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Good guys
316 pages
A gritty, cynical urban fantasy where underpaid magical operatives question the morality of the secretive institution they serve.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a shadowy, cynical corner of the urban fantasy genre, where extraordinary magical abilities are treated with blue-collar pragmatism. The narrative moves at a brisk, punchy pace, blending gritty street-level reality with paranormal espionage. There is a distinct undercurrent of dark humor and anti-establishment skepticism, as the story constantly questions the true motives of secretive, supposedly benevolent institutions. The mood is paranoid and suspenseful, grounded by the very real, systemic injustices its protagonists face before and after acquiring their powers. It will delight readers who crave magic systems tied to real-world struggles, offering a wry, suspenseful ride for anyone who loves their paranormal thrillers laced with institutional distrust and moral ambiguity.
- Mood
- paranoid
- shadowy
- suspenseful
- Tone
- cynical
- wry
- gritty
- skeptical
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- institutional exploitation · systemic injustice · moral ambiguity · blue-collar magic
- The writing
- Punchy and pragmatic, laced with dark humor and a sharp, questioning edge.
- The arc
- The journey moves from the relief of a miraculous second chance to a creeping, paranoid realization about the true nature of authority.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love gritty urban fantasy where magical operatives deal with real-world systemic issues and corporate exploitation.
Content notes
- police brutality
- gun violence
- racial profiling
About the book
"Donovan was shot by a cop. For jaywalking, supposedly. Actually, for arguing with a cop while black. Four of the nine shots were lethal--or would have been, if their target had been anybody else. The Foundation picked him up, brought him back, and trained him further. "Lethal" turns out to be a relative term when magic is involved. When Marci was fifteen, she levitated a paperweight and threw it at a guy she didn't like. The Foundation scooped her up for training too. "Hippie chick" Susan got well into her Foundation training before they told her about the magic, but she's as powerful as Donovan and Marci now. They can teleport themselves thousands of miles, conjure shields that will stop bullets, and read information from the remnants of spells cast by others days before. They all work for the secretive Foundation... for minimum wage. Which is okay, because the Foundation are the good guys. Aren't they?"--Jacket.
Description from Open Library.
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