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As noted previously, I am now offiically addicted to Alex Verus books – just finished the 2nd (Cursed) and 3rd (Taken) books, awaiting the fourth, Chosen. I just can’t put these things down once I start them – very entertaining and engaging!

As before, Alex Verus is a mage (wizard or warlock) who lives in London and walks a fine line between Light and Dark mages (and other occasional magical entities who pop in) while trying to keep out of ‘magic politics’ and train his apprentice and friend, Luna. The books have a good level of back-story without getting to the detail level of say, Lord of the Rings, where you then have to go into epic backstory and bog things down too much. I like the way details are revealed as needed, which if not used carefully can look too convenient (side rant – Star Trek holodeck screenwriters, I’m talking to YOU) but here Alex is portrayed as many times out of his league compared to other mages and also battling with self-esteem and confidence issues along the way.

Check out the books – you won’t be disappointed!

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Just finished Benedict Jacka‘s Fated novel today – the first in his Alex Verus series. Definitely an engaging read!

While I’m not a big fantasy person – about the closest I usually come is time-honored (but sadly still far too obscure) Clark Ashton Smith and HP Lovecraft (neither of which aren’t strictly fantasy – CAH is equally sci-fi in his weird way; HPL is much more horror-tinged than straight fantasy), this was a fast and fun read. I have read at least one Harry Dresden novel, in the same ‘modern magic’ category and liked it, but then forgot to go back to read more – my bad.

Mr Verus is a modern mage (wizard or warlock) that lives in London and tries to keep to himself and out of trouble, given his sordid past. But like all such anti-heroes, he gets drawn in anyway, much to the reader’s delight. I liked the mix of descriptive prose vs. action, and the pacing of the novel keeps you rolling right along until the penultimate stages, to be sure. I liked the effort to paint the Dark Mages as a mixed bag, not quite just straight evil as they could be in a simpler tale, but certainly very dangerous all the same – and the Light certainly not being what they seem either. I’m not going to reveal any more plot but there were some good twists in there too.

I guess I’ll have to go back and read more Harry Dresden now too – but first to finish the other three AV books! 🙂

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Gotta get this book!

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