This is the most misogynistic book written by a woman I've ever read. I don't think it's intentional and that's sad-- and horrible.

The main character is a straight white male police officer with strong, valuable magic. Oh, and he's rich. He poses like a social justice warrior, but there's no mention of ethnicity in any context and barely any awareness of LGBTQ. There is no mention of sexism, but plenty of examples of it happening... to his newest familiar, who is a small female wolf-shifter who was orphaned due to being a predator species. Like the movie Zootopia, this predjudice is CONSTANT.

It is established early and often that although familiars are sentient people, they are not full citizens, are considered mostly dangerous beasts, not capable of intelligence over their base bestial natures, and not due the rights of people. What mages and familiars have is a system of serial indentured servitude-- for the familiars lucky enough to be chosen.

At every turn, the policeman gives lip service to being enlightened while helping reinforce all the damaging stereotypes he's supposedly against. He infantilizes his adult familiar and when she shows her knowledge of a thing, rather than accept her knowledge, he gets an expert's opinion.

Although it was established early on that the familiar was on track to start work as a regular police officer on Monday, the author later rescinded her accomplishment and reduced it to a dream of joining the police force. Upon her first introduction to a professional female mortician familiar, they leave the men to work and immediately plan a trip to a makeup store. Her first introduction to the female police chief results in immediately being shown how to fetch coffee. The policeman's mother is notable for her "little causes" which are a socialite's fights for equal rights and social justice issues.

Again and again the familiar blushes over the least kind word from the policeman, all while he doubts her, actively undermines her, or stops her from doing her job. He says it's because he cares. It's unrelenting misogyny. Having female characters doesn't absolve the writer from bad behavior against women throughout the book.

This is the main reason I don't recommend the book but the editing stinks and the numerous errors in wrong words, tense shifting, and grammar problems are very distracting. Finally, the author is apparently incapable of providing consistent details or bothering to research police work. Just for the record, NO business, let alone a government agency will let you work for a week before signing paperwork. This book is just a horrible mess. ( )