The Stranger (The Labyrinths of Echo Book 1)

The first book in Max Frei's international-bestselling series follows a man named Max Frei, a self-described loser who spends his days sleeping and his nights smoking, eating, and wandering because he cannot sleep. His life changes when he begins making contact with a parallel world through his dreams—a place where magic is practiced daily. In this world called Echo, Max discovers he fits in unexpectedly well. Once a social outcast in his own life, he becomes known as the "unequalled Sir Max" and joins the Department of Absolute Order, an organization of enchanted secret agents. His role involves investigating cases of illegal magic. As the series begins, Max embarks on a journey through the strange and complex landscape of this new universe.