There are rules of magic that apply to specific books. Names governed magic in Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea, magic and technology don't mix in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, but in Kate Griffin's Matthew Swift series she has rewritten the rules of magic. This is an urban fantasy taking place in modern London. The 'hero' is one Matthew Swift, sorcerer. There are a few problems though - the primary one being - he's dead.
There are four books which comprise the series. The first one is The Madness of Angels, or The Resurrection of Matthew Swift. The others are The Midnight Mayor, or the Inauguration of Matthew Swift, The Neon Court, or the Betrayal of Matthew Swift, and the recently released The Minority Council.
The key to this series though is how magic works in the urban environment. Legends have power here as do daily functions. London is protected by some of its urban legends like the ravens at the Tower of London. Sorcerers can use the energy around them in these urban landscapes. The ordinary and mundane have power in this series. The very activity of a city like London makes the sorcerer more powerful. The side effect is that when an event like a Bank Holiday happen, those normal rhythms are disrupted and sorcerers can barely get out of bed.
A good illustration of this takes place in Madness. A rather nasty Litter Bug (summoned monster made up of garbage) is chasing a confused and bewildered Matthew. He heads down into the Underground and pulls out his Oyster card, crosses the barrier, and then turns and reads the rules for riding the Underground. Those rules prevent the Litter Bug from crossing because the Litter Bug doesn't have a ticket. The sorcerer can turn the regular rules and norms of ordinary life and infuse them with magic.
The Madness of Angels introduces Matthew Swift as he awakes in his former bedroom. He's been dead for two years and has no idea what happened or how he is back. He does remember that he died and he is now referring himself as a "we" when he talks. What happened to him and how is a great bit of writing and completely consistent with the rules that Kate Griffin has created in this world. And as he figures out that he is back he also finds out that many of his former associates died right around the time he did. In his world there is no such thing as coincidence.
One of the other great things about this series is how legends have adapted themselves to the modern world. Faries that used to live in groves and open glens have adapted to new places to draw power from and new dens to hide in. Powers have arisen to protect people and clans have formed around some of these Powers. And there are magical groups that have formed in order to facilitate the proper regulation of magic. After all, can't have rogue mages running about making a mess of things.
Over the course of the series we get to know Matthew Swift, and he is a bit of a mess. Of course having been dead will do that to anyone. But he is a very powerful sorcerer among other things since his resurrection. He has a very bad way with people as he's a bit pushy and not very good at explaining himself. However, there is something that grabs the reader. Yes, he's powerful, but he's not used to being a person who wields influence. Their is a huge difference in that distinction in this series.
There are some side characters, but mainly this all about Matthew and his growth. Kate Griffin clearly enjoys using various parts of London as a backdrop. Having only been once, I actually would like to walk down one of the paths she describes.
If you like Urban Fantasies, this is a good one to enjoy. Matthew is a bit of a git, as described by many people, but his heart is in the right place. I found I enjoyed the way magic works in this series and I have always enjoyed a new outlook in this genre.