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Alex Verus #12
Risen
Mage Alex Verus has gone from a Camden shopkeeper to one of the most powerful mages in Britain. Now his last and most dangerous battle lies before him.
Alex's girlfriend, the life mage Anne, has fallen fully under the control of the deadly djinn she made a bargain with, and it is preparing to create an army of mages subject to its every whim. Alex, the Council, and the Dark mage Richard Drakh agree to call a truce in their war, and plans are made for a joint attack. Alex knows that it's only a matter of time before Drakh and the Council turn on each other . . . and neither cares about keeping Anne alive. Can Alex figure out a way to stop Anne and to free her from possession before time runs out for the people he loves?
Alex's girlfriend, the life mage Anne, has fallen fully under the control of the deadly djinn she made a bargain with, and it is preparing to create an army of mages subject to its every whim. Alex, the Council, and the Dark mage Richard Drakh agree to call a truce in their war, and plans are made for a joint attack. Alex knows that it's only a matter of time before Drakh and the Council turn on each other . . . and neither cares about keeping Anne alive. Can Alex figure out a way to stop Anne and to free her from possession before time runs out for the people he loves?
288 pages, Nook
First published December 7, 2021
185 people are currently reading
1699 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 541 reviews
January 13, 2022
Now that is how to finish a series in style!
Alex Verus has changed so much since the first books and in Risen he is a real power to be reckoned with. The book is action packed with battle scenes, magic and drama as only a bundle of Mages can produce. Alex is in top form, Luna is beside him all the way and of course Richard Drakh is out there working towards his big chance.
I won't say more as I do not want to spoil any of it for anyone. The ending is beyond brilliant and I am happy.
Alex Verus has changed so much since the first books and in Risen he is a real power to be reckoned with. The book is action packed with battle scenes, magic and drama as only a bundle of Mages can produce. Alex is in top form, Luna is beside him all the way and of course Richard Drakh is out there working towards his big chance.
I won't say more as I do not want to spoil any of it for anyone. The ending is beyond brilliant and I am happy.
November 18, 2021
Risen is a shattering final book of the Alex Versus series by Benedict Jacka; we say goodbye to the titular character Alex. It is all done. Finito. Endings can be difficult; it is hard to wrap up all the emotion and gravitas of a series, especially one as large as the Alex Verus one with a neat bow. Instead of allowing the series to pitter out like a band still on stage when patrons are getting their bags and heading home, Jacka finished the series with a thundering crash of an orchestra in its final song for the night. It was perfectly timed and perfectly executed, and a conscious choice by Jacka that this book and this plot arc is the right time to finish. Jacka did a great job, and I am left with a fondness for the series.
It took us 12 books to get to this point, and unlike other stories in the Alex Verus series, you can't start at book 12, Risen. You won't get the gravitas of what is going on and the combined struggles Alex has faced. Jacka does his best to give context to the situation that Verus finds himself in. But even with some backstory, it will read like an excited but superficial action fantasy novel. Instead, Risen feels like a story written as a nod for the fans and everything Verus has gone through and lost.
Alex Verus is an unlikely hero on many fronts. Firstly, up until recently, he was not a hugely powerful mage. Verus has always been cunning and strategic in planning because of necessity. He was scrappy, the runt puppy of the Mage world. Often his fights were akin to someone attacking with a pea shooter instead of a Nuke. You can do a lot of damage with a pea shooter if you get someone right in the eye, which was Alex's modus operandi. It took him far in the mage world, but Verus was always lacking true power.
That is, until the last few books, where the tides began to turn. But there is always a price to pay for power.
One of the most positive aspects of the story is how Alex has grown and nurtured his relationships with his allies. As I mentioned above this is essential for Alex's survival, but I think this is more so because of his highly protective nature. It is the epitome of a found family. If Alex chooses you and trusts you, he will likely care about you his entire life, and possibly burn the world down to save you. With all the magical and political machinations going on in the background, his relationships take center stage and are the beating heart of the Alex Verus series.
Verus also has a distinctive duality in his nature, which was evident as the series progressed but doubly true for the last book. He can be intensely pragmatic and ruthless, in essence, a dark mage. The very thing he spent most of his adult life running from. He is capable of very dark things, which many dark mages attempted to exploit for their gain. Especially, the longstanding villain of the story Richard Drakh. The morally ambiguous nature of Jacka's hefty cast of characters seems much more realistic and practical than the perfect "good guy/bad guy" characters that many other urban fantasy series employ.
So, who is Alex Verus and why should you read this series? Alex is a complex character set in difficult situations that never jump the proverbial shark. The series has grey characters that have an authenticity that is appealing and grabs you. And those characters have psychological issues that again, add to the realism of the series. The ever-evolving plot is great, you continually want to know more. And now that it is a finished story, you can binge-read it. There is so much good, which is why I have loved and read this series for years.
It was bittersweet to see it go, but it was time. Jacka did Alex Verus justice and I was thrilled with the ending. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great urban fantasy series to binge read. You won't be able to put it down.
It took us 12 books to get to this point, and unlike other stories in the Alex Verus series, you can't start at book 12, Risen. You won't get the gravitas of what is going on and the combined struggles Alex has faced. Jacka does his best to give context to the situation that Verus finds himself in. But even with some backstory, it will read like an excited but superficial action fantasy novel. Instead, Risen feels like a story written as a nod for the fans and everything Verus has gone through and lost.
Alex Verus is an unlikely hero on many fronts. Firstly, up until recently, he was not a hugely powerful mage. Verus has always been cunning and strategic in planning because of necessity. He was scrappy, the runt puppy of the Mage world. Often his fights were akin to someone attacking with a pea shooter instead of a Nuke. You can do a lot of damage with a pea shooter if you get someone right in the eye, which was Alex's modus operandi. It took him far in the mage world, but Verus was always lacking true power.
That is, until the last few books, where the tides began to turn. But there is always a price to pay for power.
One of the most positive aspects of the story is how Alex has grown and nurtured his relationships with his allies. As I mentioned above this is essential for Alex's survival, but I think this is more so because of his highly protective nature. It is the epitome of a found family. If Alex chooses you and trusts you, he will likely care about you his entire life, and possibly burn the world down to save you. With all the magical and political machinations going on in the background, his relationships take center stage and are the beating heart of the Alex Verus series.
Verus also has a distinctive duality in his nature, which was evident as the series progressed but doubly true for the last book. He can be intensely pragmatic and ruthless, in essence, a dark mage. The very thing he spent most of his adult life running from. He is capable of very dark things, which many dark mages attempted to exploit for their gain. Especially, the longstanding villain of the story Richard Drakh. The morally ambiguous nature of Jacka's hefty cast of characters seems much more realistic and practical than the perfect "good guy/bad guy" characters that many other urban fantasy series employ.
So, who is Alex Verus and why should you read this series? Alex is a complex character set in difficult situations that never jump the proverbial shark. The series has grey characters that have an authenticity that is appealing and grabs you. And those characters have psychological issues that again, add to the realism of the series. The ever-evolving plot is great, you continually want to know more. And now that it is a finished story, you can binge-read it. There is so much good, which is why I have loved and read this series for years.
It was bittersweet to see it go, but it was time. Jacka did Alex Verus justice and I was thrilled with the ending. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great urban fantasy series to binge read. You won't be able to put it down.
December 22, 2021
An excellent conclusion to an amazing series! This series has been a huge obsession of mine and now my life feels empty.
May 9, 2024
As the books on my 'read' shelf pile up over the years, I have become increasingly sure that the rarest occurrence in the literary world is a long-running series that lives up to its potential and goes out with a bang. Even some of the best series I have read over the years have failed to achieve what I wanted in the long run and usually leave me disappointed. It's hard not to become jaded as series after series drops the ball in some way, and soon it feels like I'm chasing a unicorn; something mythical and impossible to spot, let alone catch.
Risen is the final book in the Alex Verus series, and it might just be as close as I'll ever get to that catching that unicorn.
I re-read all the previous books in this series in preparation for this book and one thing that stood out to me was just how consistent these stories are. There is a year wait in between each novel, something that seems like a long time in the days of digital publishing. However, considering the quality of each book has been so high, I can only assume that this was the reason for the wait, and considering the quality of the finished product, it is a good trade-off to make.
Risen sticks to that trend, delivering a story that is on par with almost any of the books that had come before it. It delivers on almost all of the promises the series made over the years and it finishes up the story with an ending that satisfied me in a way most series don't. Almost all loose ends have been tied up, and in a way that was fitting to their story-arcs, living up to their promised potential.
Basically, I'm saying that if the series is gymnastics routine, then this book is the dismount, and it stuck the landing.
However, that being said, there are a few niggles I have. They're not big ones, nor are they objective. These are personal hopes and expectations that weren't quite met and are the reason why there's no such thing as the perfect series, because all readers will have their own desired outcomes and it is impossible for an author to meet every one of them.
The first was that most of this story doesn't take place in London. Over the series, the author has done an excellent job of grounding this story in that city to the point where the city almost felt like another character. It was interwoven with Alex's character in such a way that it felt integral to the story. I understand why the story didn't take place there, the fallout from the events in this book would have had too much of an impact on the normal world. However, that seemed a little cheap as it felt like the author was trying to avoid a mess he didn't want to deal with rather than let the story go where it wanted and deal with the consequences afterwards.
The second frustration of mine was the lack of some of the characters I had grown to love over this series. It would have been awesome to get an update on Aracne's fate or maybe even see her one last time. Same for Starbreeze in some ways.
My third frustration was
Finally, my biggest wish for this series went unfulfilled. With all the ways that people have wronged Alex over the years, turned against him despite him always trying to do the right thing, just once I wanted someone to realise they were in the wrong and apologise to him. I didn't care if it was Sonder, Caldera, Talisid... anyone. Just once I wanted some acknowledgement for everything that Alex had been through and some apology. This might not be true to life and it's only a personal thing... but just once would have been nice.
However, overall I can't hold these issues against this book. I loved this series and think that it went out with the proverbial bang. As a result, this is one of the rare finished series that I look forward to revisiting again one day, and I also hope to see more from this universe going forward.
It's a 5-star rating for this book, and a 5-star rating for this series as a whole.
Well done, Mr Jacka. I loved your story.
Risen is the final book in the Alex Verus series, and it might just be as close as I'll ever get to that catching that unicorn.
I re-read all the previous books in this series in preparation for this book and one thing that stood out to me was just how consistent these stories are. There is a year wait in between each novel, something that seems like a long time in the days of digital publishing. However, considering the quality of each book has been so high, I can only assume that this was the reason for the wait, and considering the quality of the finished product, it is a good trade-off to make.
Risen sticks to that trend, delivering a story that is on par with almost any of the books that had come before it. It delivers on almost all of the promises the series made over the years and it finishes up the story with an ending that satisfied me in a way most series don't. Almost all loose ends have been tied up, and in a way that was fitting to their story-arcs, living up to their promised potential.
Basically, I'm saying that if the series is gymnastics routine, then this book is the dismount, and it stuck the landing.
However, that being said, there are a few niggles I have. They're not big ones, nor are they objective. These are personal hopes and expectations that weren't quite met and are the reason why there's no such thing as the perfect series, because all readers will have their own desired outcomes and it is impossible for an author to meet every one of them.
The first was that most of this story doesn't take place in London. Over the series, the author has done an excellent job of grounding this story in that city to the point where the city almost felt like another character. It was interwoven with Alex's character in such a way that it felt integral to the story. I understand why the story didn't take place there, the fallout from the events in this book would have had too much of an impact on the normal world. However, that seemed a little cheap as it felt like the author was trying to avoid a mess he didn't want to deal with rather than let the story go where it wanted and deal with the consequences afterwards.
The second frustration of mine was the lack of some of the characters I had grown to love over this series. It would have been awesome to get an update on Aracne's fate or maybe even see her one last time. Same for Starbreeze in some ways.
My third frustration was
Finally, my biggest wish for this series went unfulfilled. With all the ways that people have wronged Alex over the years, turned against him despite him always trying to do the right thing, just once I wanted someone to realise they were in the wrong and apologise to him. I didn't care if it was Sonder, Caldera, Talisid... anyone. Just once I wanted some acknowledgement for everything that Alex had been through and some apology. This might not be true to life and it's only a personal thing... but just once would have been nice.
However, overall I can't hold these issues against this book. I loved this series and think that it went out with the proverbial bang. As a result, this is one of the rare finished series that I look forward to revisiting again one day, and I also hope to see more from this universe going forward.
It's a 5-star rating for this book, and a 5-star rating for this series as a whole.
Well done, Mr Jacka. I loved your story.
December 4, 2022
What a finale!
I mean, the book's motto seems to be "Alex was right" and "oh look, Alex was right" and "if only they had listened to Alex earlier". *rolls eyes*
And no, I'm not just talking about Anne's fate (not just her getting possessed by the ifrit but about her split personality too). I am so fucking tired of all the light mages NOT listening to Alex and things turning to shit as a consequence, luckily, they were taught a fucking lesson here!
Yep, this is it: the big battle ... or battles. Because there is the battle to stop the ifrit uprising and there is the battle with Richard - or did anyone believe FOR A SECOND that the old fucker was indeed trying to help and then just play nice with the other powers that be? *snorts*
The problem is that Arachne is gone, Verium has been taken, one hell of a lot of powerful light mages have been kidnapped and used as vessels for jann or other ifrit. So things are looking pretty dire. In such a situation, the "good guys" not all being on the same page could be catastrophic.
As you've probably guessed: this book is about who will win and what the butcher's bill will look like in the end. I'm not going to spoiler you which is why this review doesn't have a whole lot of meat on the bones. Suffice it to say that all the chickens are coming home to roost. From the price Alex has to pay for using the fate weaver to the desperation that has caused him to do it in the first place (protecting the people he cares about like Luna) and the guy who forced Alex's hand by threatening the people Alex loves.
Luckily, I wasn't too anxious as I didn't care too much about most people. Yes, Veri was fun in his grumbling way and Luna had grown as a character so she was nowhere near as annoying as the two Annes. However, the only one I really cared about was Hermes, the blink fox. *snickers* OK, I wanted Alex himself to make it too if only because he had started out the underdog and becoming a big player through sheer force of will.
This, however, does in no way mean that I wasn't invested or that the writing wasn't fast paced. I enjoyed every second of it and quite like the ending. Maybe it could have been better, maybe I just wanted a thing or two mentioned (or done differently). In any case, I'm happy with the entire series. Well worth my time.
I mean, the book's motto seems to be "Alex was right" and "oh look, Alex was right" and "if only they had listened to Alex earlier". *rolls eyes*
And no, I'm not just talking about Anne's fate (not just her getting possessed by the ifrit but about her split personality too). I am so fucking tired of all the light mages NOT listening to Alex and things turning to shit as a consequence, luckily, they were taught a fucking lesson here!
Yep, this is it: the big battle ... or battles. Because there is the battle to stop the ifrit uprising and there is the battle with Richard - or did anyone believe FOR A SECOND that the old fucker was indeed trying to help and then just play nice with the other powers that be? *snorts*
The problem is that Arachne is gone, Verium has been taken, one hell of a lot of powerful light mages have been kidnapped and used as vessels for jann or other ifrit. So things are looking pretty dire. In such a situation, the "good guys" not all being on the same page could be catastrophic.
As you've probably guessed: this book is about who will win and what the butcher's bill will look like in the end. I'm not going to spoiler you which is why this review doesn't have a whole lot of meat on the bones. Suffice it to say that all the chickens are coming home to roost. From the price Alex has to pay for using the fate weaver to the desperation that has caused him to do it in the first place (protecting the people he cares about like Luna) and the guy who forced Alex's hand by threatening the people Alex loves.
Luckily, I wasn't too anxious as I didn't care too much about most people. Yes, Veri was fun in his grumbling way and Luna had grown as a character so she was nowhere near as annoying as the two Annes. However, the only one I really cared about was Hermes, the blink fox. *snickers* OK, I wanted Alex himself to make it too if only because he had started out the underdog and becoming a big player through sheer force of will.
This, however, does in no way mean that I wasn't invested or that the writing wasn't fast paced. I enjoyed every second of it and quite like the ending. Maybe it could have been better, maybe I just wanted a thing or two mentioned (or done differently). In any case, I'm happy with the entire series. Well worth my time.
December 9, 2021
I’m glad I know how it all ends but the very early instalments were so much better. Those books were magical but grounded in real world London, peopled by characters with personality.
The later books are just extended battle scenes full of legions of faceless people with names like Hoar Frost and Thunder and Rain. Yawn. Great if you like gaming, I suppose.
“Enough, no more, t’is not so sweet now as it was before,” to misuse a bit of Shakespeare.
The later books are just extended battle scenes full of legions of faceless people with names like Hoar Frost and Thunder and Rain. Yawn. Great if you like gaming, I suppose.
“Enough, no more, t’is not so sweet now as it was before,” to misuse a bit of Shakespeare.
December 3, 2022
The End.
Sometimes, or rather, a great deal of the time, when we get to the end of a well-beloved series, it turns out to be shit. We may try to excuse it or feel slightly let down that some aspects aren't addressed or it takes a really icky turn and we just have to sigh, heavily, and try to remember it for what it did right.
Fortunately, the end for Alex Verus is solid. More than solid. It's emotional. A grand sacrifice with enormous stakes and none of it was easy on him or on us. We knew exactly what was coming, a war, a desperate gamble to save Anne. We know none of it is going to go well but we have some hints as to how it MIGHT go well and from that point on, we simply put all our faith in Benedict Jacka to stick to the landing.
And we know the landing will be rough. It's going to hurt, but we've been prepared for it. And Jacka landed it. Landed it so well, with even a slight twinge of bittersweet humor, that we couldn't help but smile, sadly, just in time for the epilogue.
What can I say? This book, and the whole series, give me a warm glow.
The End. *Sigh*
Sometimes, or rather, a great deal of the time, when we get to the end of a well-beloved series, it turns out to be shit. We may try to excuse it or feel slightly let down that some aspects aren't addressed or it takes a really icky turn and we just have to sigh, heavily, and try to remember it for what it did right.
Fortunately, the end for Alex Verus is solid. More than solid. It's emotional. A grand sacrifice with enormous stakes and none of it was easy on him or on us. We knew exactly what was coming, a war, a desperate gamble to save Anne. We know none of it is going to go well but we have some hints as to how it MIGHT go well and from that point on, we simply put all our faith in Benedict Jacka to stick to the landing.
And we know the landing will be rough. It's going to hurt, but we've been prepared for it. And Jacka landed it. Landed it so well, with even a slight twinge of bittersweet humor, that we couldn't help but smile, sadly, just in time for the epilogue.
What can I say? This book, and the whole series, give me a warm glow.
The End. *Sigh*
August 12, 2024
*** 4.44 ***
So very good 👍👍👍! Not perfect, but a great ending to a very strong series! 😊
So very good 👍👍👍! Not perfect, but a great ending to a very strong series! 😊
December 18, 2021
It is so hard to end a long running series well but I think Benedit Jacka has managed it with Risen. This was a pretty intense and action-packed finale happening in only a few days as the big battle against all of Verus’s enemies has finally come.
With many of his friends in danger and the love of his life under the control of a Djinn, Alex is going to need all of the fate weavers’ power to turn the tide of the battle if he wants to even have a chance of saving Anne and Veri from the traps they have fallen into. His only completely trusted companion is Luna and everyone else could turn on him at any moment.
To win the war Alex must go into a Shadow realm with both the council forces and Richard’s. It is set up from the beginning to be a bloodbath, because how long can we really expect to be playing on the same side. It was an epic battle full of dangers and moments that I will not forget as everything comes to a head.
The thing I really liked about this series is that Alex really isn’t a good guy. I mean he isn’t evil or anything but he is definitely not for the good of all mankind either. He protects his friends and companions and that is about it. He will make the hard choices to keep them safe no matter the cost to others and his soul. That makes him a lot less predictable than other heroes and I appreciate that you don’t have to be the good guy to win the war.
I have loved Alex’s growth and character development throughout the series. He and Luna are some of my favorite characters and I will miss them. Although I do hope to see Luna in future books as she is now owner of a magic shop.
Risen is a fitting conclusion to a series that had moments I though it was going to spin out of control. But I’m glad to see that Benedict Jacka had a plan and was able to follow through on it. Like any war not all the characters are going to make it out alive, but overall, this is a very satisfying conclusion to a series, so now if the perfect time to start it since it is completely finished.
With many of his friends in danger and the love of his life under the control of a Djinn, Alex is going to need all of the fate weavers’ power to turn the tide of the battle if he wants to even have a chance of saving Anne and Veri from the traps they have fallen into. His only completely trusted companion is Luna and everyone else could turn on him at any moment.
To win the war Alex must go into a Shadow realm with both the council forces and Richard’s. It is set up from the beginning to be a bloodbath, because how long can we really expect to be playing on the same side. It was an epic battle full of dangers and moments that I will not forget as everything comes to a head.
The thing I really liked about this series is that Alex really isn’t a good guy. I mean he isn’t evil or anything but he is definitely not for the good of all mankind either. He protects his friends and companions and that is about it. He will make the hard choices to keep them safe no matter the cost to others and his soul. That makes him a lot less predictable than other heroes and I appreciate that you don’t have to be the good guy to win the war.
I have loved Alex’s growth and character development throughout the series. He and Luna are some of my favorite characters and I will miss them. Although I do hope to see Luna in future books as she is now owner of a magic shop.
Risen is a fitting conclusion to a series that had moments I though it was going to spin out of control. But I’m glad to see that Benedict Jacka had a plan and was able to follow through on it. Like any war not all the characters are going to make it out alive, but overall, this is a very satisfying conclusion to a series, so now if the perfect time to start it since it is completely finished.
December 18, 2022
This was a satisfying and very well done end to the series. It really is incredible how far Alex Verus has come over the course of the series- the character development for the surviving cast has been phenomenal. This was extremely fast paced and exciting. Many thanks for an arc of this book!
July 31, 2022
10/10
A satisfying ending to an amazing series.
A satisfying ending to an amazing series.
December 12, 2021
Notes:
Right up until the epilogue, the rating was at 3.5. There are a lot of reasons for that, but the biggest reason for me was how the story unfolded. It starts with a bang, putters down to a walk, skips around to hit a few points and comes to the end at a jog.
I can say that I'm much more interested in what would happen with how things ended. I'm not sure if those stories will ever be written, but it has more potential for badass adventures than what I've read in the current series. =) In that, I applaud Jacka in making me look forward to whatever else he will write in the future.
Sidenote: Ha! Finished #12 on 12/12/21. I'm amused.
Right up until the epilogue, the rating was at 3.5. There are a lot of reasons for that, but the biggest reason for me was how the story unfolded. It starts with a bang, putters down to a walk, skips around to hit a few points and comes to the end at a jog.
I can say that I'm much more interested in what would happen with how things ended. I'm not sure if those stories will ever be written, but it has more potential for badass adventures than what I've read in the current series. =) In that, I applaud Jacka in making me look forward to whatever else he will write in the future.
Sidenote: Ha! Finished #12 on 12/12/21. I'm amused.
December 11, 2021
I have to say as the series progressed I like the earlier books much better. I never did quite get the Alex and Anne attraction. It was an interesting storyline with Ann's personality throughout the books, but never drew me in.
This book seemed to be one big battle and then the end.. it was neatly wrapped up with everybody happy. I guess I expected a little more of the political intrigue and aftermath, after so much time was spent discussing council politics and light versus dark versus independent mages.
If I go back and reread the series I'll probably stop about book five or six.
This book seemed to be one big battle and then the end.. it was neatly wrapped up with everybody happy. I guess I expected a little more of the political intrigue and aftermath, after so much time was spent discussing council politics and light versus dark versus independent mages.
If I go back and reread the series I'll probably stop about book five or six.
December 5, 2021
5 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
Well, we’ve reached the end. It’s been twelve books, most of them a legitimate joy to read, but the final—yes, FINAL—book in the Alex Verus series is nigh. This is a series I’d very much like to revisit, perhaps as soon as next year, and reread from the very beginning.
But first, the end.
—
Power doesn’t need a purpose: power is its own purpose. It is the only goal that has value in itself, because it is the means by which all other goals are achieved.
—
The path for Alex Verus has been long and hard—from a former dark apprentice to an independent, non-council nobody running a shop in Camden, to one of the premier independent mages in all of Britain—but perhaps no part of it has been more difficult than what he faces now. An army of Djinn, led by Anne, his former lover. Or, what used to be Anne. Instead, what wears her face nowadays is a marid, a sultan-level djinn once in considered the greatest threat to humanity’s future. Once, and possibly again.
For the marid is raising an army—and using Anne to do so, much as she once used it—and preparing a ritual that will allow it to possess every mage in Britain, or perhaps, the world. Luckily all the mages in Britain have realized the threat. Now they gather, light and dark and independent all together, setting aside their differences and disagreements in order to fight on the same side until this most horrible of enemies has been defeated!
Or, you know, until it’s really worth it to stab the other in the back. Say they have like a fruit cup or something.
The Council don’t trust Drakh in the least, which is good because neither does Alex. The problem is, he doesn’t really trust the Council either. And the cost of his cooperation with the two is going to be really, really high.
But he’s picked up a few allies of his own. Minus Anne and Variam—currently possessed by djinn—Alex still has Luna (the mage Vesta) on his side, as well as the blink fox, Hermes. He’s also picked up a wayward dark apprentice. And, well, Landis probably won’t betray him. He’s got this made.
But when all cards are on the table, Alex isn’t sure what he’s going to do. If it comes down to it, will he be able to face Richard alone? Will he be able to save Caldera, or Variam, or Anne? Will he be able to stop the djinn, and save the world? And will he be able to do it all before the Fateweaver consumes him, and transforms him into a block of stone?
Man, what a ride!
Admittedly, Risen wasn’t quite the same ride as Forged, as we certainly know what to expect. In general, at least. There’s a war on, and it’s not going to stop until one of the two sides is dead. In that sense, it’s a bit like Battle Ground. But fortunately, it’s also completely different.
In Battle Ground, it was us or them. In Risen, sides are a lot more complicated. Everyone is—on some level, at one time or another—planning to betray everyone else. It’s just the where and when, if or if not it’ll happen, and where the chips fall when it does. There’s also a lot more preparation, a lot of calm before and between the storm. There’s a certain amount of tension in Risen that keeps building, on and on through the fighting, through the breaks and planning and backstabbing. Where Battle Ground just went action action action and tried to constantly push the pace, Risen doesn’t just throw out what has worked for the series to date. There’s still the same amount of intrigue and mystery, it’s just the stakes are higher this time. And this IS the end—one way or another.
It also remembers to be funny every now and then. While Alex has gotten a whole lot darker in recent entries, he’s still the same bottle of pent up cynicism and sarcasm we’ve come to know and love.
—
“So… you’re guessing?”
“Pretty much,” I said. “And if I’m wrong, I just screwed everything up in a really major way and the Council are going to be very, very pissed off.”
—
TL;DR
I don’t really know what else to say about this. I loved Risen. I loved Forged and Fallen before it. Marked and Bound and Burned before them. And Veiled and Hidden and Chosen and Taken and Cursed. And Fated. With the way the Dresden series has stumbled recently, this may just be my favorite urban fantasy series of all time. In part because everyone loves an underdog. But once they have transcended underdogdom, and maybe even defected to the dark side… what then? Are they still the hero; someone to root for, someone to love, to relate to, to look up to, to enjoy? Or are they something else, something they can never come back from? The Verus series tells the story of Alex as he wanders down this path. As he confronts difficult situations—ones that have no perfect solution—and makes his own decisions. He’s not perfect. He’s not evil. But he sure ain’t all that good either. He’s human. And… he has light at the end of the tunnel. In an age when so many series just go on and on and on, Benedict Jacka knows when to stop. I think that’s one example of why Alex Verus is great. Yeah, I would’ve loved to see more of him; just another book, or two, or ten. I would’ve read them and I would’ve loved them. Until I didn’t. Alternatively, the series could just end right now. An ending not for me, but for Alex. An ending he not only deserves, but has earned ten times over. So if you’re a fan of urban fantasy and haven’t read Alex Verus, I say this: yeah, the first book isn’t perfect—but it’s headed somewhere special, and you’ll want to be there at the close, at the end of all things.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
Well, we’ve reached the end. It’s been twelve books, most of them a legitimate joy to read, but the final—yes, FINAL—book in the Alex Verus series is nigh. This is a series I’d very much like to revisit, perhaps as soon as next year, and reread from the very beginning.
But first, the end.
—
Power doesn’t need a purpose: power is its own purpose. It is the only goal that has value in itself, because it is the means by which all other goals are achieved.
—
The path for Alex Verus has been long and hard—from a former dark apprentice to an independent, non-council nobody running a shop in Camden, to one of the premier independent mages in all of Britain—but perhaps no part of it has been more difficult than what he faces now. An army of Djinn, led by Anne, his former lover. Or, what used to be Anne. Instead, what wears her face nowadays is a marid, a sultan-level djinn once in considered the greatest threat to humanity’s future. Once, and possibly again.
For the marid is raising an army—and using Anne to do so, much as she once used it—and preparing a ritual that will allow it to possess every mage in Britain, or perhaps, the world. Luckily all the mages in Britain have realized the threat. Now they gather, light and dark and independent all together, setting aside their differences and disagreements in order to fight on the same side until this most horrible of enemies has been defeated!
Or, you know, until it’s really worth it to stab the other in the back. Say they have like a fruit cup or something.
The Council don’t trust Drakh in the least, which is good because neither does Alex. The problem is, he doesn’t really trust the Council either. And the cost of his cooperation with the two is going to be really, really high.
But he’s picked up a few allies of his own. Minus Anne and Variam—currently possessed by djinn—Alex still has Luna (the mage Vesta) on his side, as well as the blink fox, Hermes. He’s also picked up a wayward dark apprentice. And, well, Landis probably won’t betray him. He’s got this made.
But when all cards are on the table, Alex isn’t sure what he’s going to do. If it comes down to it, will he be able to face Richard alone? Will he be able to save Caldera, or Variam, or Anne? Will he be able to stop the djinn, and save the world? And will he be able to do it all before the Fateweaver consumes him, and transforms him into a block of stone?
Man, what a ride!
Admittedly, Risen wasn’t quite the same ride as Forged, as we certainly know what to expect. In general, at least. There’s a war on, and it’s not going to stop until one of the two sides is dead. In that sense, it’s a bit like Battle Ground. But fortunately, it’s also completely different.
In Battle Ground, it was us or them. In Risen, sides are a lot more complicated. Everyone is—on some level, at one time or another—planning to betray everyone else. It’s just the where and when, if or if not it’ll happen, and where the chips fall when it does. There’s also a lot more preparation, a lot of calm before and between the storm. There’s a certain amount of tension in Risen that keeps building, on and on through the fighting, through the breaks and planning and backstabbing. Where Battle Ground just went action action action and tried to constantly push the pace, Risen doesn’t just throw out what has worked for the series to date. There’s still the same amount of intrigue and mystery, it’s just the stakes are higher this time. And this IS the end—one way or another.
It also remembers to be funny every now and then. While Alex has gotten a whole lot darker in recent entries, he’s still the same bottle of pent up cynicism and sarcasm we’ve come to know and love.
—
“So… you’re guessing?”
“Pretty much,” I said. “And if I’m wrong, I just screwed everything up in a really major way and the Council are going to be very, very pissed off.”
—
TL;DR
I don’t really know what else to say about this. I loved Risen. I loved Forged and Fallen before it. Marked and Bound and Burned before them. And Veiled and Hidden and Chosen and Taken and Cursed. And Fated. With the way the Dresden series has stumbled recently, this may just be my favorite urban fantasy series of all time. In part because everyone loves an underdog. But once they have transcended underdogdom, and maybe even defected to the dark side… what then? Are they still the hero; someone to root for, someone to love, to relate to, to look up to, to enjoy? Or are they something else, something they can never come back from? The Verus series tells the story of Alex as he wanders down this path. As he confronts difficult situations—ones that have no perfect solution—and makes his own decisions. He’s not perfect. He’s not evil. But he sure ain’t all that good either. He’s human. And… he has light at the end of the tunnel. In an age when so many series just go on and on and on, Benedict Jacka knows when to stop. I think that’s one example of why Alex Verus is great. Yeah, I would’ve loved to see more of him; just another book, or two, or ten. I would’ve read them and I would’ve loved them. Until I didn’t. Alternatively, the series could just end right now. An ending not for me, but for Alex. An ending he not only deserves, but has earned ten times over. So if you’re a fan of urban fantasy and haven’t read Alex Verus, I say this: yeah, the first book isn’t perfect—but it’s headed somewhere special, and you’ll want to be there at the close, at the end of all things.
December 22, 2021
This is it. The FINAL Alex Verus book. The last one. After this, Alex Verus books is no more.
I have followed this series from the start, back in 2012, just few months after Fated was released. I was in an urban fantasy mood back then, after discovering Harry Dresden. And now, I think, it's quite rare for me to follow a long-run series until the very end. Sometimes, series ended up stale and I grew out of it.
Not Alex Verus series though. In a way, I'm HAPPY that Jacka has a clear vision that 12 books is what he is intended Alex Verus series to be. Because it makes the plot sharp for the last three books. It's Alex' Endgame. And in the finish line, it is Alex vs. Anne (under influence of the marid) vs. Richard.
And BOY, Jacka doesn't pull any punches. This is an all-out war -- and yes, there are casualties. From characters I knew from before. There are those I don't care about () to those I wish could survive ().
I said in my thoughts of the previous book, on how uneasy I felt about Alex seeming unburden with killing people. EVEN if I also said back then, that I didn't mind Alex joining the dark side. In this book, Jacka tackles that in a VERY GOOD scene between Alex and Luna. Luna asks what I have in mind. And Alex gives explanation that makes me pause. I feel like Alex is explaining everything to readers like myself who at one point think like Luna.
That by making that decision, Alex must also changes his mindset. He cannot keep trying to be the "good guy". If Alex thinks like "the old Alex", it makes him pause. So he doesn't anymore. He will never win against Anne and Richard that way. And I understand completely.
Besides, it's unlike Alex changes completely. Alex is still that mage who can gather unlikely allies - like Hermes the blink fox, November the intelligence network... heck, in this one, Alex even takes another 'stray' that ends up joining his side during the war. He cannot really be all that bad!
Alex's journey is excellent. The final showdown is epic. And that last chapter is such a wonderful treat for us readers, who have followed this book from the start.
Yes, there are still things I wish Jacka tackled in this book . But it's small niggle. In the end, this book is a perfect ending.
And I give my highest 5-stars appreciation for it, and for the series in overall.
THANK YOU, BENEDICT JACKA!
I have followed this series from the start, back in 2012, just few months after Fated was released. I was in an urban fantasy mood back then, after discovering Harry Dresden. And now, I think, it's quite rare for me to follow a long-run series until the very end. Sometimes, series ended up stale and I grew out of it.
Not Alex Verus series though. In a way, I'm HAPPY that Jacka has a clear vision that 12 books is what he is intended Alex Verus series to be. Because it makes the plot sharp for the last three books. It's Alex' Endgame. And in the finish line, it is Alex vs. Anne (under influence of the marid) vs. Richard.
And BOY, Jacka doesn't pull any punches. This is an all-out war -- and yes, there are casualties. From characters I knew from before. There are those I don't care about () to those I wish could survive ().
I said in my thoughts of the previous book, on how uneasy I felt about Alex seeming unburden with killing people. EVEN if I also said back then, that I didn't mind Alex joining the dark side. In this book, Jacka tackles that in a VERY GOOD scene between Alex and Luna. Luna asks what I have in mind. And Alex gives explanation that makes me pause. I feel like Alex is explaining everything to readers like myself who at one point think like Luna.
That by making that decision, Alex must also changes his mindset. He cannot keep trying to be the "good guy". If Alex thinks like "the old Alex", it makes him pause. So he doesn't anymore. He will never win against Anne and Richard that way. And I understand completely.
Besides, it's unlike Alex changes completely. Alex is still that mage who can gather unlikely allies - like Hermes the blink fox, November the intelligence network... heck, in this one, Alex even takes another 'stray' that ends up joining his side during the war. He cannot really be all that bad!
Alex's journey is excellent. The final showdown is epic. And that last chapter is such a wonderful treat for us readers, who have followed this book from the start.
Yes, there are still things I wish Jacka tackled in this book . But it's small niggle. In the end, this book is a perfect ending.
And I give my highest 5-stars appreciation for it, and for the series in overall.
THANK YOU, BENEDICT JACKA!
December 4, 2021
A fitting conclusion to one of the most dynamic urban fantasy series I've had the pleasure of reading. This last novel brims with non-stop magical action and mayhem galore. Everything explodes in a terrifying bang. I enjoyed it, but was also a little irked at times, because I missed the suspense and anticipation of the previous books. The ending is bittersweet, and I believe it is justified, as the characters underwent a long journey of loss, love, hope and struggle.
This was like Stallone's The Expendables, but with magic and guns akimbo. One hell of a violent ride. I'm satisfied with this. I love how Jacka had upped the ante for Alex, and how the characters took a more ambiguous turn towards the end. As for the main antagonist, Drakh, who was one of the most enigmatic characters in the entire series, his motive felt flat for me. But, that's a minor niggle. The confrontation between him and Alex was terrific. Also, I love how Luna has grown into a more fierce and independent woman though. But, I wish, we had gotten to see Arachne and the Dragon one more time. If Jacka visits this world someday, I hope he writes a series with Jin-Yeong as the protagonist, as I see a lot of unfulfilled potential in her character.
This journey with Alex Verus was thrilling and entertaining, a mix of both grim and joyous moments. And, I'm happy that Jacka has ended the series with a positive note, without making this unnecessarily lengthy like Dresden. I read the acknowledgement at the end, and I agree with the author. So, it's a sort of goodbye to Verus, but with the hope of meeting him and Anne again, perhaps in someone else's story. Now, for sometime, they atleast deserve some peace and quiet, baking cookies and playing with their magic fox.
This was like Stallone's The Expendables, but with magic and guns akimbo. One hell of a violent ride. I'm satisfied with this. I love how Jacka had upped the ante for Alex, and how the characters took a more ambiguous turn towards the end. As for the main antagonist, Drakh, who was one of the most enigmatic characters in the entire series, his motive felt flat for me. But, that's a minor niggle. The confrontation between him and Alex was terrific. Also, I love how Luna has grown into a more fierce and independent woman though. But, I wish, we had gotten to see Arachne and the Dragon one more time. If Jacka visits this world someday, I hope he writes a series with Jin-Yeong as the protagonist, as I see a lot of unfulfilled potential in her character.
This journey with Alex Verus was thrilling and entertaining, a mix of both grim and joyous moments. And, I'm happy that Jacka has ended the series with a positive note, without making this unnecessarily lengthy like Dresden. I read the acknowledgement at the end, and I agree with the author. So, it's a sort of goodbye to Verus, but with the hope of meeting him and Anne again, perhaps in someone else's story. Now, for sometime, they atleast deserve some peace and quiet, baking cookies and playing with their magic fox.
January 5, 2022
That twist at the end did the series justice. I'm not too happy about the lack of active cast, or the hilarious fact that a couple of side characters conveniently died, but it was a satisfying conclusion.
December 12, 2021
Risen was a fitting end to the series, despite having a few things I don't personally agree with.
I have my own blog now, so please do pay it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
──────────────────
To me, Alex Verus, is the only Urban Fantasy series that made me want to read till the end, and for a time, it was also a comfort series of sorts. Which makes this end of the road, feel somewhat bittersweet in a sense. I've actually started reading this series as a palate cleanser very early this year, so seeing the transition it made was interesting. We've had our ups for 8 installments, before our downs in 9&10 and then the revival in 11.
Risen is the finale to this experience. While I wouldn't say that I was blown away by it, I'll still say that it was a "fitting" conclusion in a way.
──────────────────
A warning before proceeding. Nothing in the below is a spoiler to the events in this book, I'm always vague in my reviews for obvious reasons. However, I will be discussing the results of the build up from the previous 11 books. Since those things are really what decided the flow of the narrative in this conclusion.
──────────────────
Unlike the previous 11 books in this series, the major theme or event that takes place here, is the battle between factions. There are more than one front, and seeing how each acted here was intriguing. I say it like that because, the alliances and whatever else the author tried to build up to, amounted to an expected outcome. Which, in turn, made me think of how somewhat pointless of a plot-line it was on the whole.
This is just me babbling away here, but this idea could have been taken at a different angle to postpone the inevitable. While, making it seem like there is a bigger exploitation here. But, that wasn't really the case this time along. Having things build up over the course of many books, and then not utilizing it to the full potential it seems to have will always be a missed opportunity to me. This time was not different.
However, this to me, wasn't exactly a bad thing to see. I enjoy seeing villains be villains, heroes be heroes and above all else, I enjoy seeing problems appear when things appear to be going smoothly. It creates a level of tension that makes any battle, much more interesting.
Risen has that in huge ways, given that their opponents weren't just humans. However, it's also where the shortcomings of an overpowered protagonist start being prominent. I am of the firm belief that Alex Verus as a character, was overpowered from page one of Fated. Over the course of these 11 books before this finale, Alex has been gaining (sometimes also losing) friends, allies, influences and above all, more powers.
That last one, is the one that matters to me the most. Because, Benedict Jacka doesn't shy away from killing some characters, making more problems, making it all bloody and putting them through danger over and over again. He's incredibly good at making me want to know more, and get me excited. But, having a character like Alex who can literally shift the flow of time and the futures to his advantages and whims, while being physically capable enough to bridge any gaps, makes all that created tension of danger, go away.
This unfortunately, doesn't create the massive amounts of fun I hope to see in my books. All the worry about a fate, or how something is going to go, is moot when the protagonist has an ability as broken as this one. To the extent, that the conflict in the series continues to rely on people being people, and the human errors, grudges and stubbornness that come with it.
I mean, one of the biggest issues of the series, was easily resolved as if I'm on a literal kindergarten playground, which should be an impression that speaks for itself.
I refrained from discussing anything that comes to character fates, or actions, because it doesn't change much from the thoughts I've had in Forged. But, I will say that it was wrapped up very neatly with all of the important things resolved. I don't see where else this series could go with this set of characters, even if some feel underused in comparison. Though, I wouldn't be against coming back to this world in some other parts of it and seeing what those mages are up to.
Ultimately, I will say that I enjoyed it more so than anything else. It's a good big battle, filled with many types of magic, many smaller battles and a few choices that only push forward previously established ideas concerning some character mentalities. My issues with it are prominent (many started a long time ago), but even then Benedict Jacka managed to create something that was entertaining to read and worth sticking around for 12 books.
I do feel somewhat disappointed about a few things, but I do consider it time well spent. Which I believe, is always the ultimate goal when consuming a piece of entertainment.
I have my own blog now, so please do pay it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
──────────────────
To me, Alex Verus, is the only Urban Fantasy series that made me want to read till the end, and for a time, it was also a comfort series of sorts. Which makes this end of the road, feel somewhat bittersweet in a sense. I've actually started reading this series as a palate cleanser very early this year, so seeing the transition it made was interesting. We've had our ups for 8 installments, before our downs in 9&10 and then the revival in 11.
Risen is the finale to this experience. While I wouldn't say that I was blown away by it, I'll still say that it was a "fitting" conclusion in a way.
──────────────────
A warning before proceeding. Nothing in the below is a spoiler to the events in this book, I'm always vague in my reviews for obvious reasons. However, I will be discussing the results of the build up from the previous 11 books. Since those things are really what decided the flow of the narrative in this conclusion.
──────────────────
Unlike the previous 11 books in this series, the major theme or event that takes place here, is the battle between factions. There are more than one front, and seeing how each acted here was intriguing. I say it like that because, the alliances and whatever else the author tried to build up to, amounted to an expected outcome. Which, in turn, made me think of how somewhat pointless of a plot-line it was on the whole.
This is just me babbling away here, but this idea could have been taken at a different angle to postpone the inevitable. While, making it seem like there is a bigger exploitation here. But, that wasn't really the case this time along. Having things build up over the course of many books, and then not utilizing it to the full potential it seems to have will always be a missed opportunity to me. This time was not different.
However, this to me, wasn't exactly a bad thing to see. I enjoy seeing villains be villains, heroes be heroes and above all else, I enjoy seeing problems appear when things appear to be going smoothly. It creates a level of tension that makes any battle, much more interesting.
Risen has that in huge ways, given that their opponents weren't just humans. However, it's also where the shortcomings of an overpowered protagonist start being prominent. I am of the firm belief that Alex Verus as a character, was overpowered from page one of Fated. Over the course of these 11 books before this finale, Alex has been gaining (sometimes also losing) friends, allies, influences and above all, more powers.
That last one, is the one that matters to me the most. Because, Benedict Jacka doesn't shy away from killing some characters, making more problems, making it all bloody and putting them through danger over and over again. He's incredibly good at making me want to know more, and get me excited. But, having a character like Alex who can literally shift the flow of time and the futures to his advantages and whims, while being physically capable enough to bridge any gaps, makes all that created tension of danger, go away.
This unfortunately, doesn't create the massive amounts of fun I hope to see in my books. All the worry about a fate, or how something is going to go, is moot when the protagonist has an ability as broken as this one. To the extent, that the conflict in the series continues to rely on people being people, and the human errors, grudges and stubbornness that come with it.
I mean, one of the biggest issues of the series, was easily resolved as if I'm on a literal kindergarten playground, which should be an impression that speaks for itself.
I refrained from discussing anything that comes to character fates, or actions, because it doesn't change much from the thoughts I've had in Forged. But, I will say that it was wrapped up very neatly with all of the important things resolved. I don't see where else this series could go with this set of characters, even if some feel underused in comparison. Though, I wouldn't be against coming back to this world in some other parts of it and seeing what those mages are up to.
Ultimately, I will say that I enjoyed it more so than anything else. It's a good big battle, filled with many types of magic, many smaller battles and a few choices that only push forward previously established ideas concerning some character mentalities. My issues with it are prominent (many started a long time ago), but even then Benedict Jacka managed to create something that was entertaining to read and worth sticking around for 12 books.
I do feel somewhat disappointed about a few things, but I do consider it time well spent. Which I believe, is always the ultimate goal when consuming a piece of entertainment.
December 3, 2021
Alex Verus has led us a long dance over the last twelve books, from a low-level magician hiding in plain sight selling cheap magic tat in a shop in Camden to the linchpin between the light and dark mages.
Now, in the series finale can Alex foil the Djinn which possesses the body of his girlfriend Anne and save the girl? It's going to take an unprecedented alliance between the Council, the Dark mage Richard Drakh, and Alex and his small but trusty gang. But when no-one trusts anyone else how will that work?
I can't tell you any more about the plot - suffice it to say that the action starts immediately and never seems to stop for the entire book. Alex, as ever, uses his brains to persuade, coax, blackmail, threaten and force everyone to follow his plans.
For me this was a fantastic end to what has been an engrossing series. All the loose ends got tied up to my satisfaction and the end was totally satisfying.
Obviously not for anyone who hasn't read the previous eleven books, but if you don't like to start a series without knowing that it ends satisfactorily (and we can all thank the TV series Lost for that particular paranoia) then rest assured, your time will not be wasted.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Now, in the series finale can Alex foil the Djinn which possesses the body of his girlfriend Anne and save the girl? It's going to take an unprecedented alliance between the Council, the Dark mage Richard Drakh, and Alex and his small but trusty gang. But when no-one trusts anyone else how will that work?
I can't tell you any more about the plot - suffice it to say that the action starts immediately and never seems to stop for the entire book. Alex, as ever, uses his brains to persuade, coax, blackmail, threaten and force everyone to follow his plans.
For me this was a fantastic end to what has been an engrossing series. All the loose ends got tied up to my satisfaction and the end was totally satisfying.
Obviously not for anyone who hasn't read the previous eleven books, but if you don't like to start a series without knowing that it ends satisfactorily (and we can all thank the TV series Lost for that particular paranoia) then rest assured, your time will not be wasted.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
February 13, 2022
4.5 stars
What a satisfying end to the series. Definitely keep reading after where it says The End! Even if there is a part of me that would've been okay with it leaving off there, the epilogue is worth reading.
"I carried a lot of resentment for a long time, but... no. My life's my own, and so are my choices. Anyway, I've seen what happens to people who hold on to grudges. It doesn't end well"
Alex is so far from the person he was at the beginning of the series. I admit I liked him better then. While he has grown into a stronger person and one who is more honest with himself he turned darker in that journey. Yes lots of events were thrown at him throughout the series, but he also made a bunch of poor choices. I appreciate that, because it made him feel real. By this point Alex has lost his sense of mercy and doesn't take the same care to avoid others deaths. This is made exceedingly clear watching him in the battles of this story. I also never really understood his love obsession with Anne and how severely it changed the course of his life.
She can't handle violence or confrontation and deals with problems by pretending they don't exist. And you're a violent criminal with the impulse control of a rabid wombat."
We have all the expected side characters. I love Landis he is such a fantastic character and I would love books from his life. He gets some good moments in this book which makes me happy. Also Luna of course, who I would have liked to have had more page time but things with her were done well and she has some real conversations with Alex. There's more allies as well but also a ton of enemies or people that just don't like Verus.
My biggest knock is I would've liked a little more from our bad guys motivations. But mostly I just enjoyed the ride and seeing Alex Verus' story come to a close. Great series, has its stronger and weaker books but overall totally worth reading.
What a satisfying end to the series. Definitely keep reading after where it says The End! Even if there is a part of me that would've been okay with it leaving off there, the epilogue is worth reading.
"I carried a lot of resentment for a long time, but... no. My life's my own, and so are my choices. Anyway, I've seen what happens to people who hold on to grudges. It doesn't end well"
Alex is so far from the person he was at the beginning of the series. I admit I liked him better then. While he has grown into a stronger person and one who is more honest with himself he turned darker in that journey. Yes lots of events were thrown at him throughout the series, but he also made a bunch of poor choices. I appreciate that, because it made him feel real. By this point Alex has lost his sense of mercy and doesn't take the same care to avoid others deaths. This is made exceedingly clear watching him in the battles of this story. I also never really understood his love obsession with Anne and how severely it changed the course of his life.
She can't handle violence or confrontation and deals with problems by pretending they don't exist. And you're a violent criminal with the impulse control of a rabid wombat."
We have all the expected side characters. I love Landis he is such a fantastic character and I would love books from his life. He gets some good moments in this book which makes me happy. Also Luna of course, who I would have liked to have had more page time but things with her were done well and she has some real conversations with Alex. There's more allies as well but also a ton of enemies or people that just don't like Verus.
My biggest knock is I would've liked a little more from our bad guys motivations. But mostly I just enjoyed the ride and seeing Alex Verus' story come to a close. Great series, has its stronger and weaker books but overall totally worth reading.
July 17, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.
This book makes for a great conclusion to the highly enjoyable Alex Verus series. Alex has changed a lot over the run of this series, learning just how far he is willing to go to save and defend his friends and companions. We get lots of mage battles, we acquire some new helpers, and lose a number of fairly major side characters as well as villains (as is apt to happen in the conclusive magical battles of any series). The book seems to reach a somewhat dark conclusion, but then continues with a few cute asides as the author directly addresses the series fans, then concludes with a nicely satisfying epilogue. I'm really looking forward to seeing what new series the author entices us with next.
This book makes for a great conclusion to the highly enjoyable Alex Verus series. Alex has changed a lot over the run of this series, learning just how far he is willing to go to save and defend his friends and companions. We get lots of mage battles, we acquire some new helpers, and lose a number of fairly major side characters as well as villains (as is apt to happen in the conclusive magical battles of any series). The book seems to reach a somewhat dark conclusion, but then continues with a few cute asides as the author directly addresses the series fans, then concludes with a nicely satisfying epilogue. I'm really looking forward to seeing what new series the author entices us with next.
August 12, 2021
(Review based on an ARC)
Stunning and satisfying conclusion to the Alex Verus series! Full of witty humor and thrilling action, as we’ve come to expect from Benedict Jacka. (I’ve laughed a lot during this series, but this is the first - and second - time Jacka made me cry, damnit!) It’s rare these days to find an author who knows when to end a popular series - and does it with panache - but all good things must come to an end. (At least we have his new series to look forward to, and possibly some additional short stories, to add to “Favours.”)
Keep reading after “THE END!”
Stunning and satisfying conclusion to the Alex Verus series! Full of witty humor and thrilling action, as we’ve come to expect from Benedict Jacka. (I’ve laughed a lot during this series, but this is the first - and second - time Jacka made me cry, damnit!) It’s rare these days to find an author who knows when to end a popular series - and does it with panache - but all good things must come to an end. (At least we have his new series to look forward to, and possibly some additional short stories, to add to “Favours.”)
Keep reading after “THE END!”
November 23, 2022
I just discovered this series, and I think this was an excellent way to end it, though I was sad to say goodbye. It's epic and gripping, and I couldn't put it down.
I loved every moment of it and what happened, as well as the characters. I hope to read the new series by this author soon.
Highly recommended.
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved every moment of it and what happened, as well as the characters. I hope to read the new series by this author soon.
Highly recommended.
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 3, 2024
I absolutely loved this! What a fantastic read!
The Alex Verus series has always been one of my favourites and this book just cemented it. I hope there's more books in this world in the future, following other characters.
The Alex Verus series has always been one of my favourites and this book just cemented it. I hope there's more books in this world in the future, following other characters.
December 2, 2021
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I LOVED having the Alex Verus series as the Read-along choice for 2019. Risen is the final book of the series and I have highly anticipated it. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order and the books are highly recommended.
I look at my review of Forged and many things are the same. " things only seem more dire for Alex. I don't know how he even figures out a plan. .... He can't see any friends or they will be questioned and persecuted too. It's almost easier to list who isn't a problem than who is a problem." Alex has things he wants to accomplish, but more for others than himself. He has problems, big problems personally. There are effects of using some magic and imbued items and they are changing him.
The biggest issues continue to be the council, Richard and Anne. All three are threats. It takes constant vigilance to stay ahead of the council who wants to execute him. Richard may want to kill him or use him, or both. With Anne, it is hard to know who is in charge, Anne, Dark Anne or the djinn? He wants to get Anne away from the djinn and make a life for them, but that may not be what Anne wants. Currently though, Anne possessed by the djinn is such a big threat, the council is willing to take his help with conditions. The council has also had it with Richard and his power plays.
Alex, as usual, has limited options for plans and some seriously dangerous enemies. Luna is a steadfast friend. So many other friends are dead or in their own difficulties. The action is intense as usual as Alex has to watch the possibilities and update his battle strategy on the fly. He is solid in his caring about others and those who have treated him fairly. He isn't really out for revenge but in some cases I am, and I'm glad to see karma bite some of the prejudiced in Alex's world, or just those who have abused him for power like Richard.
The conclusion is extremely satisfying although the epilogue starts a bit campy. We end up checking in on the important characters throughout this book. We learn a bit more history in a few places. I love this world, the magic systems and battles, but most of all I love Alex. The series is easily one of my all time favorites.
Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I LOVED having the Alex Verus series as the Read-along choice for 2019. Risen is the final book of the series and I have highly anticipated it. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order and the books are highly recommended.
I look at my review of Forged and many things are the same. " things only seem more dire for Alex. I don't know how he even figures out a plan. .... He can't see any friends or they will be questioned and persecuted too. It's almost easier to list who isn't a problem than who is a problem." Alex has things he wants to accomplish, but more for others than himself. He has problems, big problems personally. There are effects of using some magic and imbued items and they are changing him.
The biggest issues continue to be the council, Richard and Anne. All three are threats. It takes constant vigilance to stay ahead of the council who wants to execute him. Richard may want to kill him or use him, or both. With Anne, it is hard to know who is in charge, Anne, Dark Anne or the djinn? He wants to get Anne away from the djinn and make a life for them, but that may not be what Anne wants. Currently though, Anne possessed by the djinn is such a big threat, the council is willing to take his help with conditions. The council has also had it with Richard and his power plays.
Alex, as usual, has limited options for plans and some seriously dangerous enemies. Luna is a steadfast friend. So many other friends are dead or in their own difficulties. The action is intense as usual as Alex has to watch the possibilities and update his battle strategy on the fly. He is solid in his caring about others and those who have treated him fairly. He isn't really out for revenge but in some cases I am, and I'm glad to see karma bite some of the prejudiced in Alex's world, or just those who have abused him for power like Richard.
The conclusion is extremely satisfying although the epilogue starts a bit campy. We end up checking in on the important characters throughout this book. We learn a bit more history in a few places. I love this world, the magic systems and battles, but most of all I love Alex. The series is easily one of my all time favorites.
November 18, 2021
Risen is a shattering final book of the Alex Versus series by Benedict Jacka; we say goodbye to the titular character Alex. It is all done. Finito. Endings can be difficult; it is hard to wrap up all the emotion and gravitas of a series, especially one as large as the Alex Verus one with a neat bow. Instead of allowing the series to pitter out like a band still on stage when patrons are getting their bags and heading home, Jacka finished the series with a thundering crash of an orchestra in its final song for the night. It was perfectly timed and perfectly executed, and a conscious choice by Jacka that this book and this plot arc is the right time to finish. Jacka did a great job, and I am left with a fondness for the series.
It took us 12 books to get to this point, and unlike other stories in the Alex Verus series, you can't start at book 12, Risen. You won't get the gravitas of what is going on and the combined struggles Alex has faced. Jacka does his best to give context to the situation that Verus finds himself in. But even with some backstory, it will read like an excited but superficial action fantasy novel. Instead, Risen feels like a story written as a nod for the fans and everything Verus has gone through and lost.
Alex Verus is an unlikely hero on many fronts. Firstly, up until recently, he was not a hugely powerful mage. Verus has always been cunning and strategic in planning because of necessity. He was scrappy, the runt puppy of the Mage world. Often his fights were akin to someone attacking with a pea shooter instead of a Nuke. You can do a lot of damage with a pea shooter if you get someone right in the eye, which was Alex's modus operandi. It took him far in the mage world, but Verus was always lacked true power.
That is, until the last few books, where the tides began to turn. But there is always a price to pay for power.
One of the most positive aspects of the story is how Alex has grown and nurtured his relationships with his allies. As I mentioned above this is essential for Alex's survival, but I think this is more so because of his highly protective nature. It is the epitome of a found family. If Alex chooses you and trusts you, he will likely care about you his entire life, and possibly burn the world down to save you. With all the magical and political machinations going on in the background, his relationships take center stage and are the beating heart of the Alex Verus series.
Verus also has a distinctive duality in his nature, which was evident as the series progressed but doubly true for the last book. He can be intensely pragmatic and ruthless, in essence, a dark mage. The very thing he spent most of his adult life running from. He is capable of very dark things, which many dark mages attempted to exploit for their gain. Especially, the longstanding villain of the story Richard Drakh. The morally ambiguous nature of Jacka's hefty cast of characters seems much more realistic and practical than the perfect "good guy/bad guy" characters that many other urban fantasy series employ.
So, who is Alex Verus and why should you read this series? Alex is a complex character set in difficult situations that never jump the proverbial shark. The series has grey characters that have an authenticity that is appealing and grabs you. And those characters have psychological issues that again, add to the realism of the series. The ever-evolving plot is great, you continually want to know more. And now that it is a finished story, you can binge-read it. There is so much good, which is why I have loved and read this series for years.
It was bittersweet to see it go, but it was time. Jacka did Alex Verus justice and I was thrilled with the ending. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great urban fantasy series to binge read. You won't be able to put it down.
It took us 12 books to get to this point, and unlike other stories in the Alex Verus series, you can't start at book 12, Risen. You won't get the gravitas of what is going on and the combined struggles Alex has faced. Jacka does his best to give context to the situation that Verus finds himself in. But even with some backstory, it will read like an excited but superficial action fantasy novel. Instead, Risen feels like a story written as a nod for the fans and everything Verus has gone through and lost.
Alex Verus is an unlikely hero on many fronts. Firstly, up until recently, he was not a hugely powerful mage. Verus has always been cunning and strategic in planning because of necessity. He was scrappy, the runt puppy of the Mage world. Often his fights were akin to someone attacking with a pea shooter instead of a Nuke. You can do a lot of damage with a pea shooter if you get someone right in the eye, which was Alex's modus operandi. It took him far in the mage world, but Verus was always lacked true power.
That is, until the last few books, where the tides began to turn. But there is always a price to pay for power.
One of the most positive aspects of the story is how Alex has grown and nurtured his relationships with his allies. As I mentioned above this is essential for Alex's survival, but I think this is more so because of his highly protective nature. It is the epitome of a found family. If Alex chooses you and trusts you, he will likely care about you his entire life, and possibly burn the world down to save you. With all the magical and political machinations going on in the background, his relationships take center stage and are the beating heart of the Alex Verus series.
Verus also has a distinctive duality in his nature, which was evident as the series progressed but doubly true for the last book. He can be intensely pragmatic and ruthless, in essence, a dark mage. The very thing he spent most of his adult life running from. He is capable of very dark things, which many dark mages attempted to exploit for their gain. Especially, the longstanding villain of the story Richard Drakh. The morally ambiguous nature of Jacka's hefty cast of characters seems much more realistic and practical than the perfect "good guy/bad guy" characters that many other urban fantasy series employ.
So, who is Alex Verus and why should you read this series? Alex is a complex character set in difficult situations that never jump the proverbial shark. The series has grey characters that have an authenticity that is appealing and grabs you. And those characters have psychological issues that again, add to the realism of the series. The ever-evolving plot is great, you continually want to know more. And now that it is a finished story, you can binge-read it. There is so much good, which is why I have loved and read this series for years.
It was bittersweet to see it go, but it was time. Jacka did Alex Verus justice and I was thrilled with the ending. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great urban fantasy series to binge read. You won't be able to put it down.
March 31, 2025
Finally! I did it!! I finished the series!!
Initial thoughts Totally enjoyed this ride and didn't mind the end...I'll start with the things that bothered me. I just don't believe that Alex would have been willing to burn the world for Anne as Richard implied. If you're going to set up a romance as a MAJOR plot point, then you NEED TO SET IT UP!! Just saying "Anne and I have been a couple for a year" doesn't cut it!! I could believe that Alex would have fallen for Whole Anne but neither Weak Anne or Dark Anne should have been enough for him because they weren't a full person. There wasn't even any hint before that she felt anything for him - he at least confessed his feelings, but did she feel the same? All we knew is that he said 'I love you' at the end of one book and at the beginning of the next, they've been together for a year. For all we knew, she accepted him because she needed someone strong who kicked ass, not because she really loved him. It just made her seem like she had no agency and just accepted him to pay him off for his protection.
Worse, she remained a damsel in distress till the end. Alex had to do all the heavy lifting to save her - she didn't have to grow, work hard or make difficult decisions. Alex was there to do everything for her.
I think I'll have to read this one again to my full thoughts in order.
Initial thoughts Totally enjoyed this ride and didn't mind the end...I'll start with the things that bothered me. I just don't believe that Alex would have been willing to burn the world for Anne as Richard implied. If you're going to set up a romance as a MAJOR plot point, then you NEED TO SET IT UP!! Just saying "Anne and I have been a couple for a year" doesn't cut it!! I could believe that Alex would have fallen for Whole Anne but neither Weak Anne or Dark Anne should have been enough for him because they weren't a full person. There wasn't even any hint before that she felt anything for him - he at least confessed his feelings, but did she feel the same? All we knew is that he said 'I love you' at the end of one book and at the beginning of the next, they've been together for a year. For all we knew, she accepted him because she needed someone strong who kicked ass, not because she really loved him. It just made her seem like she had no agency and just accepted him to pay him off for his protection.
Worse, she remained a damsel in distress till the end. Alex had to do all the heavy lifting to save her - she didn't have to grow, work hard or make difficult decisions. Alex was there to do everything for her.
I think I'll have to read this one again to my full thoughts in order.
November 30, 2021
Great ending to the series. And you definitely need to keep reading past where it says "the end" or you're going to miss the epilogue. And trust me, you don't want to do that. The ending of the last chapter would've been satisfying, too - at least for me. But the epilogue still adds something you probably don't want to miss. The epilogue also has a nice coming-full-circle feel to it.
The character development throughout this series was pretty awesome and most characters are very different people by the end than they were when we met them. And the change has been so fluid that you can't really point to what exactly was the turning point for them. Alex especially. I'll definitely be rereading this series eventually.
I'm glad Alex's journey got a satisfying ending here and didn't get dragged out to the point where it started flagging. And I'm excited to find out what Benedict Jacka will be writing next.
The character development throughout this series was pretty awesome and most characters are very different people by the end than they were when we met them. And the change has been so fluid that you can't really point to what exactly was the turning point for them. Alex especially. I'll definitely be rereading this series eventually.
I'm glad Alex's journey got a satisfying ending here and didn't get dragged out to the point where it started flagging. And I'm excited to find out what Benedict Jacka will be writing next.
December 17, 2021
A fitting end for a fantastic series.
Thank you Benedict, for a great ending to an excellent series. I was riveted from page one and finished the read in a day. It is that good.
I looked forward to this story and you didn't disappoint. Kudos and I look forward to your next book!
Thank you Benedict, for a great ending to an excellent series. I was riveted from page one and finished the read in a day. It is that good.
I looked forward to this story and you didn't disappoint. Kudos and I look forward to your next book!
January 12, 2022
Final book after a long journey as Verus faces one huge battle that will settle everything. Major characters fall, it is fast and furious and the loose ends are tied up. Great roller coaster of a ride. Will miss Verus very much.
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