Summary

Chapter 1 – Quentin Coldwater, nearly 30 years old, heads to Bookbumblers bookstore in Hackensack, New Jersey. As the store closes, Quentin is ushered into the back room along with several others by the cashier, Lionel. In the back room, several more people emerge through portals. The people assembled there live on the fringes of the magical world, and take odd, morally-questionable jobs to try to survive and keep a foothold in the world of magic.

A talking bird addresses the room and explains that a certain magical object must be obtained. The job will entail securing the right resources, finding the object, breaking the magical bond on the object, taking it, and dealing with those currently in possession of the object, all for $2 million. Most people refuse to take the job. Those who accept, like Quentin, are tested with a magical version of the card game...