His inner voice is full of sarcasm tinged with black humour. He fights back. Together with the runaway slave, Brix, he has to break out of jail, descend into the depths of a dangerous underground temple and face a necromancer who might even be a god. If he can do this and keep his soul intact he might – just might – be able to save his granddad.

The book strap line is: Magic is poison. Secrets are power. Death is… complicated. That pretty well covers it. Highly recommended.