Magicians Impossible

Like an American millennial Harry Potter, 30-year-old Jason Bishop discovers that neither he nor his parents are quite who he thought they were and that magical gifts are real. His absent dad, who sent him to be raised by an aunt and uncle, may have been protecting rather than neglecting him. When Jason attends his father's funeral, he realizes that someone else is to be buried—a Diabolist of the Invisible Hand, an organization locked in battle with spell casters of the Golden Dawn. He becomes involved in an ancient conflict between those who are born to magic and those who learn and manipulate it through spells. Jason's initiation and training at the Citadel are much more intense and brief than a long education at Hogwarts, and he must quickly step up from recruit to soldier. Abraham's tale has more blood, tattoos, and snark than J.K. Rowling's books, but the narratives share colorful characters, levels of magical prowess, and a sense that trust should be only very carefully bestowed. Romps through the Louvre and Dan Brown—like adventures involving artwork, conspiracy, and revelations will delight readers. Characters here don't come to life with the same mastery as in Rowling's titles, but few will notice, considering all the magical motion.