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Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future—allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success.
But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none...
Fated is the first in a new series about a mage named Alex Verus.
Alex can see possible futures. As a diviner, he has to rely on sorting through the futures, his intelligence and the occasional use of the martial arts that he studies. He doesn't have power over the physical world (e.g., throw fire). Alex owns a magic shop in a section of London called Camden Town. He’s a loner. Something happened in his past that has made him want to be on his own. We get more and more information about what happened to him and why he prefers to be a loner throughout the novel. Alex gets caught up the machinations of several factions of mages. They all want a particular relic and they all want Alex to help them get it. The mystery surrounding that relic kept me guessing.
Over the course of the novel, Mr. Jacka does a wonderful job explaining the magic system within which Alex operates. The world building (magic world in plain sight) is exceptional. There are references to myths and supernatural creatures that are seamlessly woven into the story adding to the richness of the magical world.
I really like Alex. He’s intelligent, tough when he has to be, and a good guy. He also makes mistakes and gets himself into trouble out of simple curiosity, which seems to be a diviner trait. While Alex is the main character, there is a terrific supporting cast including Luna, Alex’s sort of apprentice, Starbreeze, a ditzy air elemental, and many mages both Light, Dark, and scary. Luna is a great character, and I'm looking forward to reading more about her in future books.
There will be inevitable comparisons to The Dresden Files, but Alex Verus does not pale by the comparison. Fated is the start of a wonderful new Urban Fantasy series. It is well written, well-paced and a thoroughly engaging read.
I give Fated 5 Qwills. Originally posted at The Qwillery
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 10, 2012
Very well written smooth storytelling and a fun and interesting protagonist. I you liked the Iron Druid Series, or the Dresdon Series strongly recommend it. Can't wait for the next one
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 31, 2012
If you like The Dresden Files or The Iron Druid Chronicles then you'll love Alex Verus. I had to get the second book in the series as soon as I finished Fated and I can't wait for the next one. A must read for any urban fantasy fan.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 10, 2012
Look. Is this on the same level as Butcher or Hearne? No. But it IS Jacka's first book and, as an initial effort, it was very good. A good, smooth, solid read. I can only imagine that the series will get better as it goes along. And, unlike 80% of the books out right now, it is NOT some kind of Harlequin cross-over into SciFi/fantasy with some girl having relationship problems with her vampire/werewolf/ghost/swamp creature/insert-your-favorite-monster-here lover. Good job, sir and keep writing!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 2, 2012
Great world building, interesting magic system and a smart main character who quickly gets in over his head. What more do you want?
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 1, 2012
This novel was as fun as the first, but with greater depth. The characters, the plot, the world...all of it was just slightly more than the first. It is not jarring, but it is noticeable. The book also sets up a new dynamic to explore in future novels. A great read!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 1, 2012
The first of the Alex Verus novels. We get introduced to the main players in this world (Alex, Luna, Starbreeze, Sonder, Talisid, Arachne, et al.) and get a very good introduction to a world that exists out of sight of our normal world, but sometimes crossing over or influencing our world. Fated is a combination of Harry Dresden, The Da Vinci Code, the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and National Treasure (in the best sense!) so if this is the kind of combination that makes your eager fan boy heart squeal with glee, you will be very happy. This is a bit gritty, dark and hopeful, in the right amounts with dark wizards, white wizards (and the definitions of said wizards is a little different from what we are accustomed to seeing) schemes, betrayals, murders, ambushes and lost treasure. If you are looking for a great romance, you will need to look elsewhere. If you are looking for a good book with and introduction to an interesting world that is a little off the beaten path, you will really enjoy this work. The second book is due out June of this year. Do yourself a favor, read this book and preorder the second one (cursed). Before we lose this author to the grind of being a British Solicitor. © Night Owl Reviews
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Fated is my kind of book and a great start for a series.The characters made the storyline come through with added sidelines that are stories in themselves. I want to find out more about them. His sidekicks Luna and Starbreeze are introduced in this book and we start learning about who and what they are. His friend(sidekick) Arachne could have had a bigger part of the story or maybe I just wanted to learn more about her, very unique with lots of possibilities for a character. The book ended too quickly for me and I would have liked more.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 17, 2012
This book sounded interesting, but it was the recommendation from Jim Butcher that made me buy it. As a huge Dresden Files fan, I was excited to find something to help hold me over until the next novel. The book was mildly entertaining, but it is a light PG-13 read with a strait forward plot. Anyone looking for the creativity and though put into a Jim Butcher book will be thoroughly disappointed.
The real problem was the total lack of creativity. This book is actually one step from being fan fiction. Nearly everything about this book is copied right out of Jim Butcher’s books. The protagonist is a mage who has a business in a big city, and is not well liked by the ruling council of mages mostly because of something that happened while he was apprenticed to a malicious master. He has a female acquaintance who is just being introduced to the magic world, and a former female relation that he thought was dead but he later learns is alive. He practices running and martial arts for when magic won’t help. Any other Jim Butcher fans having d¿j¿-vu?
1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 20, 2013
Alex is a particular magician whose magical skill set doesn't involve the physical manifestation of magic fireballs or stasis fields. Yet, his predictive ability set in London, U.K. will draw you toward seeking how actually powerful Alex is. Oh, watch out for the 'giant Spider'! Ha ha ha!
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Posted March 17, 2013
a great start to a promising new series!
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Posted January 30, 2013
Apprentice den
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Posted March 7, 2012
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 20, 2012
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Overview
Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future—allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success.
But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can ...