Hidden by Benedict Jacka
Dec. 30th, 2014 10:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
Never look back.
Alex Verus can see the future – a talent that’s got him and his friends out of many a tough scrape. But what happens when someone doesn’t want Alex’s help?
Anne Walker distanced herself from Alex when she discovered his past as a Dark mage’s apprentice. Now her own past is catching up with her, but she wants nothing to do with the one person who can see what’s coming.
On top of that, rumours are swirling around London that Alex’s former master, Richard, is back in town. No one knows what he wants or where he’s been, but Alex is sure Richard hasn’t forgotten the apprentice who betrayed him so many years ago …
It’s several months after CHOSEN. Anne and Sonder have cut off contact with Alex as a result of what happened to the Nightstalkers and rumours are circulating of Richard’s return but Alex is keeping busy with his magic shop, picking up work from Talisid and training Luna.
When Anne’s thrown out of the apprentice programme after attacking one of the other apprentices, she makes it clear that she doesn’t want Alex’s help. But Anne has enemies who are still interested in her and a past that’s unwilling to let her go and Alex is the only person she can turn to …
The fifth in Benedict Jacka’s ALEX VERUS SERIES is focused more on Anne than on Alex, although her experiences force Alex to examine his choices. The shift in the relationship between Alex, Anne and Sonder helps to shape each of the characters while adding tension to the plot and I enjoyed the movement in the over-riding Richard story arc, particularly the way things are set up for the next book. I enjoyed the shift of focus to Anne’s story because of the impact it has on Alex and how it forces him to re-examine his behaviour and choices but I am beginning to find the Dark mages a little ‘samey’ in terms of their behaviour and characteristics (although the glimpses of Richard promise a more sophisticated antagonist). This gripe aside, the plot packs a punchy pace and I enjoyed the way Jacka brings in characters and events from the preceding books, which is why I will definitely be checking it out.
There’s a sense of the pieces slipping into place as regards the overall story arc for this series and I’m intrigued to know more of Richard’s plans and of the place that Anne (who becomes a much more significant character here) will play in future events. Given how well the friendship works between Alex and Anne, I very much hope that Jacka doesn’t decide to turn her into a romantic foil because it’s refreshing to have a male and female character who can have a conversation without ending up in bed. My main gripe was the lack of any confrontation between Alex and Sonder (who is incredibly petulant for most of the book). All in all though, this remains one of my favourite fantasy series and I’m really looking forward to reading the next book.
The Verdict:
The fifth in Benedict Jacka’s ALEX VERUS SERIES is focused more on Anne than on Alex, although her experiences force Alex to examine his choices. The shift in the relationship between Alex, Anne and Sonder helps to shape each of the characters while adding tension to the plot and I enjoyed the movement in the over-riding Richard story arc, particularly the way things are set up for the next book. I enjoyed the shift of focus to Anne’s story because of the impact it has on Alex and how it forces him to re-examine his behaviour and choices but I am beginning to find the Dark mages a little ‘samey’ in terms of their behaviour and characteristics (although the glimpses of Richard promise a more sophisticated antagonist). This gripe aside, the plot packs a punchy pace and I enjoyed the way Jacka brings in characters and events from the preceding books, which is why I will definitely be checking it out.
Alex Verus can see the future – a talent that’s got him and his friends out of many a tough scrape. But what happens when someone doesn’t want Alex’s help?
Anne Walker distanced herself from Alex when she discovered his past as a Dark mage’s apprentice. Now her own past is catching up with her, but she wants nothing to do with the one person who can see what’s coming.
On top of that, rumours are swirling around London that Alex’s former master, Richard, is back in town. No one knows what he wants or where he’s been, but Alex is sure Richard hasn’t forgotten the apprentice who betrayed him so many years ago …
It’s several months after CHOSEN. Anne and Sonder have cut off contact with Alex as a result of what happened to the Nightstalkers and rumours are circulating of Richard’s return but Alex is keeping busy with his magic shop, picking up work from Talisid and training Luna.
When Anne’s thrown out of the apprentice programme after attacking one of the other apprentices, she makes it clear that she doesn’t want Alex’s help. But Anne has enemies who are still interested in her and a past that’s unwilling to let her go and Alex is the only person she can turn to …
The fifth in Benedict Jacka’s ALEX VERUS SERIES is focused more on Anne than on Alex, although her experiences force Alex to examine his choices. The shift in the relationship between Alex, Anne and Sonder helps to shape each of the characters while adding tension to the plot and I enjoyed the movement in the over-riding Richard story arc, particularly the way things are set up for the next book. I enjoyed the shift of focus to Anne’s story because of the impact it has on Alex and how it forces him to re-examine his behaviour and choices but I am beginning to find the Dark mages a little ‘samey’ in terms of their behaviour and characteristics (although the glimpses of Richard promise a more sophisticated antagonist). This gripe aside, the plot packs a punchy pace and I enjoyed the way Jacka brings in characters and events from the preceding books, which is why I will definitely be checking it out.
There’s a sense of the pieces slipping into place as regards the overall story arc for this series and I’m intrigued to know more of Richard’s plans and of the place that Anne (who becomes a much more significant character here) will play in future events. Given how well the friendship works between Alex and Anne, I very much hope that Jacka doesn’t decide to turn her into a romantic foil because it’s refreshing to have a male and female character who can have a conversation without ending up in bed. My main gripe was the lack of any confrontation between Alex and Sonder (who is incredibly petulant for most of the book). All in all though, this remains one of my favourite fantasy series and I’m really looking forward to reading the next book.
The Verdict:
The fifth in Benedict Jacka’s ALEX VERUS SERIES is focused more on Anne than on Alex, although her experiences force Alex to examine his choices. The shift in the relationship between Alex, Anne and Sonder helps to shape each of the characters while adding tension to the plot and I enjoyed the movement in the over-riding Richard story arc, particularly the way things are set up for the next book. I enjoyed the shift of focus to Anne’s story because of the impact it has on Alex and how it forces him to re-examine his behaviour and choices but I am beginning to find the Dark mages a little ‘samey’ in terms of their behaviour and characteristics (although the glimpses of Richard promise a more sophisticated antagonist). This gripe aside, the plot packs a punchy pace and I enjoyed the way Jacka brings in characters and events from the preceding books, which is why I will definitely be checking it out.
