Book Log 6/2013 - Benedict Jacka: Fated – Alex Verus #1

[jacey]

Enjoyable urban fantasy romp set in London and featuring Alex Verus, a mage whose main magical talent is that of a diviner, someone who sees all possible futures and can therefore (usually) figure out what to do next. His actual magical talent – other than that – is fairly low-key, but don't underestimate him. He keeps a magic shop, the Arcana Emporium in Camden Town, where canal meets railway line, meets leyline and generally tries to stay under the radar of more powerful magicians, particularly the dark ones, having had a nasty experience in his past.

Unfortunately a bunch of powerful magicians, opposing factions of the dark and the light, have decided Alex's talents can help them to unlock the secrets of a powerful artefact and both he and his friend Luna, herself under a longstanding family curse, are drawn into danger. If the artefact doesn't kill them the magicians trying to get at what's inside it will. Alex has to face up to his dark past if he's going to have any future.

Alex is an engaging protagonist, a genuine nice guy with decent values. Comparisons with Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden novels are inevitable, and also with Kevin Hearne's Atticus O'Sullivan (Iron Druid) books, but it stands up well. This is the first in what looks to be an ongoing series and I'd be happy to read on.

Comments

[autopope.livejournal.com]

I read books 2 and 3, then went cap in hand to my editor and said, "I'm not proud; will blurb in return for the manuscript of #4". And lo, I have just finished book #4.

The series gets darker, Alex's back story gets fleshed out, he survives and learns and gains friends but also takes emotional damage. Yes, it's very much a British take on Harry Dresden. But it's fresh for all that, and: no vampires or faeries!

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Praise, indeed. Yes, I'm off hunting for the second one right now.I have a review copy of the third, but I'd like to read them in order.