Zombies. Shoestorms. Illicit unicorn rides. A talking red panda. Before today Max never believed in magic, despite bad luck so terrible he used to jokingly call it a curse. Now he's a reluctant believer. His first day as a mage he draws the attention of the magic police, not to mention the mysterious hooded figures chasing him all over downtown Portland trying to kill him with magic. With the help of his new speed-demon red panda familiar, his fortune-telling neighbor, a gadget-obsessed witch, a grumpy vampire, and his maybe-brother, Max needs to learn to use his chaos magic, and quickly, or his 'curse' is going to be the end of him and the people he loves.