GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Book Review: Hidden (Alex Verus #5) by Benedict Jacka + giveaway | I Smell Sheep

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Book Review: Hidden (Alex Verus #5) by Benedict Jacka + giveaway

Hidden (Alex Verus #5)
by Benedict Jacka
Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: September 2nd 2014 

by Ace

When the details of my apprenticeship to a sociopathic Dark mage were made public, I expected some scrutiny. After all, mages love gossip. But unveiling my secret past hasn't done me any favors with those closest to me...

With his talent for divining the future, Alex Verus should have foreseen his friends’ reactions to the revelations about his previous life. Anne Walker no longer trusts him—and has also cut all ties with the mage community after getting kicked out of the apprentice program. As a favor to Luna, Alex’s own apprentice and Anne’s best friend, he checks in on her only to be told to leave her alone.

Then Anne gets kidnapped. The Council Keepers of the Order of the Star believe Dark mages from her past may be involved. Working with the Keepers, Alex and Luna discover that Anne has been taken into the shadow realm of Sagash, her former Dark mage mentor, and they must find a way to rescue her.

But another shadow from the past has resurfaced—Alex’s former master may be back in London, and Alex has no idea what his agenda is.

After Alex had explained his past to his apprentice and charges (students he has sponsored at the school) the lines of friendship have been stressed, and the trust between them gone. Luna still has hope all will be forgiven after everyone has some time apart from each other. About 6 months after the fallout, Luna starts to worry about her friend Anne and asks Alex to try to talk to her and convince her to come back to the flat where they all lived.

Alex would rather put this all behind him and move forward, everyone made their choices and he wants to leave it at that. Until Alex finds out Anne has been kidnapped and he's been put on the spot to help save her. Reluctantly Alex needs to call on the help of those that turned their back on him to help save Anne.

During a meeting with Sonders, Variam, Luna and Caldera, Sonders is determined to prove it is one person that is guilty, while Variam is willing to bet his life it is someone else. Luna is just worried for her friend, Alex just wants this all to end and get Anne back safely. Variam suggests Anne could be in a shadow realm that belongs to their old master Sagash.

Using some intimidation tactics and a few punches Alex finds out Anne is in a shadow realm, gets his hands on a key to open a portal there and takes off to find Anne. Dealing with a number of enemies and his old master, Alex is able to get to the bottom of what is going on with Anne and why she was kidnapped in the first place. New friends are made, some bonds strengthened, along with Alex managing to anger someone in one way or another.

In the 5th book you get to find out what choices were made after the fall out of book 4 (Chosen). You find out about Anne's background and what happened to her while she was under the teachings of Sagash. I had a major issue with Anne's views in the book, she made mistakes in her past, but rather than face them and admit to what they were she pushed that all away and has been paying the price for that.

Alex has to snap Anne out of her "Woe is me" pity party and make her face the reality of her choice's along with what it is doing to her friends to herself.

Outside of Anne and her outlook, I had fun with this one, there were a few new names and faces added to this book. Just remember to never make a promise to a blink fox and forget about it later.
review: Cursed (Alex Verus #2)
review: Choosen (Alex Verus #4)

4 sheep






DD

About the Author:
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Benedict Jacka became a writer almost by accident, when at nineteen he sat in his school library and started a story in the back of an exercise book. Since then he's studied philosophy at Cambridge, lived in China, and worked as everything from civil servant to bouncer to teacher before returning to London to take up law.




4 comments:

  1. Seems like there's a lot going on in this book and I like that because it means that my attention will be caught up in the story. Thanks for the review.

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  2. I agree with Mary that there is a lot to keep track of in the book which opens up plenty of openings for spin offs, etc. Magic storylines are nice and usually surreal and almost always have a darker element that adds to the story. This series will be one to read I think!

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  3. Searching my memory about making promises to blinking foxes here :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts I am definitely intrigued and going to check this out!

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