A review by netslummer
The Fantastic Fluke by Sam Burns

4.0

Sage McKinley, a low power level mage, and proprietor of a bookstore that he inherited from his recently deceased father can see ghosts. Its a fairly rare power but not one that's super helpful? All its done so far is make him have to deal with his father's incessant nagging; they didn't quite get along in life and he's even worse now in death. Until one day Sage saves a poor fox that's getting harassed by some people in an alley...and it quickly becomes apparent that that fox is his familiar. Low level mages don't always get one so its pretty unique that he found one at thirty.
...and then a gunslinger named Gideon appears in his shop. A ghost. Who says Sage is stronger than he knows. And a the next in line of a legacy of arcane magic who he has been tasked to train.

This book was a hoot. I really enjoyed it. The inner dialogue that Sage has with the audience is hilarious at times and Fluke (his familiar) is charming as hell. Gideon is sweet and protective of Sage. The murder mystery is fun to experience if a little obvious. Ends on a cliff hanger which made me immediately start book 2 which is a bummer for some but didn't really bother me.