Cursed (Alex Verus, #2) in SpecFic Buddy Reads

Sep 25, 2015 Bradley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: urban-fantasy, fantasy

Re-read 2/21/22:

These days, fond memories and revisiting old friends seems to be the only way to fill my heart. Granted, a sure dose of blood and viscera and dark wishes tied to nasty curses is a close second, but best of all is a fine combination of both!

Original Review:

This series is rapidly becoming my latest favorite mind-candy, doing wonders to cleanse my palate between heavy tomes of fiction and generally getting me rearing to go. It's entertaining, solidly written, thoroughly character-gr ...more

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Feb 21, 2022 Trish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Well, that was ... unpleasant. No, not reading the book, but what happened to Alex here. *lol*

After successfully surviving the events of the previous book, Alex Verus is bravely living from one day to the next, opening his shop and not getting violent no matter how many stupid people come to buy stuff that doesn't exist.
He's also training Luna with Arachne's help.
One day, Luna introduces Alex to a young man, who can only be described as criminally stupid. For some reason, it seems to be contagi Well, that was ... unpleasant. No, not reading the book, but what happened to Alex here. *lol*

After successfully surviving the events of the previous book, Alex Verus is bravely living from one day to the next, opening his shop and not getting violent no matter how many stupid people come to buy stuff that doesn't exist.
He's also training Luna with Arachne's help.
One day, Luna introduces Alex to a young man, who can only be described as criminally stupid. For some reason, it seems to be contagious or Luna simply shows her true colours now. Long story short, Alex is soon one apprentice short and then has to do his new job all by his lonesome.
What is that new job, you ask? Well, he was supposed to go after a creature but when he catches up to it, it's already dead and having been killed in a non-discernible way.
So our favourite mage/diviner is digging a bit deeper, finding out that someone is killing magical creatures. For something not even dark mages do (anymore).
But what does all of that have to do with that mysterious young woman whose magic apparently means men lose their last brian functions when looking at her? Or with the numerous assassination attempts towards Alex?

I loved being back with this quirky dude and his even quirkier friends. And when I say friends, I mean Arachne and Starbreeze, NOT Luna. God, but that bitch enraged me. No, I don't care that she was kinda taught a lesson - it doesn't solve the underlying problem with her character (not as in the author not having created a realistic one, but as in I want to rip her throat out with my bare hands).

However, I also enjoyed that we didn't just get a new adventure - the repercussions of the events from book 1 were felt and consequences abounded. Very satisfying.

All in all, an action-laden, fast-paced, engaging adventure that is part mystery (almost like a crime story) and part race-against-the-clock. Yes, someone had to be rescued.
Nothing too profound but rounding off things nicely were the comments on this world's history/mythology (with regards to magical creatures, where most of the survivors are now and why) as well as the situational humour, which was definitely great ((view spoiler)).

I really like Alex, even if he does allow a number of people to take advantage of him. And yes, one can already assume the direction the series is going to take. Thus, I can't wait to read more. :) ...more

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Apr 23, 2018 Emma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, magic

When I read the first book of the series 2 or 3 years ago, I was new to urban fantasy, just setting out on my journey into the genre. I thought the first book was quite good. Then I discovered other urban fantasy series that I liked more. Since then I've read countless urban fantasies. Recently I felt the urge to try this series again. And this second book I loved! Now I've read the Harry Dresden series, I can see the similarities and the differences. And there are enough differences for this no ...more

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Jan 08, 2022 Cathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The second Alex Verus novel. I read the first one a few years ago and didn‘t like it, then tried again recently and changed my mind.

So I am back in London, in a magic shop that reminds me of the Iron Druid‘s shop, with a mage that is definitely not Harry Potter. Alex gained a small amount of fame after the events of the first book. He went back to his old life, with Luna in tow as his sort-of-apprentice. Training her is not going terribly well and then something turns up dead, someone need his ...more

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