I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion. 
 The Equals, or magic users, have ruled Britain since they overthrew the monarchy in the 1600s. Non-magical people have to give up 10 years of their lives to work as slaves in one of the slave towns around the country. Luke, 16, is devastated when he learns his parents have decided the entire family - his dad; his mom; his 18-year-old sister, Abi; and his 10-year-old sister, Daisy - are going to serve their slave days now so they can be together. Abi has managed to get the family a placement at Kyneston instead of one off the slave towns; they will be serving the founding family of this magical government, the Jardines. On the morning they are to leave, however, Luke is separated from the family and sent to a slave town. They must start their slave days apart but vow to get Luke to rejoin them as quickly as possible. 
 This book switches views between Luke's, his family, and the Jardines. Vic James has created a fascinating alternate universe. I find it intriguing that some parts of history remained almost unchanged despite the presence of magical people - the Civil War still took place in the United States; computers were still invented, and so on. The end of the book definitely had a few surprises for me and a big cliff-hander; I can't wait to read the next book in the series!