Strange Promises

Magical bureaucrats work in plain sight and Southeast Asian myth comes alive in this urban fantasy from author Jared Poon that is equal parts thrilling action, heartwarming charm, and guaranteed all-around fun. 
 
In the sunny city of Singapore, the government keeps a watchful eye on all citizens—especially its supernatural ones. 
 
As a middle manager in the Division for Engagement of Unusual Stakeholders (DEUS), Benjamin Toh is used to juggling deadlines and mediating between stakeholders both magically inclined and utterly mundane. It’s all in a day’s work—until his to-do list is thrown awry by news of a cargo ship crash that has exposed the smuggling of dangerous magical artifacts aboard. What’s worse, the damaged goods have infected two crew members, encasing them in impenetrable pearl shells. 
 
Ben’s boss is eager to pin the blame on the two people in front of her who conveniently can’t defend themselves. But if there’s one thing Ben loves to do, it’s annoy the higher-ups—and follow a hunch. For there’s something not quite right: who has been smuggling magical artifacts into the country, and for how long? Digging into old records reveals a redacted paper trail of investigations leading nowhere, an old coworker who disappeared into thin air, and the suspected involvement of the city’s supernatural criminal underclass—people that Ben’s boss definitely doesn’t want to deal with. 
 
As rumors stir and accusations fly around, Ben and his coworkers must use all their wits to not just find an antidote for the infection, but to stop an all-out magical war from breaking out.

Praise for the DEUS Files:

★ “Fulfilling and expansive. A zany urban fantasy series that blends the bureaucracy of The House in the Cerulean Sea with the action-adventure sequences of Dungeon Crawler Carl.” —BookPage

★ “Urban fantasy that vibes like The X-Men meets Parks and Recreation? A send-up of government bureaucracy that is also a magnificent homage to public service? Sign me up! A unique and refreshing read.” —Megan Bannen, USA Today bestselling author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

★ “City of Others delights and charms, seamlessly blending action, magic, romance, and the tight bonds of an understaffed workplace that truly believes in the good they’re doing. I absolutely adored this!” —Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

★ “A whip-smart urban fantasy humming with the vibrant energy of Singapore and its chaotic magical inhabitants, this found family will welcome you in with open arms (and tentacles)!”—Molly O’Neill, author of Greenteeth

• Praise for the DEUS Files: 
  
  “Poon seamlessly blends action, magic, and romance. I absolutely adored this!" —Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
  
  "Urban fantasy that vibes like The X-Men meets Parks and Recreation? Sign me up!” —Megan Bannen, author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
  
  “A whip-smart urban fantasy.” —Molly O'Neill, author of Greenteeth
  
  “By turns funny, philosophical, and delightfully bizarre." —M. Stevenson, author of Behooved
  
  "Full of wonder, tenderness, and breathtaking adventure. A fresh and captivating fantasy." —Kylie Lee Baker, author of Japanese Gothic