In a world of elves and dwarves and sprites and mages, Tane Carver is a human with no gift but his wits. Which, to be fair, did get him into the world’s most esteemed university of magical technology.

For a while.

Until his lack of magic was found out. And then it all came crashing down.

But when students is murdered about campus behind unbreakable wards, Tane gets a second chance. Resolving an impossible crime should be simple for the man who misled the university’s greatest mages for years. Except he’s not counting on the head constable as an previous flame who isn’t so keen on him any longer. Or on Kadka, the half-crazy half-orc who insists she’s his partner-whether he loves it or not really.

Not forgetting the masked mage who will keep trying to get rid of him.

Now, Tane’s survival depends on the one truth which has under no circumstances failed him. The flaw in all magic that those people who have it choose to disregard: the mage.

Outsmart the mage, and also you outsmart the spell.

And outsmarting mages is exactly what Tane does best.