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Alex Verus #10
Fallen
Everything is on the line for probability mage Alex Verus in the tenth urban fantasy novel from the bestselling author of Fated.
Once Alex Verus was a diviner trying to live quietly under the radar. Now he's a member of the Light Council who's found success, friends . . . and love. But it's come with a price - the Council is investigating him, and if they find out the truth, he'll lose everything.
Meanwhile, Alex's old master, Richard Drakh, is waging a war against the Council, and he's preparing a move that will bring Alex and the life mage, Anne, under his control. Caught between Richard and the Council, Alex's time is running out. To protect those he cares for, Alex will have to become something different. Something darker. . .
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2019
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2446 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
October 7, 2022
Re-Read 10/7/22:
Dark. So dark. I love it. To see Alex go all out this way is a real treat BOTH times I read it. :)
Original Review:
Every time I hear about a new Benedict Jacka book, I fall all over myself with joy and anticipation. When I finally read them, I'm in awe.
Let me be clear, this is some of the most fun Urban Fantasy I've ever come across. It's smart, things fall apart so spectacularly, and the basic nature of Verus's magic always makes me crave more. Diviner magic? What's so good about that? :) Oh, searching multiple futures where you get what you want, on the fly, and then do stuff like walking through a room full of bullets. Details. But Jacka takes that much, much further in this book.
It's a turning point! A big one! Before, Verus was all about keeping neutrality because neither the black nor the white council was made up of particularly nice people. But after this?
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no spoilers. Though, if you look at that title carefully enough, you might get an idea about where this new novel is headed. I admit I was having a pretty soft spot between Verus and Ann. I can't believe it rolled this way. Red herring? Muahahaha I'm not telling.
Suffice to say, this is one of my absolute favorites of the series. Ten books so far. May there be twenty!
Dark. So dark. I love it. To see Alex go all out this way is a real treat BOTH times I read it. :)
Original Review:
Every time I hear about a new Benedict Jacka book, I fall all over myself with joy and anticipation. When I finally read them, I'm in awe.
Let me be clear, this is some of the most fun Urban Fantasy I've ever come across. It's smart, things fall apart so spectacularly, and the basic nature of Verus's magic always makes me crave more. Diviner magic? What's so good about that? :) Oh, searching multiple futures where you get what you want, on the fly, and then do stuff like walking through a room full of bullets. Details. But Jacka takes that much, much further in this book.
It's a turning point! A big one! Before, Verus was all about keeping neutrality because neither the black nor the white council was made up of particularly nice people. But after this?
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no spoilers. Though, if you look at that title carefully enough, you might get an idea about where this new novel is headed. I admit I was having a pretty soft spot between Verus and Ann. I can't believe it rolled this way. Red herring? Muahahaha I'm not telling.
Suffice to say, this is one of my absolute favorites of the series. Ten books so far. May there be twenty!
February 8, 2020
This is a great series which just got even better. I have loved Alex Verus and his magic powers since book one but here in book 10 no less, the author has taken him on a huge leap in a different direction.
At last Alex has realised you cannot always be a good guy when you are up against the baddies. It took losing a special person to make him turn but turn he did, and how! We discover just how good a power divination is when coupled with a few other factors. One of the scenes towards the end of the book which takes place in a locked room is amazing.
I did start to worry that the end of the series was really close as certain important characters left and some issues were obviously being wound up. However I read that Jacka has promised twelve books so we have two more to look forward to.
Five stars for a compact, fast paced, frequently thrilling and one hundred per cent enjoyable book. And an extra star if I could for bringing back Starbreeze, without whom even super powered Alex Verus would not have survived.
At last Alex has realised you cannot always be a good guy when you are up against the baddies. It took losing a special person to make him turn but turn he did, and how! We discover just how good a power divination is when coupled with a few other factors. One of the scenes towards the end of the book which takes place in a locked room is amazing.
I did start to worry that the end of the series was really close as certain important characters left and some issues were obviously being wound up. However I read that Jacka has promised twelve books so we have two more to look forward to.
Five stars for a compact, fast paced, frequently thrilling and one hundred per cent enjoyable book. And an extra star if I could for bringing back Starbreeze, without whom even super powered Alex Verus would not have survived.
October 2, 2019
I think that anyone who has read a book in this series gets that Alex is a Fencey (dude that hasn’t picked a side). Just like in politics the independent rarely wins the race, they just don’t have enough backing. Well if you haven’t guessed by the title Alex is about to get kicked off that fence and fall face first into some hard decisions.
Fallen follows the pacing of other books in this series where the first half is just the day to day meanderings of a mage until BAM-WHACK-CRACK something horrible happens and then everyone is out to get him. Then the rest of the book is a lot of action as Alex tries to survive with the aid of some friends.
There are a few things that really worked for this book: Alex has finally made a few hard decisions and it is time to really commit to taking charge and stop trying to be both a light and dark mage at the same time. There are some alliances to be made, some to be broken, friends gained and friends lost. I’m happy to say that I finally feel like some serious movement has happened.
There is a moment in this book when Alex is talking with Richard and some of the things Richard is saying makes complete total sense. Alex is in the position he is currently in due to his choices and behavior. Richard is definitely more eloquent about it, but I think that it was a big wake up moment for Alex.
The thing that I’m really excited about is how Alex and Anne both change in this book. In the past I’ve found Anne to be a bit of a doormat and I was just waiting for the moment when she remembers she is the most dangerous person in the room and acted like it. I love the twisty-turny direction that entire arc has taken and like the opportunities that it could be opening up.
Luna is still the best former pupil a guy can have and I totally love that girl’s loyalty to Alex. They have this great friendship/mentorship and I think that grounds them both.
This is about the time in a series that I’m looking for the end. I’m not saying I’m not enjoying living in the Alex Verus world, cuz I am. But, I like authors to have a clear direction and go out strong. I’ve read a few series that just keep going like the energizer buddy until its just annoying background noise. I see some great and some horrible possibilities for Alex’s character and I’m just excited to see how it all is going to play out.
Best moment – Learning what Richard’s magic is and using that knowledge.
Worst moment – Let’s just say it involved a mind mage we all hate and a girl Alex loves.
My hope is that the next book is titled something like Gotcha
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for supplying the ARC for review.
Fallen follows the pacing of other books in this series where the first half is just the day to day meanderings of a mage until BAM-WHACK-CRACK something horrible happens and then everyone is out to get him. Then the rest of the book is a lot of action as Alex tries to survive with the aid of some friends.
There are a few things that really worked for this book: Alex has finally made a few hard decisions and it is time to really commit to taking charge and stop trying to be both a light and dark mage at the same time. There are some alliances to be made, some to be broken, friends gained and friends lost. I’m happy to say that I finally feel like some serious movement has happened.
There is a moment in this book when Alex is talking with Richard and some of the things Richard is saying makes complete total sense. Alex is in the position he is currently in due to his choices and behavior. Richard is definitely more eloquent about it, but I think that it was a big wake up moment for Alex.
The thing that I’m really excited about is how Alex and Anne both change in this book. In the past I’ve found Anne to be a bit of a doormat and I was just waiting for the moment when she remembers she is the most dangerous person in the room and acted like it. I love the twisty-turny direction that entire arc has taken and like the opportunities that it could be opening up.
Luna is still the best former pupil a guy can have and I totally love that girl’s loyalty to Alex. They have this great friendship/mentorship and I think that grounds them both.
This is about the time in a series that I’m looking for the end. I’m not saying I’m not enjoying living in the Alex Verus world, cuz I am. But, I like authors to have a clear direction and go out strong. I’ve read a few series that just keep going like the energizer buddy until its just annoying background noise. I see some great and some horrible possibilities for Alex’s character and I’m just excited to see how it all is going to play out.
Best moment – Learning what Richard’s magic is and using that knowledge.
Worst moment – Let’s just say it involved a mind mage we all hate and a girl Alex loves.
My hope is that the next book is titled something like Gotcha
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for supplying the ARC for review.
October 6, 2022
You know, after seeing people (mages) mistreating Alex for 9 fucking volumes, it was good to get some payback on them all!
It was only a matter of time until the Council would find out that Anne had merged with a djinn and was responsible for the death of dozens of people, therefore coming after her. And just like that, Alex's political position could evaporate. I'm not saying that is what happens here - I'm just not saying that it didn't.
One thing's for sure though: Arachne was right when saying that Alex needed a serious power upgrade. And yes, we're definitely getting that here. Alex going after all the assholes and telling them what he's gonna do to them was delicious!
I mean, there is only so often and so much you can beat someone up before they either die or fight back and Alex hasn't died. They were convinced and even wanted him to be a dark mage hiding his true nature so now they shall get a dark mage no longer hiding his more merciless side.
And can we finally get rid of Rachel, please?!
This volume, more like any of the previous ones, had A LOT of sequences that I'd like to quote ad nauseum. One of my favourite conversations was this:
So this was about Alex's political position and his relationship with Anne as well as Anne's relationship with herself. You can't bury the bad stuff forever, it WILL come back to bite you in the ass.
As mentioned in one of my status updates, there were also a number of really memorable because hard-hitting experiences. Alex wants nothing other than controlling his own fate and life - is that so much to ask for?! Apparently, yes. And that led straight to the most horrifying moment in this book for which I wanted him to get cold-blooded revenge. I'm craving it by now as much as I'm sure he must be.
We'll see if he'll get it. For now, I’m mourning and hoping .
It was only a matter of time until the Council would find out that Anne had merged with a djinn and was responsible for the death of dozens of people, therefore coming after her. And just like that, Alex's political position could evaporate. I'm not saying that is what happens here - I'm just not saying that it didn't.
One thing's for sure though: Arachne was right when saying that Alex needed a serious power upgrade. And yes, we're definitely getting that here. Alex going after all the assholes and telling them what he's gonna do to them was delicious!
I mean, there is only so often and so much you can beat someone up before they either die or fight back and Alex hasn't died. They were convinced and even wanted him to be a dark mage hiding his true nature so now they shall get a dark mage no longer hiding his more merciless side.
And can we finally get rid of Rachel, please?!
This volume, more like any of the previous ones, had A LOT of sequences that I'd like to quote ad nauseum. One of my favourite conversations was this:
"You're assuming that populism is a bad thing that needs to be stopped."
"Isn't it?"
I shrugged. "Most of the time, when someone says populism in that context they mean something that's popular that I don't like. If they like it, they call it democracy or representation. It isn't the government's job to promote your opinion at the expense of everyone else.
So this was about Alex's political position and his relationship with Anne as well as Anne's relationship with herself. You can't bury the bad stuff forever, it WILL come back to bite you in the ass.
As mentioned in one of my status updates, there were also a number of really memorable because hard-hitting experiences. Alex wants nothing other than controlling his own fate and life - is that so much to ask for?! Apparently, yes. And that led straight to the most horrifying moment in this book for which I wanted him to get cold-blooded revenge. I'm craving it by now as much as I'm sure he must be.
We'll see if he'll get it. For now, I’m mourning and hoping .
October 31, 2019
Fuuuuuck me this was way way too short!
I thought this book would ruin me, just shatter me and then spread my pieces and set them on fire. But I'm actually fully intact. Some beloved characters left (but they are okay which is all that matters to me) and there was also fond reunions which had me in a sobbing mess (the character leaving and the one coming back were in same chapter and both are my faves so).
Also the pace is racing quick. From when shit started to go down the book would not let anyone catch their breath and I was so glad I could read this in one go (or two, since I read the beginning up to the point when all shit started happening yesterday) because it's impossible to put down.
Again, this was way too short and I wish it was like 100 pages longer or that I would have book 11 in my hands. Or both.
Read these books guys! They're so fun and fast paced, and very easy to digest. Great characters. Only minus is that they are super addictive and read through way too fast and then you're left wanting more and having to wait for the next book to be released.
I thought this book would ruin me, just shatter me and then spread my pieces and set them on fire. But I'm actually fully intact. Some beloved characters left (but they are okay which is all that matters to me) and there was also fond reunions which had me in a sobbing mess (the character leaving and the one coming back were in same chapter and both are my faves so).
Also the pace is racing quick. From when shit started to go down the book would not let anyone catch their breath and I was so glad I could read this in one go (or two, since I read the beginning up to the point when all shit started happening yesterday) because it's impossible to put down.
Again, this was way too short and I wish it was like 100 pages longer or that I would have book 11 in my hands. Or both.
Read these books guys! They're so fun and fast paced, and very easy to digest. Great characters. Only minus is that they are super addictive and read through way too fast and then you're left wanting more and having to wait for the next book to be released.
October 18, 2020
4.5 stars.
Looks like Verus is done pissing about.
Looks like Verus is done pissing about.
November 5, 2022
This is the tenth book in this series, and as with the others, it’s a wild ride. If you’ve made it to this point in the series, I don’t need to touch too much on the characters or plot, because you will know most of it all already.
If you haven’t read the series and are thinking of starting here, don’t. Go start at the beginning. On to this book, it is a little bit darker in tone to the other ones, and Alex is finding that he needs to do things he doesn’t want to do to save himself, his friends, and his loved ones.
Richard is, of course, at the heart of it all, and the things Alex has to do will put himself in even more trouble (future book I’m looking forward to). Full of action, magic, and heart-breaking moments, this book is the best so far in the series, and I am looking forward to the next book to see how the events in this one plays out.
If you love urban fantasy, you must try this series. Highly recommend this book and series
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you haven’t read the series and are thinking of starting here, don’t. Go start at the beginning. On to this book, it is a little bit darker in tone to the other ones, and Alex is finding that he needs to do things he doesn’t want to do to save himself, his friends, and his loved ones.
Richard is, of course, at the heart of it all, and the things Alex has to do will put himself in even more trouble (future book I’m looking forward to). Full of action, magic, and heart-breaking moments, this book is the best so far in the series, and I am looking forward to the next book to see how the events in this one plays out.
If you love urban fantasy, you must try this series. Highly recommend this book and series
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 24, 2019
What advice would I give to someone who just picked up Fallen, the eleventh book in the Alex Verus Series? Hold onto your seats, you are about to take ONE AMAZING LITERARY RIDE!
Alex has come to the breaking point, he’s managed to stay neutral through out the past 10 installments but sometimes black and white mix and you get a whole lot of gray! And it doesn’t seem like either side, the black or white council, have the answers.
Jacka pens a masterfully written Urban Fantasy, and you all know I love URBAN FANTASIES. Relatable, fun characters, fantastic storytelling and sucking the reader straight into a highly original fictional world, it’s a win, win read in my book all around.
I received this review copy of Fallen from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace. This is my honest and voluntary review.
My Rating: 5 stars
Series: An Alex Verus Novel (Book 10)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace (September 24, 2019)
ISBN-10: 0440000580
ISBN-13: 978-0440000587
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Verus-N...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fall...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/falle...
I received this ARC copy of Fallen from Ace - Berkley | Penguin Random House. This is my honest and voluntary review. Fallen is set for publication September 24, 2019.
Alex has come to the breaking point, he’s managed to stay neutral through out the past 10 installments but sometimes black and white mix and you get a whole lot of gray! And it doesn’t seem like either side, the black or white council, have the answers.
Jacka pens a masterfully written Urban Fantasy, and you all know I love URBAN FANTASIES. Relatable, fun characters, fantastic storytelling and sucking the reader straight into a highly original fictional world, it’s a win, win read in my book all around.
I received this review copy of Fallen from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace. This is my honest and voluntary review.
My Rating: 5 stars
Series: An Alex Verus Novel (Book 10)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace (September 24, 2019)
ISBN-10: 0440000580
ISBN-13: 978-0440000587
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Verus-N...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fall...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/falle...
I received this ARC copy of Fallen from Ace - Berkley | Penguin Random House. This is my honest and voluntary review. Fallen is set for publication September 24, 2019.
October 9, 2019
If you're ten books into a series then you should understand what you're getting. Political machinations between two different groups of mages while our protagonist tries to float along doing the right thing and keeping himself and the people around him alive by being clever. Alex Verus has survived for a long time and risen quite high by being reactive to the events around him. This book finally puts him in a situation where this just isn't possible any more.
This very much feels like we're working towards an ending of the series. The author has thrown major change into the series in the past, and this is another one of those, but there's a level of finality in some of the changes this time. These books continue to be excellent, and if the series is working towards a close, I'll be sad to see it wrap.
I would recommend the whole series.
This very much feels like we're working towards an ending of the series. The author has thrown major change into the series in the past, and this is another one of those, but there's a level of finality in some of the changes this time. These books continue to be excellent, and if the series is working towards a close, I'll be sad to see it wrap.
I would recommend the whole series.
October 31, 2020
Wow! Action doesn’t get much more exciting than this and with some major changes in attitude too. The title is very apt too. Alex and Anne are definitely on a new trajectory and all the possible futures look bright for fans of this series.
September 29, 2019
Rating 4.0 stars
When I was reading the first half of this book I was upset. The same problems I had noticed in the previous few books were popping up again. Nothing was happening. Or more to the point, Alex kept getting dealt blow after blow and never seemed ready for it. Come on, he's a damn diviner and has known that the council is after him and that Richard is after Anne. We have known that for the last 4 books (at least), and yet again he is surprised and unprepared when something happens? Everything changed in the second half of the book. I think Richard was right when he said that most of the problems that Alex faced was due to his own indecision. He didn't want to be a dark mage, but also didn't act like a light mage either. His indecisiveness is what caused most of his problems. I wonder how many more books are in the series. It can't be many with all the changes that happened in this book.
When I was reading the first half of this book I was upset. The same problems I had noticed in the previous few books were popping up again. Nothing was happening. Or more to the point, Alex kept getting dealt blow after blow and never seemed ready for it. Come on, he's a damn diviner and has known that the council is after him and that Richard is after Anne. We have known that for the last 4 books (at least), and yet again he is surprised and unprepared when something happens? Everything changed in the second half of the book. I think Richard was right when he said that most of the problems that Alex faced was due to his own indecision. He didn't want to be a dark mage, but also didn't act like a light mage either. His indecisiveness is what caused most of his problems. I wonder how many more books are in the series. It can't be many with all the changes that happened in this book.
October 22, 2019
One of the best Alex Verus books by far, they just keep getting better. It was both heartbreaking and exciting to see Alex go dark.
I really enjoyed dark Alex, he's formidable in a way he never was before and it's not about the magic. I'm afraid for anyone that's ever crossed him. He and Anne are a powerhouse.
I'm so excited for the next installment.
I really enjoyed dark Alex, he's formidable in a way he never was before and it's not about the magic. I'm afraid for anyone that's ever crossed him. He and Anne are a powerhouse.
I'm so excited for the next installment.
January 13, 2020
Pure fun!!
August 18, 2024
This was a dynamite late series book that just about read itself. Even for a short book I rarely devour them in less than 2 whole days like I did with this one which I just could not put down for the life of me.
The stakes have been steadily rising in the back half of the series and this is a book where a lot of that tension comes to a head for some absurdly dramatic moments and meaningful character turns. I especially love how extremely minor details and side characters from throughout the entire series might come back around to be important again at any moment, which really rewards paying close attention to everything.
The development of the central protagonist continues to be a highlight of the series for me, and I'm sad there are only a couple more of these engaging books to go!
The stakes have been steadily rising in the back half of the series and this is a book where a lot of that tension comes to a head for some absurdly dramatic moments and meaningful character turns. I especially love how extremely minor details and side characters from throughout the entire series might come back around to be important again at any moment, which really rewards paying close attention to everything.
The development of the central protagonist continues to be a highlight of the series for me, and I'm sad there are only a couple more of these engaging books to go!
November 26, 2019
A well deserving 5 Stars
I generally don't have much to say about about a book when its 10 deep into the series. As with the novels before, the Author has shown steady growth in the series and in his writing skills. The series started out average and is now at the point where each new book is "can't miss".
That said, the series was at a point where some changes were needed. Alex Verus and he merry band of misfits needed a shake up. The story arc needed some divergence or risk getting stale. It seems the author clearly got the message. After a largely forgettable 9th installment, Benedict Jacka hits us with what, in my opinion, is the best book in the series. Character directions drastically shift, major story developments occur and Alex Verus starts a new arc.
The landscape for Alex Verus is much altered leaving the possibility of many interesting storylines to come. Has Alex Verus been irrevocably altered? I can't wait to find out.
I generally don't have much to say about about a book when its 10 deep into the series. As with the novels before, the Author has shown steady growth in the series and in his writing skills. The series started out average and is now at the point where each new book is "can't miss".
That said, the series was at a point where some changes were needed. Alex Verus and he merry band of misfits needed a shake up. The story arc needed some divergence or risk getting stale. It seems the author clearly got the message. After a largely forgettable 9th installment, Benedict Jacka hits us with what, in my opinion, is the best book in the series. Character directions drastically shift, major story developments occur and Alex Verus starts a new arc.
The landscape for Alex Verus is much altered leaving the possibility of many interesting storylines to come. Has Alex Verus been irrevocably altered? I can't wait to find out.
January 25, 2020
5 Stars
Fallen 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.
My favorite of the series so far.
Loved it.
Fallen 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.
My favorite of the series so far.
Loved it.
March 28, 2025
Original Review Dec '21: **4.5 stars**
I don't know how Mr. Jacka keeps doing it but the stakes keep going higher and higher in every single book!
This was rough to take. I knew some bad things would happen - the foreshadowing that something would happen to Arachne started in the last book - but what happened afterwards was just so tough. It was terrifying to seeing Alex so helpless and without a workable way out. That said, that made it doubly cool when he was able to stick it to his enemies. If this had been a TV show, I'm sure that "I'm Back" by Royal Deluxe would have been playing while Alex calmly infiltrated the battle between his enemies.
♪♫♬I have outruned it, I have survived
Bigger and badder, this is my time
Faster than ever, hungry and I'm
Going to come back and take what is mine
Bigger and badder
It's a new dawn, it's a new day
Some things are different, but nothing has changed
Tell everybody I'm back in the game
Oh, move over
This is happening
I am back again♪♫♬
In this book, I was able to understand Anne better. After hearing Alex's first convo with Dark Anne (DA), I realized that Anne's inability to grow a pair was precisely because she severed the part of herself that could be decisive and ruthless. But I blame her for her unwillingness to work with her dark self. I understand maybe thinking that DA would go away the first or second time shit hit the fan but after everything that has happened - all the times her friends had to save her, that Alex risked his life, that powerful people came after her, etc. - she should have realized the danger wasn't going away. She's not that dumb! And now it doesn't make sense to me that Alex could be in love with somebody so wishy-washy and that SHE would supposedly be in love with somebody as ruthless as Alex. If she couldn't accept that part of herself, why would she accept it on somebody else?
I know why Alex had to embrace his dark side but it was sad for me and well, very disturbing. I liked Councilor Alex - he was tough but compassionate - but this one...well, I guess I'm feeling like Hermes here. I know the alternatives are much worse and although I enjoyed him kicking ass at the end - and understood why he had to do it - I feel terrible that he lost a really important part of himself.
Something else I'm really sad about is that I don't see a way out for Alex at the end. The way things are going, I don't see him ending anything but dead. But I guess I'll enjoy the ride and cry a lot of tears when that happens.
Re-Read Mar '25: I've re-read the first 9 books in this series multiple times and I've stopped there because it's been difficult for me to continue. Now I'm DETERMINED to finish the series and this is my first re-read of this book.
While I was reading, the same sentiment I wrote above came back to me again "If Anne couldn't accept the dark part of herself, how could she accept it on Alex?" And this re-read made me realize that we didn't have Good Anne and Bad Anne but Fearful Anne and Dark Anne. Anne is so afraid that she's willing to sacrifice her friends and everybody around her to feel safe. Because would a good person ignore the danger her issues put all the people she supposedly loves? If Alex hadn't been around she would have signed up with Richard and would have consciously committed all those atrocities. Over and over, everybody around her has put themselves in danger to come to her rescue but she's rarely done the same. She heals because she feels is her duty and has never put other people above her fears and then is so dumb that she can't realize when Alex is acting out of character. Somebody who has put himself in danger over and over for her and she cannot realize that he would never have abuse her either physically or mentally? That tells you how well she knows him!
At least their romance makes sense now because Alex is a protector and she just latches on whomever is stronger than her. Because even though she's more powerful than Alex, he's the one with the strength of character. I know everybody has lashed out at Alex saying he's power hungry hypocrite but the fact is that everything that has happened was because he wanted to protect someone weaker. His break with Richard, his fight with Levistos, Mordon and pretty much everybody who has become his enemy has been because he's been trying to protect others or himself. Alex wants power because that puts him on an even playing field with people that pray on others and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
In this re-read I saw a way out for Alex at the end and I hope his focus ends up being on protecting those who REALLY need his help (adepts, magical creatures, independent mages) instead of wasting his life fighting for someone who doesn't really deserve it. But unlike Anne, who gave up on him because he was mean to her, I know he'll fight for her to the end.
I don't know how Mr. Jacka keeps doing it but the stakes keep going higher and higher in every single book!
This was rough to take. I knew some bad things would happen - the foreshadowing that something would happen to Arachne started in the last book - but what happened afterwards was just so tough. It was terrifying to seeing Alex so helpless and without a workable way out. That said, that made it doubly cool when he was able to stick it to his enemies. If this had been a TV show, I'm sure that "I'm Back" by Royal Deluxe would have been playing while Alex calmly infiltrated the battle between his enemies.
♪♫♬I have outruned it, I have survived
Bigger and badder, this is my time
Faster than ever, hungry and I'm
Going to come back and take what is mine
Bigger and badder
It's a new dawn, it's a new day
Some things are different, but nothing has changed
Tell everybody I'm back in the game
Oh, move over
This is happening
I am back again♪♫♬
In this book, I was able to understand Anne better. After hearing Alex's first convo with Dark Anne (DA), I realized that Anne's inability to grow a pair was precisely because she severed the part of herself that could be decisive and ruthless. But I blame her for her unwillingness to work with her dark self. I understand maybe thinking that DA would go away the first or second time shit hit the fan but after everything that has happened - all the times her friends had to save her, that Alex risked his life, that powerful people came after her, etc. - she should have realized the danger wasn't going away. She's not that dumb! And now it doesn't make sense to me that Alex could be in love with somebody so wishy-washy and that SHE would supposedly be in love with somebody as ruthless as Alex. If she couldn't accept that part of herself, why would she accept it on somebody else?
I know why Alex had to embrace his dark side but it was sad for me and well, very disturbing. I liked Councilor Alex - he was tough but compassionate - but this one...well, I guess I'm feeling like Hermes here. I know the alternatives are much worse and although I enjoyed him kicking ass at the end - and understood why he had to do it - I feel terrible that he lost a really important part of himself.
Something else I'm really sad about is that I don't see a way out for Alex at the end. The way things are going, I don't see him ending anything but dead. But I guess I'll enjoy the ride and cry a lot of tears when that happens.
Re-Read Mar '25: I've re-read the first 9 books in this series multiple times and I've stopped there because it's been difficult for me to continue. Now I'm DETERMINED to finish the series and this is my first re-read of this book.
While I was reading, the same sentiment I wrote above came back to me again "If Anne couldn't accept the dark part of herself, how could she accept it on Alex?" And this re-read made me realize that we didn't have Good Anne and Bad Anne but Fearful Anne and Dark Anne. Anne is so afraid that she's willing to sacrifice her friends and everybody around her to feel safe. Because would a good person ignore the danger her issues put all the people she supposedly loves? If Alex hadn't been around she would have signed up with Richard and would have consciously committed all those atrocities. Over and over, everybody around her has put themselves in danger to come to her rescue but she's rarely done the same. She heals because she feels is her duty and has never put other people above her fears and then is so dumb that she can't realize when Alex is acting out of character. Somebody who has put himself in danger over and over for her and she cannot realize that he would never have abuse her either physically or mentally? That tells you how well she knows him!
At least their romance makes sense now because Alex is a protector and she just latches on whomever is stronger than her. Because even though she's more powerful than Alex, he's the one with the strength of character. I know everybody has lashed out at Alex saying he's power hungry hypocrite but the fact is that everything that has happened was because he wanted to protect someone weaker. His break with Richard, his fight with Levistos, Mordon and pretty much everybody who has become his enemy has been because he's been trying to protect others or himself. Alex wants power because that puts him on an even playing field with people that pray on others and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
In this re-read I saw a way out for Alex at the end and I hope his focus ends up being on protecting those who REALLY need his help (adepts, magical creatures, independent mages) instead of wasting his life fighting for someone who doesn't really deserve it. But unlike Anne, who gave up on him because he was mean to her, I know he'll fight for her to the end.
October 14, 2019
Let me state clearly where I stand when it comes to Alex Verus: I think he’s the greatest Urban Fantasy protagonist ever.
I’ve enjoyed every single book in the series and I enjoyed this latest instalment as well – just not as much as most of the others, unfortunately.
Why though? The trademark humour is there, Luna is there and so are Anne, Variam, Arachne and others. Sadly, they mostly take a place on the backseat this time.
Luna barely gets any serious “stage” time; she’s generally around and worries a lot but doesn’t get to do or experience much. For such an important character that’s pretty sad.
We do get to see more of Anne who has a more “active” role in the proceedings but she remains unrefined and pale compared to many other characters. Maybe part of that is my own perception, though; I’ve never felt that Anne added much to the books – she always felt like the obligatory love interest and I never found her especially interesting. It’s probably because of that I don’t care very much about the role she plays in this tenth book.
Personally, I think even the air elemental Starbreeze – who is FINALLY back in this book – is a lot more interesting and even more important.
The story is rather simple as well: The war between Britain’s Light Council and Richard Drakh is ongoing and Alex comes to realise he will have to step up his game and make some hard decisions in order to actually achieve at least some of his goals and protect those he loves.
And that he does: He plunges head first into the action and does what has to be done – the personal consequences – as of yet unclear – be damned. The personal and character changes these bring are subtly shown by Jacka and that’s a large part of why I still enjoyed this book.
One of the major downsides can best be illustrated by a direct quote from the book:
“I looked at the house for a moment longer, feeling as though a very old piece of unfinished business had just come to an end.”
Reading many parts of this book makes me feel exactly like that: “Being on a clock” (as Alex puts it) – because we’re nearing the end of the series – makes Jacka pick up loose threads from earlier books (so loose I often didn’t even remember them...) and put quite some effort into resolving them. That, in itself, is commendable but I’d rather have had some real character development beyond Alex himself and that is sorely lacking in “Fallen”, unfortunately.
Jacka is setting up his stage for the final books, makes previous characters reappear (cf. Starbreeze or Meredith), makes some others disappear (and that one character to boot! How dare he!) and is generally preparing to move on to greener pastures. That we feel this in the tenth of twelve planned books is a bit premature, I think.
Maybe, though, it’s again me who already feels saddened by the thought of having to say goodbye to Alex Verus whose adventures have brightened up my reading time.
Last but not least, don’t worry if you’re a fan – you will enjoy “Fallen” (aptly titled!) as it’s fast-paced, suspenseful and features much of what we came to love. I just wish it had been less of a “blast from the past” and more of a future-oriented book.
If you’re new to Alex Verus, don’t start with this book, though. This is one of those series you need to read in order.
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I’ve enjoyed every single book in the series and I enjoyed this latest instalment as well – just not as much as most of the others, unfortunately.
Why though? The trademark humour is there, Luna is there and so are Anne, Variam, Arachne and others. Sadly, they mostly take a place on the backseat this time.
Luna barely gets any serious “stage” time; she’s generally around and worries a lot but doesn’t get to do or experience much. For such an important character that’s pretty sad.
We do get to see more of Anne who has a more “active” role in the proceedings but she remains unrefined and pale compared to many other characters. Maybe part of that is my own perception, though; I’ve never felt that Anne added much to the books – she always felt like the obligatory love interest and I never found her especially interesting. It’s probably because of that I don’t care very much about the role she plays in this tenth book.
Personally, I think even the air elemental Starbreeze – who is FINALLY back in this book – is a lot more interesting and even more important.
The story is rather simple as well: The war between Britain’s Light Council and Richard Drakh is ongoing and Alex comes to realise he will have to step up his game and make some hard decisions in order to actually achieve at least some of his goals and protect those he loves.
And that he does: He plunges head first into the action and does what has to be done – the personal consequences – as of yet unclear – be damned. The personal and character changes these bring are subtly shown by Jacka and that’s a large part of why I still enjoyed this book.
One of the major downsides can best be illustrated by a direct quote from the book:
“I looked at the house for a moment longer, feeling as though a very old piece of unfinished business had just come to an end.”
Reading many parts of this book makes me feel exactly like that: “Being on a clock” (as Alex puts it) – because we’re nearing the end of the series – makes Jacka pick up loose threads from earlier books (so loose I often didn’t even remember them...) and put quite some effort into resolving them. That, in itself, is commendable but I’d rather have had some real character development beyond Alex himself and that is sorely lacking in “Fallen”, unfortunately.
Jacka is setting up his stage for the final books, makes previous characters reappear (cf. Starbreeze or Meredith), makes some others disappear (and that one character to boot! How dare he!) and is generally preparing to move on to greener pastures. That we feel this in the tenth of twelve planned books is a bit premature, I think.
Maybe, though, it’s again me who already feels saddened by the thought of having to say goodbye to Alex Verus whose adventures have brightened up my reading time.
Last but not least, don’t worry if you’re a fan – you will enjoy “Fallen” (aptly titled!) as it’s fast-paced, suspenseful and features much of what we came to love. I just wish it had been less of a “blast from the past” and more of a future-oriented book.
If you’re new to Alex Verus, don’t start with this book, though. This is one of those series you need to read in order.
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December 7, 2020
Where to begin? Alex has always wanted neutrality, and it hasn’t done him a lot of good. In fact, he has enemies on both sides. He has tried being a Keeper, and a member on the council, and for what? No one trusts him, everyone uses him, and every time we turn around someone is attempting to kill him.!
Alex has had enough as the consequences of his actions come crashing down on him. To save his friends, particularly Anne, he needs to be powerful. The tale that unfolds was intense and well written. I simply devoured it.
Gads I love Alex. Who knew diviners could be so cool? Jacka has delivered an original storyline with Alex Verus and my love for the series increases with each book. I have laughed, screamed, and held my breath. Fallen was brilliant and addictive as Alex finally manned up. And do you know what? I love this powerful version of Alex.
Color me surprised, but Richard offered sound advice and truly sees Alex and how his path has led him here.
The story has humor but also made me cry. Moments and events linked past storylines, and I love how Jacka brought things together. We get answers to questions, understand foreshadowing and get updates on key characters, particularly Alex’s friends.
Gildart Jackson narrates this series and is simply brilliant. From the different voices to the range of emotions, he elevates the series to a whole new level. He is Alex Verus.
If you haven’t started this series, now is the time. There are two installments left. Tune in tomorrow for the newest offering. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Alex has had enough as the consequences of his actions come crashing down on him. To save his friends, particularly Anne, he needs to be powerful. The tale that unfolds was intense and well written. I simply devoured it.
Gads I love Alex. Who knew diviners could be so cool? Jacka has delivered an original storyline with Alex Verus and my love for the series increases with each book. I have laughed, screamed, and held my breath. Fallen was brilliant and addictive as Alex finally manned up. And do you know what? I love this powerful version of Alex.
Color me surprised, but Richard offered sound advice and truly sees Alex and how his path has led him here.
The story has humor but also made me cry. Moments and events linked past storylines, and I love how Jacka brought things together. We get answers to questions, understand foreshadowing and get updates on key characters, particularly Alex’s friends.
Gildart Jackson narrates this series and is simply brilliant. From the different voices to the range of emotions, he elevates the series to a whole new level. He is Alex Verus.
If you haven’t started this series, now is the time. There are two installments left. Tune in tomorrow for the newest offering. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
October 16, 2022
No more Mr. Nice Guy! I've been saying this a lot lately, but this is my new favorite book in the series (so far).
April 21, 2020
Tenth in the Alex Verus urban fantasy series and revolving around a diviner who isn't accepted by the Light or the Dark. The focus is on Alex trying to rescue Anne.
My Take
Oh. Boy. We meet the relatives who took Anne in when she lost her family. Oh. Boy. What a nightmare bunch of people. They appear to have treated Anne as the in-house servant and nurse. And I wish we had spent more time with them as I really enjoyed how Alex put them down. You go, baby, lol.
One of the big deals in Fallen is learning to enter Elsewhere and protecting yourself. The other is Richard's revelation to Alex. The truth of what he's been wanting and doing finally comes out. Making passive decisions and reacting versus being decisive and acting. This is huge. AND we learn what that dragon's prophecy meant. Oh. Boy.
Just over halfway, Alex has his own reveal to Kyle, and he sums up what's happened very well...and so tragically.
Other than that, it's the usual battles, betrayals, and insecurities, as Alex leaps from sizzling hot fry pan to roaring fire to a fate he can't escape before doing that 180...all in first person protagonist point-of-view, so we know exactly what Alex is thinking and feeling.
Oy. The boy is busy, and Jacka introduces yet another twist on Alex's fate.
The Story
It's war. War between the Light and the Dark mages with Alex doing his best to ensure the Light's success against Drakh. It's too bad the Light is so blind with their hypocrisy and refuses to understand that.
Then a truth is spoken, and Alex soon realizes its accuracy.
No more reaction. It's time to act!
The Characters
Anne Walker, a Life mage, is dating Alex these days. Not-Anne, a.k.a., Dark Anne, is a split from the Anne Alex knows, the killer side born in the ring who is imprisoned in Elsewhere. Variam "Vari" Singh, a fire mage, has been a part of Anne's life for a long time and is now a Keeper but still loyal to Anne and Alex.
Alex Verus is a diviner, able to see thousands of possible futures at a time. And, sometimes, too curious for his own good. The Dark mage to whom he was apprenticed turned out to be the wrong choice. Not that the Light is any better. These days he's serving on the ruling council's Junior Council.
Luna Mancuso, an adept with a curse attached, had been Alex's apprentice. She's gone through the Council programs and now runs the Arcana Emporium, Alex's old magic shop in Camden Town. Starbreeze is an Air elemental with a very, very short memory and is "as dumb as a box of rocks".
Arachne is a magical creature, a ten-foot-tall spider who designs clothes and lives under Hampstead Heath. She's also Alex's closest friend. A dragon lives in the tunnels below her cave.
The Light Council is…
…the British ruling body for Light mages and is divided into the Senior and Junior Councils. Remember, "light" is just a term. The War Rooms in Westminster are the nerve centre of the Council and the heart of Light power in Britain. The Eyrie is the main monitoring centre. The Vault is a high security location. Members of the Senior Council include Levistus who hates Alex; Barrayar, a force mage, is one of Levistus' principal agents; Sal Sarque hates Alex and is de facto leader of the Crusader faction; Solace is Sarque's aide; Druss the Red sometimes allies with Alex; Alma is an ally of Levistus; Julia is Alma's aide; Undaaris, who also hates Alex; Lyle, a former friend of Alex's, is Undaaris' aide; and, Bahamus.
David Sonder is a time mage who can speed time up, slow it down, look into the past, or kick something out of the timeline. Sonder had been a another friend until events in Chosen , 4. Helikaon is a diviner who had been Alex's teacher.
The Keepers of the Flame are…
…a mixture of soldiers, police, and internal investigators made up of three Orders: The Order of the Star, an everyday policing force for the Council; the Order of the Cloak who preserve the magical world's secrecy; and, the Order of the Shield who are the battle mages as a military reserve.
Caldera, a journeyman Earth mage who specializes in reinforcement magic, is a Keeper with the Order of the Star. She had once been friendly with Alex until Burned , 7. Director Nimbus demanded the field command. Tobias is a Keeper. Ilmarin is an air mage. Avenor. Sergeant Barnes leads another detachment. Saffron. Sergeant Little leads a detachment that includes Nowy and Peterson. Griff Blackstone, an earth mage who belonged to Levistus, appeared in Fated , 1. Zilean and Lightbringer were black operators with Crusader leanings in Bound , 8.
Landis is one of the Keepers and Vari's former master. Klara Lorenz is a very talented life mage.
San Vittore, a bubble realm, was a battle in Marked , 9.
The Nightstalkers were...
... an adept vigilante group back in Chosen . Will had been their leader. Kyle Summers, a weapons and explosive expert who had been a member, is a space magic user with some military background and is Cinder's bondsman.
The Hollow is...
...…a shadow realm created by Karyos, a hamadryad who went nuts and is being reborn. Alex, Anne, Luna, and Vari turned it into a safe base for themselves.
The Dark Mages
Richard Drakh, a Dark mage and Alex's former master, is the most feared and powerful mage in Britain. His initial Chosen had been Deleo, a former apprentice, once known as Rachel, a water mage, who's gone whacko. Rachel had Harvested Shireen, another of Richard's apprentices. Shireen's ghost wants Alex to help Rachel. Vihaela is a strong Life and Death mage with a reputation as an extremely skilled torturer. Tenebrous is a radiation mage.
Crystal, a.k.a., Dr Marianne, is a mind magic mage, a domination specialist, ex-Light Council, and on the list of most wanted ( Taken , 3) who wants Anne. Onyx is a very deadly battle mage and the Chosen of Morden. Pyre is a powerful fire mage. Trey is part of Onyx's crew. One of the most powerful Dark mages, Morden was arrested by the Council and escaped in Marked . Arcadia is a shadow realm where Morden has been training an adept army.
Cinder is a fire mage partnered up with Deleo; he figures he owes Alex from Fated . He refuses to take orders from Drakh.
Selene is "enslaved" by Onyx. Zander had been a slave back when Rachel and Alex had been Drakh's apprentices.
Chalice is an independent Dark chance mage who was Luna's teacher in return for an alliance where Verus will have her back, and she'll have his.
Meredith Blake is an enchantress who can manipulate emotions and is totally self-interested, who also looks to Drakh ( Hidden , 5). Mateo is her current boy toy; he knows Meredith as Catalina. Lord Jagadev, a powerful tigerlike shapeshifter, a rakshasa, had been one of Vari and Anne's masters in the past. Sagash is a Dark mage who kidnapped Anne in Taken and took her to his shadow realm.
A 2,000-year-old mind mage, Abithriax is a general from olden days, a battle commander of all the Light armies who first appeared in conjunction with the fateweaver, a relic, in Fated .
The family that raised Anne were related to her: The mother is Anne's first cousin once removed. Elizabeth is the elder daughter; the snooty Johnathan is her fiancé. Grace is the lesser favored younger daughter.
Articles of power may be imbued (they do what they want) or focuses. A dreamstone is a focus that allows for mind-to-mind conversation and helps you connect to Elsewhere when you're awake. Talocan filaments are a type of expensive infused component valuable for high-power magical rituals. Gate magic lets you travel instantly from one place to another IF you're an elementalist, or a death or space mage. Anyone else has to use a gate stone. A sink ward redirects gates.
Elsewhere is a world to which you can only travel in dreams. Where you can touch people through dreams, through their minds. A bubble realm is a small pocket reality disconnected from our world and can change the laws of physics. A shadow realm is grown as a reflection of a real world location.
It doesn't matter which side the Mages fall on, they're all arrogant and take what they want. The more numerous adepts are below the mages power-wise and can only use one type of magic.
The jinn hate humans and do their best to ensure that human wish turns out as badly as possible. Their power is limited by the relationship they have with the human they possess. A lesser jinn is a jann. A marid is a sultan among jinns. Rakshasa are ancient shapeshifters who traced their origins to before human history. Hermes is a blink fox, a magic-bred creature used by mages to spy ( Hidden ).
The Cover and Title
The cover is bright in its deep orange and yellow vertical strips making up the London Bridge and the surrounding buildings, including their reflections in the Thames. A paler yellow makes up the title in the top left corner with the series information in white between the towers. Static in the water is a testimonial in white, with an info blurb at the very bottom just above the author's name; both are in white.
The title refers to so many characters who have Fallen.
My Take
Oh. Boy. We meet the relatives who took Anne in when she lost her family. Oh. Boy. What a nightmare bunch of people. They appear to have treated Anne as the in-house servant and nurse. And I wish we had spent more time with them as I really enjoyed how Alex put them down. You go, baby, lol.
"People are so focused on the establishment that they don't notice that they're being duped by the ones who are claiming to be on their side."Yeah, it ticks me off too. All the hypocrisy amongst the Light mages. The crap the Light mages pull, the same as the Dark mages, but they claim to be so holier than thou. Huh. Sounds like our politicians, doesn't it?
One of the big deals in Fallen is learning to enter Elsewhere and protecting yourself. The other is Richard's revelation to Alex. The truth of what he's been wanting and doing finally comes out. Making passive decisions and reacting versus being decisive and acting. This is huge. AND we learn what that dragon's prophecy meant. Oh. Boy.
Just over halfway, Alex has his own reveal to Kyle, and he sums up what's happened very well...and so tragically.
Other than that, it's the usual battles, betrayals, and insecurities, as Alex leaps from sizzling hot fry pan to roaring fire to a fate he can't escape before doing that 180...all in first person protagonist point-of-view, so we know exactly what Alex is thinking and feeling.
Oy. The boy is busy, and Jacka introduces yet another twist on Alex's fate.
The Story
It's war. War between the Light and the Dark mages with Alex doing his best to ensure the Light's success against Drakh. It's too bad the Light is so blind with their hypocrisy and refuses to understand that.
Then a truth is spoken, and Alex soon realizes its accuracy.
No more reaction. It's time to act!
The Characters
Anne Walker, a Life mage, is dating Alex these days. Not-Anne, a.k.a., Dark Anne, is a split from the Anne Alex knows, the killer side born in the ring who is imprisoned in Elsewhere. Variam "Vari" Singh, a fire mage, has been a part of Anne's life for a long time and is now a Keeper but still loyal to Anne and Alex.
Alex Verus is a diviner, able to see thousands of possible futures at a time. And, sometimes, too curious for his own good. The Dark mage to whom he was apprenticed turned out to be the wrong choice. Not that the Light is any better. These days he's serving on the ruling council's Junior Council.
Luna Mancuso, an adept with a curse attached, had been Alex's apprentice. She's gone through the Council programs and now runs the Arcana Emporium, Alex's old magic shop in Camden Town. Starbreeze is an Air elemental with a very, very short memory and is "as dumb as a box of rocks".
Arachne is a magical creature, a ten-foot-tall spider who designs clothes and lives under Hampstead Heath. She's also Alex's closest friend. A dragon lives in the tunnels below her cave.
The Light Council is…
…the British ruling body for Light mages and is divided into the Senior and Junior Councils. Remember, "light" is just a term. The War Rooms in Westminster are the nerve centre of the Council and the heart of Light power in Britain. The Eyrie is the main monitoring centre. The Vault is a high security location. Members of the Senior Council include Levistus who hates Alex; Barrayar, a force mage, is one of Levistus' principal agents; Sal Sarque hates Alex and is de facto leader of the Crusader faction; Solace is Sarque's aide; Druss the Red sometimes allies with Alex; Alma is an ally of Levistus; Julia is Alma's aide; Undaaris, who also hates Alex; Lyle, a former friend of Alex's, is Undaaris' aide; and, Bahamus.
David Sonder is a time mage who can speed time up, slow it down, look into the past, or kick something out of the timeline. Sonder had been a another friend until events in Chosen , 4. Helikaon is a diviner who had been Alex's teacher.
The Keepers of the Flame are…
…a mixture of soldiers, police, and internal investigators made up of three Orders: The Order of the Star, an everyday policing force for the Council; the Order of the Cloak who preserve the magical world's secrecy; and, the Order of the Shield who are the battle mages as a military reserve.
Caldera, a journeyman Earth mage who specializes in reinforcement magic, is a Keeper with the Order of the Star. She had once been friendly with Alex until Burned , 7. Director Nimbus demanded the field command. Tobias is a Keeper. Ilmarin is an air mage. Avenor. Sergeant Barnes leads another detachment. Saffron. Sergeant Little leads a detachment that includes Nowy and Peterson. Griff Blackstone, an earth mage who belonged to Levistus, appeared in Fated , 1. Zilean and Lightbringer were black operators with Crusader leanings in Bound , 8.
Landis is one of the Keepers and Vari's former master. Klara Lorenz is a very talented life mage.
San Vittore, a bubble realm, was a battle in Marked , 9.
The Nightstalkers were...
... an adept vigilante group back in Chosen . Will had been their leader. Kyle Summers, a weapons and explosive expert who had been a member, is a space magic user with some military background and is Cinder's bondsman.
The Hollow is...
...…a shadow realm created by Karyos, a hamadryad who went nuts and is being reborn. Alex, Anne, Luna, and Vari turned it into a safe base for themselves.
The Dark Mages
Richard Drakh, a Dark mage and Alex's former master, is the most feared and powerful mage in Britain. His initial Chosen had been Deleo, a former apprentice, once known as Rachel, a water mage, who's gone whacko. Rachel had Harvested Shireen, another of Richard's apprentices. Shireen's ghost wants Alex to help Rachel. Vihaela is a strong Life and Death mage with a reputation as an extremely skilled torturer. Tenebrous is a radiation mage.
Crystal, a.k.a., Dr Marianne, is a mind magic mage, a domination specialist, ex-Light Council, and on the list of most wanted ( Taken , 3) who wants Anne. Onyx is a very deadly battle mage and the Chosen of Morden. Pyre is a powerful fire mage. Trey is part of Onyx's crew. One of the most powerful Dark mages, Morden was arrested by the Council and escaped in Marked . Arcadia is a shadow realm where Morden has been training an adept army.
Cinder is a fire mage partnered up with Deleo; he figures he owes Alex from Fated . He refuses to take orders from Drakh.
Selene is "enslaved" by Onyx. Zander had been a slave back when Rachel and Alex had been Drakh's apprentices.
Chalice is an independent Dark chance mage who was Luna's teacher in return for an alliance where Verus will have her back, and she'll have his.
Meredith Blake is an enchantress who can manipulate emotions and is totally self-interested, who also looks to Drakh ( Hidden , 5). Mateo is her current boy toy; he knows Meredith as Catalina. Lord Jagadev, a powerful tigerlike shapeshifter, a rakshasa, had been one of Vari and Anne's masters in the past. Sagash is a Dark mage who kidnapped Anne in Taken and took her to his shadow realm.
A 2,000-year-old mind mage, Abithriax is a general from olden days, a battle commander of all the Light armies who first appeared in conjunction with the fateweaver, a relic, in Fated .
The family that raised Anne were related to her: The mother is Anne's first cousin once removed. Elizabeth is the elder daughter; the snooty Johnathan is her fiancé. Grace is the lesser favored younger daughter.
Articles of power may be imbued (they do what they want) or focuses. A dreamstone is a focus that allows for mind-to-mind conversation and helps you connect to Elsewhere when you're awake. Talocan filaments are a type of expensive infused component valuable for high-power magical rituals. Gate magic lets you travel instantly from one place to another IF you're an elementalist, or a death or space mage. Anyone else has to use a gate stone. A sink ward redirects gates.
Elsewhere is a world to which you can only travel in dreams. Where you can touch people through dreams, through their minds. A bubble realm is a small pocket reality disconnected from our world and can change the laws of physics. A shadow realm is grown as a reflection of a real world location.
It doesn't matter which side the Mages fall on, they're all arrogant and take what they want. The more numerous adepts are below the mages power-wise and can only use one type of magic.
The jinn hate humans and do their best to ensure that human wish turns out as badly as possible. Their power is limited by the relationship they have with the human they possess. A lesser jinn is a jann. A marid is a sultan among jinns. Rakshasa are ancient shapeshifters who traced their origins to before human history. Hermes is a blink fox, a magic-bred creature used by mages to spy ( Hidden ).
The Cover and Title
The cover is bright in its deep orange and yellow vertical strips making up the London Bridge and the surrounding buildings, including their reflections in the Thames. A paler yellow makes up the title in the top left corner with the series information in white between the towers. Static in the water is a testimonial in white, with an info blurb at the very bottom just above the author's name; both are in white.
The title refers to so many characters who have Fallen.
August 2, 2023
‘*‘ Meine Meinung ‘*‘
Da es sich um den zehnten Teil der Reihe handelt, kann es zu Spoilern in der Rezension kommen.
Es hat mir sehr gut gefallen, dass es den einen oder anderen Rückblick auf die vorherigen Bände gab. Für viele wird es das Gedächtnis auffrischen. Ich saß da und musste vor allem in Bus und Bahn aufpassen, dass ich nicht nickte, wenn Alex erzählte, wie was wann geschehen war. So dachte ich, es wird ein Alex-Verus-Band wie die anderen. Doch weit gefehlt.
Die letzten neun Teile war Alex immer auf Frieden und Lösungen im Guten aus. Oder wie Variam sinngemäß sagte: du hast immer gewartet, bis die anderen etwas tun. Stimmt, Alex hat immer nur reagiert und damit den anderen den Vorteil überlassen. Doch als ihn nun seine Vergangenheit einholt und es jetzt Anne und ihm an den Kragen geht, fasst er eine folgenschwere Entscheidung. Er handelt, zögert nicht und hält nicht mehr die andere Wange hin. Es ging zwischendurch martialisch zu, aber ich konnte Alex so gut verstehen. Mal abgesehen davon, dass es in meinen Augen die Richtigen getroffen hat. Es war keiner dabei, der nicht mindestens einmal Alex nach dem Leben getrachtet hat.
Schwer getroffen hat mich der Weggang einer Figur, die Alex immer wichtig war. Sie war mir auch ans Herz gewachsen und wenn sie in einem Band mal weniger auftauchte, vermisste ich sie. Es war echt ätzend, dass diese Szene im Bus dran war, denn da wollte ich meinen Tränen nicht freien Lauf lassen.
Nicht zu vergessen, dass es ungewiss ist, wie es Anne ergeht. Was wird aus ihr?
Ihr merkt bestimmt, dass mich dieser Band mitgenommen hat und ich habe die 12 Stunden innerhalb von 3 Tage durchgehört. Die Spannung wurde ständig gesteigert und ich fieberte total mit. Zum Glück neige ich nicht dazu, Nägel zu kauen.
Johannes Klaußner hat mich wieder hervorragend in die Story gezogen und er gehört für mich mittlerweile zu Alex und seinen Abenteuern dazu.
Der Schreibstil ist gewohnt locker-flockig. Es war ein sehr emotionaler Band, aber trotzdem gab es immer noch ein paar schwarzhumorige Anteile. Jedoch ganz klar weniger als sonst.
Puh, jetzt heißt es bis Januar warten, bis ich erfahre wie es weitergeht. Muss ich explizit erwähnen, dass ich 5 Verdammten-Sterne vergebe?
‘*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
Der Hellseher Alex Verus und die Lebensmagierin Anne sind endlich ein Paar. Sie könnten glücklich sein, doch dann werden sie von der Vergangenheit eingeholt. Der Rat der Weißmagier macht Anne für die Ermordung mehrerer Ratswächter verantwortlich, die bei dem Ausbruch des Schwarzmagiers Morden aus dem Gefängnis umgekommen sind. Alex würde das natürlich nie zugeben, allerdings hat der Rat Recht. Kurz bevor dessen Schergen Anne ergreifen können, werden sowohl sie als auch Alex von mehreren Schwarzmagiern entführt. Gefoltert und versklavt stellt sich Alex endlich einer Wahl, der er bislang immer ausgewichen ist: Kann er als einer der Guten seine Freunde und sich beschützen? Oder ist er zum Bösen verdammt?
Da es sich um den zehnten Teil der Reihe handelt, kann es zu Spoilern in der Rezension kommen.
Es hat mir sehr gut gefallen, dass es den einen oder anderen Rückblick auf die vorherigen Bände gab. Für viele wird es das Gedächtnis auffrischen. Ich saß da und musste vor allem in Bus und Bahn aufpassen, dass ich nicht nickte, wenn Alex erzählte, wie was wann geschehen war. So dachte ich, es wird ein Alex-Verus-Band wie die anderen. Doch weit gefehlt.
Die letzten neun Teile war Alex immer auf Frieden und Lösungen im Guten aus. Oder wie Variam sinngemäß sagte: du hast immer gewartet, bis die anderen etwas tun. Stimmt, Alex hat immer nur reagiert und damit den anderen den Vorteil überlassen. Doch als ihn nun seine Vergangenheit einholt und es jetzt Anne und ihm an den Kragen geht, fasst er eine folgenschwere Entscheidung. Er handelt, zögert nicht und hält nicht mehr die andere Wange hin. Es ging zwischendurch martialisch zu, aber ich konnte Alex so gut verstehen. Mal abgesehen davon, dass es in meinen Augen die Richtigen getroffen hat. Es war keiner dabei, der nicht mindestens einmal Alex nach dem Leben getrachtet hat.
Schwer getroffen hat mich der Weggang einer Figur, die Alex immer wichtig war. Sie war mir auch ans Herz gewachsen und wenn sie in einem Band mal weniger auftauchte, vermisste ich sie. Es war echt ätzend, dass diese Szene im Bus dran war, denn da wollte ich meinen Tränen nicht freien Lauf lassen.
Nicht zu vergessen, dass es ungewiss ist, wie es Anne ergeht. Was wird aus ihr?
Ihr merkt bestimmt, dass mich dieser Band mitgenommen hat und ich habe die 12 Stunden innerhalb von 3 Tage durchgehört. Die Spannung wurde ständig gesteigert und ich fieberte total mit. Zum Glück neige ich nicht dazu, Nägel zu kauen.
Johannes Klaußner hat mich wieder hervorragend in die Story gezogen und er gehört für mich mittlerweile zu Alex und seinen Abenteuern dazu.
Der Schreibstil ist gewohnt locker-flockig. Es war ein sehr emotionaler Band, aber trotzdem gab es immer noch ein paar schwarzhumorige Anteile. Jedoch ganz klar weniger als sonst.
Puh, jetzt heißt es bis Januar warten, bis ich erfahre wie es weitergeht. Muss ich explizit erwähnen, dass ich 5 Verdammten-Sterne vergebe?
‘*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
Der Hellseher Alex Verus und die Lebensmagierin Anne sind endlich ein Paar. Sie könnten glücklich sein, doch dann werden sie von der Vergangenheit eingeholt. Der Rat der Weißmagier macht Anne für die Ermordung mehrerer Ratswächter verantwortlich, die bei dem Ausbruch des Schwarzmagiers Morden aus dem Gefängnis umgekommen sind. Alex würde das natürlich nie zugeben, allerdings hat der Rat Recht. Kurz bevor dessen Schergen Anne ergreifen können, werden sowohl sie als auch Alex von mehreren Schwarzmagiern entführt. Gefoltert und versklavt stellt sich Alex endlich einer Wahl, der er bislang immer ausgewichen ist: Kann er als einer der Guten seine Freunde und sich beschützen? Oder ist er zum Bösen verdammt?
April 17, 2020
Holy shit that was great. I woke up at midnight with a bit of insomnia, and opened this book up in my Kindle. I was at 52% complete so I though I might read a couple chapters and hopefully be ready to go back to sleep. Instead I finished it at 2:30 AM cause I just plain didn't want to stop reading. I had an inkling that this volume was going to bring some serious changes, but damn I didn't expect what happened. Having Alex finally go full-bore was magnificent. The battle when Alex finally confronted Onyx et al. was spectacularly violent and awesome. I like that Jacka keeps the relationship of Anne and Alex in the background, so this doesn't turn into an Anita Blake crap-fest. Damn. So good. I want to steal a bunch of this for my D&D campaign.
December 14, 2019
Another fast-paced and action-paced installment
This was the best Alex Verus book so far.
In some of the books in this series Jacka has raised the stakes through plot devices that to me caused minor losses of the suspension of disbelief.
This time the stakes are raised through good use of the major and minor characters of earlier books and removing the plot armour from most of them.
We have entered the endgame as this book catches up with all characters and their current loyalties. We are getting to the point where plot lines are starting to be resolved and earlier plot lines are being weaved into the story elegantly.
The high stakes are deserved and the fallout has real emotional impact. I can't wait for the last two books to be released.
This was the best Alex Verus book so far.
In some of the books in this series Jacka has raised the stakes through plot devices that to me caused minor losses of the suspension of disbelief.
This time the stakes are raised through good use of the major and minor characters of earlier books and removing the plot armour from most of them.
We have entered the endgame as this book catches up with all characters and their current loyalties. We are getting to the point where plot lines are starting to be resolved and earlier plot lines are being weaved into the story elegantly.
The high stakes are deserved and the fallout has real emotional impact. I can't wait for the last two books to be released.
October 1, 2019
Excellent addition to the series
Highly recommended to Urban Fantasy lovers
Highly recommended to Urban Fantasy lovers
December 7, 2020
Mein Gott da war aber was los 😊
August 1, 2025
Hab den Teil wieder mal sehr geliebt. Ich bin bisschen sad darüber, dass Anne und Alex nur ein halbes Buch lang ihre Liebe ausleben konnten :( hoffe auf ein Comeback! und hoffe ganz doll, dass die dunkle und helle Anne es schaffen, sich irgendwann zu verbinden. tbh, finde ich die dunkle Anne gar nicht so übel.
und wie legendär hat Alex sich bitte entwickelt?? crazy. habs so genossen, dass Catherine, Sal Sarque usw getötet wurden (ok das klingt als wär ich ein creep)
und iwie fuckt Caldera mich nur noch ab. sie nervt mich so arg.
Ich hab eine Idee wie der letzte Teil ausgehen könnte (riesen Kampf zwischen Alex und Richard), aber als nächstes kommmt erstmal der Vorletzte!
und omg Arachne??? don't do this to me, ich liebe sie, sie darf nicht aus den letzten beiden Teilen verschwinden 😭💔
Aber AAAAAHHHHH einfach Starbreeze Comeback 😭😭😭😭
und wie legendär hat Alex sich bitte entwickelt?? crazy. habs so genossen, dass Catherine, Sal Sarque usw getötet wurden (ok das klingt als wär ich ein creep)
und iwie fuckt Caldera mich nur noch ab. sie nervt mich so arg.
Ich hab eine Idee wie der letzte Teil ausgehen könnte (riesen Kampf zwischen Alex und Richard), aber als nächstes kommmt erstmal der Vorletzte!
und omg Arachne??? don't do this to me, ich liebe sie, sie darf nicht aus den letzten beiden Teilen verschwinden 😭💔
Aber AAAAAHHHHH einfach Starbreeze Comeback 😭😭😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2020
An excellent installment that heralds the ending storyarc of the series, and it does so in an explosive blast that rattles the plot, the characters, and the bloody action which makes it so thrilling. I enjoyed this a lot. This is in fact the book that balances the darker and lighthearted fun aspect of the series, and also twists the characters into new personalities, and also adding depth to the motives and intentions.
The most notable part was the changes in Anne and Alex, and their relationship which takes a grim turn. We are also given the murkier political picture that's happening with the mage world in london. As usual, Jacka doesn't make everything seem alright with the characters and their lives. There's everyone with an agenda, and our favorite characters are always on the midst of it, dodging and twisting to keep themselves ahead of the game.
We get to know about some of the things Jacka has been teasing about. One big surprise was knowing Drakh's magic, and the other was regarding Arachne's prophetic insight into Alex and Anne's future. This is a set-up for the final confrontation, and the way things go in this book, it wont be sunshine and roses. I loved the action, and for the first time I'm glad that Verus has a power upgrade. He is now significantly powerful. I also am intrigued by the dark aspect of Anne, which I believe is going to create some real dangerous clusterfuck in the mage world of London.
All in all, this book was quite the entertainment package. I postponed reading it for almost a year waiting for the penultimate book to come out. And, now I can straight on dive into book 11. This book is a hot spot to know and guess the power-game of the magical world, and how our loved characters are going to survive in the final fight. I'm excited to know.
The most notable part was the changes in Anne and Alex, and their relationship which takes a grim turn. We are also given the murkier political picture that's happening with the mage world in london. As usual, Jacka doesn't make everything seem alright with the characters and their lives. There's everyone with an agenda, and our favorite characters are always on the midst of it, dodging and twisting to keep themselves ahead of the game.
We get to know about some of the things Jacka has been teasing about. One big surprise was knowing Drakh's magic, and the other was regarding Arachne's prophetic insight into Alex and Anne's future. This is a set-up for the final confrontation, and the way things go in this book, it wont be sunshine and roses. I loved the action, and for the first time I'm glad that Verus has a power upgrade. He is now significantly powerful. I also am intrigued by the dark aspect of Anne, which I believe is going to create some real dangerous clusterfuck in the mage world of London.
All in all, this book was quite the entertainment package. I postponed reading it for almost a year waiting for the penultimate book to come out. And, now I can straight on dive into book 11. This book is a hot spot to know and guess the power-game of the magical world, and how our loved characters are going to survive in the final fight. I'm excited to know.
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