What do you think?
Rate this book
Alex Verus #7
Burned
Mage Alex Verus is back in the seventh in the “gorgeously realized”* urban fantasy series from the national bestselling author of Veiled.
I’m used to people wanting me dead. But, this time, I’m not the only one on the hit list—and time is running out...
Diviner Alex Verus finally made one too many enemies on the Council of Mages, and now one of them is angry enough to have him executed. Fighting for his life is nothing new, but this kill order also calls for the death of Alex’s dependents—and there’s no way that he’ll let Luna, Anne, and Vari take the heat.
With only a week before he’s history, Alex will have to figure out how to disassociate himself from his friends, scrounge up allies on the Council, and hopefully keep his head attached to his body.
But saving himself is going to bring him into direct opposition with his former master and the Dark mages surrounding him. And, this time, escaping with his life might mean losing his soul...
I’m used to people wanting me dead. But, this time, I’m not the only one on the hit list—and time is running out...
Diviner Alex Verus finally made one too many enemies on the Council of Mages, and now one of them is angry enough to have him executed. Fighting for his life is nothing new, but this kill order also calls for the death of Alex’s dependents—and there’s no way that he’ll let Luna, Anne, and Vari take the heat.
With only a week before he’s history, Alex will have to figure out how to disassociate himself from his friends, scrounge up allies on the Council, and hopefully keep his head attached to his body.
But saving himself is going to bring him into direct opposition with his former master and the Dark mages surrounding him. And, this time, escaping with his life might mean losing his soul...
326 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 5, 2016
408 people are currently reading
2659 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 643 reviews
July 24, 2022
Re-Read 7/24/22:
I'm still loving the series. The turn is delightful, if heartbreaking. Still so fun!
Original Review:
Sometimes, every once in a great while, there comes a truly excellent UF book. A good deal are entertaining, a bit less are fantastic, and a handful rank up there with some of the best in any genre.
Of course, to actually make that claim, we've still got to take into account everything that has come before and see what kind of build in character, circumstance, pressure, and execution could possibly MAKE such a treasure.
Okay, let's ignore that for a second. It's a weight and a burden each of us carry willingly if we get through 6 books in a beloved series.
Of course, this does say a lot of good things about an author that not only improves their craft and weave, but keeps us loving the books long enough to slam us good with a book like this.
I love all types of books, but you expect these to have rising pressure, often in three acts, and a delightful release after each. You can also expect character arcs to do something very similar over the span of many books, until our MC has so many enemies and no where else to turn to, he's forced into horrible decisions after horrible decisions. A Mr. Dresden knows this well, and now we've got a certain Mr. Verus in the same boat.
It's been coming for a long time. He's been barely treading water over many books. It actually doesn't really matter that he's been able to make and keep friends, when the whole weight of magical society, whether light or dark, wants a piece of you in the end.
*sigh*
It's character tapestries like this that make me reaffirm my decision to keep up with my UF reading even though there are so many fantastic standalone novels out there. It's the difference between a tiny brilliant painting and a mural spanning the inside of a great dome. Both have their place and their joys, they're both glorious to take in, but you have to have a certain mindset and patience that's quite a bit different between each set.
All I can say is Bravo! This is a home run! Extremely good payoff, almost too good, because now I'm tempted to tear the rest of my hair out to get my hands on the next novel.
Oh, wait. This just came out. DAMNIT!
I'm still loving the series. The turn is delightful, if heartbreaking. Still so fun!
Original Review:
Sometimes, every once in a great while, there comes a truly excellent UF book. A good deal are entertaining, a bit less are fantastic, and a handful rank up there with some of the best in any genre.
Of course, to actually make that claim, we've still got to take into account everything that has come before and see what kind of build in character, circumstance, pressure, and execution could possibly MAKE such a treasure.
Okay, let's ignore that for a second. It's a weight and a burden each of us carry willingly if we get through 6 books in a beloved series.
Of course, this does say a lot of good things about an author that not only improves their craft and weave, but keeps us loving the books long enough to slam us good with a book like this.
I love all types of books, but you expect these to have rising pressure, often in three acts, and a delightful release after each. You can also expect character arcs to do something very similar over the span of many books, until our MC has so many enemies and no where else to turn to, he's forced into horrible decisions after horrible decisions. A Mr. Dresden knows this well, and now we've got a certain Mr. Verus in the same boat.
It's been coming for a long time. He's been barely treading water over many books. It actually doesn't really matter that he's been able to make and keep friends, when the whole weight of magical society, whether light or dark, wants a piece of you in the end.
*sigh*
It's character tapestries like this that make me reaffirm my decision to keep up with my UF reading even though there are so many fantastic standalone novels out there. It's the difference between a tiny brilliant painting and a mural spanning the inside of a great dome. Both have their place and their joys, they're both glorious to take in, but you have to have a certain mindset and patience that's quite a bit different between each set.
All I can say is Bravo! This is a home run! Extremely good payoff, almost too good, because now I'm tempted to tear the rest of my hair out to get my hands on the next novel.
Oh, wait. This just came out. DAMNIT!
December 12, 2016
An easy five stars for this one which was probably the best so far in the series. On the edge of your seat type tension with death sentences hanging over all our favourite characters and no apparent way out. And then a huge cliff hanger of an ending and the next book nowhere in sight:( Please hurry Mr. Jacka . You can't finish a book like that and then leave us waiting.)
Like many people I started this series because it is supposed to be similar to the Dresden Files and in many ways it is. However it is also a great series in its own right and I enjoy Alex and his talents just as much as Harry and his.
Roll on 2017 and the next books from both authors.
Like many people I started this series because it is supposed to be similar to the Dresden Files and in many ways it is. However it is also a great series in its own right and I enjoy Alex and his talents just as much as Harry and his.
Roll on 2017 and the next books from both authors.
November 8, 2019
My goodness! That was truly exceptional! Non stop action. Poor Alex! I fear for his future. Excellent series.
April 7, 2016
Fucking hell! That was, maybe, the best of the series. Not a single slow moment was to be had. From the very first page, to the very last, I was on the edge of my seat pulling for Alex and the gang.
And I just have to say, screw the Light Council. Bunch of hypocritical douche bags! Argh
As long as Jacka keeps writing these books, I'll keep buying them. Alex had to make some impossible decisions and I can't imagine what's going to happen next
And I just have to say, screw the Light Council. Bunch of hypocritical douche bags! Argh
As long as Jacka keeps writing these books, I'll keep buying them. Alex had to make some impossible decisions and I can't imagine what's going to happen next
May 3, 2016
(Review crossposted from my book review blog.)
I first started reading this series because it was recommended by Jim Butcher. If you look at the cover of any of the books, you’re likely to find a quote from him. And in a lot of ways this series is like the Dresden Files. And yet, I can never like it nearly as much. I think I’ve finally figured out why that is.
Like Dresden, Verus often finds himself pitted against seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The major difference, I think, is that while with Harry it’s usually some sort of external supernatural bad guy and occasionally involves being on the wrong side of wizard politics, with Verus it’s more the opposite. Verus is constantly having people who should be the good guys, the law enforcers, the agents of justice, out to get him in one way or another with the other supposedly good guys shrugging and saying there’s nothing they can do and he’s on his own (or, as in this book, outright working with the bad guys even if its through their own foolishness). He’s put in impossible situations with no good way out, ends up making the best choice he can in order to stay alive and keep others safe because none of the supposed good guys are willing to lift a finger to help him, and then has those same supposed good guys condemning and mistrusting him for whatever choice he made. It’s all about politics, self-righteous condemnation of a guy who once made a poor choice in his youth, over-adherence to ‘rules’ at the expense of righteousness and justice, and a law enforcement agency and governing body that are sick with corruption. And this is every single book. It makes for an incredibly frustrating read.
This book starts out with the highest governing body (made up of seven people), who answers to no one, deciding amongst themselves to execute Verus for reasons they apparently don’t even have to explain. They are able to do this even though it’s because one of them (a known enemy of Verus) calls an emergency session, to which only three others (two of them the first guy’s known supporters) are able to attend. In a vote of three to one, they’re able to arbitrarily sentence someone to execution. Which is completely batshit. If your highest governing body is seven people who answer to no one, and a simple majority is needed to sentence a person to death for no apparent reason, by what brain-damaged dumbass logic does “oh, a majority of however many of them are able to gather on short notice is enough” make sense? This is clearly one of those cases where the author puts together a political situation that makes no sense at all and is completely unfair purely for the sake of putting the protagonist in an unfair and impossible situation for him to rail against. This is super common in the dystopian genre, which is the major reason I don’t like many books in that genre. I don’t like it any more in urban fantasy.
One of the quotes from Jim Butcher they use is something about how Harry would be a little scared of Verus. And no wonder. Harry is a powerful wizard whose power keeps increasing to meet the challenges thrown at him. He’s got powerful, loyal allies who are always ready to dive into danger with him. Verus is pretty weak in terms of magical power, doesn’t seem to be gaining any additional power as the series goes on, and even his so-called allies are liable to leave him on his own or straight up turn on him to save their own hides, because the ‘rules’ demand it, or because they decide they don’t really like him all that much after all. Verus has to be a mean, ruthless alley cat to simply stay alive in a world that’s constantly out to get him and never on his side. I think a lot of people would just give up and die if they faced what he does.
That might sound like I mean that as a good thing, and I bet a lot of readers do see it as a good thing. But for me, it’s just frustrating. I hate reading about injustice and political corruption, and this series is chock full of it. Even if Verus manages to eke out some way to save his life by the end of the book, it usually comes at the cost of even more mistrust from others and absolutely no justice being done—oh, and sometimes whatever he had to do to save his life means that his friends/allies decide he’s too dangerous and don’t trust him anymore. It’s so very, very frustrating.
This disloyalty from his friends probably contributes to the fact that I still don’t like most of them very much. Everyone in this story is so hard and cynical, so isolated even when they’re in a team. It’s sad and depressing. I was really glad to see that Sonder is back. I like him the best of all the characters, I think, and I hope that he gets his act together and becomes a reliable ally for Verus.
I didn’t hate this book, really. This series is entertaining enough and Verus is interesting enough that I do intend to keep reading the series. It’s just that it’s so frustrating. I really hope the author makes some changes in the way the plots go. I hope Verus’s allies stop being so fair-weather and actually act like decent allies. I hope the plots stop hinging on political corruption. I hope Verus finds some way to get some more power to face these threats. Because maybe that’s part of the problem, too. Harry Dresden keeps getting more powerful to face more and more powerful threats. Put another way, the threats Harry faces get more and more powerful to be a decent challenge to him as he keeps gaining power. With Verus never gaining any more power (either in the form of magic, tools, or friends), the challenges he faces all stay about the same level. With the Dresden series, there’s an obvious increase in the threat level as the series goes on. The stakes keep getting higher and higher. With Verus, it’s a plateau, with the stakes never really raising. It’s pretty much always: someone wants to kill Verus or get him to turn dark, and he has to find a way to survive and remain independent.
I kind of want to beg the author to do four things:
1) Give Verus more power
2) Stop hanging so much of the plot on politics
3) Raise the stakes beyond Verus’s life/independence
4) Build closer relationships between Verus and his friends/allies
There’s a lot of good stuff in this series, but it could be so much better.
I first started reading this series because it was recommended by Jim Butcher. If you look at the cover of any of the books, you’re likely to find a quote from him. And in a lot of ways this series is like the Dresden Files. And yet, I can never like it nearly as much. I think I’ve finally figured out why that is.
Like Dresden, Verus often finds himself pitted against seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The major difference, I think, is that while with Harry it’s usually some sort of external supernatural bad guy and occasionally involves being on the wrong side of wizard politics, with Verus it’s more the opposite. Verus is constantly having people who should be the good guys, the law enforcers, the agents of justice, out to get him in one way or another with the other supposedly good guys shrugging and saying there’s nothing they can do and he’s on his own (or, as in this book, outright working with the bad guys even if its through their own foolishness). He’s put in impossible situations with no good way out, ends up making the best choice he can in order to stay alive and keep others safe because none of the supposed good guys are willing to lift a finger to help him, and then has those same supposed good guys condemning and mistrusting him for whatever choice he made. It’s all about politics, self-righteous condemnation of a guy who once made a poor choice in his youth, over-adherence to ‘rules’ at the expense of righteousness and justice, and a law enforcement agency and governing body that are sick with corruption. And this is every single book. It makes for an incredibly frustrating read.
This book starts out with the highest governing body (made up of seven people), who answers to no one, deciding amongst themselves to execute Verus for reasons they apparently don’t even have to explain. They are able to do this even though it’s because one of them (a known enemy of Verus) calls an emergency session, to which only three others (two of them the first guy’s known supporters) are able to attend. In a vote of three to one, they’re able to arbitrarily sentence someone to execution. Which is completely batshit. If your highest governing body is seven people who answer to no one, and a simple majority is needed to sentence a person to death for no apparent reason, by what brain-damaged dumbass logic does “oh, a majority of however many of them are able to gather on short notice is enough” make sense? This is clearly one of those cases where the author puts together a political situation that makes no sense at all and is completely unfair purely for the sake of putting the protagonist in an unfair and impossible situation for him to rail against. This is super common in the dystopian genre, which is the major reason I don’t like many books in that genre. I don’t like it any more in urban fantasy.
One of the quotes from Jim Butcher they use is something about how Harry would be a little scared of Verus. And no wonder. Harry is a powerful wizard whose power keeps increasing to meet the challenges thrown at him. He’s got powerful, loyal allies who are always ready to dive into danger with him. Verus is pretty weak in terms of magical power, doesn’t seem to be gaining any additional power as the series goes on, and even his so-called allies are liable to leave him on his own or straight up turn on him to save their own hides, because the ‘rules’ demand it, or because they decide they don’t really like him all that much after all. Verus has to be a mean, ruthless alley cat to simply stay alive in a world that’s constantly out to get him and never on his side. I think a lot of people would just give up and die if they faced what he does.
That might sound like I mean that as a good thing, and I bet a lot of readers do see it as a good thing. But for me, it’s just frustrating. I hate reading about injustice and political corruption, and this series is chock full of it. Even if Verus manages to eke out some way to save his life by the end of the book, it usually comes at the cost of even more mistrust from others and absolutely no justice being done—oh, and sometimes whatever he had to do to save his life means that his friends/allies decide he’s too dangerous and don’t trust him anymore. It’s so very, very frustrating.
This disloyalty from his friends probably contributes to the fact that I still don’t like most of them very much. Everyone in this story is so hard and cynical, so isolated even when they’re in a team. It’s sad and depressing. I was really glad to see that Sonder is back. I like him the best of all the characters, I think, and I hope that he gets his act together and becomes a reliable ally for Verus.
I didn’t hate this book, really. This series is entertaining enough and Verus is interesting enough that I do intend to keep reading the series. It’s just that it’s so frustrating. I really hope the author makes some changes in the way the plots go. I hope Verus’s allies stop being so fair-weather and actually act like decent allies. I hope the plots stop hinging on political corruption. I hope Verus finds some way to get some more power to face these threats. Because maybe that’s part of the problem, too. Harry Dresden keeps getting more powerful to face more and more powerful threats. Put another way, the threats Harry faces get more and more powerful to be a decent challenge to him as he keeps gaining power. With Verus never gaining any more power (either in the form of magic, tools, or friends), the challenges he faces all stay about the same level. With the Dresden series, there’s an obvious increase in the threat level as the series goes on. The stakes keep getting higher and higher. With Verus, it’s a plateau, with the stakes never really raising. It’s pretty much always: someone wants to kill Verus or get him to turn dark, and he has to find a way to survive and remain independent.
I kind of want to beg the author to do four things:
1) Give Verus more power
2) Stop hanging so much of the plot on politics
3) Raise the stakes beyond Verus’s life/independence
4) Build closer relationships between Verus and his friends/allies
There’s a lot of good stuff in this series, but it could be so much better.
July 24, 2022
Wow!
We're back with Alex and right at the start of the novel, he is informed that the council will be deciding whether to sanction the death sentence four council members have passed.
Which is a bit surprising considering that he had been playing ball and worked with/for the keepers.
From then on, Alex is trying to get his head out of the noose and to save those depending on him - oh yes, they are being targeted as well.
Thus, he's trying to please some "undecided" council members by taking on a mission in Aleppo and making deals with various people.
This series has always been one of the darker urban fantasy but this took it to a new level!
I very much enjoyed the look at Aleppo and the civil unrest that mirrored the real-life events from back when this book was published. To think that real-life people in many places were as tone deaf as the mages who went there to recover a certain magical artifact!
But I also liked finally seeing Luna taking her wayman test. And smashing it ... or, well, part of the actual place. *snickers*
Fascinatingly, the core message this is turning to is that independents won't be able to survive. I alsways liked how Alex did his thing and refused to play everyone's game. As Arachne put it, though: everyone HAS to pick a side.
This also saw me emotionally engaged more than ever before. I mean, the audacity of the council members and especially the betrayal of Caldera! URGH! The keepers really are driving me nuts! But it was more than that. The hits just kept on coming. From to - this installment had my pulse racing constantly and there just wasn't any time for a breather.
However, the ending now poses questions of a totally different kind. Hm. Can't wait to see where wthe author will take this (and Alex) from here on out.
We're back with Alex and right at the start of the novel, he is informed that the council will be deciding whether to sanction the death sentence four council members have passed.
Which is a bit surprising considering that he had been playing ball and worked with/for the keepers.
From then on, Alex is trying to get his head out of the noose and to save those depending on him - oh yes, they are being targeted as well.
Thus, he's trying to please some "undecided" council members by taking on a mission in Aleppo and making deals with various people.
This series has always been one of the darker urban fantasy but this took it to a new level!
I very much enjoyed the look at Aleppo and the civil unrest that mirrored the real-life events from back when this book was published. To think that real-life people in many places were as tone deaf as the mages who went there to recover a certain magical artifact!
But I also liked finally seeing Luna taking her wayman test. And smashing it ... or, well, part of the actual place. *snickers*
Fascinatingly, the core message this is turning to is that independents won't be able to survive. I alsways liked how Alex did his thing and refused to play everyone's game. As Arachne put it, though: everyone HAS to pick a side.
This also saw me emotionally engaged more than ever before. I mean, the audacity of the council members and especially the betrayal of Caldera! URGH! The keepers really are driving me nuts! But it was more than that. The hits just kept on coming. From to - this installment had my pulse racing constantly and there just wasn't any time for a breather.
However, the ending now poses questions of a totally different kind. Hm. Can't wait to see where wthe author will take this (and Alex) from here on out.
August 22, 2019
You know the book that everything goes wrong for the hero and they end up in an awful position that looks like they will never be able to find a way out of. Yeah, this is that book for Alex. One of his worst fears is about to become a reality.
Alex has been picking up enemies left and right. He has a few allies with Luna, Vary and Anne but they are very young and don’t have a lot of pull in high up places. He’s made a few friends helping the keepers, but no one that is going to stand up for him in the current bought of trouble he is in. He even has Arachne and she is a great friend to have, but being a giant spider, she never leaves her lair and isn’t going to be much help in the magical world. She has some great advice for Alex though.
Someone on the light council has it out for Alex and in a blend of timing and strategy they have an execution order that will go through the council in a week, against Alex and all of his dependents. Alex has one week to figure out a way to make sure the people he cares about are protected and try to find a way to swing a few absentee votes in his direction. Otherwise he will be an outlaw and the keepers, who he’s been working with, will start hunting him.
This seems like the stickiest situation that Alex could possibly end up in. He is fine running if he has to but he isn’t okay leaving friends in the wind. It is a mad scramble to make sure that Vary, Anne and Luna are separated enough from him and he finds a deal he can make with someone on the light council to vote against the proposal to kill him.
This like all the other books in the series is full of wit and tension. Alex’s predicament is dire and let’s just say it isn’t wrapped up nicely at the end. He is in a serious pickle and I’m not sure his life is ever going to be the same.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Alex gets himself out of this situation long term. He has enough enemies in the Dark and Light Mages that it seems like he is totally screwed long term. Richard has made a big play for him and I just don’t know how our boy is going to make it out unscathed.
Alex has been picking up enemies left and right. He has a few allies with Luna, Vary and Anne but they are very young and don’t have a lot of pull in high up places. He’s made a few friends helping the keepers, but no one that is going to stand up for him in the current bought of trouble he is in. He even has Arachne and she is a great friend to have, but being a giant spider, she never leaves her lair and isn’t going to be much help in the magical world. She has some great advice for Alex though.
“Align yourself with one of the greater powers,” Arachne said. “Or become a greater power. Or die.” She paused. “I’m sorry, Alex. I wish I had better news.”
Someone on the light council has it out for Alex and in a blend of timing and strategy they have an execution order that will go through the council in a week, against Alex and all of his dependents. Alex has one week to figure out a way to make sure the people he cares about are protected and try to find a way to swing a few absentee votes in his direction. Otherwise he will be an outlaw and the keepers, who he’s been working with, will start hunting him.
When things go wrong—really, badly wrong—you’re never really ready for it. The funny thing is that preparing doesn’t seem to help that much. Working out contingency plans might help you survive the physical aspect, but it doesn’t make the mental part hit any less hard. I think it’s the seductiveness of routine. It’s so easy to believe that today’s going to be the same as yesterday, and most of the time it is the same as yesterday, and so it just goes on, one day after another, blending into a comforting sameness. Until it stops.
This seems like the stickiest situation that Alex could possibly end up in. He is fine running if he has to but he isn’t okay leaving friends in the wind. It is a mad scramble to make sure that Vary, Anne and Luna are separated enough from him and he finds a deal he can make with someone on the light council to vote against the proposal to kill him.
This like all the other books in the series is full of wit and tension. Alex’s predicament is dire and let’s just say it isn’t wrapped up nicely at the end. He is in a serious pickle and I’m not sure his life is ever going to be the same.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Alex gets himself out of this situation long term. He has enough enemies in the Dark and Light Mages that it seems like he is totally screwed long term. Richard has made a big play for him and I just don’t know how our boy is going to make it out unscathed.
June 17, 2024
This series is cooking with gas now. The stakes have been steadily rising over the past few books until things have finally boiled over and reached a tipping point. I'm all in on the story and gripped as can be right now, and think I need to read the next one immediately to continue the first real binge I've done of the series and go back-to-back-to-back.
This is Jacka's Changes, and while there are some recognizably similar plot beats to that greatest of Dresden books, I don't mind the homage. There's a reason Changes feels like such an awesome mid-series book, as there's something so intense about putting your main character through the toughest wringer imaginable and up against the wall with no good options for how to move forward, all while he's getting his previous life utterly demolished by those after him.
Admittedly this one doesn't get as nuts as Changes, but then again I wasn't wanting it to since this series has always been quieter and more understated in its approach. Jacka did take a page out of Butcher's book though with dropping a bomb on the main character on the first page that sets up the highest imaginable tension for the remainder of the book. Unlike other Verus books, this one doesn't resolve around a mystery but instead focuses on strategizing around the situation and a couple very suspenseful and emotionally gripping climactic sequences. Jacka has been steadily improving at building up a stable of 3-D side characters around Verus, and that really pays off in this book since Verus caring about his friends has to feel compelling to us for this one to create the tension that it does.
The ending was just dynamite, setting up the next part of the series in the most engaging way I could've imagined. It took a little while to get to a 5-star level for me but it was worth the wait.
Just a quick note of interest here -- a very minor side character appears named Barrayar, which just so happens to be the title of the Lois McMaster Bujold book I finished last week -- a wild coincidence, and I'm guessing that means Jacka is also a fan of Vorkosigan which was fun to see.
This is Jacka's Changes, and while there are some recognizably similar plot beats to that greatest of Dresden books, I don't mind the homage. There's a reason Changes feels like such an awesome mid-series book, as there's something so intense about putting your main character through the toughest wringer imaginable and up against the wall with no good options for how to move forward, all while he's getting his previous life utterly demolished by those after him.
Admittedly this one doesn't get as nuts as Changes, but then again I wasn't wanting it to since this series has always been quieter and more understated in its approach. Jacka did take a page out of Butcher's book though with dropping a bomb on the main character on the first page that sets up the highest imaginable tension for the remainder of the book. Unlike other Verus books, this one doesn't resolve around a mystery but instead focuses on strategizing around the situation and a couple very suspenseful and emotionally gripping climactic sequences. Jacka has been steadily improving at building up a stable of 3-D side characters around Verus, and that really pays off in this book since Verus caring about his friends has to feel compelling to us for this one to create the tension that it does.
The ending was just dynamite, setting up the next part of the series in the most engaging way I could've imagined. It took a little while to get to a 5-star level for me but it was worth the wait.
Just a quick note of interest here -- a very minor side character appears named Barrayar, which just so happens to be the title of the Lois McMaster Bujold book I finished last week -- a wild coincidence, and I'm guessing that means Jacka is also a fan of Vorkosigan which was fun to see.
December 19, 2021
All but one of the previous six books in this series have received a five-star rating from me, and this one is no different in the excellent quality of its writing, its depth of characterization, and its sure-footed pacing. Once again we have an effective blend of high stakes, careful thinking, and rapid action, and Alex Verus's first-person narration brings us into the middle of it. But how do I rate this installment when I hated the ending?
And on the way to the ending I hated, there may have been a few serious plot holes. I can't be more specific because we're talking about the last few chapters now, and as a matter of fact, if you haven 't read this book yet and don't want the ending spoiled for you, it's better not to read even the blurbs for its sequel, Bound (you'll notice that, thoughtfully, I didn't add the usual link to the title).
To tackle the problem of plot holes first, what I probably needed (and other readers might not have needed it) was more detailed information on what a diviner like Alex Verus can and can't do. I know--one of the things I've praised in this series is the clarity of its explanations of the twelve different kinds of mage (or magic-wielder) in the world this author has built, and here I'm asking Alex to tell us even more about himself.
A diviner looks into possible futures for a given present situation and takes the actions that lead to the best future. Here's an example of how it works from early on in this book:
Now what I feel I need to know better, to make this story work, is just what it takes to surprise a diviner. Right from page two Alex knows he's been sentenced to death in exactly one week by the Senior Council of Light Mages, who have the power to pass that sort of summary judgment but still respect a procedural rule that gives Alex the week's breathing space.
(Remember, Light Mages are the ones who uphold the Covenant and the Council's laws, while working privately against them; Dark Mages are the ones who flout the Covenant and laws openly. And nearly all mages are out for personal power. Good will and humanity seem limited to Alex and his friends.)
So Alex knows his enemies are out to get him. Why are they able to pull nasty tricks he just doesn't see coming? Unlike his little visit to Arachne in chapter two, he's definitely forewarned to expect the worst. So it feels like a plot hole when even a reader sees a major twist coming and Alex doesn't. And how does it fit a diviner like Alex to say
Back to deciding on a rating. Well, strongly recommended as usual, even if you hate the ending just as much as I did. And it's really another five-star read 80% of the way, minus maybe half a star for the overwhelming focus on mage politics (see parenthesis above). The tough reading, plot holes and all, didn't start till after that. Goodreads expresses "I hated it" as One Star, and maybe a drop to three stars before that final big twist that surprised both Alex and me. Let's make the rating 3.5 rounded up.
And on the way to the ending I hated, there may have been a few serious plot holes. I can't be more specific because we're talking about the last few chapters now, and as a matter of fact, if you haven 't read this book yet and don't want the ending spoiled for you, it's better not to read even the blurbs for its sequel, Bound (you'll notice that, thoughtfully, I didn't add the usual link to the title).
To tackle the problem of plot holes first, what I probably needed (and other readers might not have needed it) was more detailed information on what a diviner like Alex Verus can and can't do. I know--one of the things I've praised in this series is the clarity of its explanations of the twelve different kinds of mage (or magic-wielder) in the world this author has built, and here I'm asking Alex to tell us even more about himself.
A diviner looks into possible futures for a given present situation and takes the actions that lead to the best future. Here's an example of how it works from early on in this book:
I looked into the futures in which I gated to Arachne's lair. Down to the storeroom, through the portal, and...In this quote, Alex wasn't expecting trouble but looked into the futures anyway and got that surprise. So he went there with a plan that got him to his best future, in this case vanquishing his clumsy attackers.
Ow. What the hell?
I looked again. Pain, violence. As I focused, the futures shifted. Combat, more violence...I pulled back, resetting myself, starting a path-walk, and this time I was paying full attention. What would happen if I used this gate stone, stepped out into Arachne's ravine, and stood there?
I'd get the crap beaten out of me, that was what. ... I moved my future self around, trying to find out more about the attackers. Human, that was obvious. Two...no, three. ... Wait a minute, I know that guy...
Now what I feel I need to know better, to make this story work, is just what it takes to surprise a diviner. Right from page two Alex knows he's been sentenced to death in exactly one week by the Senior Council of Light Mages, who have the power to pass that sort of summary judgment but still respect a procedural rule that gives Alex the week's breathing space.
(Remember, Light Mages are the ones who uphold the Covenant and the Council's laws, while working privately against them; Dark Mages are the ones who flout the Covenant and laws openly. And nearly all mages are out for personal power. Good will and humanity seem limited to Alex and his friends.)
So Alex knows his enemies are out to get him. Why are they able to pull nasty tricks he just doesn't see coming? Unlike his little visit to Arachne in chapter two, he's definitely forewarned to expect the worst. So it feels like a plot hole when even a reader sees a major twist coming and Alex doesn't. And how does it fit a diviner like Alex to say
When things go wrong--really, badly wrong--you're never really ready for it. The funny thing is that preparing doesn't seem to help that much.Yes, he works out contingency plans like the rest of us, but his gift lets him see the futures of the particular situation he's in at any given moment in the present, and if he's in a pickle, he should be able to explore the futures of that pickle just as he did with his visit to Arachne.
Back to deciding on a rating. Well, strongly recommended as usual, even if you hate the ending just as much as I did. And it's really another five-star read 80% of the way, minus maybe half a star for the overwhelming focus on mage politics (see parenthesis above). The tough reading, plot holes and all, didn't start till after that. Goodreads expresses "I hated it" as One Star, and maybe a drop to three stars before that final big twist that surprised both Alex and me. Let's make the rating 3.5 rounded up.
August 28, 2016
Fantastic read, the dark mages finally show their teeth. A hell of unexpected cliffhanger ending.
March 2, 2024
*** 4.67 ***
Best book of the series so far! Started and ended with a bang! So many things happened and the majority of them were not good, but it was a very emotional and compelling read! I feel for Alex, Ann, Luna and even Caldera... Can't wait to see what happens next! 👍
Best book of the series so far! Started and ended with a bang! So many things happened and the majority of them were not good, but it was a very emotional and compelling read! I feel for Alex, Ann, Luna and even Caldera... Can't wait to see what happens next! 👍
August 18, 2016
This is the Changes of the Alex Verus series. If you're a fan of the Harry Dresden books, then you know the sort of impact I'm talking about. I'm absolutely blown away.
The book starts strong and never lets up, and it's clearly stuff that Jacka has been planning for a long time now. The fence-sitting, the endless playing both sides of mage society and trying to be beneath the notice of the heavy hitters ... it's all over. Alex has a week to live and the execution order applies to his dependents as well. That's his apprentice Luna and the two apprentices he's sponsoring for the Light Council academy, Variam and Anne.
And all of that puts a hard spotlight on some of the friendships he's made outside his immediate circle. We get Caldera, Sonder and Chalice as well as a whole supporting cast of familiar faces, both friendly and not. Some really not.
The next one should be huge.
The book starts strong and never lets up, and it's clearly stuff that Jacka has been planning for a long time now. The fence-sitting, the endless playing both sides of mage society and trying to be beneath the notice of the heavy hitters ... it's all over. Alex has a week to live and the execution order applies to his dependents as well. That's his apprentice Luna and the two apprentices he's sponsoring for the Light Council academy, Variam and Anne.
And all of that puts a hard spotlight on some of the friendships he's made outside his immediate circle. We get Caldera, Sonder and Chalice as well as a whole supporting cast of familiar faces, both friendly and not. Some really not.
The next one should be huge.
April 7, 2016
This book was INTENSE!
There wasn't a moments let up from the first page to the last. Jacka gets better and better, in style, character development, and his labyrinthine plotting. This book has it all: action, emotion, shocks, loss, more bloody shocks, and a ridiculously good ending. I put the book down and immediately started searching for the next release date, but any time is too far away. Everything has changed. Everything.
When I picked up Fated, I was uncertain about the main protagonist being a Diviner. So many of the other branches of magic seemed so much more interesting. After all, what can a Diviner really do?!!
Silly, silly me....
Underestimate Verus at your peril. And shit's just about to get real.
There wasn't a moments let up from the first page to the last. Jacka gets better and better, in style, character development, and his labyrinthine plotting. This book has it all: action, emotion, shocks, loss, more bloody shocks, and a ridiculously good ending. I put the book down and immediately started searching for the next release date, but any time is too far away. Everything has changed. Everything.
When I picked up Fated, I was uncertain about the main protagonist being a Diviner. So many of the other branches of magic seemed so much more interesting. After all, what can a Diviner really do?!!
Silly, silly me....
Underestimate Verus at your peril. And shit's just about to get real.
November 2, 2022
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 stars
April 17, 2016
I really love(d) this series, and I'm afraid that I absolutely hated the ending of this one - so much so that it completely destroyed my enjoyment of the book as a whole. From the point that Verus went on the run, I found the plotting lazy and basically meaningless. "We went here, then they nearly caught us; then we went there, then they nearly caught us; we went shopping, then they nearly caught us." It was fundamentally just filling space until the final confrontation - which was an insult to the author's dedicated readers. Leaving the protagonist teetering on the edge of a cliff (metaphorically) is, I think, one of the most manipulative and unforgivable acts of an author. It is basically saying "I'm going to make jolly sure that you buy my next book." It should not be beyond a good writer to make each book in a series a satisfactory whole, in and of itself, while still leaving the reader wanting more. And talk about plot holes - I mean to say, Verus is meant to be a truly great diviner. You don't have to be a diviner (just someone with half a brain) to predict what was going to happen to Luna in the end. For that not to occur to Verus is simply unbelievable. I will probably read the next book when it comes out, but this one has left a really nasty taste in my mouth.
June 26, 2020
Well, Alex finally did it. He pissed off the wrong person on the Council of Mages, and they ordered an executive kill order. Worse yet, the order also includes Luna, Anne, and Vari. But to do that they’ll need the votes and Alex will not make it easy.
Holy Spellcasters this was an intense, unforgiving, bite your nails to the bits listen. Alex has always gotten himself and others out of a tight fix and just when it seems he was winning, he was not.
Addictive, frustrating, complex and cleverly written from time in a bubble to alliances and friendships, I laughed, screamed and even cried out in frustration.
Alex has always been a loner, trusting no one, but he’d die for his friends. It was interesting to see where relationships fell. Who would never waiver and who would stick to the letter of the law, unable to the corruption and strategic powerplays. If you ever doubted why Alex didn’t want to align with any side or join the council, you will never doubt him after this.
The storyline is brilliant, a complete five star, but the ending ripped me in two and had it not been my smartphone I would have hurled it at the wall. Right now I am bloody mad at Benedict Jacka. We shall see if that changes with Bound.
Gildart Jackson has become the voice of these characters, particularly Alex. He captures the emotion, tension and characters brilliantly taking this story to the next level. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Holy Spellcasters this was an intense, unforgiving, bite your nails to the bits listen. Alex has always gotten himself and others out of a tight fix and just when it seems he was winning, he was not.
Addictive, frustrating, complex and cleverly written from time in a bubble to alliances and friendships, I laughed, screamed and even cried out in frustration.
Alex has always been a loner, trusting no one, but he’d die for his friends. It was interesting to see where relationships fell. Who would never waiver and who would stick to the letter of the law, unable to the corruption and strategic powerplays. If you ever doubted why Alex didn’t want to align with any side or join the council, you will never doubt him after this.
The storyline is brilliant, a complete five star, but the ending ripped me in two and had it not been my smartphone I would have hurled it at the wall. Right now I am bloody mad at Benedict Jacka. We shall see if that changes with Bound.
Gildart Jackson has become the voice of these characters, particularly Alex. He captures the emotion, tension and characters brilliantly taking this story to the next level. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
March 28, 2016
It's hard to do justice to this book without any spoilers. Alex Verus has managed to tread that thin, awkward line between the political mage parties for years, but no longer. The threat of an independent mage who refuses to align politically with existing powers has proven too much; he and his dependents have a week to live.
With that opening out of the way (seriously, that's not a spoiler; this is about 3 pages in!) the stage is set. Somehow Verus, Anne, Vari and Luna must find a way to extricate themselves from this new and very real dilemma, despite the escalating danger and the convoluted, ironic and very political logic determining Verus to be a threat.
There are political and magical machinations, questions of loyalty and power, some philosophical musing about prophecies and their likeness to the actual future, and of course everything you know and love about Verus, all moving inexorably towards the future that may or may not be set in stone. I blasted through it in a day, with great delight.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
With that opening out of the way (seriously, that's not a spoiler; this is about 3 pages in!) the stage is set. Somehow Verus, Anne, Vari and Luna must find a way to extricate themselves from this new and very real dilemma, despite the escalating danger and the convoluted, ironic and very political logic determining Verus to be a threat.
There are political and magical machinations, questions of loyalty and power, some philosophical musing about prophecies and their likeness to the actual future, and of course everything you know and love about Verus, all moving inexorably towards the future that may or may not be set in stone. I blasted through it in a day, with great delight.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2016
Weakest in the series.
The chaos existing in the Light Council is unrealistic. I mean, come on, no organization is that divided. They would have been wiped out by the Dark Mages ages ago.
As for Verus, it begins to annoy me that he doesn't evolve as a character or in power.
The series is often compared to Butcher's Dresden Files but the difference is that Harry's power and influence grow constantly throughout the series. This doesn't happen with Verus and it's getting to be a bore. I mean, at least give the man a special gun or a shield piercing katana, a friendly (supernatural) dog for God's sake.
The chaos existing in the Light Council is unrealistic. I mean, come on, no organization is that divided. They would have been wiped out by the Dark Mages ages ago.
As for Verus, it begins to annoy me that he doesn't evolve as a character or in power.
The series is often compared to Butcher's Dresden Files but the difference is that Harry's power and influence grow constantly throughout the series. This doesn't happen with Verus and it's getting to be a bore. I mean, at least give the man a special gun or a shield piercing katana, a friendly (supernatural) dog for God's sake.
March 25, 2025
**4.5 stars**
I'm so glad I'm re-reading this series because I had totally forgotten so many things that had happened here. And some, I hadn't even realized they had happened - like Luna and Vari becoming an item!! It came as shock when I read between the lines.
As usual, this series is so complex and full of action. I love Alex as a main character because he's so nuanced. The title is also so apt. So many things that Alex cared about went up in flames! Places and things he loved, friendships, the list goes on and on.
Looking forward to the next book!
I'm so glad I'm re-reading this series because I had totally forgotten so many things that had happened here. And some, I hadn't even realized they had happened - like Luna and Vari becoming an item!! It came as shock when I read between the lines.
As usual, this series is so complex and full of action. I love Alex as a main character because he's so nuanced. The title is also so apt. So many things that Alex cared about went up in flames! Places and things he loved, friendships, the list goes on and on.
Looking forward to the next book!
May 10, 2020
This reads like an escape and run thriller. It's quite the fun, filled with backstabbing politics, and interesting character developments. I like the way the series is going, and this book in terms of plotting is rather thin, but, it provides an excellent insight into the grey world of Alex Verus.
This time Alex Verus is out of his depth and league. The death sentence hanging on his head and his friends makes him feel helpless. Somehow he finds the solution for Luna and Variam, but Anne is dragged down with him. So, there's a lot of running, and assasination attempts on Verus' life. We also get the political conflict between the light council and dark mages, which brings quite an intriguing picture.
Speaking of characters, Luna develops more as an individual. She's training under a dark mage, and is determined to take her journeyman tests. She grows in confidence and power, and her relationship with Variam also is hinted, though we get only vague glimpses. I liked Chalice as Luna's teacher, and want to know more of her part in the big game. Anne still remains as passive, but has grown out of her shell.
The ending was pretty much awesome. I can only say that the real trouble has only begun for Alex and Anne. This book stretched Verus to his paitence and limits, and I believe it will leave a mark on his character. The return of a certain dark mage and his dubious intent comes into play at this point which is gonna bring a hell lot for Verus to tackle. I'm out for reading Bound.
This time Alex Verus is out of his depth and league. The death sentence hanging on his head and his friends makes him feel helpless. Somehow he finds the solution for Luna and Variam, but Anne is dragged down with him. So, there's a lot of running, and assasination attempts on Verus' life. We also get the political conflict between the light council and dark mages, which brings quite an intriguing picture.
Speaking of characters, Luna develops more as an individual. She's training under a dark mage, and is determined to take her journeyman tests. She grows in confidence and power, and her relationship with Variam also is hinted, though we get only vague glimpses. I liked Chalice as Luna's teacher, and want to know more of her part in the big game. Anne still remains as passive, but has grown out of her shell.
The ending was pretty much awesome. I can only say that the real trouble has only begun for Alex and Anne. This book stretched Verus to his paitence and limits, and I believe it will leave a mark on his character. The return of a certain dark mage and his dubious intent comes into play at this point which is gonna bring a hell lot for Verus to tackle. I'm out for reading Bound.
April 16, 2025
4.5 but rounding up because why not?
My main takeaway from book 7 is that Jacka is getting good at putting Verus in scenarios where there is no “right” choice. It makes the stakes feel high and the relationships messy.
I’d like a little more character development, but that doesn’t mean the moments I did get weren’t good.
I also really enjoyed the strange pace of this book. Not sure how to articulate it but the next events were hard to pin down which made for an engaging read; this one felt a little less formulaic while keeping all the familiar aspects I enjoy.
My main takeaway from book 7 is that Jacka is getting good at putting Verus in scenarios where there is no “right” choice. It makes the stakes feel high and the relationships messy.
I’d like a little more character development, but that doesn’t mean the moments I did get weren’t good.
I also really enjoyed the strange pace of this book. Not sure how to articulate it but the next events were hard to pin down which made for an engaging read; this one felt a little less formulaic while keeping all the familiar aspects I enjoy.
April 23, 2024
I really enjoy this series and I have to say that this offering was a bit brutal for Alex and friends. I am going to have to read the next one soon because the anticipation of what comes next is eating away at my soul. A lot of action and intrigue as always but this time it doesn’t seem like Alex managed a resolution. How will he handle this latest outrage? Excellent twist.
May 3, 2016
This book was the weakest in the series. Why is every light mage evil or an ass ? There should be good and honourable ones too. Right ?
However, in the name of honourable ones we get sonder and caldera who were just so so self-righteous that i wanted to punch them. Esp Caldera. She reminds of some of the nazi officers i read about - honest, by the book types who will follow the law even when they know it is screwed. Just feel sorry for 10 seconds later for destroying someone's life.
I really hope the next book takes a turn for the better bec i do want to read about this world. Characters - good or evil, should not irritate. That makes a reader want to throw the book away. Way too many irritating characters populate this book
However, in the name of honourable ones we get sonder and caldera who were just so so self-righteous that i wanted to punch them. Esp Caldera. She reminds of some of the nazi officers i read about - honest, by the book types who will follow the law even when they know it is screwed. Just feel sorry for 10 seconds later for destroying someone's life.
I really hope the next book takes a turn for the better bec i do want to read about this world. Characters - good or evil, should not irritate. That makes a reader want to throw the book away. Way too many irritating characters populate this book
April 23, 2016
I was SO hopeful about this book when Arachne has a sit down with Mage Verus to say, dude, people are after you not because of this specific thing you did to someone else but because they're worried you could become a strong player on the scene. FINALLY! Someone stops listening to all the whining and tells him to make a choice.
And then for the rest of the book, he carefully avoids making any meaningful choices. How can you have seven books and do so little to advance the main character's development?
I shouldn't have wasted my time with this book. I won't bother with the next one.
And then for the rest of the book, he carefully avoids making any meaningful choices. How can you have seven books and do so little to advance the main character's development?
I shouldn't have wasted my time with this book. I won't bother with the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2016
You're killing me, Jacka!
November 4, 2025
For anyone who has read Dresden Files, this book is the Alex Verus version of 'Changes': the book everything has been leading up to, where everything goes wrong, and nothing will ever be the same.
While not as emotionally affecting as 'Changes', this book was incredibly exciting and pulse-pounding. Alex is a character who has continued to really grow on me, and I was very invested in how he and his team would be able to survive what they were facing in this story (no spoilers!).
The story hits the ground running from Page 1 and never really lets up. I have some minor quibbles, but overall this was the best and most exciting Alex Verus novel yet. Great urban fantasy series that I recommend!
While not as emotionally affecting as 'Changes', this book was incredibly exciting and pulse-pounding. Alex is a character who has continued to really grow on me, and I was very invested in how he and his team would be able to survive what they were facing in this story (no spoilers!).
The story hits the ground running from Page 1 and never really lets up. I have some minor quibbles, but overall this was the best and most exciting Alex Verus novel yet. Great urban fantasy series that I recommend!
August 27, 2017
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Way, way, way too dark for me.
Not what I have come to enjoy from this series.
Way, way, way too dark for me.
Not what I have come to enjoy from this series.
October 15, 2018
4.5 Stars
Burned is another fantastic entry in the Alex Verus series, upping the stakes even further and bringing new tension into the story.
A lot of people have tried to kill Alex. So far, he’s always been able to outrun, outthink, or outfight anyone who came after him. Not anymore. A kill order has been put out on Alex and all his friends, this time directly from the Council itself. Fighting isn’t an option, which means that Alex has a week to figure out how to save not just his life, but the lives of his friends.
The action is furious in this one, keeping the pace trucking along. In addition to delivering the usual creative fight sequences, the emotional impact of the confrontations is upped, especially in one of the later action scenes. I also really enjoy how the author portrays each side of the conflict, showing that there isn’t a simple good versus evil dynamic and that the truth is much more nuanced. Also, that ending. Wow. It left me desperate to know what’s going to happen next.
Seven books in and this series keeps going strong. It’s now firmly one of my favorite urban fantasy series out there.
Burned is another fantastic entry in the Alex Verus series, upping the stakes even further and bringing new tension into the story.
A lot of people have tried to kill Alex. So far, he’s always been able to outrun, outthink, or outfight anyone who came after him. Not anymore. A kill order has been put out on Alex and all his friends, this time directly from the Council itself. Fighting isn’t an option, which means that Alex has a week to figure out how to save not just his life, but the lives of his friends.
The action is furious in this one, keeping the pace trucking along. In addition to delivering the usual creative fight sequences, the emotional impact of the confrontations is upped, especially in one of the later action scenes. I also really enjoy how the author portrays each side of the conflict, showing that there isn’t a simple good versus evil dynamic and that the truth is much more nuanced. Also, that ending. Wow. It left me desperate to know what’s going to happen next.
Seven books in and this series keeps going strong. It’s now firmly one of my favorite urban fantasy series out there.
April 10, 2016
3.5 stars. In this volume Alex is finally forced to choose sides. No more running away, no more talking himself out of a tight spot, no more bargains or new magical powers. In the end there are changes to their little scooby gang and Alex has to make a fateful decision.
I was getting really tired of the unending political machinations and Light vs Dark theme in previous books. And the way they treat Alex and blame him for every little thing in the face of conflicting evidence was hard to stomach. It was a little too much for me this time. The gang seemed to be running backwards and forwards without achieving anything. I don't know why is back. He is a disloyal and hypocritical person and it really annoys me that Alex has to justify himself and even be nice to him. I hope he gets the chop in a future book. Or becomes a villain so we can all hate him!
The ending was both a cliffhanger and a way of opening up the series and taking it into a new direction. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
I was getting really tired of the unending political machinations and Light vs Dark theme in previous books. And the way they treat Alex and blame him for every little thing in the face of conflicting evidence was hard to stomach. It was a little too much for me this time. The gang seemed to be running backwards and forwards without achieving anything. I don't know why is back. He is a disloyal and hypocritical person and it really annoys me that Alex has to justify himself and even be nice to him. I hope he gets the chop in a future book. Or becomes a villain so we can all hate him!
The ending was both a cliffhanger and a way of opening up the series and taking it into a new direction. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
January 25, 2020
5 Stars
Burned was another great addition to a new favorite series of mine. I am a huge fan of all things urban fantasy and this is a series not to be missed. Alex is amazing and the series gets better and better with each new story.
Loved it.
Burned was another great addition to a new favorite series of mine. I am a huge fan of all things urban fantasy and this is a series not to be missed. Alex is amazing and the series gets better and better with each new story.
Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 643 reviews