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Alex Verus #6
Das Rätsel von London
Alex Verus hat die magischen Wächter des Weißen Rates immer verabscheut, doch nun bleibt ihm keine andere Wahl: Er wird einer von ihnen!
Neben körperlicher und geistiger Gesundheit gibt es noch weitere harte Voraussetzungen, um ein Londoner Polizist zu werden. Doch es ist die einzige legale Möglichkeit, die Bösen zu bekämpfen, ohne selbst ein Verbrecher zu werden. Außer man ist magisch begabt wie der Hellseher Alex Verus. In dem Fall kann man den Wächtern beitreten, den Beschützern des übernatürlichen London. Dafür ist nicht einmal geistige Gesundheit nötig, wenn man Alex glauben kann. Möglicherweise wäre diese sogar hinderlich.
Neben körperlicher und geistiger Gesundheit gibt es noch weitere harte Voraussetzungen, um ein Londoner Polizist zu werden. Doch es ist die einzige legale Möglichkeit, die Bösen zu bekämpfen, ohne selbst ein Verbrecher zu werden. Außer man ist magisch begabt wie der Hellseher Alex Verus. In dem Fall kann man den Wächtern beitreten, den Beschützern des übernatürlichen London. Dafür ist nicht einmal geistige Gesundheit nötig, wenn man Alex glauben kann. Möglicherweise wäre diese sogar hinderlich.
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First published August 4, 2015
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November 29, 2016
Number six in the series and still maintaining its excellence. I hope Mr. Jacka is working hard at writing number eight because I am seriously catching up!
This is another great story with heaps of action and some very clever magic. Alex's ability as a Diviner ( which means he can see futures) is fascinating. He is a wonderful person to have on your side because he knows who is arriving before they get there, and in a fight he can dodge bullets because he knows they are coming. Delightful!
I like the direction these books are taking as Alex becomes less of a loner and involves other people in his life. His confrontation with his nemesis, Richard, looms large but I am sure there are several books to be written before the final confrontation:) I hope so anyway!
This is another great story with heaps of action and some very clever magic. Alex's ability as a Diviner ( which means he can see futures) is fascinating. He is a wonderful person to have on your side because he knows who is arriving before they get there, and in a fight he can dodge bullets because he knows they are coming. Delightful!
I like the direction these books are taking as Alex becomes less of a loner and involves other people in his life. His confrontation with his nemesis, Richard, looms large but I am sure there are several books to be written before the final confrontation:) I hope so anyway!
March 23, 2016
For some weird reason, I have a serious problem reviewing books from my "Favorite" list. I mean, who wouldn't enjoy reading something like this:
"Perfect, perfect perfect perfect! Perfect! Perfect perfect? Perfect perfect perfect...Perfect!" and so on.
Yes, we all love books for different reasons, and when we're lucky enough to stumble upon a story or a character that completely resonates with us, it becomes almost impossible to find words that are just as complex, deep and multi-colored as the emotions we feel while reading.
Therefore, I'll skip the fan-girling stage for now and write a proper review of all six Alex Verus books when I'm not drowning in my sea of emotions.
So back to London!
Veiled is a little bit different from the rest of the series - in the first few books Alex is a solitary magician with huge trust issues and not many "friends", he often resorted to clever tricks and manipulation to achieve what he wants (surviving, mainly), he didn't cringe from hurting or even killing his enemies indirectly, and he wasn't considered a threat or someone powerful enough to want on your side. By the sixth book, every thing has been turned around. Instead of minding his own business (a small shop in Camden), he's now surrounded by friends and people he cares about and vice versa, he's more involved in the magical society of London than ever and he's even willing to use his divination skills to help the Keepers, the equivalent of the Police among the mages.
What Veiled does perfectly, is offer us a glimpse of how the Law system, Politics of the Light Mages and Keepers department work. This time we have a criminal organizations, murderers and kidnappers of civilians, a whole new variety of villains that are not a direct threat to Alex, nor his friends. Yes, this book did feel different - no assassins or evil mages that are transfixed on killing the MC or the supporting cast, no personal loss if the villains aren't dealt with?
Very quickly, what I liked:
➊ The massive character development of Alex. I guess I was so used to seeing him partly as an anti-hero, that I almost didn't expect him to care so much about complete strangers and destroying criminal organizations.A very pleasant surprise.
➋ The Politics - I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just say nothing is as simple and straight-forward as it looks. Alex's actions have HUGE consequences and, in the end, it's all about choosing the lesser evil.
➌ The supporting cast - although I missed Luna, Anne and the rest of Alex's friends, I'm super intrigued by Chalice, I adored Caldera and I wouldn't mind seeing more of the Keepers (especially Variam's master!)
What I L.O.V.E.D.D.D!
➊ THE FIGHTS!!!
HOLY COW, they were so good! There were a few major ones, but my favorite in the whole series so far is Alex vs the Air Mage on the DLR train! IT WAS PERFECT! And no, by "perfect" I don't just mean - written very well, flashy and well-thought out. NO! It was Freaking Intense! The stakes were high, the threat was escalating in every single paragraph and several times I thought "thank God I'm still young-ish and my heart can take it". The best part is when you think the MC is 100% safe now, only to be proven dead-wrong a page later and to have even more violence and more feelings of dread and hopelessness. It's very rare to have my Admiration for Alex's divination abilities lowered to "95% useless".
➋
➌ Gildart Jackson - the audiobook narrator. I switched to the audiobook version around Taken (the third book), and at first, I was in a slight shock - I wasn't used to hearing Gildart's version of Alex's voice, it was like a different character altogether, and I wondered whether I should just go back to my e-book. I'm SO GLAD I didn't! Gildart Jackson is an excellent fit for the series! And yes, he can do multiple voices, different accents, intonation and add a great deal of personality to the dialogue. You'll be surprised by the amount of monotone, emotionless and bored voices I had to listen to for the month of August this year. And don't even get me started on the audio book of Uprooted...
What I missed.
➊ London (just a little) - What I was truly impressed with from the start of the series was the short, but to the point, imaginative and very insightful descriptions of the landmarks, areas or buildings of the Greatest city in the world (sorry, New York, but don't worry, you're in my top 10). The author knows exactly what words to use to give a place a sufficient amount of character and atmosphere. I'm hoping we get more descriptions in the future books, if they are relevant to the plot, of course.
➋ The pacing - I swear to God, after Alex's fight with the Air Mage (around 30% through the book) my heart was having a private techno-music party and wouldn't calm down. Therefore, I was slightly taken aback by the calmer second half of the story. Oh, there was still plenty of action, but the book became more relaxed while my heart and brain were having a harder time adjusting. I guess I was desperate for even MORE EPICNESS towards the end and the final battle was slightly disappointing.
➌ The Keepers - Although I enjoyed seeing Alex challenging himself, working with people that he has grown to hate, getting a new point-of-view and being introduced to a different side of the magical society, I...actually miss him being the solo, independent and selfish mage who doesn't want to be associated with any side. I guess I didn't want to see the series go into the "police crime and mystery" type of books. (And after reading the plot summary for Burned, I'm so happy they won't). The reason why I was so fascinated with Alex, to begin with, is the fact that he doesn't care to be involved in politics, he doesn't believe in people being purely good and selfless, he's not powerful, he DOES have a whole bunch of enemies, but he deals with his problems without relying on the institutions to help him out. I like the fact that nothing in the series is ever "black" or "white". Not even the main character.
Conclusion:
Will I read the next book? - Are you seriously asking ME this question?
Will I re-read the series? - I'm rather surprised I haven't already...
Will I recommend to a GR friend? - YES! Come on, Alex Verus is in my "Favorites" shelf for a reason (More like a 100 reasons X)
Will I buy a Hard-cover? - No, they don't exist yet. But I've got all the paper-backs and audiobooks and I love them!
"Perfect, perfect perfect perfect! Perfect! Perfect perfect? Perfect perfect perfect...Perfect!" and so on.
Yes, we all love books for different reasons, and when we're lucky enough to stumble upon a story or a character that completely resonates with us, it becomes almost impossible to find words that are just as complex, deep and multi-colored as the emotions we feel while reading.
Therefore, I'll skip the fan-girling stage for now and write a proper review of all six Alex Verus books when I'm not drowning in my sea of emotions.
So back to London!
Veiled is a little bit different from the rest of the series - in the first few books Alex is a solitary magician with huge trust issues and not many "friends", he often resorted to clever tricks and manipulation to achieve what he wants (surviving, mainly), he didn't cringe from hurting or even killing his enemies indirectly, and he wasn't considered a threat or someone powerful enough to want on your side. By the sixth book, every thing has been turned around. Instead of minding his own business (a small shop in Camden), he's now surrounded by friends and people he cares about and vice versa, he's more involved in the magical society of London than ever and he's even willing to use his divination skills to help the Keepers, the equivalent of the Police among the mages.
What Veiled does perfectly, is offer us a glimpse of how the Law system, Politics of the Light Mages and Keepers department work. This time we have a criminal organizations, murderers and kidnappers of civilians, a whole new variety of villains that are not a direct threat to Alex, nor his friends. Yes, this book did feel different - no assassins or evil mages that are transfixed on killing the MC or the supporting cast, no personal loss if the villains aren't dealt with?
Very quickly, what I liked:
➊ The massive character development of Alex. I guess I was so used to seeing him partly as an anti-hero, that I almost didn't expect him to care so much about complete strangers and destroying criminal organizations.A very pleasant surprise.
➋ The Politics - I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just say nothing is as simple and straight-forward as it looks. Alex's actions have HUGE consequences and, in the end, it's all about choosing the lesser evil.
➌ The supporting cast - although I missed Luna, Anne and the rest of Alex's friends, I'm super intrigued by Chalice, I adored Caldera and I wouldn't mind seeing more of the Keepers (especially Variam's master!)
What I L.O.V.E.D.D.D!
➊ THE FIGHTS!!!
HOLY COW, they were so good! There were a few major ones, but my favorite in the whole series so far is Alex vs the Air Mage on the DLR train! IT WAS PERFECT! And no, by "perfect" I don't just mean - written very well, flashy and well-thought out. NO! It was Freaking Intense! The stakes were high, the threat was escalating in every single paragraph and several times I thought "thank God I'm still young-ish and my heart can take it". The best part is when you think the MC is 100% safe now, only to be proven dead-wrong a page later and to have even more violence and more feelings of dread and hopelessness. It's very rare to have my Admiration for Alex's divination abilities lowered to "95% useless".
➋
➌ Gildart Jackson - the audiobook narrator. I switched to the audiobook version around Taken (the third book), and at first, I was in a slight shock - I wasn't used to hearing Gildart's version of Alex's voice, it was like a different character altogether, and I wondered whether I should just go back to my e-book. I'm SO GLAD I didn't! Gildart Jackson is an excellent fit for the series! And yes, he can do multiple voices, different accents, intonation and add a great deal of personality to the dialogue. You'll be surprised by the amount of monotone, emotionless and bored voices I had to listen to for the month of August this year. And don't even get me started on the audio book of Uprooted...
What I missed.
➊ London (just a little) - What I was truly impressed with from the start of the series was the short, but to the point, imaginative and very insightful descriptions of the landmarks, areas or buildings of the Greatest city in the world (sorry, New York, but don't worry, you're in my top 10). The author knows exactly what words to use to give a place a sufficient amount of character and atmosphere. I'm hoping we get more descriptions in the future books, if they are relevant to the plot, of course.
➋ The pacing - I swear to God, after Alex's fight with the Air Mage (around 30% through the book) my heart was having a private techno-music party and wouldn't calm down. Therefore, I was slightly taken aback by the calmer second half of the story. Oh, there was still plenty of action, but the book became more relaxed while my heart and brain were having a harder time adjusting. I guess I was desperate for even MORE EPICNESS towards the end and the final battle was slightly disappointing.
➌ The Keepers - Although I enjoyed seeing Alex challenging himself, working with people that he has grown to hate, getting a new point-of-view and being introduced to a different side of the magical society, I...actually miss him being the solo, independent and selfish mage who doesn't want to be associated with any side. I guess I didn't want to see the series go into the "police crime and mystery" type of books. (And after reading the plot summary for Burned, I'm so happy they won't). The reason why I was so fascinated with Alex, to begin with, is the fact that he doesn't care to be involved in politics, he doesn't believe in people being purely good and selfless, he's not powerful, he DOES have a whole bunch of enemies, but he deals with his problems without relying on the institutions to help him out. I like the fact that nothing in the series is ever "black" or "white". Not even the main character.
Conclusion:
Will I read the next book? - Are you seriously asking ME this question?
Will I re-read the series? - I'm rather surprised I haven't already...
Will I recommend to a GR friend? - YES! Come on, Alex Verus is in my "Favorites" shelf for a reason (More like a 100 reasons X)
Will I buy a Hard-cover? - No, they don't exist yet. But I've got all the paper-backs and audiobooks and I love them!
June 11, 2022
Re-Read 6/11/22:
I think I liked this a bit more on re-read. Knowing where this will lead helps me better appreciate the current story.
I mean, the White Council are a bunch of wankers. We knew that already. It's still important to know that there are a few people that are good and decent, however.
Original Review:
Another solid edition, but it suffers from being less personal on any front. I mean, Verus as a probationary Keeper (a cop) of the Light Mages? It sounds like the plot needed a bit of stretching, to me, but okay, I'll get over it, let's see where this takes us.
Politics. Of course, it has to be politics.
Fun fight scenes, interesting developments in the mage world, and a pretty glorious take-down mission full of intrigue and double-crossing, but like I said, less of a personal novel. There are no new grand reveals or anything when it comes to Verus or his friends. If it wasn't for the politics and the sense that some major shit is going to come down in the upcoming novels, I'd almost say to prospective readers to skip this one, but it was still entertaining even if it felt more like a military action than a UF novel during the last quarter of the novel.
To each their own. I still thought it was good.
I think I liked this a bit more on re-read. Knowing where this will lead helps me better appreciate the current story.
I mean, the White Council are a bunch of wankers. We knew that already. It's still important to know that there are a few people that are good and decent, however.
Original Review:
Another solid edition, but it suffers from being less personal on any front. I mean, Verus as a probationary Keeper (a cop) of the Light Mages? It sounds like the plot needed a bit of stretching, to me, but okay, I'll get over it, let's see where this takes us.
Politics. Of course, it has to be politics.
Fun fight scenes, interesting developments in the mage world, and a pretty glorious take-down mission full of intrigue and double-crossing, but like I said, less of a personal novel. There are no new grand reveals or anything when it comes to Verus or his friends. If it wasn't for the politics and the sense that some major shit is going to come down in the upcoming novels, I'd almost say to prospective readers to skip this one, but it was still entertaining even if it felt more like a military action than a UF novel during the last quarter of the novel.
To each their own. I still thought it was good.
February 4, 2016
4.5 stars
I love Alex Verus. After this instalment, this series has jumped up to my number 2 UF spot. Dresden still takes number 1 (sorry).
Jacka has created a fascinating and complex magical world, shades of grey is an understatement. While the Light/Dark mage dichotomy seems simplistic, the reality is that much more murky, with backroom deals, threats, and treachery on the cards at all times. People are motivated by a whole spectrum of reasons, the resulting uncertainty about who to trust or how people are going to act gives the series a gritty realism that many UF series lack. Most importantly for me, both the books and Alex continue to change, each new instalment avoiding the trap of rehashing the same (previously successful) format and expanding the universe/plot/depth of characters. As a reader, it is thrilling to be brought ever deeper into Verus' world, ever closer to the confrontation with Richard Drakh.
One final compliment to Benedict Jacka- thank you for trusting your readers to know your books and only giving the potential newbies the smallest recaps. As a dedicated series reader, it's incredibly annoying when every single book covers old ground. Repeatedly. I'm looking at you Ilona Andrews.
Oh, and i'm thrilled the blink fox is still around. More please!
I love Alex Verus. After this instalment, this series has jumped up to my number 2 UF spot. Dresden still takes number 1 (sorry).
Jacka has created a fascinating and complex magical world, shades of grey is an understatement. While the Light/Dark mage dichotomy seems simplistic, the reality is that much more murky, with backroom deals, threats, and treachery on the cards at all times. People are motivated by a whole spectrum of reasons, the resulting uncertainty about who to trust or how people are going to act gives the series a gritty realism that many UF series lack. Most importantly for me, both the books and Alex continue to change, each new instalment avoiding the trap of rehashing the same (previously successful) format and expanding the universe/plot/depth of characters. As a reader, it is thrilling to be brought ever deeper into Verus' world, ever closer to the confrontation with Richard Drakh.
One final compliment to Benedict Jacka- thank you for trusting your readers to know your books and only giving the potential newbies the smallest recaps. As a dedicated series reader, it's incredibly annoying when every single book covers old ground. Repeatedly. I'm looking at you Ilona Andrews.
Oh, and i'm thrilled the blink fox is still around. More please!
October 28, 2022
I love this series. The characters are interesting, the world is fascinating. This one was heavy on Council & Keeper politics & it was really cool. The side characters (Vari, Anne, & Luna) aren't in it often enough, imo, but Jacka makes up for it by giving us plenty of new info about Calderra & some new Keeper characters. It was a good read, as I always expect from this series.
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 10, 2022
This was a bit of a weird one!
Alex is trying to find a new teacher for Luna because she has advanced so nicely and so far by now, that there is nothing more he can teach her himself. But the one they are finding, who is willing to teach her is ... well.
And then Alex is actually starting to work for the council (the wardens, to be precise). I mean ...
Funnily enough, Alex ends up working for/with Caldera. And they make a surprisingly good team. Though they have their work cut out for them. Not 5 minutes after Alex joins the wardens, there is an assassination attempt on him and it's a breathraking marathon from there.
A magical sex trafficking ring! And, surprise surprise, politicians of the "whites" are clients so they don't want their dirt to become public knowledge. Sex rings are always bad, but thanks to Epstein and all the people involved in that clusterfuck (most of which we don't know about), this leaves an even worse taste in my mouth. Especially since the way the author presented the politics around "investigating" the sex ring were so fucking realistic, it broke my heart.
At the very end, the shoe finally drops (I had been wondering where exactly this colume would lead regarding the bigger picture) and the implications from this political change cannot really be fathomed just yet. But it's bad. Oh so very bad.
Thus, what originally felt a bit like a police procedural eventually turned into something much more sinister and I like how subtle the author was about it. I mena, you see it in real life all the time: the gradual slips and slides down into hell. *shivers*
Very well done indeed and I'm curious to see if the hints about Luna soon becoming a Journeyman will result in her actually graduating in the next book. Though I have to admit that I very much enjoyed this book focusing much more on Alex (I'm not a fan of Luna's or any of the other characters, except for the blinkfox Hermes or Arachne).
Alex is trying to find a new teacher for Luna because she has advanced so nicely and so far by now, that there is nothing more he can teach her himself. But the one they are finding, who is willing to teach her is ... well.
And then Alex is actually starting to work for the council (the wardens, to be precise). I mean ...
Funnily enough, Alex ends up working for/with Caldera. And they make a surprisingly good team. Though they have their work cut out for them. Not 5 minutes after Alex joins the wardens, there is an assassination attempt on him and it's a breathraking marathon from there.
A magical sex trafficking ring! And, surprise surprise, politicians of the "whites" are clients so they don't want their dirt to become public knowledge. Sex rings are always bad, but thanks to Epstein and all the people involved in that clusterfuck (most of which we don't know about), this leaves an even worse taste in my mouth. Especially since the way the author presented the politics around "investigating" the sex ring were so fucking realistic, it broke my heart.
At the very end, the shoe finally drops (I had been wondering where exactly this colume would lead regarding the bigger picture) and the implications from this political change cannot really be fathomed just yet. But it's bad. Oh so very bad.
Thus, what originally felt a bit like a police procedural eventually turned into something much more sinister and I like how subtle the author was about it. I mena, you see it in real life all the time: the gradual slips and slides down into hell. *shivers*
Very well done indeed and I'm curious to see if the hints about Luna soon becoming a Journeyman will result in her actually graduating in the next book. Though I have to admit that I very much enjoyed this book focusing much more on Alex (I'm not a fan of Luna's or any of the other characters, except for the blinkfox Hermes or Arachne).
April 4, 2025
While it did contain some interesting changes in Alex's world (especially in regards to The Council), ultimately Veiled was the least interesting Verus novel yet.
It felt a bit like it had more to do with getting pieces in place before more exciting novels - a bit of a bridge book.
That said, I do love this series and I am excited to continue and see the fallout from what happened in this book.
It felt a bit like it had more to do with getting pieces in place before more exciting novels - a bit of a bridge book.
That said, I do love this series and I am excited to continue and see the fallout from what happened in this book.
July 9, 2019
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Alex starts to make some decisions to protect himself and his friends. Luna urges him to try to work with Caldera to become a Keeper. So he tries it. It may or may not make him safer. There are people who want to kill him in the Keepers, in the Council and in the Dark mages.
Things are really in an upheaval in the Council. They have been changing and will continue to change based on what happens in Veiled. Alex is building some new friends, but the old enemies just won't go away. I am worried sick about the situation. He and his group will have to continue to build up their defenses. Alex is smart and careful; will it be enough?
I am so thrilled I chose this series for the Read-along as it is fantastic and I enjoy each book. Alex is doing the best he can for himself and his friends and he is a good person. I don't like the title of the next book, Burned - it sounds like nothing good is going to happen.
Anne's observations from Veiled:
Alex's strategy of working with the Keepers may or may not be safer. He is exposed to more battles with more opportunities for him to die there or from friendly fire. But he is getting to know more people and more people are knowing him and whether he is to be trusted. Hopefully, he is developing more allies like Landis.
I love the way Alex's little band continues to form and grow. I love how they support him even when it will be dangerous.
Alex's enemies like Levistus and Morden and Richard are formidable.
I'll be excited to see how Luna and Chalice develop.
We are seeing more types of mages. In the past, we saw mind, life, death, earth, fire, time traveler, diviners, battle mages. Now we add ice, water, and shifter mages. I wonder how many types of mages there are.
Anne's questions from Veiled:
What other strategies will Alex develop to protect himself and his friends?
Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
Will there be a romance for Alex?
Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity? Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
(KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
(KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
(KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?
COYER: Read a book with a male protagonist. PTS: 2
Alex starts to make some decisions to protect himself and his friends. Luna urges him to try to work with Caldera to become a Keeper. So he tries it. It may or may not make him safer. There are people who want to kill him in the Keepers, in the Council and in the Dark mages.
Things are really in an upheaval in the Council. They have been changing and will continue to change based on what happens in Veiled. Alex is building some new friends, but the old enemies just won't go away. I am worried sick about the situation. He and his group will have to continue to build up their defenses. Alex is smart and careful; will it be enough?
I am so thrilled I chose this series for the Read-along as it is fantastic and I enjoy each book. Alex is doing the best he can for himself and his friends and he is a good person. I don't like the title of the next book, Burned - it sounds like nothing good is going to happen.
Anne's observations from Veiled:
Alex's strategy of working with the Keepers may or may not be safer. He is exposed to more battles with more opportunities for him to die there or from friendly fire. But he is getting to know more people and more people are knowing him and whether he is to be trusted. Hopefully, he is developing more allies like Landis.
I love the way Alex's little band continues to form and grow. I love how they support him even when it will be dangerous.
Alex's enemies like Levistus and Morden and Richard are formidable.
I'll be excited to see how Luna and Chalice develop.
We are seeing more types of mages. In the past, we saw mind, life, death, earth, fire, time traveler, diviners, battle mages. Now we add ice, water, and shifter mages. I wonder how many types of mages there are.
Anne's questions from Veiled:
What other strategies will Alex develop to protect himself and his friends?
Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
Will there be a romance for Alex?
Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity? Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
(KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
(KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
(KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?
COYER: Read a book with a male protagonist. PTS: 2
September 25, 2015
I wasn't getting into this as much as I had the earlier (5) novels and I wasn't sure why. Then I realized that this is the first I'd gotten in audio. For me the reader took some getting used to. It's not that he wasn't good but I think I'd already established a "voice" for Alex in my head and he didn't match. It took a little for me to get used to him.
I've already decided I also probably get the print version...
Anyway, once I got comfortable this is a good continuation of the over all developing plot while giving us an enjoyable story within the book.
I'm going to say something here...but first let me tell you what I'm not saying. I AM NOT SAYING THERE IS DUPLICATION WITH ANY OTHER BOOK. MR. JACKA HAS NOTED HE'S MADE IT A POINT NOT TO KEEP UP ON OTHER BOOKS.
Now that said I'm a huge fan of the Harry Dresden books by Jim Butcher. There is a discussion thread here where Dresden fans try to recommend books to each other that are similar to the said Harry Dresden books. For my money while the protagonists are completely different this series is the closest out there.
Mr. Jacka...I've all these and I'm now also a huge fan of your work. Keep up the aforementioned good work.
Recommended, enjoy.
I've already decided I also probably get the print version...
Anyway, once I got comfortable this is a good continuation of the over all developing plot while giving us an enjoyable story within the book.
I'm going to say something here...but first let me tell you what I'm not saying. I AM NOT SAYING THERE IS DUPLICATION WITH ANY OTHER BOOK. MR. JACKA HAS NOTED HE'S MADE IT A POINT NOT TO KEEP UP ON OTHER BOOKS.
Now that said I'm a huge fan of the Harry Dresden books by Jim Butcher. There is a discussion thread here where Dresden fans try to recommend books to each other that are similar to the said Harry Dresden books. For my money while the protagonists are completely different this series is the closest out there.
Mr. Jacka...I've all these and I'm now also a huge fan of your work. Keep up the aforementioned good work.
Recommended, enjoy.
August 15, 2019
Excellent. This was a dark story. Verus has come a long way since the start of this series. In house politics within the council, the Keepers have a mole working for the opposition; a very blurred line between light and dark mages, members of the council out to get Alex. All this and more will keep you entertained!
September 8, 2015
A touch darker than the ones before. Only problem with this its so well written you go though it too quickly.
Nicely done with more world building.
Nicely done with more world building.
August 2, 2019
Alex Verus does know how to pick up enemies. It seems like every book that he is in there is a new faction/mage/society that he somehow pisses off to the point that they try to kill him. Veiled is no exception to that as Alex helps Caldera shut down a secret society that peddles flesh and every deviant thing money can buy and magic can make.
Um…ewe.
You’d think everyone in the Lightmage society would want to take this place down, cuz they are the good guys, right? We you would be wrong because politics is never that easy and the Dark Mages could be able to make a play for some council seats if all the cliental of White Rose is discovered. Alex has to choose between two bad choices. No matter what he does it isn’t going to be a win/win situation.
The gang all makes an appearance. Luna is getting better with her magic and Alex has taken her as far as he can. Looking for a part time teacher for her chance magic means opening their group to another person. I did like seeing how another aspect of Chance magic worked. We also get to meet Vary’s master, who is like an absentminded professor constantly fascinated by the inner workings of magical devices and prone to blowing things up accidentally.
Veiled makes a little movement on the overall arc of the Dark Mages trying to get a foothold into the council and Morden possibly working with Richard to band some of the dark mages together for a single purpose. Which is terrifying really as their moral compass is non-existent. Plus, Alex pisses off even more people and expands his list of enemies by quite a few.
Like always these books go by fast with battles, backstabs, plotting and so much more. It is an easy series to get into and I do like that Alex isn’t perfect, overall he is a nice enough guy but he will kill you or let you walk into something horrible if you push him to far.
This is the sixth book of the series and should be read in order. Every story wraps up nicely but they all build on the prior one.
Let’s say you’re a client of White Rose. There’s some new pop singer you’ve got your eye on, you see her in her music videos. You decide you want a piece of that. White Rose is happy to help. They’ll find one of their slaves with a good physical resemblance, maybe get themselves a new one if it’s a special order. Then they’ll get to work. Flesh-sculpting or glamours to make her look the part, mental control to make her act the part. They soften them up first, then do most of the heavy lifting with mind magic. By the time they’re done, the girl thinks she is that person. They can put in other bits too. Make her in love with you, switch her programming so she has to do whatever you tell her, set it up so she goes for your fetish. Whatever you like.”
Um…ewe.
You’d think everyone in the Lightmage society would want to take this place down, cuz they are the good guys, right? We you would be wrong because politics is never that easy and the Dark Mages could be able to make a play for some council seats if all the cliental of White Rose is discovered. Alex has to choose between two bad choices. No matter what he does it isn’t going to be a win/win situation.
But there’s a certain point where trying to choose the lesser of two evils is just an exercise in futility. It doesn’t matter which of you wins; you’re both so bad that I honestly can’t decide who’d be worse.
The gang all makes an appearance. Luna is getting better with her magic and Alex has taken her as far as he can. Looking for a part time teacher for her chance magic means opening their group to another person. I did like seeing how another aspect of Chance magic worked. We also get to meet Vary’s master, who is like an absentminded professor constantly fascinated by the inner workings of magical devices and prone to blowing things up accidentally.
Veiled makes a little movement on the overall arc of the Dark Mages trying to get a foothold into the council and Morden possibly working with Richard to band some of the dark mages together for a single purpose. Which is terrifying really as their moral compass is non-existent. Plus, Alex pisses off even more people and expands his list of enemies by quite a few.
Like always these books go by fast with battles, backstabs, plotting and so much more. It is an easy series to get into and I do like that Alex isn’t perfect, overall he is a nice enough guy but he will kill you or let you walk into something horrible if you push him to far.
This is the sixth book of the series and should be read in order. Every story wraps up nicely but they all build on the prior one.
September 28, 2018
4.5 Stars
Another fantastic volume in the Alex Verus series, this one picks up the pace from the previous book and rockets along from start to finish.
Alex’s old master Richard Drakh is back, and that means trouble for Alex and his friends. From the time he first saw Richard return, Alex has been preparing for the fight he knows is coming. To survive, he’ll need all the allies he can get, which leads him to an unlikely job working with the Keepers, the enforcement branch of the Light Council.
Veiled is right up there with Chosen for my favorite books in the series so far. There is great action, including a few new types of magic introduced. We also get to see a much more detailed glimpse into the world of the Council mages that Alex tried to avoid for years, and it’s fascinating. There were a few new characters introduced as well that I’m confident we’ll see more of in the future. As has become a trademark over the last few books, we see some really interesting character growth, as well as great relationship development between the various characters. I love the way that Jacka writes the different relationships, the way they grow and change feels very organic. The only slight letdown for me is one of the secondary characters I’ve grown fond of had a pretty minimal role.
The series is going from strength to strength. As of now, there are 9 completed books in the series, which feels like far too few for my liking.
Another fantastic volume in the Alex Verus series, this one picks up the pace from the previous book and rockets along from start to finish.
Alex’s old master Richard Drakh is back, and that means trouble for Alex and his friends. From the time he first saw Richard return, Alex has been preparing for the fight he knows is coming. To survive, he’ll need all the allies he can get, which leads him to an unlikely job working with the Keepers, the enforcement branch of the Light Council.
Veiled is right up there with Chosen for my favorite books in the series so far. There is great action, including a few new types of magic introduced. We also get to see a much more detailed glimpse into the world of the Council mages that Alex tried to avoid for years, and it’s fascinating. There were a few new characters introduced as well that I’m confident we’ll see more of in the future. As has become a trademark over the last few books, we see some really interesting character growth, as well as great relationship development between the various characters. I love the way that Jacka writes the different relationships, the way they grow and change feels very organic. The only slight letdown for me is one of the secondary characters I’ve grown fond of had a pretty minimal role.
The series is going from strength to strength. As of now, there are 9 completed books in the series, which feels like far too few for my liking.
October 26, 2020
I'm happy to report that the Alex Verus series is back on track now, and really, the main reason the previous installment dipped to only four stars was that it focused on two favorite characters (Alex and Anne) putting the others in the background. Now we see the whole team of four working together: Alex, Luna, Anne, and Variam. Although it's still mostly planning and consulting, I was pleased with the view we get of their interactions this time.
This time the surprise for me was a focus, through most of the book, on Alex's growing relationship with Caldera, the earth mage who does her best to turn every story into a police procedural--and now she's supervising Alex as he manages to become an official auxiliary to the Keepers of the Flame, dedicated to preserving and enforcing the centuries-old international Covenant of mages and the laws passed by the British Council of Light Mages.
Light Mages are explained to us very carefully as mages (wielders of magic power of different kinds--more about that presently) who publicly subscribe to the Covenant and the British laws, regardless of what they do in private, being largely out for themselves as each tries to increase personal powers and secure a better position on or with the Council. Dark mages are the ones who openly repudiate the Covenant and laws and amass power nakedly.
Among the Light Mages Caldera stands out as a solid character whose actions are based on the rules, and I've grown to like her. In this installment she's not so antagonistic to our team and even takes risks to support her new subordinate Alex as he gets drafted into an intricately complex enforcement action ordered by the Council--ostensibly against a horrible sex-slave operation run by the dark side, but some of the Council members and some of the enforcers are secretly involved in it too, in different ways. Very little is what it seems, even in the exciting action scenes.
Not only do some of the Light Mages have dirty hands but one of the most powerful of the Dark Mages, named Morden, is pushing to get a seat on the Council, and it seems nothing can really keep him from succeeding and thereby altering the whole nature of the British mage organization. And Morden is the chief agent of Richard Drakh, the darkest of Dark Mages and Alex's former master; many of the Light Mages treat Alex as dark himself and resist his teaming up with them.
Intricate action, intricate politics--and Alex's first-person narration is blessedly clear as usual about every bit of what he knows, discovers, and suspects.
What intrigues me the most in Alex's world is the variety of mages. There are twelve different kinds (unless I've forgotten any), each with specific powers and limitations--mages with powers over exactly one of the elements (earth, ice, water, fire, air); ones with powers over life, death, time, space, or chance; and illusionists and diviners.
Alex is a diviner and frighteningly vulnerable in combat--he sees probable futures and when the action is intense (as it often is in this installment) he can only see one or two seconds into the future, just enough to dodge a bullet but not enough to get out of the way of anything really large.
Unlike mages, adepts have only a single power in one of these domains. Alex's apprentice Luna is a chance adept who of course needs a chance mage to be her teacher, but chance mages are so rare that the only one Alex can find for her is Chalice, a Dark Mage. Fascinating scenes, and I hope we see more of Chalice with Luna.
The other team members--Anne, a life mage, whose power is the transfer of life into someone, healing them, or out of someone, killing them; Variam, a fire mage, excellent for combat but still rash and headstrong. What's likable about the four of them is that with all their powers they have basic good will, and it turns out Caldera does too.
And speaking of good will, yes, Arachne plays a significant role too--the wise giant spider who lives under Hampstead Heath and makes splendid clothes (including armor) for our friends is the only magical being in this story other than "constructs"--things like giant golems that the dark ones hurl against our friends.
Very strongly recommended--better if you read the series from the beginning to follow the development of these characters, but I think you can also jump into this installment without any confusion.
This time the surprise for me was a focus, through most of the book, on Alex's growing relationship with Caldera, the earth mage who does her best to turn every story into a police procedural--and now she's supervising Alex as he manages to become an official auxiliary to the Keepers of the Flame, dedicated to preserving and enforcing the centuries-old international Covenant of mages and the laws passed by the British Council of Light Mages.
Light Mages are explained to us very carefully as mages (wielders of magic power of different kinds--more about that presently) who publicly subscribe to the Covenant and the British laws, regardless of what they do in private, being largely out for themselves as each tries to increase personal powers and secure a better position on or with the Council. Dark mages are the ones who openly repudiate the Covenant and laws and amass power nakedly.
Among the Light Mages Caldera stands out as a solid character whose actions are based on the rules, and I've grown to like her. In this installment she's not so antagonistic to our team and even takes risks to support her new subordinate Alex as he gets drafted into an intricately complex enforcement action ordered by the Council--ostensibly against a horrible sex-slave operation run by the dark side, but some of the Council members and some of the enforcers are secretly involved in it too, in different ways. Very little is what it seems, even in the exciting action scenes.
Not only do some of the Light Mages have dirty hands but one of the most powerful of the Dark Mages, named Morden, is pushing to get a seat on the Council, and it seems nothing can really keep him from succeeding and thereby altering the whole nature of the British mage organization. And Morden is the chief agent of Richard Drakh, the darkest of Dark Mages and Alex's former master; many of the Light Mages treat Alex as dark himself and resist his teaming up with them.
Intricate action, intricate politics--and Alex's first-person narration is blessedly clear as usual about every bit of what he knows, discovers, and suspects.
What intrigues me the most in Alex's world is the variety of mages. There are twelve different kinds (unless I've forgotten any), each with specific powers and limitations--mages with powers over exactly one of the elements (earth, ice, water, fire, air); ones with powers over life, death, time, space, or chance; and illusionists and diviners.
Alex is a diviner and frighteningly vulnerable in combat--he sees probable futures and when the action is intense (as it often is in this installment) he can only see one or two seconds into the future, just enough to dodge a bullet but not enough to get out of the way of anything really large.
Unlike mages, adepts have only a single power in one of these domains. Alex's apprentice Luna is a chance adept who of course needs a chance mage to be her teacher, but chance mages are so rare that the only one Alex can find for her is Chalice, a Dark Mage. Fascinating scenes, and I hope we see more of Chalice with Luna.
The other team members--Anne, a life mage, whose power is the transfer of life into someone, healing them, or out of someone, killing them; Variam, a fire mage, excellent for combat but still rash and headstrong. What's likable about the four of them is that with all their powers they have basic good will, and it turns out Caldera does too.
And speaking of good will, yes, Arachne plays a significant role too--the wise giant spider who lives under Hampstead Heath and makes splendid clothes (including armor) for our friends is the only magical being in this story other than "constructs"--things like giant golems that the dark ones hurl against our friends.
Very strongly recommended--better if you read the series from the beginning to follow the development of these characters, but I think you can also jump into this installment without any confusion.
September 2, 2015
It's always interesting to read about magical politics, and to see how the civil service remains essentially the same, but I didn't feel as connected in this one. No real character development for any of them, no startling new plot arc revelations... Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading, but at the end I couldn't point to any particular "Aha!" moment, could probably skip it and not really notice in terms of reading the series as a whole.
September 5, 2015
Sixth in the Alex Verus urban fantasy series set in London and revolving around an ex-Dark mage.
My Take
I agree with Alex. There's nothing to choose between the Light and the Dark. The Dark are simply more open about how nasty they are. It's world where no one matters unless they impinge on an individual's plan. Then, you're only punished IF it breaks a Concord rule AND is visible to the normal world and can't be explained away as something other than magic. And, of course, the Light mages never do naughty things. *Unggh, unghh, sorry, trying to yank my tongue back out of my cheek!*
I do like Luna. She's a realist, even if she is eager for combat. She doesn't see much difference between Light and Dark either, especially after how the Light has treated her in the past.
I am so hoping that Landis will be playing a larger part in the future. I like him. He has a flowery way about his teasing that hides a very keen mind.
Caldera's explanation (and previous stories) tell of a magical world that is so wrong. It needs a major revolution in thinking and action, and I don't see how that can be done. If anyone can do it, though, it'll be Alex. And I'm damned curious to know how Jacka is going to pull this off.
That "chat" Verus has with Levistus was terrifying. Partly because you almost want to side with him, because it would be against the Dark. BUT, Levistus is pretty damn Dark himself and his threats had my heart in my mouth. It's Arachne who will put it in perspective for Alex, and she's right.
It's a tricky balancing act for Alex. The Dark want to recruit or kill him while the Light hate and distrust him. Alex would prefer to avoid both, but he has more of the idealism of the Light within him and hates the Dark for what it does to people. And that's why he is a Light idealist, because the actual Light mages destroy people as well. You're no one unless you're a mage.
It doesn't help that half of his team want to kill him and the other half aren't talking. Too many are in bed with different factions who each have their own objectives. And I sure hate Haken's attitude about this all being a game to be manipulated and screw anyone who gets in the way.
It's a good lesson in keeping your strengths and toys secret and your allies on speed dial as traps and betrayals abound with each faction having its own agenda.
The Story
Diviner Alex Verus and the Council that governs the magical community have never gotten along. But with his former teacher back in Britain, Alex is in desperate need of allies, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get them — even if it means accepting a job with the Keepers, enforcing magical law.
Alex forms an uneasy alliance with his new partner, Caldera, but his attempt at legitimacy quickly turns lethal when a mission puts him in possession of an item that factions both inside and outside of the Council would kill to get their hands on.
Once again caught in the middle of a deadly conflict, Alex will need all his abilities to figure out who his friends are — especially when enemies are hiding on all sides…
The Characters
Alex Verus, a diviner, is an ex-Dark mage's apprentice who now runs the Arcana Emporium, a magic shop in Camden Town. A mage the Light ignored in his need. Now he struggles to survive against both Light and Dark while protecting his friends. Hermes is the blink fox he helped in Hidden , 5. Luna Mancuso is Alex's apprentice and cursed with a chance spell. She's friendly with Variam Singh, a fire mage with apprenticed to Landis, an Order of the Shield mage, who is based in Edinburgh. Anne Walker is a Life mage with whom no one wants to work. Arachne is a magical creature who happens to be a giant spider who weaves cloth and sews clothing. She's probably Alex's best friend.
The Council…
…is the ruling body of Light mages. They're not very different from the Dark. The different factions within the Council are the Guardians, Crusaders, Isolationists, Directors, Centrists, Weissians, and the Unitarians. The Crusaders are the most militant. Guardians are less extreme but more defensive. The Unitarians want the Light and Dark to unite, a cause that the Centrists are beginning to embrace. Mantis Golems are four-armed bodyguards used by the Council. The Concord is an international set of laws all mages are required to follow. National laws vary from country to country but can't contradict the Concord.
Vaal Levistus is a Council member who wants Alex dead. Griff ( Fated , 1) and Belthas ( Cursed , 2) are some of the mages he's sent after Alex; Thirteen ( Fated , 1) was an air elemental Levistus tried to use. Barrayar and Nirvathis (he has a Council seat) are Levistus' stooges. Nirvathis' ex-apprentice, Rayfield, has disappeared.
Talisid (he's involved with one faction of the Council) has been sending Alex and friends out on missions to find out what the Dark is up to. Sonder used to be a friend until events in Chosen , 4.
Lensman is a mage with contacts for tech and language translations. His shop sells items to mages. Dr. Shirland is a mind mage working with Anne and her issues. Xiaofan is a time adept who does objects. She currently works in an antique shop and wants nothing to do with mages.
The Keepers of the Flame are…
…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, an earth mage who specializes in reinforcement magic, has worked with Alex before and trusts him to back her up. Haken, a fire mage, shares an office with Caldera and is sort of her partner. Carol is one of the Keeper admins. Captain Rain is the Keeper in charge of the White Rose case.
The Keeper team that goes after the White Rose includes the nasty Lizbeth, an air/water hybrid; Slate has death skills and he really hates Alex (both Lizbeth and Slate love violence); Trask who is Slate's partner; Abeyance is an auxiliary and a timesight specialist; Cerulean is an illusionist; and, Coatl who uses mind magic. Part of the security backup includes Rick.
Red's is a mixed-martial arts gym where the Keepers hang out and train. Dr. Cazriel is a Keeper medic.
The Dark mages include…
…Richard Drakh was Alex's master from whom Alex ran. Everyone thought he had died, but he's back and wants Alex. Morden is allied with Drakh and also VERY powerful. He's agitating for a seat on the Council.
Chamois, Jean Jacques Duval, a.k.a., Silence or The Silent, is an air mage out of France who works as an assassin.
Torvald has been a bad Dark mage. Again. He'll get a slap on the wrist, if the Keepers catch up with him. Maybe. Pyre is another Dark mage who's worse than Torvald. The Keepers wouldn't stop him hurting Xiaofan because he wasn't breaking the Concord. Tough luck, Xiaofan.
The White Rose is…
…an independent Dark organization that takes children and turns them into sex slaves. Adjusts people to suit your fantasy. It's all okay, though, since the White Rose doesn't enslave mages or adepts. Ya gotta wonder how an obvious law like adhering to the normal laws of humanity, of the country in which you live, isn't part of that Concord. Leo is a sex slave on the run. Marannis is the Dark mage who runs it and has a de facto alliance with certain factions. Vihaela is his second-in-command, a really nasty, torture-loving bitch who is a death/life hybrid mage and good, wicked good. She apprenticed under Ylath.
Chalice is an independent Dark mage with chance magic who may become Luna's teacher. She wants an unexpected and undesirable form of payment for those services.
Lucian is an adept asking Verus questions. Kath is part of his circle.
Diviners can see all the possible futures. Fire mages can call up fire. Time mages can look back into the past of their current location. 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 data focus is a magical thumb drive that locks to the mind/voice of the person using it, a signature lock.
The DLR is the Docklands Light Railway. Heraclian is an obscure mage tradition from the Byzantine era.
The Cover and Title
The cover is an electric lime green in a collage of London landmarks. At the top is a ragged edge of black forming a stark contrast with the lime green of the title.
The title is how magical politics works in Alex's world; they're Veiled from view as the factions scurry about in their own self-interests.
My Take
I agree with Alex. There's nothing to choose between the Light and the Dark. The Dark are simply more open about how nasty they are. It's world where no one matters unless they impinge on an individual's plan. Then, you're only punished IF it breaks a Concord rule AND is visible to the normal world and can't be explained away as something other than magic. And, of course, the Light mages never do naughty things. *Unggh, unghh, sorry, trying to yank my tongue back out of my cheek!*
I do like Luna. She's a realist, even if she is eager for combat. She doesn't see much difference between Light and Dark either, especially after how the Light has treated her in the past.
I am so hoping that Landis will be playing a larger part in the future. I like him. He has a flowery way about his teasing that hides a very keen mind.
Caldera's explanation (and previous stories) tell of a magical world that is so wrong. It needs a major revolution in thinking and action, and I don't see how that can be done. If anyone can do it, though, it'll be Alex. And I'm damned curious to know how Jacka is going to pull this off.
That "chat" Verus has with Levistus was terrifying. Partly because you almost want to side with him, because it would be against the Dark. BUT, Levistus is pretty damn Dark himself and his threats had my heart in my mouth. It's Arachne who will put it in perspective for Alex, and she's right.
It's a tricky balancing act for Alex. The Dark want to recruit or kill him while the Light hate and distrust him. Alex would prefer to avoid both, but he has more of the idealism of the Light within him and hates the Dark for what it does to people. And that's why he is a Light idealist, because the actual Light mages destroy people as well. You're no one unless you're a mage.
It doesn't help that half of his team want to kill him and the other half aren't talking. Too many are in bed with different factions who each have their own objectives. And I sure hate Haken's attitude about this all being a game to be manipulated and screw anyone who gets in the way.
It's a good lesson in keeping your strengths and toys secret and your allies on speed dial as traps and betrayals abound with each faction having its own agenda.
The Story
Diviner Alex Verus and the Council that governs the magical community have never gotten along. But with his former teacher back in Britain, Alex is in desperate need of allies, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get them — even if it means accepting a job with the Keepers, enforcing magical law.
Alex forms an uneasy alliance with his new partner, Caldera, but his attempt at legitimacy quickly turns lethal when a mission puts him in possession of an item that factions both inside and outside of the Council would kill to get their hands on.
Once again caught in the middle of a deadly conflict, Alex will need all his abilities to figure out who his friends are — especially when enemies are hiding on all sides…
The Characters
Alex Verus, a diviner, is an ex-Dark mage's apprentice who now runs the Arcana Emporium, a magic shop in Camden Town. A mage the Light ignored in his need. Now he struggles to survive against both Light and Dark while protecting his friends. Hermes is the blink fox he helped in Hidden , 5. Luna Mancuso is Alex's apprentice and cursed with a chance spell. She's friendly with Variam Singh, a fire mage with apprenticed to Landis, an Order of the Shield mage, who is based in Edinburgh. Anne Walker is a Life mage with whom no one wants to work. Arachne is a magical creature who happens to be a giant spider who weaves cloth and sews clothing. She's probably Alex's best friend.
The Council…
…is the ruling body of Light mages. They're not very different from the Dark. The different factions within the Council are the Guardians, Crusaders, Isolationists, Directors, Centrists, Weissians, and the Unitarians. The Crusaders are the most militant. Guardians are less extreme but more defensive. The Unitarians want the Light and Dark to unite, a cause that the Centrists are beginning to embrace. Mantis Golems are four-armed bodyguards used by the Council. The Concord is an international set of laws all mages are required to follow. National laws vary from country to country but can't contradict the Concord.
Vaal Levistus is a Council member who wants Alex dead. Griff ( Fated , 1) and Belthas ( Cursed , 2) are some of the mages he's sent after Alex; Thirteen ( Fated , 1) was an air elemental Levistus tried to use. Barrayar and Nirvathis (he has a Council seat) are Levistus' stooges. Nirvathis' ex-apprentice, Rayfield, has disappeared.
Talisid (he's involved with one faction of the Council) has been sending Alex and friends out on missions to find out what the Dark is up to. Sonder used to be a friend until events in Chosen , 4.
Lensman is a mage with contacts for tech and language translations. His shop sells items to mages. Dr. Shirland is a mind mage working with Anne and her issues. Xiaofan is a time adept who does objects. She currently works in an antique shop and wants nothing to do with mages.
The Keepers of the Flame are…
…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, an earth mage who specializes in reinforcement magic, has worked with Alex before and trusts him to back her up. Haken, a fire mage, shares an office with Caldera and is sort of her partner. Carol is one of the Keeper admins. Captain Rain is the Keeper in charge of the White Rose case.
The Keeper team that goes after the White Rose includes the nasty Lizbeth, an air/water hybrid; Slate has death skills and he really hates Alex (both Lizbeth and Slate love violence); Trask who is Slate's partner; Abeyance is an auxiliary and a timesight specialist; Cerulean is an illusionist; and, Coatl who uses mind magic. Part of the security backup includes Rick.
Red's is a mixed-martial arts gym where the Keepers hang out and train. Dr. Cazriel is a Keeper medic.
The Dark mages include…
…Richard Drakh was Alex's master from whom Alex ran. Everyone thought he had died, but he's back and wants Alex. Morden is allied with Drakh and also VERY powerful. He's agitating for a seat on the Council.
Chamois, Jean Jacques Duval, a.k.a., Silence or The Silent, is an air mage out of France who works as an assassin.
Torvald has been a bad Dark mage. Again. He'll get a slap on the wrist, if the Keepers catch up with him. Maybe. Pyre is another Dark mage who's worse than Torvald. The Keepers wouldn't stop him hurting Xiaofan because he wasn't breaking the Concord. Tough luck, Xiaofan.
The White Rose is…
…an independent Dark organization that takes children and turns them into sex slaves. Adjusts people to suit your fantasy. It's all okay, though, since the White Rose doesn't enslave mages or adepts. Ya gotta wonder how an obvious law like adhering to the normal laws of humanity, of the country in which you live, isn't part of that Concord. Leo is a sex slave on the run. Marannis is the Dark mage who runs it and has a de facto alliance with certain factions. Vihaela is his second-in-command, a really nasty, torture-loving bitch who is a death/life hybrid mage and good, wicked good. She apprenticed under Ylath.
Chalice is an independent Dark mage with chance magic who may become Luna's teacher. She wants an unexpected and undesirable form of payment for those services.
Lucian is an adept asking Verus questions. Kath is part of his circle.
Diviners can see all the possible futures. Fire mages can call up fire. Time mages can look back into the past of their current location. 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 data focus is a magical thumb drive that locks to the mind/voice of the person using it, a signature lock.
The DLR is the Docklands Light Railway. Heraclian is an obscure mage tradition from the Byzantine era.
The Cover and Title
The cover is an electric lime green in a collage of London landmarks. At the top is a ragged edge of black forming a stark contrast with the lime green of the title.
The title is how magical politics works in Alex's world; they're Veiled from view as the factions scurry about in their own self-interests.
August 17, 2015
Alex entered a new 'phase' in his life. To postpone the Council off his back, Alex joined the Council's 'Police' Force, a.k.a. The Keeper as an auxiliary. He went to Order of the Star, with Caldera as his supervisor. His first case brought him to a group that provides prostitution and sex slaves -- and the aftermath changed the dynamic of the whole Council.
I felt that this book toned down the pace a little bit. For several books, Alex had been facing trouble, even if he wanted or not. Often it was a matter of life and death, in which Alex had to be smart and quick to survive, with no one to trust but his apprentice, Luna, as well as Anne and Vari. It felt good to know that Alex was not actively fighting with people who want to kill him this time. Yes, he still found trouble with his first case but this time he also had support from Caldera and some Keeper members -- despite that they might not trust him fully.
The significant change in the end -- -- made me mentally prepared myself for future books, namely Richard's masterplan. It is concerning to know that Light Mages are not better than Dark Mages and I wonder where will Jacka take this book forward. Though it doesn't really matter because I will be there for that...
I felt that this book toned down the pace a little bit. For several books, Alex had been facing trouble, even if he wanted or not. Often it was a matter of life and death, in which Alex had to be smart and quick to survive, with no one to trust but his apprentice, Luna, as well as Anne and Vari. It felt good to know that Alex was not actively fighting with people who want to kill him this time. Yes, he still found trouble with his first case but this time he also had support from Caldera and some Keeper members -- despite that they might not trust him fully.
The significant change in the end -- -- made me mentally prepared myself for future books, namely Richard's masterplan. It is concerning to know that Light Mages are not better than Dark Mages and I wonder where will Jacka take this book forward. Though it doesn't really matter because I will be there for that...
January 6, 2016
This series continues with another strong installment.
I don't think I can get enough of Alex Verus and now I'm in the shitty spot of having to wait for the next book instead of choosing to wait.
Very interesting look into the politics of the Light Council in this one, and I continue to love the blurred lines of who is good and bad in this world. Personally, I'd rather deal with the Dark since you pretty much know what to expect unlike the shifty, holier than thou Lights.
One thing I wish for this series is that Alex would start going on the offensive more. Seems like he always gets caught up in the machinations of others, and it'd be awesome to see him turn that around more often. With how this one ended, I might get my wish
Excited for the next!
I don't think I can get enough of Alex Verus and now I'm in the shitty spot of having to wait for the next book instead of choosing to wait.
Very interesting look into the politics of the Light Council in this one, and I continue to love the blurred lines of who is good and bad in this world. Personally, I'd rather deal with the Dark since you pretty much know what to expect unlike the shifty, holier than thou Lights.
One thing I wish for this series is that Alex would start going on the offensive more. Seems like he always gets caught up in the machinations of others, and it'd be awesome to see him turn that around more often. With how this one ended, I might get my wish
Excited for the next!
August 8, 2015
Reliably enjoyable and well written. This book seemed to be setting Alex and the team up for a final showdown with Richard.
April 15, 2020
Love this series. Full RTC
March 25, 2025
Most engaging plot, most interesting moral dilemma, best action scenes, improved dialogue, hardly any exposition dumps…best book of the series so far.
November 22, 2020
Toujours aussi addictif, original et intelligent ! 👌
March 4, 2023
Always an entertaining read following Alex and friends through their various misadventures. Magic, political intrigue, battles, and lies all create a tension that makes this series a must read for me. See you again soon, Alex.
August 8, 2015
One of the curses of the long urban fantasy series is the bridging book. It's there as a timing beat after something momentous, in this case, the return of Richard Drahk, Alex's original Dark Mage master which happened in the immediately previous book.
So we get to see something of Alex's dread, get given time to wonder what Richard is up to, wonder how Alex fits into those plans and even a healthy dose of paranoia that perhaps Alex has been Richard's creature all along.
In this one we also get to see a lot more of how the Keepers work. They're the Light Mage's police arm, and because they report directly to the Council, incredibly political. Alex, being Alex, makes friends and enemies along the way, but most of the action is clearly a single move in an intricate high-powered chess game.
This continues to be a great series though, even if this book is largely treading water and introducing seeds for later entries in the series (Chalice is an interesting addition for instance).
So we get to see something of Alex's dread, get given time to wonder what Richard is up to, wonder how Alex fits into those plans and even a healthy dose of paranoia that perhaps Alex has been Richard's creature all along.
In this one we also get to see a lot more of how the Keepers work. They're the Light Mage's police arm, and because they report directly to the Council, incredibly political. Alex, being Alex, makes friends and enemies along the way, but most of the action is clearly a single move in an intricate high-powered chess game.
This continues to be a great series though, even if this book is largely treading water and introducing seeds for later entries in the series (Chalice is an interesting addition for instance).
August 16, 2015
My memory does this series no justice. I know I love it but I don't realize how much until I'm back there. The minute I open the book I'm enveloped in the world like it has its own cubby hole in my brain that's suddenly unleashed. The atmosphere, the characters, Alex's voice, the tension, the magic are real and familiar. In this installment, I thoroughly enjoyed the Alex/Caldera dynamic. Alex's inner conflicts are heightened by his work with Caldera and the Keepers. He has no idea who is good, bad or in the gray area except for his inner circle of friends who have been with him from the beginning and are the only people he trusts. I'm very interested to find out how Luna progresses with the dark chance mage. Alex will be once again fighting for his life and what is right in the next book and I can't wait.
March 24, 2025
This book marks a turning point in the series. Before that, Alex and his friends had been fighting powerful enemies mostly on their own, now he's doing it as part of the Keepers, where he's not the one in charge and has to take orders. Which I guess was part of the problem...Alex definitely works out better when he's the one in charge. There are also a lot of more politics, as we get to know more about the inner workings of the Council and the supposed difference between Light and Dark mages - I'm there with Luna, after what they did with poor Leo, I don't see that much of a difference.
The most interesting character intro was that of Landis, Vari's master. He's so quirky! Hope to see him in future books.
The most interesting character intro was that of Landis, Vari's master. He's so quirky! Hope to see him in future books.
May 27, 2017
This was a more police buddy direction. Still loving this series. Easy fun read
July 7, 2018
Mini-Review:
Cheers for 1.6x narration speed and long drives to and in national parks. =D
Great addition to the series! I really like how the characters seem to have settled into themselves and the focus is more on plot than figuring out why and who people are who they are. I'm still skeptical about the whole Richard/dark mages scenario but I hope that it will work out in a cool manner. A whole lot more about the magic system and the inner workings about the Council/Light Mages were dished out in this book. I rather enjoyed it. A decent case and I do love twists that actually come off as a twist. Yay! Already have the next book and sort of started it. I need to catch up on the books and dive into the latest book when it comes out.
Cheers for 1.6x narration speed and long drives to and in national parks. =D
Great addition to the series! I really like how the characters seem to have settled into themselves and the focus is more on plot than figuring out why and who people are who they are. I'm still skeptical about the whole Richard/dark mages scenario but I hope that it will work out in a cool manner. A whole lot more about the magic system and the inner workings about the Council/Light Mages were dished out in this book. I rather enjoyed it. A decent case and I do love twists that actually come off as a twist. Yay! Already have the next book and sort of started it. I need to catch up on the books and dive into the latest book when it comes out.
January 5, 2020
5 Stars
The Alex Verus series is written to my tastes. I love modern urban fantasy and less than perfect heroes and this series has so much more. I am a biased reviewer as I can't get enough urban fantasy these days.
The Alex Verus series is written to my tastes. I love modern urban fantasy and less than perfect heroes and this series has so much more. I am a biased reviewer as I can't get enough urban fantasy these days.
June 24, 2020
While I still love the series, this felt more like an in-between. There is hardly any character development happening, but a lot is set up for the next book. The case wasn't bad but for some reason not as exciting as before, but I hope it'll take up again in the next book
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