Review: Fated by Benedict Jacka

 

Fated (Alex Verus #1) by Benedict Jacka

Publication Date: February 28th 2012 by Tantor Audio & Ace

Pages: 302

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 33min

Narrator: Gildart Jackson

Source: Library Lend

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I’ve been wanting to start the Alex Verus series for a long time, and it did not disappoint!

 

Alex Verus is a magic mage who can see into the future, see how different choices will play out, but being burnt by other dark, and mercenary mages has made him cautious.

 

Alex keeps to himself, under the radar of the magic Council and other mages, but he becomes much sought after when different factions need his help to open a powerful relic. Not a safe situation at all!

 

Loved Fated! It was a rich, interesting world created, yet the worldbuilding is worked in so that it didn’t drag the pace down. I’m a sucker for the underdog kind of character, and Alex fits that to a T. He has powers, yes, but it’s through his cleverness and learned experience that he prevails. I love his moral compass and the friends that he’s come to care for: Luna, Arachne, and Starbreeze. I already have my hold in for the next book!

 

This was the first time listening to Gildart Jackson and I enjoyed his performance of all voices! 

5 Stars

Book Description:

Enter a “gorgeously realized world”* and meet a mage destined for greatness in the first novel in the national bestselling Alex Verus series.

Alex is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London that caters to clientele who can do much more than pull rabbits out of hats. And while Alex’s own powers aren’t as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future—allowing him to pull off operations that have a million to one chance of success.
 
But when Alex is approached by multiple factions seeking his skills to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever’s inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none....

Review: An Instruction in Shadow by Benedict Jacka

 

An Instruction in Shadow (Inheritance of Magic #2) by Benedict Jacka

Publication Date: October 15th 2024 by Ace

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Librofm | Audible | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Stephen Oakwood had been training with his father in the art of drucrafting (sort of magic) until his father went missing.  Stephen didn’t know there was a whole world of drucrafters, with a hierarchy, politics, and grabs for more power. He learned the hard way, through his conniving family, House Ashford, in the last book.

 

Now, Stephen has a bit more information, a lot more sigls for defense and offense, and a way to make money. Now that he has a few things sorted, Stephen is determined to find his father. However, things go bad in the job department. Stephen narrowly fends off a few attacks. Byron from the mysterious “Winged” claims he can find Stephen’s father and will give him the information if Stephen joins. Also, Stephen meets with his mother for the first time to get answers. Can’t say I like that woman.

 

Stephen has landed in a dangerous world, and for good reason, he’s suspicious of everyone. Thankfully, he has a few in his corner, like his friend, Colin, and his trusty super cat, Hobbs! Omg! I love Hobbs! I laughed my head off in one scene with him!

 

An Instruction in Shadow was a riveting second installment! The world created is original and interesting, with information weaved in a way that informs without interrupting the pace. I’m eager for the next book since this one left off in a to-be-continued situation! 

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

The ultra-rich control magic—the same way they control everything else—but Stephen Oakwood may just beat them at their own game in this exhilarating contemporary fantasy from the author of the Alex Verus novels. 

Stephen Oakwood has emerged victorious against the schemes of his aristocratic family. Now he finally has the opportunity to do what he’s been wanting to do for a long track down his father.  But doing so won’t be easy. Stephen’s not so isolated any more, but the contacts he’s making in the magical world—everyone from the corporation he works for to the mother he’s just beginning to reconnect with—all have agendas of their own. And now a new group is emerging from the shadows, calling themselves the Winged. Their leader, the mysterious Byron, promises that he can show Stephen how to find his father...but he wants something in return.Following that trail will throw Stephen into greater danger than he’s ever faced before. To survive, he’ll need to use all of his tricks and sigls, and pick up some new ones. Only then will he be able to prevail against his enemies...and find out who’s really pulling the strings.