In The Hidden and the Maiden by Eben Mishkin, we first meet James Rathbone, an ex-student of the last wizard. 
When James agrees to take on the challenge of stopping an evil medium named Kenton Dean from using a magical elixir to control Kherty-Aken, the fallen god of death, he gets a lot more than he bargains for. He must team up with an androgynous young man named Zephyr. Unbeknownst to James, Zephyr is a medium who is haunted by the ghost of his mother. This ghost tends to demonstrate multiple personalities that change with her moods, and she is extremely possessive of Zephyr.
As the two begin their quest, they find they have a lot to learn about each other. Part of their mission also involves rescuing a woman who is believed to have been captured by Kenton Dean. As they go in search of this woman, they discover that she truly lives in a haunted mansion that holds many dangerous and deadly secrets.
They not only have to overcome holding back secrets from each other, but they also have to learn to test their talents to the limit. This is the only way that they can defeat Kenton Dean and vanquish Kherty-Aken. Both the man and the god put a great deal of obstacles in their path. Overcoming these obstacles to come out of this alive, is the only option for these men.
I really enjoyed every word of The Hidden and the Maiden by Eben Mishkin. While it is an urban fantasy, it also has touches of mystery and horror. Reading this novel will leave the reader feeling like they are on a roller coaster ride; one that goes through a haunted mansion.
Full of magic, angry ghosts and an evil god, each chapter sends the reader on a new terrifying adventure. The quality of the writing is exceptional. The plot is complex and has depth. The reader will gain an understanding of the complexities of the characters. As the two young men fight to save humanity, they also grow through their own personal transformations. The Hidden and the Maiden is an excellent debut novel. I look forward to reading more books by Eben Mishkin and hope that there will be a series involving these characters because I would love to see them again!