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Dissimulation

(Alex Verus #6)

Benedict Jacka (Goodreads Author)

4.17 · Rating details · 8,410 ratings · 390 reviews

Alex Verus ne s’est jamais entendu avec le Conseil qui préside la communauté des magiciens. Mais alors que son ancien mentor est de retour en Angleterre, Alex a désespérément besoin d’alliés. Et il est prêt à tout pour en trouver, même si cela implique accepter une mission pour les Gardiens qui ont la tâche de faire appliquer la Loi magique.

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Paperback, 400 pages

Published October 9th 2020 by Editions Anne Carrière (first published August 4th 2015)

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Nov 28, 2016 Phrynne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Number six in the series and still maintaining its excellence. I hope Mr. Jacka is working hard at writing number eight because I am seriously catching up!
This is another great story with heaps of action and some very clever magic. Alex's ability as a Diviner ( which means he can see futures) is fascinating. He is a wonderful person to have on your side because he knows who is arriving before they get there, and in a fight he can dodge bullets because he knows they are coming. Delightful!
I like ...more

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Oct 01, 2014 Gergana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, favorites

For some weird reason, I have a serious problem reviewing books from my "Favorite" list. I mean, who wouldn't enjoy reading something like this:

"Perfect, perfect perfect perfect! Perfect! Perfect perfect? Perfect perfect perfect...Perfect!" and so on.

Yes, we all love books for different reasons, and when we're lucky enough to stumble upon a story or a character that completely resonates with us, it becomes almost impossible to find words that are just as complex, deep and multi-colored as the e ...more

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Jul 26, 2015 Emma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars

I love Alex Verus. After this instalment, this series has jumped up to my number 2 UF spot. Dresden still takes number 1 (sorry).

Jacka has created a fascinating and complex magical world, shades of grey is an understatement. While the Light/Dark mage dichotomy seems simplistic, the reality is that much more murky, with backroom deals, threats, and treachery on the cards at all times. People are motivated by a whole spectrum of reasons, the resulting uncertainty about who to trust or ho ...more

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Sep 25, 2015 Bradley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, urban-fantasy

Another solid edition, but it suffers from being less personal on any front. I mean, Verus as a probationary Keeper (a cop) of the Light Mages? It sounds like the plot needed a bit of stretching, to me, but okay, I'll get over it, let's see where this takes us.

Politics. Of course, it has to be politics.

Fun fight scenes, interesting developments in the mage world, and a pretty glorious take-down mission full of intrigue and double-crossings, but like I said, less of a personal novel. There's no n ...more

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Jun 09, 2019 Anne - Books of My Heart rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: backlist, library, coyer-previous, 2019

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Alex starts to make some decisions to protect himself and his friends. Luna urges him to try to work with Caldera to become a Keeper. So he tries it. It may or may not make him safer. There are people who want to kill him in the Keepers, in the Council and in the Dark mages.

Things are really in an upheaval in the Council. They have been changing and will continue to change based on what happens in Veiled. Alex is building some new friends, ...more

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Mar 03, 2015 Mike (the Paladin) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, action

I wasn't getting into this as much as I had the earlier (5) novels and I wasn't sure why. Then I realized that this is the first I'd gotten in audio. For me the reader took some getting used to. It's not that he wasn't good but I think I'd already established a "voice" for Alex in my head and he didn't match. It took a little for me to get used to him.

I've already decided I also probably get the print version...

Anyway, once I got comfortable this is a good continuation of the over all developing ...more

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Aug 15, 2019 Emma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, fantasy, magic

Excellent. This was a dark story. Verus has come a long way since the start of this series. In house politics within the council, the Keepers have a mole working for the opposition; a very blurred line between light and dark mages, members of the council out to get Alex. All this and more will keep you entertained!

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Feb 26, 2015 Mark rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A touch darker than the ones before. Only problem with this its so well written you go though it too quickly.

Nicely done with more world building.

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Sep 28, 2018 Eric rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, urban-fantasy

4.5 Stars

Another fantastic volume in the Alex Verus series, this one picks up the pace from the previous book and rockets along from start to finish.

Alex’s old master Richard Drakh is back, and that means trouble for Alex and his friends. From the time he first saw Richard return, Alex has been preparing for the fight he knows is coming. To survive, he’ll need all the allies he can get, which leads him to an unlikely job working with the Keepers, the enforcement branch of the Light Council.

Vei ...more

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Aug 02, 2019 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: awesome-audio, books-of-my-heart, 2019-reads, buddy-read, super-sidekicks, witches-warlocks-and-magic, 4-5-stars, no-kissy-kissy, uf-pnr

Alex Verus does know how to pick up enemies. It seems like every book that he is in there is a new faction/mage/society that he somehow pisses off to the point that they try to kill him. Veiled is no exception to that as Alex helps Caldera shut down a secret society that peddles flesh and every deviant thing money can buy and magic can make.

Let’s say you’re a client of White Rose. There’s some new pop singer you’ve got your eye on, you see her in her music videos. You decide you want a piece

Let’s say you’re a client of White Rose. There’s some new pop singer you’ve got your eye on, you see her in her music videos. You decide you want a piece of that. White Rose is happy to help. They’ll find one of their slaves with a good physical resemblance, maybe get themselves a new one if it’s a special order. Then they’ll get to work. Flesh-sculpting or glamours to make her look the part, mental control to make her act the part. They soften them up first, then do most of the heavy lifting with mind magic. By the time they’re done, the girl thinks she is that person. They can put in other bits too. Make her in love with you, switch her programming so she has to do whatever you tell her, set it up so she goes for your fetish. Whatever you like.”

Um…ewe.

You’d think everyone in the Lightmage society would want to take this place down, cuz they are the good guys, right? We you would be wrong because politics is never that easy and the Dark Mages could be able to make a play for some council seats if all the cliental of White Rose is discovered. Alex has to choose between two bad choices. No matter what he does it isn’t going to be a win/win situation.

But there’s a certain point where trying to choose the lesser of two evils is just an exercise in futility. It doesn’t matter which of you wins; you’re both so bad that I honestly can’t decide who’d be worse.

The gang all makes an appearance. Luna is getting better with her magic and Alex has taken her as far as he can. Looking for a part time teacher for her chance magic means opening their group to another person. I did like seeing how another aspect of Chance magic worked. We also get to meet Vary’s master, who is like an absentminded professor constantly fascinated by the inner workings of magical devices and prone to blowing things up accidentally.

Veiled makes a little movement on the overall arc of the Dark Mages trying to get a foothold into the council and Morden possibly working with Richard to band some of the dark mages together for a single purpose. Which is terrifying really as their moral compass is non-existent. Plus, Alex pisses off even more people and expands his list of enemies by quite a few.

Like always these books go by fast with battles, backstabs, plotting and so much more. It is an easy series to get into and I do like that Alex isn’t perfect, overall he is a nice enough guy but he will kill you or let you walk into something horrible if you push him to far.

This is the sixth book of the series and should be read in order. Every story wraps up nicely but they all build on the prior one.
...more

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Jan 13, 2015 Hilary rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, series-to-follow

It's always interesting to read about magical politics, and to see how the civil service remains essentially the same, but I didn't feel as connected in this one. No real character development for any of them, no startling new plot arc revelations... Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading, but at the end I couldn't point to any particular "Aha!" moment, could probably skip it and not really notice in terms of reading the series as a whole. ...more

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Mar 09, 2015 Kathy Davie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Sixth in the Alex Verus urban fantasy series set in London and revolving around an ex-Dark mage.

My Take
I agree with Alex. There's nothing to choose between the Light and the Dark. The Dark are simply more open about how nasty they are. It's world where no one matters unless they impinge on an individual's plan. Then, you're only punished IF it breaks a Concord rule AND is visible to the normal world and can't be explained away as something other than magic. And, of course, the Light mages never ...more

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Aug 12, 2015 Ami rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-with-male-protagonist

Alex entered a new 'phase' in his life. To postpone the Council off his back, Alex joined the Council's 'Police' Force, a.k.a. The Keeper as an auxiliary. He went to Order of the Star, with Caldera as his supervisor. His first case brought him to a group that provides prostitution and sex slaves -- and the aftermath changed the dynamic of the whole Council.

I felt that this book toned down the pace a little bit. For several books, Alex had been facing trouble, even if he wanted or not. Often it w ...more

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Nov 19, 2015 Scott rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This series continues with another strong installment.

I don't think I can get enough of Alex Verus and now I'm in the shitty spot of having to wait for the next book instead of choosing to wait.

Very interesting look into the politics of the Light Council in this one, and I continue to love the blurred lines of who is good and bad in this world. Personally, I'd rather deal with the Dark since you pretty much know what to expect unlike the shifty, holier than thou Lights.

One thing I wish for th ...more

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Jan 08, 2015 Mandapanda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Reliably enjoyable and well written. This book seemed to be setting Alex and the team up for a final showdown with Richard.

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Oct 25, 2020 John rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

I'm happy to report that the Alex Verus series is back on track now, and really, the main reason the previous installment dipped to only four stars was that it focused on two favorite characters (Alex and Anne) putting the others in the background. Now we see the whole team of four working together: Alex, Luna, Anne, and Variam. Although it's still mostly planning and consulting, I was pleased with the view we get of their interactions this time.

This time the surprise for me was a focus, throug I'm happy to report that the Alex Verus series is back on track now, and really, the main reason the previous installment dipped to only four stars was that it focused on two favorite characters (Alex and Anne) putting the others in the background. Now we see the whole team of four working together: Alex, Luna, Anne, and Variam. Although it's still mostly planning and consulting, I was pleased with the view we get of their interactions this time.

This time the surprise for me was a focus, through most of the book, on Alex's growing relationship with Caldera, the earth mage who does her best to turn every story into a police procedural--and now she's supervising Alex as he manages to become an official auxiliary to the Keepers of the Flame, dedicated to preserving and enforcing the centuries-old international Covenant of mages and the laws passed by the British Council of Light Mages.

Light Mages are explained to us very carefully as mages (wielders of magic power of different kinds--more about that presently) who publicly subscribe to the Covenant and the British laws, regardless of what they do in private, being largely out for themselves as each tries to increase personal powers and secure a better position on or with the Council. Dark mages are the ones who openly repudiate the Covenant and laws and amass power nakedly.

Among the Light Mages Caldera stands out as a solid character whose actions are based on the rules, and I've grown to like her. In this installment she's not so antagonistic to our team and even takes risks to support her new subordinate Alex as he gets drafted into an intricately complex enforcement action ordered by the Council--ostensibly against a horrible sex-slave operation run by the dark side, but some of the Council members and some of the enforcers are secretly involved in it too, in different ways. Very little is what it seems, even in the exciting action scenes.

Not only do some of the Light Mages have dirty hands but one of the most powerful of the Dark Mages, named Morden, is pushing to get a seat on the Council, and it seems nothing can really keep him from succeeding and thereby altering the whole nature of the British mage organization. And Morden is the chief agent of Richard Drakh, the darkest of Dark Mages and Alex's former master; many of the Light Mages treat Alex as dark himself and resist his teaming up with them.

Intricate action, intricate politics--and Alex's first-person narration is blessedly clear as usual about every bit of what he knows, discovers, and suspects.

What intrigues me the most in Alex's world is the variety of mages. There are twelve different kinds (unless I've forgotten any), each with specific powers and limitations--mages with powers over exactly one of the elements (earth, ice, water, fire, air); ones with powers over life, death, time, space, or chance; and illusionists and diviners.

Alex is a diviner and frighteningly vulnerable in combat--he sees probable futures and when the action is intense (as it often is in this installment) he can only see one or two seconds into the future, just enough to dodge a bullet but not enough to get out of the way of anything really large.

Unlike mages, adepts have only a single power in one of these domains. Alex's apprentice Luna is a chance adept who of course needs a chance mage to be her teacher, but chance mages are so rare that the only one Alex can find for her is Chalice, a Dark Mage. Fascinating scenes, and I hope we see more of Chalice with Luna.

The other team members--Anne, a life mage, whose power is the transfer of life into someone, healing them, or out of someone, killing them; Variam, a fire mage, excellent for combat but still rash and headstrong. What's likable about the four of them is that with all their powers they have basic good will, and it turns out Caldera does too.

And speaking of good will, yes, Arachne plays a significant role too--the wise giant spider who lives under Hampstead Heath and makes splendid clothes (including armor) for our friends is the only magical being in this story other than "constructs"--things like giant golems that the dark ones hurl against our friends.

Very strongly recommended--better if you read the series from the beginning to follow the development of these characters, but I think you can also jump into this installment without any confusion. ...more

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Apr 14, 2020 ☕️Kimberly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-2020

Love this series. Full RTC

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Aug 05, 2015 Lindsay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

One of the curses of the long urban fantasy series is the bridging book. It's there as a timing beat after something momentous, in this case, the return of Richard Drahk, Alex's original Dark Mage master which happened in the immediately previous book.

So we get to see something of Alex's dread, get given time to wonder what Richard is up to, wonder how Alex fits into those plans and even a healthy dose of paranoia that perhaps Alex has been Richard's creature all along.

In this one we also get to ...more

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Aug 16, 2015 Susan Baratta rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My memory does this series no justice. I know I love it but I don't realize how much until I'm back there. The minute I open the book I'm enveloped in the world like it has its own cubby hole in my brain that's suddenly unleashed. The atmosphere, the characters, Alex's voice, the tension, the magic are real and familiar. In this installment, I thoroughly enjoyed the Alex/Caldera dynamic. Alex's inner conflicts are heightened by his work with Caldera and the Keepers. He has no idea who is good, b ...more

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May 27, 2017 RG rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was a more police buddy direction. Still loving this series. Easy fun read

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Jan 05, 2020 Jason rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2019, read-2020

5 Stars

The Alex Verus series is written to my tastes. I love modern urban fantasy and less than perfect heroes and this series has so much more. I am a biased reviewer as I can't get enough urban fantasy these days. ...more

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Aug 05, 2015 Justin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Now to be honest, I don't really see the Alex Verus series as the most original of the genre, though I do enjoy the way Alex uses magic. This does not change the fact that this is a very well done series in my personal opinion. If you are looking for some urban fantasy that is well written and enjoyable, Verus has you covered. This book is no exception, though like most of this series it isn't really hard to see where the story is going to end up a few chapters in, it's still a fun ride. I will ...more

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Jun 23, 2020 Clara rated it liked it · review of another edition

While I still love the series, this felt more like an in-between. There is hardly any character development happening, but a lot is set up for the next book. The case wasn't bad but for some reason not as exciting as before, but I hope it'll take up again in the next book ...more

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Feb 10, 2019 Maggie K rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

4.5 really- a very well done entry into the series. All things happening seemed properly motivating and everything!

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May 06, 2020 THE BIBLIOPHILE (Rituranjan) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Action-packed, thrilling, and dark in places likeChosen, which is quite brilliant if we see the plot in terms of characterisation, and improving upon the magical world of Verus. I enjoyed it a lot, and in this juncture I've no doubt that the series have started to rise in its full strength.

The story centers around the unwholesome politicking of the Light Council, and also the ever rising conflict in regards to the dark mages. Verus retrieves a little artifact, and the mages on both sides try to ...more

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Jul 07, 2018 Soo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, reviewed

Mini-Review:

Cheers for 1.6x narration speed and long drives to and in national parks. =D

Great addition to the series! I really like how the characters seem to have settled into themselves and the focus is more on plot than figuring out why and who people are who they are. I'm still skeptical about the whole Richard/dark mages scenario but I hope that it will work out in a cool manner. A whole lot more about the magic system and the inner workings about the Council/Light Mages were dished out in ...more

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Apr 10, 2017 Ubiquitousbastard rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, england

This wasn't too bad of a book, I'm not sure why I avoided reading it for so long. I had the impression that I didn't like the way that the series was going, with too much focus on Anne and such. It might have been because I was sick when I read this and a little delirious, but I think that the flow was better in this book than in the previous one, and I was actually caring about what happened. Luna still annoyed me, which isn't surprising, but everyone else was slightly less horrible, and like e ...more

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Dec 03, 2018 Mick rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

The beginning of this book was a big improvement from the slow and recap-filled beginning of Hidden, and the pace never slows down.

This time the plot revolves around Caldera and the keepers as the series venture slightly into Buddy-cop territory, before also establishing a new status quo regarding the council and the magic community as a whole.

I have missed the other supporting characters, Luna, Variam, Anne, (Sonder) and especially Arachne quite a bit this time, as their parts were ranging fr ...more

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Jul 09, 2018 Elisa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Another wonderful addition. Lots of shades of gray, though the world tries to sell you on black vs white. Alex is a fabulous hero and has a wonderful collection of friends (when they aren't angry with him). Read in order. ...more

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Mar 27, 2019 Melanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was very dark. Jeezus.

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About Benedict Jacka

Benedict Jacka

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Quotes from Dissimulation

“I’ll use my divination and look into the future. Hey, you know what, I’m seeing the future right now. If I stand here and wait, then in three minutes a train’s going to come. And after that, another train’s going to come. Here, I’ll let you guess what’s going to happen afterwards. I’ll give you a hint—there’s a train.” — 6 likes

“Someone who’s amoral and selfish can be a threat to you, but they’re also a threat to everyone else, and that tends to limit how much time they can spend on you personally. But someone who believes in what he’s doing can convince other people that opposing you is the right thing to do. In the long run, that’s a lot more dangerous.” — 2 likes

More quotes…