This is the blurb for Steel Rogue. ( Amazon link
It doesn't sound right to me but I don't know why. Would it make you want to read it?
Rick’s secret will get him into trouble.
People who know magic must use it for the empire. Those who refuse are brutally punished.
Rick has other plans. He practices in secret, hunting for every scrap of magic knowledge he can find.
But when his father is murdered, he has to leave his life behind. He finds himself in a tough city, where magic-wielding rogues become his mentors. They’ll teach him how to use his powers, but only for a price.
Starting at the bottom of their ranks, he’ll have to complete their grueling training and brutal tests if he’s to realize his magic potential.
His home has been taken. His family is gone. His friends can’t be trusted. The only thing he has are his powers and an intense desire to grow stronger.
Can he earn the powers he’ll need to take back his old life?