Using magic causes "blowback," a physical or mental toll on the worker, and requires skin-to-skin contact.
(known in English as White Cat ) is the first installment in The Curse Workers trilogy by Holly Black . This urban fantasy noir introduces a world where magic, known as "curse work," is both a rare genetic gift and a criminalized practice. World-Building and Magic System Gata blanca - Holly Black.epub
The novel is set in an alternate reality where roughly 0.1% to 1% of the population are "workers"—individuals who can manipulate reality through a single touch. Because this magic was banned in 1929, most workers have been pushed into organized crime, forming powerful "curse families" akin to the American Mafia. Key elements include: Using magic causes "blowback," a physical or mental
The Curse Workers trilogy – Holly Black | The Serpent's Quill World-Building and Magic System The novel is set
To guard against unwanted magic, most people wear gloves in public. Plot Summary
There are seven known types, including those who manipulate luck, emotions, memories, and physical forms.