The Alex Verus Novels, Books 1-4

(Alex Verus #1-4)

Benedict Jacka (Goodreads Author)

4.48 · Rating details · 264 ratings · 7 reviews

The first four books in the "outstanding, provocative series" (Publishers Weekly) featuring Alex Verus, who is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future--allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of ...more

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Published March 4th 2014 by Ace

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Nov 20, 2015 Marcin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Dresden Files or Sorcerer's Apprentice fans, partly to Potter's wannabes ;)

Shelves: fantasy

An interesting approach, yet pretty cliche now with all these 'magic and paranormal is everywhere around us' themes, from sorcerer's bloodline's suddenly awaken powers, through mages' learning of their true destiny right to demons and other mythical creatures living next-door and being hunted by specific individuals. We have hundreds of books, movies and games with these themes. So why try this over other options on the market? Well, the characters are pretty well developped, there is enough act An interesting approach, yet pretty cliche now with all these 'magic and paranormal is everywhere around us' themes, from sorcerer's bloodline's suddenly awaken powers, through mages' learning of their true destiny right to demons and other mythical creatures living next-door and being hunted by specific individuals. We have hundreds of books, movies and games with these themes. So why try this over other options on the market? Well, the characters are pretty well developped, there is enough action placed between covers to actually keep you pinned to the reader or flip pages of the four novels that this edition consists of. Sure, Dresden still holds the market lead here with his specific character and approach to everything around him. Where Potter would probably jump first and throw one spell after another and destroy the invincible opponent, Dresden would rather take 5, get a drink and even leave others to deal with the menace unless there was something that would make the jump into peril worthwhile for him. Alex seems to be somewhere in between those two character types. Furthermore, his ace up his sleeve is the paranormal/magic ability to see future, somewhat like the guy from the movie 'Next'... He's placed in England, with fate and his bloodline conspiring against him and plotting to make him a hero (like all the other characters with 'from 0 to hero' adventurer fate). He's also become a part of a scheme or greater plan by all the parties depicted in the book, again similar to another stories with characters walking on the razor edge between two forces while becoming somewhat of a middle third party. At the same that he's playing a regular mortal role for normal humans, he's having an apprentice he wants to help. The usually paranormal abnormalities from the magical worlds that other stories would present as creatures to kill, here are depicted as 'good' ones or friends of Alex. The books also have some of the DND attitude with the hero having friends fighting against what fate or others throw at them - they really form a team similar to basic DND dungeon dwellers. Where the books differ is the location - these being urban fantasy type have the heroes going on normal and fantastic routes filled with action. Benedict did really well in having the fate play with Alex's life, with each chapter only introducing the reader to the next one. The stories unfold in, some might say, cliche form but they are shown with enough action and questions unanswered to neither forget of the previous paragraphs nor keep you happy with the book left on a shelf after finishing a chapter - you really are drawn into the world from the first words righ to the final dot. Would I recommend it to other readers? For sure 'Dresden Files' fans would find here a lot of similarities to their books, after all both are of urban fantasy genre, yet they also differ here and there, which makes these stories just as good as Jim Butcher's works. Would HP fans also find these interesting enough? I believe that since the HP mass-hysteria started the main char and the writing style got a little bit more adult with each episode, but the Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series is still targetting a bit older group of readers. However, magic being magic, with British flare added to a bit sarcastic humour of Chicago's finest, with the fore personality more human than the childish Rowling's creation and almost as likeable as slightly less 'i am not interested, leave me be' Jim's detective, this book would really be very much appreciated by anyone searching for some fantastic stuff happening all around us. ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Cindy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I’m hooked

I got the first 4 Alex Verus books for Christmas and I have already finished them all. I have completely fallen for this crazy world and am going to have to force myself to delay starting the next book so I can get some other things done.

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Feb 18, 2021 Chris rated it liked it

Shelves: 2021, ebook, reread, done, urban-fantasy

Good urban fantasy series about a London mage whose power is divination. He'd be perfectly content to be left to quietly run his magic shop, but things never work out that way. ...more

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Jan 03, 2015 Karen Fitzpatrick rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I love these books! Benedict Jacka weaves a great story. His characters are quirky and interesting. The detailed exploration of urban London adds a another level of interest. Really solid fantasy which makes you wonder (for a few seconds at least) whether some of the strange things which happen in life might have a less than logical explanation.

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