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Alex Verus #5
Hidden
With his talent for divining the future, Alex Verus should have foreseen his friends’ reactions to the revelations about his previous life. Anne Walker no longer trusts him—and has also cut all ties with the mage community after getting kicked out of the apprentice program. As a favor to Luna, Alex’s own apprentice and Anne’s best friend, he checks in on her only to be told to leave her alone.
Then Anne gets kidnapped. The Council Keepers of the Order of the Star believe Dark mages from her past may be involved. Working with the Keepers, Alex and Luna discover that Anne has been taken into the shadow realm of Sagash, her former Dark mage mentor, and they must find a way to rescue her.
But another shadow from the past has resurfaced—Alex’s former master may be back in London, and Alex has no idea what his agenda is…
Then Anne gets kidnapped. The Council Keepers of the Order of the Star believe Dark mages from her past may be involved. Working with the Keepers, Alex and Luna discover that Anne has been taken into the shadow realm of Sagash, her former Dark mage mentor, and they must find a way to rescue her.
But another shadow from the past has resurfaced—Alex’s former master may be back in London, and Alex has no idea what his agenda is…
293 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 2, 2014
382 people are currently reading
2746 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 615 reviews
November 3, 2016
To anyone who suffers from Dresden File withdrawals this is a great series to keep you going:) I am really on side with Alex Verus now and he keeps on getting better and better.
The author appeared to have a few doubts in this one about how many people he keeps killing off and he moralised a bit about when it might possibly be excusable and when it is not. Or at least his characters moralised and Ann became temporarily a bit of a wet blanket. But by the end it was all back to normal and I think (hope) Ann is coming round.
Some delightful magicky bits, Alex gains a very interesting pet which I hope plays a big part in future books and there is a hint of a tiny bit of romance, maybe....
I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the narrator's interpretation very much. I already have book 6, with the same narrator, lined up to go.
The author appeared to have a few doubts in this one about how many people he keeps killing off and he moralised a bit about when it might possibly be excusable and when it is not. Or at least his characters moralised and Ann became temporarily a bit of a wet blanket. But by the end it was all back to normal and I think (hope) Ann is coming round.
Some delightful magicky bits, Alex gains a very interesting pet which I hope plays a big part in future books and there is a hint of a tiny bit of romance, maybe....
I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the narrator's interpretation very much. I already have book 6, with the same narrator, lined up to go.
September 9, 2014
I freely admit that I picked this series up because I was looking for a "book series like the Dresden Files". I'd tried several Urban Fantasy books and series. Some I liked more than others. Some I intensely disliked.
This series has become my favorite (after Dresden). It seems to me to have gotten better with each installment. There are for my money some good Urban Fantasy reads out there, but few better than these. Starting with the first volume Mr. Jacka begins establishing his world and his characters. We get to know these people as they act and as they interact.
Alex is a mage, a diviner. He can in short look "down the possible futures", the possible pathways things might take if certain things are done, said...you get the idea. The farther down the time stream things get the more "iffy" the futures get.
This is not exactly combat magic. So far as the mages who have versions of magic that can suck your life away, burn you to ash, freeze you to ice shards...blow you to dust, this would seem to be a rather, modest form of magic.
Still, somehow Alex has managed to survive several (read A LOT) of attempts on his life. Also...and possibly more impressive the ones who have set out to kill Alex, most mages more powerful that he is or adepts with some serious "deadliness" have ended up dead.
Alex is getting....known.
This book picks up where we left off in the last volume. A friend of Alex who has walked away from him because of events in our last outing is in danger(you know, because of the stuff that happened in that last book I mentioned). "And" (one might say "of course") she doesn't seem to realize how much danger she's actually in.
We will touch on new details of the world we're learning about, fill in some more details about the past we've been "considering" and tell an excellent story in the time of it.
Are there any disappointments? Sure the same one I have with Jim Butcher's Dresden books. These writers can't turn out a novel a week...not even a month. So here I am again with another series of books where I have to wait for the next book next year.
I keep telling you guys, I'm past sixty...how many more books can I wait for???
Sheesh.
Five stars and highly recommended.
As noted, my highest recommendation. Enjoy.
This series has become my favorite (after Dresden). It seems to me to have gotten better with each installment. There are for my money some good Urban Fantasy reads out there, but few better than these. Starting with the first volume Mr. Jacka begins establishing his world and his characters. We get to know these people as they act and as they interact.
Alex is a mage, a diviner. He can in short look "down the possible futures", the possible pathways things might take if certain things are done, said...you get the idea. The farther down the time stream things get the more "iffy" the futures get.
This is not exactly combat magic. So far as the mages who have versions of magic that can suck your life away, burn you to ash, freeze you to ice shards...blow you to dust, this would seem to be a rather, modest form of magic.
Still, somehow Alex has managed to survive several (read A LOT) of attempts on his life. Also...and possibly more impressive the ones who have set out to kill Alex, most mages more powerful that he is or adepts with some serious "deadliness" have ended up dead.
Alex is getting....known.
This book picks up where we left off in the last volume. A friend of Alex who has walked away from him because of events in our last outing is in danger(you know, because of the stuff that happened in that last book I mentioned). "And" (one might say "of course") she doesn't seem to realize how much danger she's actually in.
We will touch on new details of the world we're learning about, fill in some more details about the past we've been "considering" and tell an excellent story in the time of it.
Are there any disappointments? Sure the same one I have with Jim Butcher's Dresden books. These writers can't turn out a novel a week...not even a month. So here I am again with another series of books where I have to wait for the next book next year.
I keep telling you guys, I'm past sixty...how many more books can I wait for???
Sheesh.
Five stars and highly recommended.
As noted, my highest recommendation. Enjoy.
May 16, 2022
Re-read 5-15/22:
Still as strong as I remember. Maybe slightly more so, considering what I know will happen later. :)
One piece at a time, right?
Original Review:
This is one of those rare series that only seems to get stronger the further you get. If I'm completely honest with myself, I think it might be a function of my previous investment, but it doesn't feel that way.
So, Verus is still sliding, but the hints of a possibly heroic character change is still on the table, even if he hasn't quite picked it up. I don't think it really counts that he's only being heroic for those that he considers his friends, but at least he's doing it even when said friend is being an asshat.
I like Anne. I didn't really like her back in book 3, but she's really grown on me through this book. It helps to actually know her history, I suppose, and the fact this novel is all really about her and Verus makes it super easy.
These books are a delight to read mainly because they go down as smooth as silk, the magic is fascinating, and the characters equally so. Evil is complicated, as is good, but more than anything, these novels devote a lot of space to asking some rather hard questions about human nature. They're not just forgettable entertainment, anymore.
So who's hidden? Our dark side.
Gotta love it.
Still as strong as I remember. Maybe slightly more so, considering what I know will happen later. :)
One piece at a time, right?
Original Review:
This is one of those rare series that only seems to get stronger the further you get. If I'm completely honest with myself, I think it might be a function of my previous investment, but it doesn't feel that way.
So, Verus is still sliding, but the hints of a possibly heroic character change is still on the table, even if he hasn't quite picked it up. I don't think it really counts that he's only being heroic for those that he considers his friends, but at least he's doing it even when said friend is being an asshat.
I like Anne. I didn't really like her back in book 3, but she's really grown on me through this book. It helps to actually know her history, I suppose, and the fact this novel is all really about her and Verus makes it super easy.
These books are a delight to read mainly because they go down as smooth as silk, the magic is fascinating, and the characters equally so. Evil is complicated, as is good, but more than anything, these novels devote a lot of space to asking some rather hard questions about human nature. They're not just forgettable entertainment, anymore.
So who's hidden? Our dark side.
Gotta love it.
March 6, 2015
Posted to The Literary Lawyer.ca
This One is for the Fans - 4 Stars
If you haven't started this series, I would not suggest that you start with this installment. Had I not already become a big fan of Alex Verus and crew, I would have been bored with Hidden . This one is for the fans. It answers a few lingering questions, introduces some characters we have been wanting to meet and gives us some more backstory that was piquing our interest. If you enjoy the series, you will not want to miss this one.
Plot summary
Alex is at odds with his friends and has not been successful in bringing them all back together. After one such effort, Anne goes missing under mysterious circumstances. The hunt is on to find where she is hidden and who is responsible. Along the way, Alex makes discoveries about himself and we are provided with some wanted backstory. We are also introduced to characters that we have only heard about in stories. What at first looks to be a simple rescue operation, turns into something much more deadly.
The Good
This installment lays some interesting groundwork for future story arcs. Some new characters are put into play and we are made privy to some previously unknown scheming. As I said earlier, this one is really directed to the fans. It gives us SOME of what we have been wanting but not all. In some ways, it felt like an interlude in the series but ultimately laid groundwork for future installments. Jacka seems to have a grasp on which characters the readers like and gives us enough of them to keep our interest while expanding others that will likely play a role in future installments. The author show a deft ability at character development and it is on full display in this latest offering. Unlike the previous four, Hidden is almost exclusively a character novel. While some may lament the reduced action, I think most fans will appreciate the effort Jacka has taken to expand the characters' mythology.
The Bad
Overall, I enjoyed the fact this was a character novel though I have to admit I was taken by surprise. The plot was on the thin side and this will be an annoyance for some readers. I would have also appreciated some additional "reminder" material throughout the story. I hate when novels assume I remember nothing of previous installments and spend half the book recapping. The problem in this novel is that there is very little of this. There could have been more to reorient myself to the significant number of returning antagonists.
Can this Book Stand Alone
No! In this case, you must read the other books to appreciate this one. It relies heavily on past encounters, past plots and prexisting relationships. A reader who picks up this one before the rest will likely find themselves very disappointed.
Final Thoughts
Fans of the series will not want to miss this one. I am always excited when nagging questions are answered. I am equally pleased that Jacka provides some new questions to fill the void left by the reveals. In the past couple of novels, this series has truly come into its own. Early on I was making comparisons to my other favorite Urban Fantasy Series (Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files and Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series if you were wondering). This series has set itself apart with a unique world, unique magic system and great writing and it has squarely placed itself in my Top 3 Favorite UF series. Don't look for a clone series here because you will not find it.
Audiobook Notes
I listened to this one and I was very happy with the experience. Gildart Jackson is spot on with his narration and is very listenable. I highly recommend the audio format in this series.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 1.5
There is an instance where a character recommends that another character come on to another character. This is the extent of any sexual content. The sexual content is safe for all ages.
Language - 2.5
Minimal adult language but several uses of the f-word. Suitable for most readers.
Violence - 3
There is some magic related fighting. A women is attacked and hurt. There is reference to a character having their throat cut. Some persons have their life "ripped out". There is other fighting in which a character suffers some gruesome injuries over the whole of their body. Overall, the violence is during so called "good vs. evil" fights. It is generally mildly graphic
This One is for the Fans - 4 Stars
If you haven't started this series, I would not suggest that you start with this installment. Had I not already become a big fan of Alex Verus and crew, I would have been bored with Hidden . This one is for the fans. It answers a few lingering questions, introduces some characters we have been wanting to meet and gives us some more backstory that was piquing our interest. If you enjoy the series, you will not want to miss this one.
Plot summary
Alex is at odds with his friends and has not been successful in bringing them all back together. After one such effort, Anne goes missing under mysterious circumstances. The hunt is on to find where she is hidden and who is responsible. Along the way, Alex makes discoveries about himself and we are provided with some wanted backstory. We are also introduced to characters that we have only heard about in stories. What at first looks to be a simple rescue operation, turns into something much more deadly.
The Good
This installment lays some interesting groundwork for future story arcs. Some new characters are put into play and we are made privy to some previously unknown scheming. As I said earlier, this one is really directed to the fans. It gives us SOME of what we have been wanting but not all. In some ways, it felt like an interlude in the series but ultimately laid groundwork for future installments. Jacka seems to have a grasp on which characters the readers like and gives us enough of them to keep our interest while expanding others that will likely play a role in future installments. The author show a deft ability at character development and it is on full display in this latest offering. Unlike the previous four, Hidden is almost exclusively a character novel. While some may lament the reduced action, I think most fans will appreciate the effort Jacka has taken to expand the characters' mythology.
The Bad
Overall, I enjoyed the fact this was a character novel though I have to admit I was taken by surprise. The plot was on the thin side and this will be an annoyance for some readers. I would have also appreciated some additional "reminder" material throughout the story. I hate when novels assume I remember nothing of previous installments and spend half the book recapping. The problem in this novel is that there is very little of this. There could have been more to reorient myself to the significant number of returning antagonists.
Can this Book Stand Alone
No! In this case, you must read the other books to appreciate this one. It relies heavily on past encounters, past plots and prexisting relationships. A reader who picks up this one before the rest will likely find themselves very disappointed.
Final Thoughts
Fans of the series will not want to miss this one. I am always excited when nagging questions are answered. I am equally pleased that Jacka provides some new questions to fill the void left by the reveals. In the past couple of novels, this series has truly come into its own. Early on I was making comparisons to my other favorite Urban Fantasy Series (Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files and Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series if you were wondering). This series has set itself apart with a unique world, unique magic system and great writing and it has squarely placed itself in my Top 3 Favorite UF series. Don't look for a clone series here because you will not find it.
Audiobook Notes
I listened to this one and I was very happy with the experience. Gildart Jackson is spot on with his narration and is very listenable. I highly recommend the audio format in this series.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 1.5
There is an instance where a character recommends that another character come on to another character. This is the extent of any sexual content. The sexual content is safe for all ages.
Language - 2.5
Minimal adult language but several uses of the f-word. Suitable for most readers.
Violence - 3
There is some magic related fighting. A women is attacked and hurt. There is reference to a character having their throat cut. Some persons have their life "ripped out". There is other fighting in which a character suffers some gruesome injuries over the whole of their body. Overall, the violence is during so called "good vs. evil" fights. It is generally mildly graphic
March 3, 2019
I think this is a transitional book in terms of Alex Verus lifestyle so far. After the events of this book, he realises he needs to get prepared for the future. I can’t help admiring Alex’s loyalty to his friends. Also he gets a lot of hard press from the council and some of his friends because he makes choices that mean he survives when others don’t. A great UF series set in London.
December 11, 2014
I freely admit that I picked this series up because I was looking for a "book series like the Dresden Files". I'd tried several Urban Fantasy books and series. Some I liked more than others. Some I intensely disliked.
This series has become my favorite (after Dresden). It seems to me to have gotten better with each installment. There are for my money some good Urban Fantasy reads out there, but few better than these. Starting with the first volume Mr. Jacka begins establishing his world and his characters. We get to know these people as they act and as they interact.
Alex is a mage, a diviner. He can in short look "down the possible futures", the possible pathways things might take if certain things happen are done or said...you get the idea. The farther down the time stream things get the more "iffy" the futures get.
This is not exactly combat magic. So far as the mages who have versions of magic that can suck your life away, burn you to ash, freeze you to ice shards...blow you to dust, this would seem to be a rather well, modest form of magic.
Still, somehow Alex has managed to survive several (read A LOT) of attempts on his life. Also...and possibly more impressive the ones who have set out to kill Alex, most mages more powerful that he is or adepts with some serious "deadliness" have ended up dead.
Alex is getting....known.
This book picks up where we left off in the last volume. A friend of Alex who has walked away from him because of events in our last outing is in danger(you know, because of the stuff that happened in that last book I mentioned). "And" (one might say "of course") she doesn't seem to realize how much danger she's actually in.
We will touch on new details of the world we're learning about, fill in some more details about the past we've been "considering" and tell an excellent story in the time of it.
Are there any disappointments? Sure the same one I have with Jim Butcher's Dresden books. These writers can't turn out a novel a week...not even a month. So here I am again with another series of books where I have to wait for the next book next year.
I keep telling you guys, I'm past sixty...how many more books can I wait for???
Sheesh.
Five stars and highly recommended.
As noted, my highest recommendation. Enjoy.
This series has become my favorite (after Dresden). It seems to me to have gotten better with each installment. There are for my money some good Urban Fantasy reads out there, but few better than these. Starting with the first volume Mr. Jacka begins establishing his world and his characters. We get to know these people as they act and as they interact.
Alex is a mage, a diviner. He can in short look "down the possible futures", the possible pathways things might take if certain things happen are done or said...you get the idea. The farther down the time stream things get the more "iffy" the futures get.
This is not exactly combat magic. So far as the mages who have versions of magic that can suck your life away, burn you to ash, freeze you to ice shards...blow you to dust, this would seem to be a rather well, modest form of magic.
Still, somehow Alex has managed to survive several (read A LOT) of attempts on his life. Also...and possibly more impressive the ones who have set out to kill Alex, most mages more powerful that he is or adepts with some serious "deadliness" have ended up dead.
Alex is getting....known.
This book picks up where we left off in the last volume. A friend of Alex who has walked away from him because of events in our last outing is in danger(you know, because of the stuff that happened in that last book I mentioned). "And" (one might say "of course") she doesn't seem to realize how much danger she's actually in.
We will touch on new details of the world we're learning about, fill in some more details about the past we've been "considering" and tell an excellent story in the time of it.
Are there any disappointments? Sure the same one I have with Jim Butcher's Dresden books. These writers can't turn out a novel a week...not even a month. So here I am again with another series of books where I have to wait for the next book next year.
I keep telling you guys, I'm past sixty...how many more books can I wait for???
Sheesh.
Five stars and highly recommended.
As noted, my highest recommendation. Enjoy.
February 6, 2016
Oh, the situations Alex gets himself into!
Hidden starts with normal pace, then it hits the ground running and doesn't stop for a single moment until the last page. I loved it and how it made me go from annoyance and anger at some of the characters to something akin pride and satisfaction.
Luna makes Alex go after Anne and offer their help. After what happened in Chosen Anne refuses, of course. I was so annoyed how ungrateful she is. Alex helped her so much and now she is acting as if she is better than him.
And don't even get me started on Sonder. I wish I could get into the book and beat him over his stupid ungrateful head! When he was in danger it was okay for Alex to do whatever he needed. I hate self-righteousness both in fiction and real life. I am angry Sonder came out of this situation looking competent and getting all the credit. On the other, Alex got adopted by a magical creature so it's all good. Hopefully, Sonder will go back to his old likeable self in future books.
Fortunately for Anne, Alex is as stubborn as his apprentice and she is going to get help whether she wants it or not. And the consequences of that decision made this book go from good to awesome.
Anne's past and some other things are revealed and she goes from an annoying whining *insert an appropriate insult here* to someone who not only needs help, but deserves all the help she can get.
Hidden is also a turning point in Alex's life regarding his own past. The most important decision he makes in this book will have serious consequences in the future.
September 27, 2018
4.5 Stars
The Alex Verus series keeps rolling along. A little different than previous volumes, this was a highly entertaining entry in what’s become one of my favorite urban fantasy series.
After the events of the last book, Alex and his friend Anne aren’t on the best of terms. But when she gets in trouble, Alex gets pulled in to help.
I won’t say anything more about the plot of this one. Honestly, the plot itself is fairly straightforward. There also isn’t quite as much action in this one as in the previous volume. Where this book really shines is in the character interactions. Benedict Jacka does a great job presenting believable characters. Not everyone is going to get along all the time, even friends. Each of the main and secondary characters feels distinct, and I’m really enjoying seeing added depth to the various characters.
At times this did feel a bit like a transition book, laying the groundwork for bigger things to come, but I still thoroughly enjoyed. If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re missing out.
The Alex Verus series keeps rolling along. A little different than previous volumes, this was a highly entertaining entry in what’s become one of my favorite urban fantasy series.
After the events of the last book, Alex and his friend Anne aren’t on the best of terms. But when she gets in trouble, Alex gets pulled in to help.
I won’t say anything more about the plot of this one. Honestly, the plot itself is fairly straightforward. There also isn’t quite as much action in this one as in the previous volume. Where this book really shines is in the character interactions. Benedict Jacka does a great job presenting believable characters. Not everyone is going to get along all the time, even friends. Each of the main and secondary characters feels distinct, and I’m really enjoying seeing added depth to the various characters.
At times this did feel a bit like a transition book, laying the groundwork for bigger things to come, but I still thoroughly enjoyed. If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re missing out.
May 15, 2022
This 5th installment in the Alex Verus series was pretty straight forward - but no less fun.
After the events of the previous book, Anne and Variam have moved out. Unfortunatley, Anne doesn't seem to be doing too well and one day, she just straight up disappears or has probably been kidnapped. Naturally, Alex teams up with Variam and Luna - and even some members of the Council - to get to the bottom of things.
Unfortuantely for everyone, the bottom of things leads especially Alex into quite a pickle!
Straight up from the start of this volume I didn't like Anne. Yes, I always liked her abilities and even her, but the fact that she left because she thought of Alex as a bad guy enraged me. It's not his fault people keep coming after him or that they won't stop unless they die!
Same goes for that self-righteous little idiot, Sonder. He can't do shit by himself despite his wonderful talent, but if others get their hands dirty for him (often to save his miserable life), he gets all high-and-mighty and judgmental!
URGH!!!
Sadly, I can't say that they all got what was coming to them. But there is a kind of Schadenfreude I was able to feel by the end of the book, which is better than nothing.
I definitely liked how the problems from the last book(s) came home to roost here and the air was cleared at least a little bit. The looming threat of Alex's nightmare at the end of the previous book, the judgement and more (don't wanna spoiler).
And we got action. Not all the time, but there was a fair amount nicely interspersed.
The magic we got to see and how certain abilities can be further developed was also very nice. I really like how we aren't getting info dumps but learn about it organically.
What I liked the most, however, was the parallel world we got to travel to and - most importantly - the new friend Alex picked up there. I mean, come on, that fox is amazeballs!!! I hope he (or she?) sticks around for the rest of the series - and nothing better happen to him/her!
In the end, though, this was a book about the heart of the matter to firmly establish who Alex Verus is and what drives him. Since I very much like the Diviner, I enjoyed that quite a lot, too. I do wish he had actually yelled all those things into his father's face though - it wouldn't have changed that imbecile but it would have been therapeutic for Alex, I'm sure.
Great book that definitely shows where we're gonna have to go from here.
After the events of the previous book, Anne and Variam have moved out. Unfortunatley, Anne doesn't seem to be doing too well and one day, she just straight up disappears or has probably been kidnapped. Naturally, Alex teams up with Variam and Luna - and even some members of the Council - to get to the bottom of things.
Unfortuantely for everyone, the bottom of things leads especially Alex into quite a pickle!
Straight up from the start of this volume I didn't like Anne. Yes, I always liked her abilities and even her, but the fact that she left because she thought of Alex as a bad guy enraged me. It's not his fault people keep coming after him or that they won't stop unless they die!
Same goes for that self-righteous little idiot, Sonder. He can't do shit by himself despite his wonderful talent, but if others get their hands dirty for him (often to save his miserable life), he gets all high-and-mighty and judgmental!
URGH!!!
Sadly, I can't say that they all got what was coming to them. But there is a kind of Schadenfreude I was able to feel by the end of the book, which is better than nothing.
I definitely liked how the problems from the last book(s) came home to roost here and the air was cleared at least a little bit. The looming threat of Alex's nightmare at the end of the previous book, the judgement and more (don't wanna spoiler).
And we got action. Not all the time, but there was a fair amount nicely interspersed.
The magic we got to see and how certain abilities can be further developed was also very nice. I really like how we aren't getting info dumps but learn about it organically.
What I liked the most, however, was the parallel world we got to travel to and - most importantly - the new friend Alex picked up there. I mean, come on, that fox is amazeballs!!! I hope he (or she?) sticks around for the rest of the series - and nothing better happen to him/her!
In the end, though, this was a book about the heart of the matter to firmly establish who Alex Verus is and what drives him. Since I very much like the Diviner, I enjoyed that quite a lot, too. I do wish he had actually yelled all those things into his father's face though - it wouldn't have changed that imbecile but it would have been therapeutic for Alex, I'm sure.
Great book that definitely shows where we're gonna have to go from here.
December 17, 2014
The main problem with this book is that its too short. Love the dark humour.
August 13, 2017
Things are starting to rock along now for Alex Verus. Nine months out from the last book finds him dealing with some fractured relationships. I can understand everyone's point of view and no one is really "wrong" but it's still sad to see. We also see the past come back to bite a couple of characters in the you-know-what. Suddenly, the future is not looking so bright for our favorite English mage. Intensifying stakes, well written magic battles, and some over due insight into at least one of the secondary characters makes this a standout for me in this series and ensures that I will continue to follow Alex on his adventures.
May 6, 2024
It has to be said that I'm really enjoying this series. I know that I could have figured that out before this fifth book and indeed I had done, but I think that when you are five books into a series and you are getting even more excited about what might be coming rather than looking for an ending soon, then you know you are onto a good thing.
Hidden picks up nine months after the events of the previous novel. Alex has fallen into a slightly more lonely and troubled existence following the events that had broken up his happy little family in the last book. He still has Luna of course but it's not the same and I think that one of the things that worked really well for me in this book was how the author made me realise just how much Alex is hurting without ever actually coming out and saying it out-right.
One of my criticisms of the last book was how unfair some of the other characters treated Alex in regards to some decisions he made when fighting for his life. Without going into too much detail they basically turned on him for not just sitting back and letting himself get killed. In effect they were basically said that if you are in a situation where it is kill or be killed, you should just let yourself be killed or you are a monster.
This never sat well with me. Obviously we are always going to side with the protagonist, especially a first person protagonist, but even so this really unwarranted reaction to him defending himself turned me off a lot of the characters in the last book. It seemed to drive a line straight down the centre of the cast and had me firmly putting characters into an 'I hate them' and 'I like them' categories.
I was therefore not happy when I saw the synopsis for this book and realised that it would be focused heavily around a character who was sitting firmly in the 'I hate them' category because of how she came down on Alex at the end of the last book... I needn't have worried.
In effect this whole story was an exploration of how she came to her decision at the end of the last book and whilst I still don't agree with her, I am at least sympathetic to her cause now... though maybe I still don't like her all that much.
I really liked that the author has addressed this though as it has not only stopped it getting in the way of the rest of the overarching story but has actually turned it into a driving plot point and a rising theme of this series. Basically it is asking the question of what it takes to become a bad person and where do you draw the line between good and evil.
Speaking of that overarching storyline I am happy to say it is really starting to pick up. Obviously the cliffhanger ending of the last book hinted at that along with a lot of the back story of Alex's time with Richard growing up. This book picks up that nicely and whilst we are no closer to really understanding what is actually going on, we are certainly aware that something major is going on. The tension is racketed up nicely with a lot of throw away comments from the side characters who don't necessarily have a big part in this particular story but have a larger part to play in the series as a whole and they are hinting of big things happening behind the scenes.
Overall though what I loved about this book was that it reminded me of the Dresden Files. I know, everyone says that, right? I am not talking about any similarities between the characters and the stories as whilst there are similarities they are not nearly numerous or similar enough to really draw attention to. What I am talking about is the feeling I get when I read them.
This is a series of books where each book is an individual adventure that could stand alone. None of them really takes themselves too seriously as there is a good amount of humour and fun. Most importantly (for me at least) there is an over arching story that is building all the time and making me oh so eager for the next book in the series. That is one of the things so lacking in a lot of Urban Fantasy series and something that so far I have only ever really found in the Dresden files (within Urban Fantasy anyway).
This overarching story that builds in scope with every novel just makes each novel more enjoyable, keeps me more hungry to read on and basically stops the series from becoming stale.
Overall this is an excellent outing for Alex Verus and one which I have thoroughly enjoyed. If I have to find a criticism it would be that there isn't quite enough length to the book considering there is a year between novels. A lot happens in this book but it was so enjoyable that it was over in mere moments and 320 pages simply wasn't enough to satisfy my craving for this series.
If my only flaw with a book is that I finish it hungry for more then that is a flaw that I think that I am happy to live with. So I finish this review with a request to the author, please hurry up Mr Jacka, I'm dying to read what happens next.
Hidden picks up nine months after the events of the previous novel. Alex has fallen into a slightly more lonely and troubled existence following the events that had broken up his happy little family in the last book. He still has Luna of course but it's not the same and I think that one of the things that worked really well for me in this book was how the author made me realise just how much Alex is hurting without ever actually coming out and saying it out-right.
One of my criticisms of the last book was how unfair some of the other characters treated Alex in regards to some decisions he made when fighting for his life. Without going into too much detail they basically turned on him for not just sitting back and letting himself get killed. In effect they were basically said that if you are in a situation where it is kill or be killed, you should just let yourself be killed or you are a monster.
This never sat well with me. Obviously we are always going to side with the protagonist, especially a first person protagonist, but even so this really unwarranted reaction to him defending himself turned me off a lot of the characters in the last book. It seemed to drive a line straight down the centre of the cast and had me firmly putting characters into an 'I hate them' and 'I like them' categories.
I was therefore not happy when I saw the synopsis for this book and realised that it would be focused heavily around a character who was sitting firmly in the 'I hate them' category because of how she came down on Alex at the end of the last book... I needn't have worried.
In effect this whole story was an exploration of how she came to her decision at the end of the last book and whilst I still don't agree with her, I am at least sympathetic to her cause now... though maybe I still don't like her all that much.
I really liked that the author has addressed this though as it has not only stopped it getting in the way of the rest of the overarching story but has actually turned it into a driving plot point and a rising theme of this series. Basically it is asking the question of what it takes to become a bad person and where do you draw the line between good and evil.
Speaking of that overarching storyline I am happy to say it is really starting to pick up. Obviously the cliffhanger ending of the last book hinted at that along with a lot of the back story of Alex's time with Richard growing up. This book picks up that nicely and whilst we are no closer to really understanding what is actually going on, we are certainly aware that something major is going on. The tension is racketed up nicely with a lot of throw away comments from the side characters who don't necessarily have a big part in this particular story but have a larger part to play in the series as a whole and they are hinting of big things happening behind the scenes.
Overall though what I loved about this book was that it reminded me of the Dresden Files. I know, everyone says that, right? I am not talking about any similarities between the characters and the stories as whilst there are similarities they are not nearly numerous or similar enough to really draw attention to. What I am talking about is the feeling I get when I read them.
This is a series of books where each book is an individual adventure that could stand alone. None of them really takes themselves too seriously as there is a good amount of humour and fun. Most importantly (for me at least) there is an over arching story that is building all the time and making me oh so eager for the next book in the series. That is one of the things so lacking in a lot of Urban Fantasy series and something that so far I have only ever really found in the Dresden files (within Urban Fantasy anyway).
This overarching story that builds in scope with every novel just makes each novel more enjoyable, keeps me more hungry to read on and basically stops the series from becoming stale.
Overall this is an excellent outing for Alex Verus and one which I have thoroughly enjoyed. If I have to find a criticism it would be that there isn't quite enough length to the book considering there is a year between novels. A lot happens in this book but it was so enjoyable that it was over in mere moments and 320 pages simply wasn't enough to satisfy my craving for this series.
If my only flaw with a book is that I finish it hungry for more then that is a flaw that I think that I am happy to live with. So I finish this review with a request to the author, please hurry up Mr Jacka, I'm dying to read what happens next.
March 22, 2025
In Hidden, Alex is still feeling the aftermath of the events of Chosen, with the break of his friendships with Anne and Sonder. Then Anne is kidnapped and even though he knows this may not fix anything, he gets involved in trying to rescue her.
The story revolves around Anne, her past and why she is the way she is. It was clear from past books that she had had to do terrible things and here we learned what happened. It was good to see where she was coming from and I was glad to see that she got it at the end - in the world they live in, when refusing to engage on a moral high ground may mean sacrificing the people she care about.
Sonder was another matter. What a hypocrite!! I wanted to slap him in the face.
There are also two surprise appearances in the book - both really key to Alex upbringing. It was interesting to meet them both because now you get to understand Alex but it wasn't pleasant.
The story revolves around Anne, her past and why she is the way she is. It was clear from past books that she had had to do terrible things and here we learned what happened. It was good to see where she was coming from and I was glad to see that she got it at the end - in the world they live in, when refusing to engage on a moral high ground may mean sacrificing the people she care about.
Sonder was another matter. What a hypocrite!! I wanted to slap him in the face.
There are also two surprise appearances in the book - both really key to Alex upbringing. It was interesting to meet them both because now you get to understand Alex but it wasn't pleasant.
May 18, 2020
This is a hard book to talk about because too many of the core elements of the plot come in via twists partway through, and the back-cover blurb in my edition gives only a bare hint of what's going to happen after page 150. Here's what we do know as the story starts.
At the end of the previous book the seemingly close-knit group of five--Alex Verus, diviner; Luna, his apprentice; Variam, a fire mage; Sonder, a time mage; and Anne Walker, a life mage--has broken up over the ethics of Alex's decisions. Sonder is inducted into the Council Keepers, who maintain order among mages and adepts, and he is quite disgusted with Alex. Anne is strongly against killing or hurting anyone, even in self-defence, and having rejected Alex for that reason is rejected herself by the mage community. On her own and unprotected, Anne is kidnapped and, as the blurb says, is "taken into the shadow realm of Sagash," the shockingly cruel and very powerful Dark Mage who was once her master.
Alex and Anne are the main focus of this story, and what they have in common is that they escaped the clutches of a Dark Mage master--Anne from Sagash and Alex from Richard Drakh, who's even worse than Sagash. What's different is that Alex was recruited by Richard and served him enthusiastically before discovering the truth and trying to escape, whereas Anne was trapped in Sagash's "shadow realm" (something like a different dimension) and forced from the beginning to do horrible things. Both Alex and Anne suffered extreme torture under their masters; Alex escaped at last and Variam risked the shadows to rescue Anne.
The important contribution that this book makes to the Alex Verus series is a major deepening of the characters of Alex and Anne; both of them, but especially Alex, have critical decisions to make, and as you may expect they risk death or worse at every step. What you might not expect are (1) the way that their ethical sense is tested in the decisions they make and (2) Alex's abject fear of Richard Drakh when he "resurfaces" (yes, a back-cover spoiler; there it is).
Throughout the book Alex, as a diviner with no other power than to see possible futures, survives again and again by his wits in both dialogue and combat, and he's up against no fewer than six Dark Mages and apprentices, each with different powers and different agendas--can he get them to work against each other, and how well can he trick mages who outmatch him in, really, everything?
Still strongly recommended, even if favorite characters like Luna, Arachne, and Variam take secondary roles (for which four stars instead of five).
At the end of the previous book the seemingly close-knit group of five--Alex Verus, diviner; Luna, his apprentice; Variam, a fire mage; Sonder, a time mage; and Anne Walker, a life mage--has broken up over the ethics of Alex's decisions. Sonder is inducted into the Council Keepers, who maintain order among mages and adepts, and he is quite disgusted with Alex. Anne is strongly against killing or hurting anyone, even in self-defence, and having rejected Alex for that reason is rejected herself by the mage community. On her own and unprotected, Anne is kidnapped and, as the blurb says, is "taken into the shadow realm of Sagash," the shockingly cruel and very powerful Dark Mage who was once her master.
Alex and Anne are the main focus of this story, and what they have in common is that they escaped the clutches of a Dark Mage master--Anne from Sagash and Alex from Richard Drakh, who's even worse than Sagash. What's different is that Alex was recruited by Richard and served him enthusiastically before discovering the truth and trying to escape, whereas Anne was trapped in Sagash's "shadow realm" (something like a different dimension) and forced from the beginning to do horrible things. Both Alex and Anne suffered extreme torture under their masters; Alex escaped at last and Variam risked the shadows to rescue Anne.
The important contribution that this book makes to the Alex Verus series is a major deepening of the characters of Alex and Anne; both of them, but especially Alex, have critical decisions to make, and as you may expect they risk death or worse at every step. What you might not expect are (1) the way that their ethical sense is tested in the decisions they make and (2) Alex's abject fear of Richard Drakh when he "resurfaces" (yes, a back-cover spoiler; there it is).
Throughout the book Alex, as a diviner with no other power than to see possible futures, survives again and again by his wits in both dialogue and combat, and he's up against no fewer than six Dark Mages and apprentices, each with different powers and different agendas--can he get them to work against each other, and how well can he trick mages who outmatch him in, really, everything?
Still strongly recommended, even if favorite characters like Luna, Arachne, and Variam take secondary roles (for which four stars instead of five).
June 7, 2019
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
3.5 hearts
Hidden is the fifth book in the Alex Verus Series. So far this series has been getting better and better with each installment and while I did enjoy Hidden quite a bit it wasn’t my favorite book of the series so far, Chosen still holds that space but it is another really good story which captured my attention from start to finish and had a few characters moving in directions I wasn’t expecting.
After the events of Chosen, Anne has moved out of Alex’s life in every way possible. She was still under a little protection by being in the apprentice program, but after an incident there, Anne is left outside the magic world and vulnerable. When she disappears, Alex and Co. team up to find out what could have happened and who could have taken her. There are apparently a lot of Dark Mages ready to do dark deeds and the list of possibly suspects isn’t really short.
I enjoy how every book of this series builds on the one before it. Alex is still dealing with some of the fallout from Chosen. While Luna seems to accept Alex for who he is and has no disillusions of what he is capable of, a few of the other young people in his life are devastated by the choices he was willing to make. I really liked seeing the varying degrees of that play out with all the characters we’ve seen before.
I did get a little bored in the sub realm Alex visited, which was just me since there are shadow monsters and the threats were real. But it felt like Alex spent a lot of time there. I did like finally learning about Anne’s past and what she has done. It really helped me understand her reactions to the events in Chosen. She and Alex are more alike than she wants to admit.
With the threat of Richard coming back into the magic scene and a new push to have Dark Mages on the Council you can tell there will be a bigger story arc that will definitely involve Alex’s old master at some point. I don’t know about the rest of you gentle readers but Richard scares the crap out of me. The guy is Lex Luther smart and seems to have a very elastic morality when it comes to getting what he wants.
I did very much like where this story ended though. I can tell that the tension for the next books is really building and Alex is going to have to find some even better tricks if he is going to make it through the changes that are definitely on the horizon.
Narration:
Gildart Jackson is really great in this. I like his performance for all characters and he really brings everyone to life, but especially Alex. His accent is perfect for this since the location of the story is mostly London. Fantastic flow and attention to inflection, I particularly enjoy when Alex speaks to the reader/listener. I listened to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
3.5 hearts
Hidden is the fifth book in the Alex Verus Series. So far this series has been getting better and better with each installment and while I did enjoy Hidden quite a bit it wasn’t my favorite book of the series so far, Chosen still holds that space but it is another really good story which captured my attention from start to finish and had a few characters moving in directions I wasn’t expecting.
After the events of Chosen, Anne has moved out of Alex’s life in every way possible. She was still under a little protection by being in the apprentice program, but after an incident there, Anne is left outside the magic world and vulnerable. When she disappears, Alex and Co. team up to find out what could have happened and who could have taken her. There are apparently a lot of Dark Mages ready to do dark deeds and the list of possibly suspects isn’t really short.
I enjoy how every book of this series builds on the one before it. Alex is still dealing with some of the fallout from Chosen. While Luna seems to accept Alex for who he is and has no disillusions of what he is capable of, a few of the other young people in his life are devastated by the choices he was willing to make. I really liked seeing the varying degrees of that play out with all the characters we’ve seen before.
I did get a little bored in the sub realm Alex visited, which was just me since there are shadow monsters and the threats were real. But it felt like Alex spent a lot of time there. I did like finally learning about Anne’s past and what she has done. It really helped me understand her reactions to the events in Chosen. She and Alex are more alike than she wants to admit.
With the threat of Richard coming back into the magic scene and a new push to have Dark Mages on the Council you can tell there will be a bigger story arc that will definitely involve Alex’s old master at some point. I don’t know about the rest of you gentle readers but Richard scares the crap out of me. The guy is Lex Luther smart and seems to have a very elastic morality when it comes to getting what he wants.
I did very much like where this story ended though. I can tell that the tension for the next books is really building and Alex is going to have to find some even better tricks if he is going to make it through the changes that are definitely on the horizon.
Narration:
Gildart Jackson is really great in this. I like his performance for all characters and he really brings everyone to life, but especially Alex. His accent is perfect for this since the location of the story is mostly London. Fantastic flow and attention to inflection, I particularly enjoy when Alex speaks to the reader/listener. I listened to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
June 26, 2014
So...I read this too early. It's not even out in the U.S. yet, and I'm already jonesing for Book Six. It's times like this that I wish the Doctor would pay me a visit. I wouldn't even need to go with him -- he could just pop into the future and pop back with a copy of the next book. Future Lending Library!
September 9, 2014
I like the blink blink fox :)
Another good story, liked it but not quite as much as the earlier books.
Another good story, liked it but not quite as much as the earlier books.
June 7, 2019
Read-along post at Books of My Heart
I just loved this one! Alex continues to build his retinue. But this isn't just a simple story of good vs. evil with action and triumphs. Hidden has some serious questions to ponder. The primary one is about killing in self defense. They examine this from multiple perspectives.
The other big issue is how do you avoid these situations. I'm curious to see how Alex does it. Will he gather intelligence? Will he train in various self-defense, tricks or other magic skills? Does he develop more contacts or allies for intelligence, or to put himself in a position of more power where he can stop some of these problems?
“Yeah, well, you’re not my first choice either, but it’s not like we’re exactly swimming in options. Pity you didn’t make a move on her last night, would probably have made her open up a bit. You could have spun her the ‘this might be out last night alive’ line.”
Anne’s observations from Hidden:
1. The subject of killing in self defense has become a big issue. It was examined further.
2. I love the way Alex’s little band continues to form and grow.
3. Alex is going to have to stop hiding or just reacting to protect himself and his friends. He has some decisions to make about becoming proactive.
Anne’s questions from Chosen:
1. I still wonder if Alex will now become more knowledgeable about the Council and who are the “players” in the Dark and Light mages to protect himself better. I think this is happening and now he realizes he needs to be more proactive in his defense.
2. Will Anne and Vari and the dragon now be part of the Verus band of misfit allies? It looks like Anne and Vari are back on the team.
3. Will Alex find a way to remove Luna’s curse? In her studies she is learning to control it and may eventually control it well enough to not need removal.
4. Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
5. Does Alex have other friends, or mage friends we will meet? It doesn’t seem like there are many.
6. Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
7. Will there be a romance for Alex?
8. Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear. Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it? How will Alex deal with future threats?
9. Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
10. Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity? Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
11. (KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
12. (KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
13. (KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?
Anne’s questions from Hidden:
1. Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
2. Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
3. Will there be a romance for Alex?
4. Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear. Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it? This is tied in with Alex’s decision of how he will become more proactive for self defense. How we he do it? Will he start training more and add intelligence work? He already has a bit of an intelligence network it seems.
5. Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
6. Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity? Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
7. (KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
8. (KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
9. (KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?
COYER: Read a book by an author you've previously read and given 5 stars. PTS: 2
Review of Chosen
I just loved this one! Alex continues to build his retinue. But this isn't just a simple story of good vs. evil with action and triumphs. Hidden has some serious questions to ponder. The primary one is about killing in self defense. They examine this from multiple perspectives.
The other big issue is how do you avoid these situations. I'm curious to see how Alex does it. Will he gather intelligence? Will he train in various self-defense, tricks or other magic skills? Does he develop more contacts or allies for intelligence, or to put himself in a position of more power where he can stop some of these problems?
“Yeah, well, you’re not my first choice either, but it’s not like we’re exactly swimming in options. Pity you didn’t make a move on her last night, would probably have made her open up a bit. You could have spun her the ‘this might be out last night alive’ line.”
Anne’s observations from Hidden:
1. The subject of killing in self defense has become a big issue. It was examined further.
2. I love the way Alex’s little band continues to form and grow.
3. Alex is going to have to stop hiding or just reacting to protect himself and his friends. He has some decisions to make about becoming proactive.
Anne’s questions from Chosen:
1. I still wonder if Alex will now become more knowledgeable about the Council and who are the “players” in the Dark and Light mages to protect himself better. I think this is happening and now he realizes he needs to be more proactive in his defense.
2. Will Anne and Vari and the dragon now be part of the Verus band of misfit allies? It looks like Anne and Vari are back on the team.
3. Will Alex find a way to remove Luna’s curse? In her studies she is learning to control it and may eventually control it well enough to not need removal.
4. Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
5. Does Alex have other friends, or mage friends we will meet? It doesn’t seem like there are many.
6. Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
7. Will there be a romance for Alex?
8. Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear. Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it? How will Alex deal with future threats?
9. Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
10. Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity? Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
11. (KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
12. (KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
13. (KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?
Anne’s questions from Hidden:
1. Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
2. Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
3. Will there be a romance for Alex?
4. Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear. Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it? This is tied in with Alex’s decision of how he will become more proactive for self defense. How we he do it? Will he start training more and add intelligence work? He already has a bit of an intelligence network it seems.
5. Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
6. Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity? Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
7. (KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
8. (KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
9. (KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?
COYER: Read a book by an author you've previously read and given 5 stars. PTS: 2
Review of Chosen
September 19, 2015
Another exciting installment in a series that continues to raise the stakes for our favorite diviner.
These books just entertain the hell out of me and I really enjoy Alex. I like that he's never the perfect hero, he does what he needs to do to survive and that can sometimes mean doing bad things. However he's extremely loyal to the people close to him, even if they're currently being shitbags
Hope this series continues kicking ass!
These books just entertain the hell out of me and I really enjoy Alex. I like that he's never the perfect hero, he does what he needs to do to survive and that can sometimes mean doing bad things. However he's extremely loyal to the people close to him, even if they're currently being shitbags
Hope this series continues kicking ass!
May 3, 2022
Ich liebe den Blinzelfuchs 🧡🦊🧡
October 26, 2022
RTC
RATINGS:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
RATINGS:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 17, 2023
We had a glimpse of Alex's abilities a book or two back, and I was expecting more of that this time but did not feel it; then again, this book was all about Anne.
Now that they have faced their past, they must fight for their future.
This was a seriously intense installment - Things are definitely going to be different from here on out.
Now that they have faced their past, they must fight for their future.
This was a seriously intense installment - Things are definitely going to be different from here on out.
December 31, 2014
Another great entry in the Alex Verus series. Some interesting character developments in this one: could Alex actually be heading for a romance? Or is that just my wishful thinking? He also seems to have acquired a most unusual "pet". In fact he's almost human, and growing more likeable with every book. There's just that old problem of his old Master's designs on him still to settle, plus the fact that he can't seem to stop making enemies ... Looks like the quiet life he craves is still a very long way away!
May 17, 2021
Each book keeps getting better.
It's excellent to see a main character that thinks on his feet. Verus pulls off some amazing escapes using his wits with an ample dose of daring. Great writing by Jacka.
It's excellent to see a main character that thinks on his feet. Verus pulls off some amazing escapes using his wits with an ample dose of daring. Great writing by Jacka.
January 9, 2024
Such a good book! I think it's one of my favourites this year. This series is just such an addictive, easy read.
January 5, 2020
5 Stars
The Alex Verus series is written to my tastes. I love modern urban fantasy and less than perfect heroes and this series has so much more. I am a biased reviewer as I can't get enough urban fantasy these days.
The Alex Verus series is written to my tastes. I love modern urban fantasy and less than perfect heroes and this series has so much more. I am a biased reviewer as I can't get enough urban fantasy these days.
June 23, 2019
Comme d’habitude j’ai adoré ! Le personnage d’Alex est juste incroyable, j’adore aussi Anne et Luna et leur évolution. L’intrigue est toujours aussi addictive et je suis ébahie parce que l’univers est aussi génial que dense et pourtant d’un tome sur l’autre, tout revient très bien ! Bref j’ai adoré ce 5ème tome : seul de petites longueurs vers le milieu m’empêchent de mettre 5 étoiles !
March 18, 2024
This is just catnip. Broody danger boy, misfit found family, crazy magics and running from bad guys.
This one got a bit dark in the torture and child assault directions, but overall more respectful of the audience and characters than I anticipated.
This one got a bit dark in the torture and child assault directions, but overall more respectful of the audience and characters than I anticipated.
May 4, 2025
English version below
*****************
Mit Band 5 der Alex Verus-Serie habe ich mich ein bisschen schwerer getan als mit dem Vorgängerbänden, was zum großen Teil daran liegt, dass ein großer Teil der Geschichte in einer Art magisch erschaffener Parallellwelt stattfindet und ich die Vorgänge dort wirklich verwirrend und in die Länge gezogen fand.
Im Gesamtbild ist die Geschichte aber schon vorangekommen und Alex muss sich aller Voraussicht nach in Zukunft vor seinem früheren Schwarzmagiermeister in Acht nehmen. Dies lässt für die Folgebände nichts Gutes erahnen.
Auch wegen einiger schwieriger moralischer Fragen fehlte diesem Band einiges an der Leichtigkeit der früheren Bände aber ich hoffe, dass diese in Zukunft wieder zurückkehren wird.
3,5 Sterne, aufgerundet.
---------------------
I found volume 5 of the Alex Verus series a little more difficult to read than the previous volumes, largely because a large part of the story takes place in a kind of magically created parallel world and I found the events there really confusing and drawn out.
Overall, however, the story has made progress and Alex will probably have to watch out for his former black magic master in the future. This does not bode well for the subsequent volumes.
Also because of some difficult moral issues, this volume lacked some of the lightness of the earlier volumes butI hope this will return in the future.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
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Mit Band 5 der Alex Verus-Serie habe ich mich ein bisschen schwerer getan als mit dem Vorgängerbänden, was zum großen Teil daran liegt, dass ein großer Teil der Geschichte in einer Art magisch erschaffener Parallellwelt stattfindet und ich die Vorgänge dort wirklich verwirrend und in die Länge gezogen fand.
Im Gesamtbild ist die Geschichte aber schon vorangekommen und Alex muss sich aller Voraussicht nach in Zukunft vor seinem früheren Schwarzmagiermeister in Acht nehmen. Dies lässt für die Folgebände nichts Gutes erahnen.
Auch wegen einiger schwieriger moralischer Fragen fehlte diesem Band einiges an der Leichtigkeit der früheren Bände aber ich hoffe, dass diese in Zukunft wieder zurückkehren wird.
3,5 Sterne, aufgerundet.
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I found volume 5 of the Alex Verus series a little more difficult to read than the previous volumes, largely because a large part of the story takes place in a kind of magically created parallel world and I found the events there really confusing and drawn out.
Overall, however, the story has made progress and Alex will probably have to watch out for his former black magic master in the future. This does not bode well for the subsequent volumes.
Also because of some difficult moral issues, this volume lacked some of the lightness of the earlier volumes butI hope this will return in the future.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
October 23, 2024
In many ways, 'Hidden' feels like a direct follow-up/answer to everything that happened in Book 4, 'Chosen'. And I enjoyed it all the more for that.
This is a simpler, streamlined story that does not waste time introducing too many new characters and instead delves deeply into Anne and Alex's relationship, as well as Alex's past with his former master, Richard Drach.
Anne has removed herself from Alex (and mage society in general) after the events at the end of Book 4, despite Alex's attempts to contact her and make amends. Alex is concerned for her security since she is alone, and those fears are soon proven accurate when Anne disappears.
The question is - who has taken her, and why? Only Alex can find out.
This is a great series!
This is a simpler, streamlined story that does not waste time introducing too many new characters and instead delves deeply into Anne and Alex's relationship, as well as Alex's past with his former master, Richard Drach.
Anne has removed herself from Alex (and mage society in general) after the events at the end of Book 4, despite Alex's attempts to contact her and make amends. Alex is concerned for her security since she is alone, and those fears are soon proven accurate when Anne disappears.
The question is - who has taken her, and why? Only Alex can find out.
This is a great series!
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