Book Review: Fallen (An Alex Verus Novel Book 10) by Benedict Jacka

Fallen (An Alex Verus Novel Book 10)
by Benedict Jacka
September 24, 2019
304 pages
Publisher: Ace
For Mage Alex Verus, everything is on the line in the tenth urban fantasy novel from the national bestselling author of Marked.

Once Alex Verus was a diviner trying to live quietly under the radar. Now he's a member of the Light Council who's found success, friends...and love. But it's come with a price—the Council is investigating him, and if they find out the truth, he'll lose everything.

Meanwhile, Alex's old master, Richard Drakh, is waging a war against the Council, and he's preparing a move that will bring Alex and the life mage, Anne, under his control. Caught between Richard and the Council, Alex's time is running out. To protect those he cares for, Alex will have to become something different. Something darker... 

Fallen is the 10th book in the Alex Versus series

Fallen felt like two different books in one, there is the pre-fateweaver then there is post-fateweaver.

The first 8 chapters felt like one book, where Alex is still working for the light council, and of course still under investigation for what happened at San Vittore with Drakh and the stolen imbued items. Alex is worried that the council will find out the truth to what really happened, knowing that his and Anne's lives are on the line.

Alex and Annes' relationship is more serious, which later on Richard uses to his benefit and tries to use Alex against Anne to get what he wants.

It felt hard to tell how much time had passed between the end of chapter 8 and the start of 9, was it a few days, a week a month? Alex is determined to get his hands on the fatewaeaver. This is where things take a turn, not sure for better or for worse, depends on how you feel about Alex being a light mage or a dark mage. Alex seems to be a different person, and I'm not sure if it's due to his situation outside of obtaining the item, or if it's the item itself that changed him.

I found the second part of the book more interesting over the first because the first part was a recyle of the past few books since Alex joined the light council, seeing as how he's always under the microscope and being watched and judged for each moved he makes.

I personally like the "new" Alex, he seems more true to himself and what it is he believes in.

I'm not sure where the next book is going and what Alex's standing will be with the council, but I have a feeling it won't be good.

review: Cursed (Alex Verus #2)

review: Choosen (Alex Verus #4)

review: Hidden (Alex Verus #5)

review: Veiled (Alex Verus #6)

Review: Burned (Alex Verus #7)
Review: Bound (Alex Verus #8)

Review: Marked (Alex Verus #9)

4/5 stars

DanielleD

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.

Book Review: Marked (Alex Verus 9 Book) by Benedict Jacka

Marked (Alex Verus 9 Book)

by Benedict Jacka

July 3, 2018

320 pages

Publisher: Ace

Mage Alex Verus is hanging on by a thread in the ninth urban fantasy novel from the national bestselling author of Burned.

When Mage Alex Verus ends up with a position on the Light Council, no one is happy, least of all him. But Alex is starting to realize that if he wants to protect his friends, he'll need to become a power player himself. His first order of business is to track down dangerous magical items unleashed into the world by Dark Mages.

But when the Council decides they need his help in negotiating with the perpetrators, Alex will have to use all his cunning and magic to strike a deal--and stop the rising tension between the Council, the Dark Mages, and the adept community from turning into a bloodbath.

*This will be as spoiler free as possible

Marked is the 9th book in the Alex Verus series, and Alex is still going strong. Alex is on the council of Light Mages, and it's still a difficult uphill climb dealing with the light mages, especially after the incident that happened at the end of Bound.

Alex is put in charge of gathering the artifacts that were stolen, and he is learning the old adage of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" being stuck having to deal with Onyx and still trying to figure out what Drahk is pulling, and why he wanted the artifacts in the first place.

Along with dealing with a very polarized council, Alex is trying to figure out Morden’s game while being locked up.

Alex and Anne are the main focus of this book, along with dealing with the council and the artifacts, Alex is put in a situation where he needs to confront "Evil Anne" and help Anne realize that she needs her dark side to help balance her out, despite Anne locking "Evil Anne" away a long time ago. This is in a world were dark and light mages are both good and evil. The two main protagonists are in a world where their very survival is at stake.

The way this left off, there really needs to be a 10th book.

review: Cursed (Alex Verus #2)
review: Choosen (Alex Verus #4)
review: Hidden (Alex Verus #5)
review: Veiled (Alex Verus #6)
Review: Burned (Alex Verus #7)
Review: Bound (Alex Verus #8)4.5/5

Danielle D

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
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.

Book Review: Bound (Alex Verus #8) by Benedict Jacka (spoiler free)

Bound (Alex Verus #8) 

by Benedict Jacka
April 4th 2017 by Ace
Mage Alex Verus is caught between a rock and a hard place in the eighth urban fantasy novel from the national bestselling author of Burned.

Right now I wasn’t seeing Richard as the teacher out of my nightmares, he was just another Dark mage, and I looked into the future to see what would happen if I turned that knife on him instead...

Alex Verus is still haunted by his time apprenticed to Richard Drakh. He's been free of him for many years, but now the only way to keep his friends from being harmed is to again work for Richard and his deadly ally. Even worse, he’s forced to bring the Light mage Anne into this servitude as well.

After weeks of being hunted and finally cornered into what he thought was his last stand, Alex never thought his life would be spared—and never anticipated at what price. This time, the diviner can see no way out...
Making this spoiler free will mean a short review of this book, since A LOT happens.

Bound picks up where Burned left off. Alex and Anne are now working for Drakh, which is not what they really wanted, but with the way Burned left off, there weren't many options to work with.

Thi situation makes everything much for difficult for both them. The Light Mages don't trust them, the Dark Mages don't trust them, even the Order doesn't trust them. So what exactly can they do?

I do have sympathy for Anne and Alex since their hands are tied for pretty much the entire book but with the help of Arachnie, they do have a glimmer of hope to help put the odds more in their favor.

Luna on the other hand... Oh Man, did I want to bitch slap her, I mean I understand where she is coming from and her situation, but talk about a pity party for 1. Luckily for her, Alex does offer some insight and advice on what she can do. There was one part that made me laugh since it does tie into the Alex Verus website, and how Luna has been put to use.

I will say that the ending of the book threw me off, and I was not expecting it, and clearly neither did Alex. I don't think even he with his Fateweaving ability could have predicted that outcome.

Now to wait for book 9

review: Cursed (Alex Verus #2)
review: Choosen (Alex Verus #4)
review: Hidden (Alex Verus #5)
review: Veiled (Alex Verus #6)
Review: Burned (Alex Verus #7)

5/5 Sheep

DanielleD

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
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.

Book Review: Burned (Alex Verus #7) by Benedict Jacka

Burned (Alex Verus #7) 
by Benedict Jacka

April 5th 2016 by Ace
Paperback, 336 pages

Mage Alex Verus is back in the seventh in the “gorgeously realized”* urban fantasy series from the national bestselling author of Veiled.

I’m used to people wanting me dead. But, this time, I’m not the only one on the hit list—and time is running out...

Diviner Alex Verus finally made one too many enemies on the Council of Mages, and now one of them is angry enough to have him executed. Fighting for his life is nothing new, but this kill order also calls for the death of Alex’s dependents—and there’s no way that he’ll let Luna, Anne, and Vari take the heat.

With only a week before he’s history, Alex will have to figure out how to disassociate himself from his friends, scrounge up allies on the Council, and hopefully keep his head attached to his body.

But saving himself is going to bring him into direct opposition with his former master and the Dark mages surrounding him. And, this time, escaping with his life might mean losing his soul...

Oh, Alex, how I have missed you.

So imagine you are hanging out at your place, just you and your blink fox hanging out, when you get a phone call that will throw the rest of your week way off track.

Alex and his stubborn attitude of trying to stay neutral after leaving Richard years ago is coming back to bite him in the ass. Alex finds out the hard way that his attitude/mentality has earned him more foes than friends. Not only will Alex need to figure out how to save himself, but also those that are close to him.

Council politics are the driving force for what is going on behind the scenes and what puts Alex into the life or death situation by the end of the book. This driving force will also make others choose Council Law or friendship as their priority.

This, I have to say, is the one time I was shocked that Alex and his divination magic did not see any of this coming. I know Benedict has been working hard on the next book, and I for one cannot wait for the book, since Burned was left on quite a cliffhanger.

review: Cursed (Alex Verus #2)

review: Choosen (Alex Verus #4)
review: Hidden (Alex Verus #5)

review: Veiled (Alex Verus #6)

4.5

DanielleD

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
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.

Book Review: Veiled (Alex Verus #6) by Benedict Jacka

Veiled (Alex Verus #6)
by Benedict Jacka
Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: August 4th 2015 by Ace
ISBN13: 9780425275757
I thought I’d escaped my past. But my old master is back and making a new play for power. And he’s not the only one targeting me…

Diviner Alex Verus and the Council that governs the magical community have never gotten along. But with his former teacher back in Britain, Alex is in desperate need of allies, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get them—even if it means accepting a job with the Keepers, enforcing magical law.

Alex forms an uneasy alliance with his new partner, Caldera, but his attempt at legitimacy quickly turns lethal when a mission puts him in possession of an item that factions both inside and outside of the Council would kill to get their hands on.

Once again caught in the middle of a deadly conflict, Alex will need all his abilities to figure out who his friends are—especially when enemies are hiding on all sides.

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After a narrow escape Alex and his charges made in Hidden, events in Veiled take a turn and introduce the inside workings of the Light Council. Actions and events have started to take shape that even this Fate Mage could not have foreseen. Alex is forced to swallow his pride and work alongside Caldera and the Keepers. Things are not what they really seem to be… This time around.

In Veiled we are “allowed access” into the inner workings of the Light Council, and the many branches of politics which have sway over both the Light and Dark Mages. While working alongside Caldera, Alex gets pulled into a case that will affect the balance of power in the Council.

I was somewhat torn about this one, it was good to see what else was going on in the series outside of Alex training Luna, keeping contact with Anne and Variam, along with trying to avoid his old master. This book was dealing more with the Light Council. Which to me was too much of an info dump. There was a lot about the Council and all the different branches, what they all do and where they fit into the scope of things. The only thing that helped me follow what was going on was Benedict's author page, since he has created an entire encyclopedia for this series.

There were a few new characters introduced that did keep my interest. One is Chalice who offers to train Luna with her magic. The other is Xiaofan who is a time adept. The blink fox, who is a personal favorite, returns. I am really hoping that we get to see more of these 2 new characters, they have piqued my interest.

If you have followed Alex this far, I’m going to say keep going with this one. If this is an introduction to the series I will say check out the first book.

review: Cursed (Alex Verus #2)
review: Choosen (Alex Verus #4)
review: Hidden (Alex Verus #5)

3 1/2 Sheep

DanielleD

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
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.