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Alex Verus #3
Taken
Third book in a compelling new urban fantasy series set in Camden, featuring Alex Verus.
Welcome to Fountain Reach. Ancient seat of the Aubuchon dynasty. Majestic setting of the White Stone tournament.
Alex Verus' (not necessarily reliable) reputation attracts all sorts. Most are plain bonkers. Yet there's one invitation he just can't refuse.
At Fountain Reach, Alex is perfectly placed among the noted and notorious to figure out why apprentices have been vanishing. But the tournament is a minefield of ancient grudges and new threats and Alex can't afford to miss a trick as his elusive adversary stays one step ahead in this most dangerous of games.
Welcome to Fountain Reach. Ancient seat of the Aubuchon dynasty. Majestic setting of the White Stone tournament.
Alex Verus' (not necessarily reliable) reputation attracts all sorts. Most are plain bonkers. Yet there's one invitation he just can't refuse.
At Fountain Reach, Alex is perfectly placed among the noted and notorious to figure out why apprentices have been vanishing. But the tournament is a minefield of ancient grudges and new threats and Alex can't afford to miss a trick as his elusive adversary stays one step ahead in this most dangerous of games.
323 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2012
413 people are currently reading
3421 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 780 reviews
July 24, 2016
Oh yes! Third in the series and still firing on all cylinders! This really is as good a series as the Dresden Files and I would just love to see Alex Verus team up with Harry Dresden to wipe the floor with all those nasty Dark Mages. Sorry. I have only just finished the book and I am still a bit excited:)
Seriously, if you like this genre then this is a series for you to read. Verus is a delightful character - not one of those out to kill everybody type heroes, but more of a thinker and a planner and very adept at using all the magical skills he has been blessed with. The author writes well, the pacing is good, the action is exciting and all in all it is a good book! Loved it!
Seriously, if you like this genre then this is a series for you to read. Verus is a delightful character - not one of those out to kill everybody type heroes, but more of a thinker and a planner and very adept at using all the magical skills he has been blessed with. The author writes well, the pacing is good, the action is exciting and all in all it is a good book! Loved it!
March 16, 2022
Re-Read 3/16/22:
It's interesting to see intros to characters we'll see much more of, later. Especially a certain life-mage. And Luna's learning to battle is a real treat.
Still enjoying the re-read. :)
Original Review:
Solid read that's building on the precognition premise, this time revolving around missing mage apprentices from both the light and dark camps. All are taken without a trace.
What can go wrong?
Well, for starters, Alex can pick up a few stragglers who might just want to go just as independent as he, for one. And we can do it all in the middle of a mage tournament he would never have considered attending, if he hadn't been forced to do it for the investigation.
Oh, and Luna is getting beast. Gotta love girls with bullwhips.
I think I'm gonna like these new characters. Or at least, I'm going to like Ms. Life Mage. Quite a few beasts in the book. I'm looking forward to the kinds of plots twists this is going to bring us.
Fortunately, Mr. Jacka knows how to set them up and knock them down. Quick and enjoyable reads, all of them.
It's interesting to see intros to characters we'll see much more of, later. Especially a certain life-mage. And Luna's learning to battle is a real treat.
Still enjoying the re-read. :)
Original Review:
Solid read that's building on the precognition premise, this time revolving around missing mage apprentices from both the light and dark camps. All are taken without a trace.
What can go wrong?
Well, for starters, Alex can pick up a few stragglers who might just want to go just as independent as he, for one. And we can do it all in the middle of a mage tournament he would never have considered attending, if he hadn't been forced to do it for the investigation.
Oh, and Luna is getting beast. Gotta love girls with bullwhips.
I think I'm gonna like these new characters. Or at least, I'm going to like Ms. Life Mage. Quite a few beasts in the book. I'm looking forward to the kinds of plots twists this is going to bring us.
Fortunately, Mr. Jacka knows how to set them up and knock them down. Quick and enjoyable reads, all of them.
April 26, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was really good! I had never heard of this series until my friend Anne decided to host a read along on her blog, Books of My Heart, this year. Since the pace was set at only one book per month, I decided that I could make enough room in my reading schedule to fit this series in without too much work. That has turned out to be a fantastic decision because I have had a great time with each installment.
I really like both Alex and Luna and I was really happy that this book focused so heavily on Luna and the other apprentices. It was great meeting a few new characters and seeing a little more about how their world works. Luna has now completely committed to her role as an apprentice and is working incredibly hard to meet the demands put on her. I really liked getting to see the relationships between the apprentices.
I never tire of watching Alex in action. His ability to see into the future is so unique in useful as it is used in this story. I love the way he is able to make smart decisions quickly and takes responsibility for his actions. Alex is really just a great guy who is always looking to save the day and take care of those who need his help and he does it quite competently.
I thought that the mystery in this book was very well done. I had no idea what was going on with the disappearing apprentices but I had a blast going along for the ride to find out. There was plenty of action and some completely unexpected antics to keep things really interesting. I love that this story kept me guessing until the very end.
Gildart Jackson does a fantastic job with this series. He is the voice of Alex in my mind and I do think that he really does bring the character to life. I think that he does a great job with all of the character voices and dialogue always flowed nicely. I think he has a very pleasant reading voice and I enjoyed listening to his narration for hours at a time.
I would recommend this series to others. This is the third book in the Alex Verus series which I do think would be best read in order if at all possible. I can't wait to get started on the next book in the series very soon.
Initial Thoughts
This was good. I liked getting to see some of the other apprentices. It feels like Alex is taking more of a leadership role and I really like that he doesn't care what others think of him. There was a lot of excitement and a bit of a mystery. The narrator did a fantastic job with this book.
Book source: Audible purchase
This was really good! I had never heard of this series until my friend Anne decided to host a read along on her blog, Books of My Heart, this year. Since the pace was set at only one book per month, I decided that I could make enough room in my reading schedule to fit this series in without too much work. That has turned out to be a fantastic decision because I have had a great time with each installment.
I really like both Alex and Luna and I was really happy that this book focused so heavily on Luna and the other apprentices. It was great meeting a few new characters and seeing a little more about how their world works. Luna has now completely committed to her role as an apprentice and is working incredibly hard to meet the demands put on her. I really liked getting to see the relationships between the apprentices.
I never tire of watching Alex in action. His ability to see into the future is so unique in useful as it is used in this story. I love the way he is able to make smart decisions quickly and takes responsibility for his actions. Alex is really just a great guy who is always looking to save the day and take care of those who need his help and he does it quite competently.
I thought that the mystery in this book was very well done. I had no idea what was going on with the disappearing apprentices but I had a blast going along for the ride to find out. There was plenty of action and some completely unexpected antics to keep things really interesting. I love that this story kept me guessing until the very end.
Gildart Jackson does a fantastic job with this series. He is the voice of Alex in my mind and I do think that he really does bring the character to life. I think that he does a great job with all of the character voices and dialogue always flowed nicely. I think he has a very pleasant reading voice and I enjoyed listening to his narration for hours at a time.
I would recommend this series to others. This is the third book in the Alex Verus series which I do think would be best read in order if at all possible. I can't wait to get started on the next book in the series very soon.
Initial Thoughts
This was good. I liked getting to see some of the other apprentices. It feels like Alex is taking more of a leadership role and I really like that he doesn't care what others think of him. There was a lot of excitement and a bit of a mystery. The narrator did a fantastic job with this book.
Book source: Audible purchase
May 26, 2013
I've had this on my currently reading list for a while, thought I ought to get around to reviewing it.
These are joining my favorites list. I think the first Urban Fantasy I ever read was Harry Dresden. I burned through the ones that were already published then and have snapped up each as it's been released since. It also set me off on trying to find other UF books or another UF series that I'd like as well. Mostly I've been disappointed. I find that a huge percentage of what gets labeled urban fantasy turns out to be paranormal romance (PNR)...it seems to me about 90% of what I pick up looking for UF turns out to be PNR. Of the actual UF I've found only a few were really good and I didn't think any came close to Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series.
Till I found these. I am I believe a fan of Benedict Jacka and plan to snatch the next Alex Verus book up as soon as I can.
If you've followed the series up to this point you've gotten to know Alex and he's sort of building a reputation (that he'd often rather not have) with the magic community. As a diviner he isn't any great shakes in combat type magic. Things like blowing stuff up, setting stuff on fire, smashing stuff with force, these just aren't Alex's forte'. Still, he keeps going up against these types, completely out of his league, yet he's the one who comes through alive and walks away...
Go figure.
Now, apprentices are coming up missing. They're vanishing without a trace and even the best mages can't find a sign, so the powers that be "sort of" call Alex.
Like an idiot he accepts.
What follows it an exciting well crafted story that holds the interest (in my case this time in spite of my having to put the book down and read other things before I could get back to it). So, good characters. Both the characters and the story are pretty original. Okay I mean there are only so many places to go and most ideas have been touched on and if you really want to you can spot a few places where that's so here. That doesn't hurt the books however as it's all handled so well. You're not running on friendly, romantic vampires here...no vampire girlfriends or werewolf boyfriends and so on. Some magic creatures here are friendly and have to dodge notice as they've been largely killed off. Others hunt humans and seem to find us...toothsome.
So, another in an enjoyable and well crafted brain-candy series. Highly recommended. Enjoy.
Update note: I think the series has held up. I've read all that are in print and look forward to the next which is due out soon. I can recommend these.
These are joining my favorites list. I think the first Urban Fantasy I ever read was Harry Dresden. I burned through the ones that were already published then and have snapped up each as it's been released since. It also set me off on trying to find other UF books or another UF series that I'd like as well. Mostly I've been disappointed. I find that a huge percentage of what gets labeled urban fantasy turns out to be paranormal romance (PNR)...it seems to me about 90% of what I pick up looking for UF turns out to be PNR. Of the actual UF I've found only a few were really good and I didn't think any came close to Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series.
Till I found these. I am I believe a fan of Benedict Jacka and plan to snatch the next Alex Verus book up as soon as I can.
If you've followed the series up to this point you've gotten to know Alex and he's sort of building a reputation (that he'd often rather not have) with the magic community. As a diviner he isn't any great shakes in combat type magic. Things like blowing stuff up, setting stuff on fire, smashing stuff with force, these just aren't Alex's forte'. Still, he keeps going up against these types, completely out of his league, yet he's the one who comes through alive and walks away...
Go figure.
Now, apprentices are coming up missing. They're vanishing without a trace and even the best mages can't find a sign, so the powers that be "sort of" call Alex.
Like an idiot he accepts.
What follows it an exciting well crafted story that holds the interest (in my case this time in spite of my having to put the book down and read other things before I could get back to it). So, good characters. Both the characters and the story are pretty original. Okay I mean there are only so many places to go and most ideas have been touched on and if you really want to you can spot a few places where that's so here. That doesn't hurt the books however as it's all handled so well. You're not running on friendly, romantic vampires here...no vampire girlfriends or werewolf boyfriends and so on. Some magic creatures here are friendly and have to dodge notice as they've been largely killed off. Others hunt humans and seem to find us...toothsome.
So, another in an enjoyable and well crafted brain-candy series. Highly recommended. Enjoy.
Update note: I think the series has held up. I've read all that are in print and look forward to the next which is due out soon. I can recommend these.
July 7, 2018
Excellent! Interesting to learn more about different mages’ powers, and to meet two new characters. I love how Luna is developing - Learning how she can use her curse to her advantage. Alex Verus is a pretty cool dude.
August 5, 2016
Top Shelf Urban Fantasy - 5 Stars
Benedict Jacka raises his game in the third installment of the Alex Verus series. After a shaky start to the series, he has produced a book I can gladly display next to my favorite Urban Fantasy novels by Jim Butcher, Ben Aaronovitch and Larry Corriea. I have a soft spot for the wizard/mage who honestly attempts to solve a mystery. As in the early Dresden novels, the mystery and the investigation that takes centre stage. Taken first and foremost tells a great story. Beyond this it asks the question of "what does a real family look like" and explores the lengths that people (magical or not) will go to feed their obsessions.
Plot summary
Alex Verus, our friend with an eye on the future, is on the job once again. He is hired to look into the unexplained disappearances of mage apprentices. Apprentices are disappearing and no witness come forward and no clues are left behind. Mages walk into a building and never come out. In the midst of the disappearances, the apprentices are gathering for dueling tournament. The gathering is occurring a Fountain Reach, an old and mysterious house with secrets that Verus must expose.
The Good
3, 4, 5
My star rating has steadily increases as the series has progressed. In the all important third novel, the author shows that Alex Verus is here to stay. My major problems with the first two novels was the treatment of the female characters and the disjointed story telling. In Taken, all of these concerns have been mitigated. Alex Verus shows that he can not only treat women with respect but can respect their abilities and strength. A sensitive but strong female character is introduced and his apprentice is treated as a student not a child.
As far as the story is concerned, there is a linear flow. The reader is not left disoriented by disorganized storytelling. Multiple storyline parallel cleanly and converge with clarity. Overall the story is no longer a weakness as the author has shown significant growth as this series has progressed.
Speaking of Growth
It is not only the author that has shown growth as the series has progressed. If you have read the first two novels you will know that compared to most similar stories, the Mages in Alex Verus' world have a limited scope to their magical abilities. While at the outset of the series, I had the impression that a mage who main ability was to see into future, would quickly become boring. While the powers of Alex Verus have not seemingly grown, the sheer variety of mages have. Mind magic, life magic, time magic, space magic and elemental magic are all skill sets that are discussed and developed. This has kept the characters and story world from feeling stale.
The Bad
This time around, it appears I have very little criticism. There are multiple incidents where the author is prone to info dump. At times, Alex Verus is prone to the monologue but it does not, in my opinion, reflect poorly on the book.
Final Thoughts
I believe the third book of a series is the most important for an ongoing series. At this point, patterns are established and reader learns if the author has chosen to write with a strict formula or if they are seeking write dynamic stories. Taken is a prime example of how to do it right. Highly recommended.
Audiobook Notes
This is the first of the series in which I listened to the audio. Any minor deficiencies were covered by the narrators wonderful narration and tempo. An easy 5 star performance.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 1.5
There is very little that could be considered objectionable to most readers. There are a few instance where characters were revealing clothing and several instances where characters insinuate that there may be a romantic or sexual relationship between parties.
Language - 2.5
Low use of mild obscenities and a handful of religious exclamation. A few instances of the f-word.
Violence - 3.5
Characters are being abducted and much of the violence is inferred. Much of the story occurs during an apprentice dueling tournament. This involves fighting but little direct violence. There are several gruesome injuries. One from a magical attack, one a gun and one instance of a character having their throat cut. While moderately graphic, the scenes are short.
Also reviewed at The Literary Lawyer
Benedict Jacka raises his game in the third installment of the Alex Verus series. After a shaky start to the series, he has produced a book I can gladly display next to my favorite Urban Fantasy novels by Jim Butcher, Ben Aaronovitch and Larry Corriea. I have a soft spot for the wizard/mage who honestly attempts to solve a mystery. As in the early Dresden novels, the mystery and the investigation that takes centre stage. Taken first and foremost tells a great story. Beyond this it asks the question of "what does a real family look like" and explores the lengths that people (magical or not) will go to feed their obsessions.
Plot summary
Alex Verus, our friend with an eye on the future, is on the job once again. He is hired to look into the unexplained disappearances of mage apprentices. Apprentices are disappearing and no witness come forward and no clues are left behind. Mages walk into a building and never come out. In the midst of the disappearances, the apprentices are gathering for dueling tournament. The gathering is occurring a Fountain Reach, an old and mysterious house with secrets that Verus must expose.
The Good
3, 4, 5
My star rating has steadily increases as the series has progressed. In the all important third novel, the author shows that Alex Verus is here to stay. My major problems with the first two novels was the treatment of the female characters and the disjointed story telling. In Taken, all of these concerns have been mitigated. Alex Verus shows that he can not only treat women with respect but can respect their abilities and strength. A sensitive but strong female character is introduced and his apprentice is treated as a student not a child.
As far as the story is concerned, there is a linear flow. The reader is not left disoriented by disorganized storytelling. Multiple storyline parallel cleanly and converge with clarity. Overall the story is no longer a weakness as the author has shown significant growth as this series has progressed.
Speaking of Growth
It is not only the author that has shown growth as the series has progressed. If you have read the first two novels you will know that compared to most similar stories, the Mages in Alex Verus' world have a limited scope to their magical abilities. While at the outset of the series, I had the impression that a mage who main ability was to see into future, would quickly become boring. While the powers of Alex Verus have not seemingly grown, the sheer variety of mages have. Mind magic, life magic, time magic, space magic and elemental magic are all skill sets that are discussed and developed. This has kept the characters and story world from feeling stale.
The Bad
This time around, it appears I have very little criticism. There are multiple incidents where the author is prone to info dump. At times, Alex Verus is prone to the monologue but it does not, in my opinion, reflect poorly on the book.
Final Thoughts
I believe the third book of a series is the most important for an ongoing series. At this point, patterns are established and reader learns if the author has chosen to write with a strict formula or if they are seeking write dynamic stories. Taken is a prime example of how to do it right. Highly recommended.
Audiobook Notes
This is the first of the series in which I listened to the audio. Any minor deficiencies were covered by the narrators wonderful narration and tempo. An easy 5 star performance.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 1.5
There is very little that could be considered objectionable to most readers. There are a few instance where characters were revealing clothing and several instances where characters insinuate that there may be a romantic or sexual relationship between parties.
Language - 2.5
Low use of mild obscenities and a handful of religious exclamation. A few instances of the f-word.
Violence - 3.5
Characters are being abducted and much of the violence is inferred. Much of the story occurs during an apprentice dueling tournament. This involves fighting but little direct violence. There are several gruesome injuries. One from a magical attack, one a gun and one instance of a character having their throat cut. While moderately graphic, the scenes are short.
Also reviewed at The Literary Lawyer
April 7, 2019
The third book in a UF series is usually the one that I get to and it is the deciding factor in if I’m going to continue the series or give up on it. With both Fated and Cursed being very solid reads for me I wasn’t really worried but Taken is where the series is starting to shine and so I’m relieved and encouraged to continue on with the series.
Alex is easy to root for. He isn’t the strongest, or nicest guy out there but he is smart and patient. Alex uses his gifts well and has spent time honing them to be the best they can be. He can fight when he needs to but his first choice is always to avoid the conflict, hard to get hurt if you aren’t there. There is something genuine about him. I love that he knows who he is and accepts it. He isn’t the best guy, he has a pretty dark past and has done a few terrible things, but those are what drive him now to help others and it makes him a great Hero to base these stories on.
Alex is amassing a nice collection of misfits. Prior to this we just had Luna, Arachne, Sonder and Starbreeze but in Taken we pick up a few misfit mages in Anne and Vari. It is nice to get to see Alex really grow into his role as Luna’s Mage Master in this. She is blossoming under his tutelage, learning how to control her curse and figuring out a way to make it work for her in a duel. Anne is a life mage and while healing is her main skill she can also take life too, do not mess with that chick. Vari is a fire mage with a hot temper, see what I did there. He is a little rebel without a cause and the only redeeming quality he has in the beginning is his devotion to protecting Anne, good to know there is more to him a little later on.
This was another fun story that brings in even more of the magic community to the world and pits Alex against something that is killing mage apprentices. Also swinging into the mix is a Dark mage from the first book and his evil acolyte who still have a bit of a grudge against Alex for not dying during their last altercation. As always there isn’t much down time and I love that, there are fights, battles, duels and an unlikely villain. It is always a fun ride.
I can’t wait to see what Alex and Co. get up to in the next installment.
Alex is easy to root for. He isn’t the strongest, or nicest guy out there but he is smart and patient. Alex uses his gifts well and has spent time honing them to be the best they can be. He can fight when he needs to but his first choice is always to avoid the conflict, hard to get hurt if you aren’t there. There is something genuine about him. I love that he knows who he is and accepts it. He isn’t the best guy, he has a pretty dark past and has done a few terrible things, but those are what drive him now to help others and it makes him a great Hero to base these stories on.
Alex is amassing a nice collection of misfits. Prior to this we just had Luna, Arachne, Sonder and Starbreeze but in Taken we pick up a few misfit mages in Anne and Vari. It is nice to get to see Alex really grow into his role as Luna’s Mage Master in this. She is blossoming under his tutelage, learning how to control her curse and figuring out a way to make it work for her in a duel. Anne is a life mage and while healing is her main skill she can also take life too, do not mess with that chick. Vari is a fire mage with a hot temper, see what I did there. He is a little rebel without a cause and the only redeeming quality he has in the beginning is his devotion to protecting Anne, good to know there is more to him a little later on.
This was another fun story that brings in even more of the magic community to the world and pits Alex against something that is killing mage apprentices. Also swinging into the mix is a Dark mage from the first book and his evil acolyte who still have a bit of a grudge against Alex for not dying during their last altercation. As always there isn’t much down time and I love that, there are fights, battles, duels and an unlikely villain. It is always a fun ride.
I can’t wait to see what Alex and Co. get up to in the next installment.
May 24, 2013
Continue to love this series, I just LOVE IT. Urban Fantasy at its best, so great to see that by book three I'm still dying to know more about the main character, the world, and everything. I guess the relationship between Alex and Anne is a BIT odd, like someone gave the author a note about what direction it should be, but other than that, love this series!
January 7, 2023
It follows its pattern so if you liked the first two, this one will be good for you too. I think I liked the mystery better here, and I'm finding the changing dynamics between main characters to be interesting.
March 12, 2015
4.5
I could probably find a couple of nitpicks if I tried really, really hard. But I won't. I had so much fun reading this book that I don't even care if there are any.
The main premise is simple enough: mage apprentices have been vanishing and Alex is asked to find more about it. As this is the third book in the series, it's not surprising that nothing is that simple when Alex Verus gets involved. There isn't a single boring or even slower moment here.
The best part? There are so many surprises throughout the book that it will keep you on your toes until the end. From his unexpected reactions to different situations and challenges or job offers from various parties to Luna finding her true strength to getting help from unexpected places to running and fighting, Taken has been more than fun.
As for the villains, you'll hate them. Let's just say that I was even liking Onyx (who has a not very small role here, by the way) more than them.
I could probably find a couple of nitpicks if I tried really, really hard. But I won't. I had so much fun reading this book that I don't even care if there are any.
The main premise is simple enough: mage apprentices have been vanishing and Alex is asked to find more about it. As this is the third book in the series, it's not surprising that nothing is that simple when Alex Verus gets involved. There isn't a single boring or even slower moment here.
The best part? There are so many surprises throughout the book that it will keep you on your toes until the end. From his unexpected reactions to different situations and challenges or job offers from various parties to Luna finding her true strength to getting help from unexpected places to running and fighting, Taken has been more than fun.
As for the villains, you'll hate them. Let's just say that I was even liking Onyx (who has a not very small role here, by the way) more than them.
March 22, 2020
3.5 stars - $1.99 Kindle and Kobo sale, 22 March, 2020.
October 5, 2023
English version below
*******************
In diesem Band der Reihe sucht Alex Verus nach spurlos verschwundenen Magierlehrlingen, lernt einen unsterblichen Gott kennen, beschützt einen Lehrling davor umgebracht zu werden, geht mit seinem eigenen Lehrling auf ein magisches Turnier und erforscht ein echtes Geisterhaus.
Dabei trifft er jede Menge alte gute und schlechte Bekannte und macht sich neue Freunde und noch mehr neue Feinde.
Nach einem wirklich spannenden und actionreichen Höhepunkt der Geschichte sind wir alle froh, dass Alex Verus und die Seinen noch am Leben sind und freuen uns auf den nächsten Band.
------------------
In this volume of the series, Alex Verus searches for apprentice mages who have disappeared without a trace, meets an immortal god, protects an apprentice from being killed, goes to a magical tournament with his own apprentice and explores a real haunted house.
Along the way, he meets lots of old friends, both good and bad, and makes new friends and even more new enemies.
After a really exciting and action-packed climax to the story, we are all glad that Alex Verus and his own are still alive and looking forward to the next volume.
*******************
In diesem Band der Reihe sucht Alex Verus nach spurlos verschwundenen Magierlehrlingen, lernt einen unsterblichen Gott kennen, beschützt einen Lehrling davor umgebracht zu werden, geht mit seinem eigenen Lehrling auf ein magisches Turnier und erforscht ein echtes Geisterhaus.
Dabei trifft er jede Menge alte gute und schlechte Bekannte und macht sich neue Freunde und noch mehr neue Feinde.
Nach einem wirklich spannenden und actionreichen Höhepunkt der Geschichte sind wir alle froh, dass Alex Verus und die Seinen noch am Leben sind und freuen uns auf den nächsten Band.
------------------
In this volume of the series, Alex Verus searches for apprentice mages who have disappeared without a trace, meets an immortal god, protects an apprentice from being killed, goes to a magical tournament with his own apprentice and explores a real haunted house.
Along the way, he meets lots of old friends, both good and bad, and makes new friends and even more new enemies.
After a really exciting and action-packed climax to the story, we are all glad that Alex Verus and his own are still alive and looking forward to the next volume.
March 17, 2022
Oh my, the political game continues to get more and more complicated. Granted, that's also because Alex is no longer just a mage and at the periphery of the magical word.
Luna is continuing her education as a mage's (Alex's) apprentice. Eventually, it comes to Alex's attention that a number of apprentices are vanishing. Even one of Luna's classmates gets attacked (and I don't mean the verbal bullying because of her involvement with a rackshasa and an abusive dark mage). So of course our favorite shopkeeper gets involved, even when it's clear that the council might be involved to some degree. Turns out, it's never been as easy as light vs dark mages - of course not, that would have been too easy, right? *sighs*
My favorite part of this book was definitely Luna's training and the magical duels. And not just because of what our favorite weaver made for Luna so she can be much more on the offensive.
I have to say that, unfortuantely, I wasn't too invested in the actual mystery. It supposedly served to introduce characters important later on, but I just didn't care much about these assholes-in-training and I continuously wanted Verus (or Luna) to hurt them - and bad (especially that bitch, Natasha)! *lol* But Luna, despite becoming a much more fleshed out character, still was too passive, especially considering that the mystery of this volume happened to her fellow students. Also, we only got to visit my favorite character (Arachne) once. *pouts* Thankfully, the two new guys made up for it though. :)
All that is not to say that the book wasn't fast-paced and well written, as usual. We learned a lot about the nature of Luna's curse and different other manifestations of magic, which was VERY nice. Thus, I got swept along nicely and enjoyed myself a lot.
Luna is continuing her education as a mage's (Alex's) apprentice. Eventually, it comes to Alex's attention that a number of apprentices are vanishing. Even one of Luna's classmates gets attacked (and I don't mean the verbal bullying because of her involvement with a rackshasa and an abusive dark mage). So of course our favorite shopkeeper gets involved, even when it's clear that the council might be involved to some degree. Turns out, it's never been as easy as light vs dark mages - of course not, that would have been too easy, right? *sighs*
My favorite part of this book was definitely Luna's training and the magical duels. And not just because of what our favorite weaver made for Luna so she can be much more on the offensive.
I have to say that, unfortuantely, I wasn't too invested in the actual mystery. It supposedly served to introduce characters important later on, but I just didn't care much about these assholes-in-training and I continuously wanted Verus (or Luna) to hurt them - and bad (especially that bitch, Natasha)! *lol* But Luna, despite becoming a much more fleshed out character, still was too passive, especially considering that the mystery of this volume happened to her fellow students. Also, we only got to visit my favorite character (Arachne) once. *pouts* Thankfully, the two new guys made up for it though. :)
All that is not to say that the book wasn't fast-paced and well written, as usual. We learned a lot about the nature of Luna's curse and different other manifestations of magic, which was VERY nice. Thus, I got swept along nicely and enjoyed myself a lot.
September 6, 2018
4 Stars
Another solid entry in the ongoing Alex Verus series. Once again, Alex is pulled in to help the Council on a job. This time it’s to investigate apprentices that are disappearing.
3 books in, and the Alex Verus books seem to be acquiring a routine. Not that it’s a bad thing, as I’m enjoying the routine. The pattern seems to be that Alex takes a job he reluctantly agrees to take, different factions attempt to pull him in different directions, and we explore a little bit more of the various aspects of the mage world, with a few fun action sequences thrown in.
Taken was another hit for me. I enjoyed the deepening world building, and there were some interesting new characters that I’m hoping will stick around for future books. There were some exciting actions scenes too, including one memorable one that involved some teleporting bad guys.
Alex Verus has turned into one of the more enjoyable urban fantasy series I’ve read, and after three good books, I’m looking forward to see where the story goes from here.
Another solid entry in the ongoing Alex Verus series. Once again, Alex is pulled in to help the Council on a job. This time it’s to investigate apprentices that are disappearing.
3 books in, and the Alex Verus books seem to be acquiring a routine. Not that it’s a bad thing, as I’m enjoying the routine. The pattern seems to be that Alex takes a job he reluctantly agrees to take, different factions attempt to pull him in different directions, and we explore a little bit more of the various aspects of the mage world, with a few fun action sequences thrown in.
Taken was another hit for me. I enjoyed the deepening world building, and there were some interesting new characters that I’m hoping will stick around for future books. There were some exciting actions scenes too, including one memorable one that involved some teleporting bad guys.
Alex Verus has turned into one of the more enjoyable urban fantasy series I’ve read, and after three good books, I’m looking forward to see where the story goes from here.
April 10, 2022
Alex Verus #3. It was fun. Probably the best so far? Urban Fantasy with a mature tone. People are actually treated as adults, there is no gratuitous sex just for the heck of it, the bad guys are not cardboard cut-outs, there is a lot of grey areas and Jacka writes good action sequences.
The mystery plot was good, although the additional, final revelation was a bit too detached from the main story for my taste. Set-up for later shenanigans, maybe?
The dueling apprentices is a fun idea and a nice way of explaining the magical mechanics of this world. I appreciated the juxtaposition to Alex‘s duel towards the end.
The tone still reminds me a little of Peter Grant, but grittier, with less focus on being funny (though it is).
This series should definitely be read in order and I have the next one lined up to read in a few months…
The mystery plot was good, although the additional, final revelation was a bit too detached from the main story for my taste. Set-up for later shenanigans, maybe?
The dueling apprentices is a fun idea and a nice way of explaining the magical mechanics of this world. I appreciated the juxtaposition to Alex‘s duel towards the end.
The tone still reminds me a little of Peter Grant, but grittier, with less focus on being funny (though it is).
This series should definitely be read in order and I have the next one lined up to read in a few months…
August 17, 2019
I feel one of the best compliments I can give an author is that their work continuously gets better, and that is definitely true of Jacka. He writes a wonderfully tight story, with great pacing, and lots of interesting characters.
This is most certainly becoming a favorite, and after the end of this book, I can't wait to see where it goes from here!
This is most certainly becoming a favorite, and after the end of this book, I can't wait to see where it goes from here!
March 21, 2025
Re-read - April 2021: Totally agree with everything I said in my original review. Love Alex and loved the mystery - Mr. Jacka always has a way to create this exciting plots that keep you at the edge of your seat the whole time. And there's always so much danger! No matter that I knew he would win at the end, I had my heart in my throat. Also liked with everybody looking at Alex to take the lead. A harbinger of things to come!
Original Review - October 2017:Alex is the kind of character I love: he wins not because he's the strongest mage (he isn't) but because he's become really good with the gifts he has (his divination), he's super smart, he's worked hard to compensate for the things he lacks (he's become a really good fighter in a world where mages only trust their magic), without any crazy ego (he's not afraid to run away if that's the safest choice) and he's ruthless when he needs to.
I've loved every single of the books in this series. The investigation is always interesting and this one was so CREEPY!! At the beginning of the series I thought Luna would be a love interest but now it seems she'll be more of a sidekick. Now my sights are set for Anne for that role. We'll see!
Original Review - October 2017:Alex is the kind of character I love: he wins not because he's the strongest mage (he isn't) but because he's become really good with the gifts he has (his divination), he's super smart, he's worked hard to compensate for the things he lacks (he's become a really good fighter in a world where mages only trust their magic), without any crazy ego (he's not afraid to run away if that's the safest choice) and he's ruthless when he needs to.
I've loved every single of the books in this series. The investigation is always interesting and this one was so CREEPY!! At the beginning of the series I thought Luna would be a love interest but now it seems she'll be more of a sidekick. Now my sights are set for Anne for that role. We'll see!
February 24, 2014
These just keep getting better, just the right amount of tension and ending on a high.
keeps me looking forward to the other books to come.
keeps me looking forward to the other books to come.
October 22, 2022
I feel like I am repeating myself here by saying that this was another great Alex Verus book. All the things I loved from the previous book were abundant in this installment too and there were some interesting new twists to further the plot so to speak.
The books are quite short but they don't feel that way, it just feels like a rush and they are actually perfect for reading in one go. The pace is phenomenal and the writing is crisp without useless information. Simply said, I liked it and I want more!
Ratings:-🌟🌟🌟🌟
The books are quite short but they don't feel that way, it just feels like a rush and they are actually perfect for reading in one go. The pace is phenomenal and the writing is crisp without useless information. Simply said, I liked it and I want more!
Ratings:-🌟🌟🌟🌟
November 19, 2014
Persistence is paying off with this series. Alex is very slowly becoming more appealing as a hero and the growing cast of secondary characters are interesting. From the beginning I've enjoyed the myth-building behind this series. It makes sense and is different enough from everything else to make it feel unique.
December 3, 2024
Predictable plot and cliche/boring dialogue kept this from being as entertaining as I would’ve liked, but it was still a fun read with a solid conclusion that left me looking forward to more.
April 5, 2019
4.5 hearts
It was great to see Alex in his master role with Luna as his apprentice. I love smart and his careful thought about any situation is appreciated. Alex doesn't want to be involved but he cares about other people and particularly apprentices as he doesn't want to leave them hanging in the way he was left hanging.
I'm looking forward to chosen as Alex continues to build his band of misfits, protect the underdogs and avoid the power hungry.
Anne's observations from Taken:
Alex is adapting to the master / apprentice role with Luna pretty well..
Talisid is right there, throwing Alex at problems every time. He knows Alex's heart won't let him leave others in danger.
Alex is well known now to the bad guys. They are not opposed at all to using him, or getting rid of him.
Like every good urban fantasy hero, Alex is starting to form an odd group of mixed allies. So far he has Starbreeze - the air elemental and Arachne and Luna. Now Sonder. Maybe Anne and Vari and the dragon?
Anne's questions from Cursed:
I still wonder if Alex will now become more knowledgeable about the Council and who are the "players" in the Dark and Light mages to protect himself better.
Will Sonder and the dragon now be part of the Verus band of misfit allies? Sonder has joined, as I suspected.
Will Alex find a way to remove her curse, maybe with some help from Arachne? Luna is learning to control and now has a way to wield her magic.
Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
Does Alex have other friends, or mage friends we will meet?
Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
Will there be a romance for Alex?
Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear. Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it?
Anne's questions from Taken:
I still wonder if Alex will now become more knowledgeable about the Council and who are the "players" in the Dark and Light mages to protect himself better.
Will Anne and Vari and the dragon now be part of the Verus band of misfit allies? Even though Alex says he won't take them as apprentices, will he coach them through to become full mages?
Will Alex find a way to remove Luna's curse?
Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
Does Alex have other friends, or mage friends we will meet?
Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
Will there be a romance for Alex?
Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear. Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it?
Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity? Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
(KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
(KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
(KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?
It was great to see Alex in his master role with Luna as his apprentice. I love smart and his careful thought about any situation is appreciated. Alex doesn't want to be involved but he cares about other people and particularly apprentices as he doesn't want to leave them hanging in the way he was left hanging.
I'm looking forward to chosen as Alex continues to build his band of misfits, protect the underdogs and avoid the power hungry.
Anne's observations from Taken:
Alex is adapting to the master / apprentice role with Luna pretty well..
Talisid is right there, throwing Alex at problems every time. He knows Alex's heart won't let him leave others in danger.
Alex is well known now to the bad guys. They are not opposed at all to using him, or getting rid of him.
Like every good urban fantasy hero, Alex is starting to form an odd group of mixed allies. So far he has Starbreeze - the air elemental and Arachne and Luna. Now Sonder. Maybe Anne and Vari and the dragon?
Anne's questions from Cursed:
I still wonder if Alex will now become more knowledgeable about the Council and who are the "players" in the Dark and Light mages to protect himself better.
Will Sonder and the dragon now be part of the Verus band of misfit allies? Sonder has joined, as I suspected.
Will Alex find a way to remove her curse, maybe with some help from Arachne? Luna is learning to control and now has a way to wield her magic.
Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
Does Alex have other friends, or mage friends we will meet?
Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
Will there be a romance for Alex?
Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear. Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it?
Anne's questions from Taken:
I still wonder if Alex will now become more knowledgeable about the Council and who are the "players" in the Dark and Light mages to protect himself better.
Will Anne and Vari and the dragon now be part of the Verus band of misfit allies? Even though Alex says he won't take them as apprentices, will he coach them through to become full mages?
Will Alex find a way to remove Luna's curse?
Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
Does Alex have other friends, or mage friends we will meet?
Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
Will there be a romance for Alex?
Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear. Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it?
Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity? Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
(KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
(KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
(KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?
February 20, 2016
I have trouble praising books, I much prefer to criticize them cause it's easier. So that is what I will do. I have seen many reviews about books that say, " I couldn't put it down", "I read all night", etc. That is my complaint with this book. I have typically 5-8 books on my currently reading list. Some are very good others are ok. I have books on my phone, tablet, computer, and actual books in the bathrooms. The book I have in the second bathroom gets the least attention. The last time I read it, it was getting interesting. Then I started this novel, and I left all others behind, to sit and wait till I granted them an audience. I hat3e this book. Why? Because its over in such a short time. I am used to reading and leaving and returning to a book which gives me a lot of time to enjoy them. not so with this series. Read it get it done then what. Some one suggested these books as something to read till the next Dresden comes out. Well it's not out. Read these books get to know Mr. Verus and friends. You will be glad and pissed off at the same time, because you will read them tooo fast and you won't see your second bathroom book for way too long.
July 13, 2017
This series is okay but there are too many things that bug me about it for it to ever rise above three stars IMO.
1. The way Mage society is run makes no sense. It seems terribly inefficient and just dumb.
2. It's hard to buy that Alex always has little tricks and spells to negate or lessen the impact of the powers of more powerful mages but none of those other mages ever seem to have anything to counteract Alex's powers.
3. We're now three books in and none of the secondary characters have been fleshed out in any meaningful way.
4. I'm a visual person and I still have no clear mental picture of what Alex looks like. A little more desciptors would be welcomed.
The action scenes are good but, really, I need more meat on these bones.
1. The way Mage society is run makes no sense. It seems terribly inefficient and just dumb.
2. It's hard to buy that Alex always has little tricks and spells to negate or lessen the impact of the powers of more powerful mages but none of those other mages ever seem to have anything to counteract Alex's powers.
3. We're now three books in and none of the secondary characters have been fleshed out in any meaningful way.
4. I'm a visual person and I still have no clear mental picture of what Alex looks like. A little more desciptors would be welcomed.
The action scenes are good but, really, I need more meat on these bones.
September 6, 2021
Spannende UrbanFantasy wie ich sie mag 👌🏻
November 28, 2024
I’m loving this series!
February 1, 2021
So coming in at three stars is book 3. The relationships rang more true in this book than the second one did. Characters would actually talk things out instead of making (wrong) assumptions. I really hate conflict driven by stupidity so it was nice to see much less of that and more talking in this one.
Alex as a character is also becoming more likeable as you gain more and more background about him. This was helped in book 3 by the introduction of another young mage with trust and anger issues that ended up exposing a lot of Alex's own trust issues.
It was frankly refreshing to see how Alex operates in an environment where his own powers are limited. That also allows him to show that he's not solving problems by knowing the future, he had to use skill and wit to arrive at the final solutions. I didn't realize it until now, but I had a sense that Alex was cheating because of his powers, but with this example I feel that his use of powers is also tempered by intelligence. That humanizes him too.
The action scenes are well paced, and the mystery unfolds nicely. It was not a surprise to discover who was working with the big bad but the remainder of the twists were clever enough to evolve naturally through the story.
I'll keep going on.
Alex as a character is also becoming more likeable as you gain more and more background about him. This was helped in book 3 by the introduction of another young mage with trust and anger issues that ended up exposing a lot of Alex's own trust issues.
It was frankly refreshing to see how Alex operates in an environment where his own powers are limited. That also allows him to show that he's not solving problems by knowing the future, he had to use skill and wit to arrive at the final solutions. I didn't realize it until now, but I had a sense that Alex was cheating because of his powers, but with this example I feel that his use of powers is also tempered by intelligence. That humanizes him too.
The action scenes are well paced, and the mystery unfolds nicely. It was not a surprise to discover who was working with the big bad but the remainder of the twists were clever enough to evolve naturally through the story.
I'll keep going on.
October 3, 2019
Alex is approached to run security for a prestigious tournament and declines that is until young apprentices go missing. Then of course he and Luna, his own Mage apprentice are in the thick of things. There will be challenges, death and displays of clever wit.
Jacka gives us more time with Luna, and it was fun seeing her amongst the other young apprentices. We learned more about the world, while getting to know her. We meet new characters, explore new places and work our way through suspects, including those on the council. It was loads of fun.
Alex was brilliant, funny, and handled multiple issues including a personal challenge involving a duel at sunrise. He’s a reluctant hero, but all around good guy and I liked seeing him in the role of mentor, leader and teacher. He is true to his own moral compass and I love that.
Listening to this series is a blast, and Gildart Jackson does a splendid job bringing the characters to life through tone, and emotional inflections. For me, he has become the voice of Alex, Luna, and others. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Jacka gives us more time with Luna, and it was fun seeing her amongst the other young apprentices. We learned more about the world, while getting to know her. We meet new characters, explore new places and work our way through suspects, including those on the council. It was loads of fun.
Alex was brilliant, funny, and handled multiple issues including a personal challenge involving a duel at sunrise. He’s a reluctant hero, but all around good guy and I liked seeing him in the role of mentor, leader and teacher. He is true to his own moral compass and I love that.
Listening to this series is a blast, and Gildart Jackson does a splendid job bringing the characters to life through tone, and emotional inflections. For me, he has become the voice of Alex, Luna, and others. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 10, 2025
Nah. Done with these. Just too silly/inconsistent/illogical. I highlighted a bunch of annoying stuff when kindling it, but not bothering to check back through that now. Sorry folks.
Edit (some years later): Given continuing good reviews re this series giving it another chance.
Edit (some years later): Given continuing good reviews re this series giving it another chance.
December 28, 2012
http://www.rantingdragon.com/review-o...
Taken is the third installment in British author Benedict Jacka’s urban fantasy series centering around a wizard named Alex Verus. Having run-ins with experienced battlemages and coming out victorious seems to boost one’s reputation. Such is Alex Verus discovering. Where a few months ago he was a relative unknown in the supernatural circles, Alex is now drawing the attention of some powerful players. As a very competent diviner—a mage who can see into the future—Alex’s abilities are in high demand.
And so Alex picks his contracts with care—because if there is one thing he hates, it’s unpredictability. However, his latest case is leaning more and more toward impossibility as he discovers more about it. Apprentices have been disappearing without a single trace, leaving Alex with no evidence, witnesses, or suspects. The only thing he does know is that someone is keeping tabs on him. Throw in an assassination attempt on one of his apprentice’s classmates, a Dark mage with a personal grudge against Alex crossing his path, and a vengeful rakshasa, and Alex might just have more on his hands than he can handle.
Oh, and someone on the mages’ Council might be involved.
No pressure or anything.
Societal switchups
I have never before really appreciated how lucky American urban fantasy-reading audiences are. In my own personal experience, most of urban fantasy literature is set within the United States, and therefore I, as an American, don’t have to get used to the societal reflections within the story as those who don’t live in America might. In my reading history, I have experienced a bit of disconnect with urban fantasy written by British authors for similar things. This is not a good nor a bad thing, it’s just something that is. However, it has detracted from my overall reading experience in the past (looking at you, Ben Aaronovitch’s Peter Grant series and Simon R. Green’s Nightside and Secret Histories series).
However, I have not had any disconnect with Benedict Jacka’s writing in his first two novels, and he continues this trend in Taken. Even though the story moves us out of London proper for a good chunk of the novel, Jacka is clear and distinct enough with his worldbuilding that audiences not familiar with Britain can follow without a hitch.
Precise world building
With Taken, Jacka continues to showcase his style of world building. Unlike authors who will toss their readers right in and hope for the best, or like authors who are hesitant about world building overpowering the story and so only give sporadic infodumps, Jacka finds a balance between the two. In the Alex Verus novels, he is very precise with his world building, only giving it when it is absolutely needed. Even then, though, it’s not a blatant, obvious thing. Instead, it comes not just from narrative description, but from the character interactions and the like. It’s not the most organic world building I’ve ever seen, but it’s definitely one of the most efficient styles I’ve read recently.
Slimmer story
The one thing that didn’t really impress me about Taken was the story. While reading, it catches you up and doesn’t let you go—but when thinking about it afterward, you realize that not a whole lot happened, especially compared with Fated and Cursed. It’s not that it wasn’t compelling, it just seems that Alex went around in circles for a lot of the novel.
Also, I really didn’t fear for Alex’s well-being in this novel—definitely not to the extent I did in the previous two installments, at least. In Fated, especially, I got a sense of how powerful Alex could be, but also of just how very vulnerable he is. This sense was almost non-existent in Taken—which could just be an extension of Alex’s growing confidence, but I think he works better as a vulnerable character.
Now, both of these things seemed lacking due to the expectations I had coming out of Fated and Cursed, so don’t take this to mean that I hated the story—not at all. It just wasn’t as meaty as I had expected and hoped it was going to be. I hope that Jacka gives us a bit more in the next Alex Verus novel.
Well-realized characters
Despite the story lacking in comparison to the rest of the series, the characters within Taken are brilliantly realized. And not just the old faces who we’ve seen before—Jacka is a competent enough wordsmith that he is able to fit new characters naturally into the world he’s created. Alex and Luna are the obvious old faces, and Luna gets a decent chunk of screen time here—not as much as in Cursed, but the story is less about her this time around. Sonder makes a few appearances and we see that he’s matured a bit—and also has a bit of a crush on someone in particular.
However, it was the new characters that really drove a lot of the story in Taken. Jacka crafted detailed backstories for most of the characters introduced, and they fit naturally within his world. Beyond that, they are also completely believable people. All of this especially counts in regards to two of Luna’s classmates: Variam Singh and Anne Walker. I definitely wouldn’t want to get on Variam’s bad side, but despite his badassery, I think my favorite character in Taken is Anne. She’s a complicated character, but an honest one—something that Alex isn’t used to. And they interact a lot over the course of the story. I hope we see her again, and I am going to put my prediction out there right now that she and Luna are going to get in a spat over a particular someone.
Why should you read this book?
If you want an urban fantasy not set in the United States, you need to read this series. As always, I recommend starting with book one (Fated), but Taken is able to stand on its own. If you’re looking for an exciting read that balances between being a fun romp and a suspenseful story, read this book. A worthy installment to a series sure to appeal to fans of Jim Butcher and featuring a fantastically-realized world and characters who could walk off the page, sit down on your sofa, and share a drink with you, Taken is a stay-up-all-night-until-you-finish read that will leave you wanting more.
Taken is the third installment in British author Benedict Jacka’s urban fantasy series centering around a wizard named Alex Verus. Having run-ins with experienced battlemages and coming out victorious seems to boost one’s reputation. Such is Alex Verus discovering. Where a few months ago he was a relative unknown in the supernatural circles, Alex is now drawing the attention of some powerful players. As a very competent diviner—a mage who can see into the future—Alex’s abilities are in high demand.
And so Alex picks his contracts with care—because if there is one thing he hates, it’s unpredictability. However, his latest case is leaning more and more toward impossibility as he discovers more about it. Apprentices have been disappearing without a single trace, leaving Alex with no evidence, witnesses, or suspects. The only thing he does know is that someone is keeping tabs on him. Throw in an assassination attempt on one of his apprentice’s classmates, a Dark mage with a personal grudge against Alex crossing his path, and a vengeful rakshasa, and Alex might just have more on his hands than he can handle.
Oh, and someone on the mages’ Council might be involved.
No pressure or anything.
Societal switchups
I have never before really appreciated how lucky American urban fantasy-reading audiences are. In my own personal experience, most of urban fantasy literature is set within the United States, and therefore I, as an American, don’t have to get used to the societal reflections within the story as those who don’t live in America might. In my reading history, I have experienced a bit of disconnect with urban fantasy written by British authors for similar things. This is not a good nor a bad thing, it’s just something that is. However, it has detracted from my overall reading experience in the past (looking at you, Ben Aaronovitch’s Peter Grant series and Simon R. Green’s Nightside and Secret Histories series).
However, I have not had any disconnect with Benedict Jacka’s writing in his first two novels, and he continues this trend in Taken. Even though the story moves us out of London proper for a good chunk of the novel, Jacka is clear and distinct enough with his worldbuilding that audiences not familiar with Britain can follow without a hitch.
Precise world building
With Taken, Jacka continues to showcase his style of world building. Unlike authors who will toss their readers right in and hope for the best, or like authors who are hesitant about world building overpowering the story and so only give sporadic infodumps, Jacka finds a balance between the two. In the Alex Verus novels, he is very precise with his world building, only giving it when it is absolutely needed. Even then, though, it’s not a blatant, obvious thing. Instead, it comes not just from narrative description, but from the character interactions and the like. It’s not the most organic world building I’ve ever seen, but it’s definitely one of the most efficient styles I’ve read recently.
Slimmer story
The one thing that didn’t really impress me about Taken was the story. While reading, it catches you up and doesn’t let you go—but when thinking about it afterward, you realize that not a whole lot happened, especially compared with Fated and Cursed. It’s not that it wasn’t compelling, it just seems that Alex went around in circles for a lot of the novel.
Also, I really didn’t fear for Alex’s well-being in this novel—definitely not to the extent I did in the previous two installments, at least. In Fated, especially, I got a sense of how powerful Alex could be, but also of just how very vulnerable he is. This sense was almost non-existent in Taken—which could just be an extension of Alex’s growing confidence, but I think he works better as a vulnerable character.
Now, both of these things seemed lacking due to the expectations I had coming out of Fated and Cursed, so don’t take this to mean that I hated the story—not at all. It just wasn’t as meaty as I had expected and hoped it was going to be. I hope that Jacka gives us a bit more in the next Alex Verus novel.
Well-realized characters
Despite the story lacking in comparison to the rest of the series, the characters within Taken are brilliantly realized. And not just the old faces who we’ve seen before—Jacka is a competent enough wordsmith that he is able to fit new characters naturally into the world he’s created. Alex and Luna are the obvious old faces, and Luna gets a decent chunk of screen time here—not as much as in Cursed, but the story is less about her this time around. Sonder makes a few appearances and we see that he’s matured a bit—and also has a bit of a crush on someone in particular.
However, it was the new characters that really drove a lot of the story in Taken. Jacka crafted detailed backstories for most of the characters introduced, and they fit naturally within his world. Beyond that, they are also completely believable people. All of this especially counts in regards to two of Luna’s classmates: Variam Singh and Anne Walker. I definitely wouldn’t want to get on Variam’s bad side, but despite his badassery, I think my favorite character in Taken is Anne. She’s a complicated character, but an honest one—something that Alex isn’t used to. And they interact a lot over the course of the story. I hope we see her again, and I am going to put my prediction out there right now that she and Luna are going to get in a spat over a particular someone.
Why should you read this book?
If you want an urban fantasy not set in the United States, you need to read this series. As always, I recommend starting with book one (Fated), but Taken is able to stand on its own. If you’re looking for an exciting read that balances between being a fun romp and a suspenseful story, read this book. A worthy installment to a series sure to appeal to fans of Jim Butcher and featuring a fantastically-realized world and characters who could walk off the page, sit down on your sofa, and share a drink with you, Taken is a stay-up-all-night-until-you-finish read that will leave you wanting more.
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