The Subtle Art

After surviving an extreme act of domestic violence Andrew, a tattoo artist and magic Practitioner, began a new life in Chicago with the mission to help victims become survivors and leave their abusers behind. Using his abilities to protect his clients, Andrew pours his magic in the tattoos he gives them, in the form of protective symbols, the most basic yet powerful form of magic. Andrew has been on his own for years, only trusting his brother, Ivan, and Robert, the leader of the Council, until one day Sebastian, a trans actor who survived a severe accident, walks into his shop seeking a way to reclaim his body. Upon the creation of his tattoo, Sebastian finds that he can see what others cannot: the threads of magic Andrew has woven into the design, raising questions as to who he really is and what his intentions are. When one of his recent clients turns up dead, however, Andrew is drawn into a conflict that he has been able to avoid for years. Andrew and Sebastian will have to learn about themselves and face what scares them the most when the underground war between the Council of Practitioners and the many factions of Hounds comes to the surface. Andrew and Sebastian will be forced to confront uncomfortable truths and long buried secrets that could change the path of their newly blossoming relationship. As outside forces try to stop Andrew from becoming who he was always supposed to be, Sebastian will find out the truth behind his ability to see magic. In a world where Practitioners are feared because of their powers, and the threat of war looming over them, Andrew and Sebastian must defy all odds and find a way to overcome their differences to survive.