No Sympathy

Dooley debuts with a somber urban fantasy about the value of self-love. After Theo, an unemployed alcoholic, is kicked out of his friend’s house, he starts sleeping on the streets of Berlin. So he’s surprised when one day he wakes up on a street in Shenzhen, China. There, he meets Gabriel, who introduces Theo to the world of magic, which is only accessible to the down-and-out. Gabriel teaches Theo how to control his talent for teleportation, as well as other magic tricks that allow him to steal, gather grocery store surplus, and crash in empty five-star hotel rooms. It’s exciting at first, but with his basic needs met, Theo soon seeks something more, questioning the larger purpose of his newfound powers. Gabriel introduces him to the enclave, a group that uses magic to travel the world and anonymously help the unfortunate. Dooley’s fascinating magic system feels fresh, with different magical skills requiring different knowledge bases, from philosophy to architecture. The story itself is grim, heading inevitably toward tragedy, but Theo’s globe-hopping adventures will keep readers invested in the journey there. Dooley is off to a strong start. (Oct.)