Ratings74
Average rating4
Taken (Alex Verus 3) by Benedict Jacka
In this book, Alex Verus is tasked by the Light Council to find out why mage apprentices are disappearing. You'd think that crimes like that would be hard to cover up since some mages are “time mages” like Sonders, who can see what has gone on in the past in a certain place and follow it back to its source. However, for every measure, there is a counter-measure, which in this case involves cloaking spells. So, the Council has called in Verus, who is a divining mage, and has the opposite power of Sonders, Alex can see the future, or possible futures.
What I like about the Verus books is that Verus has what seems to be the weakest power among mages. Other mages can project flames or force blades from their hands, some can take over minds, some can teleport, but Alex can know that you might sneeze five minutes from now. By all rights, these mages should be able to crush Alex without a second thought.
Nonetheless, Alex takes his skill and a cunning mind and makes divination work, even in direct conflict with powerful battle mages. He also comes across as a decent and likable person with a core set of values. Of course, the trope for these kinds of books is that the “rogue wizard” is not affiliated with the light or the dark forces, but occupies a kind of shadow area between them. This is true of Alex, but he's more associated with the light than the dark, although the light forces don't trust him because he started out as an apprentice to a dark mage, who disappeared in questionable circumstances.
In this book, we meet Anne, who is a life mage apprentice, and Varium, who is a fire mage apprentice, who have likewise left their dark mage master under questionable circumstances. These two are the wards of Lord Jagadev, a Rakshasha, who is an enemy of all mages.
Could he be the apprentice thief? That seems unlikely since there are forces who want to kill Anne, but are prevented from accomplishing their goal by Alex's desperate efforts.
The action sequences in this book are well-written and exciting. The characters were people we could empathize with, so long as they were aligned with Alex. The villains - Onyx, a dark mages' “Chosen” from a previous book, Crystal, a mind mage, and, of course, the liche, Vitus Aubuchon - are authentic threats.
I read the prior installment in this series several years ago. I like Jacka's series back then, and have no reason for not moving on but other books got in the way. This is really a nice series to read for diversion.
I'm enjoying this series, Verus is an interesting protagonist and I like that we don't know everything about him yet. He's probably my second favourite urban wizard after the inimitable Harry Dresden. Bring on the next one please librarian!
Taken
Benedict Jacka
CAWPILE SCORE
C-8
A-8
W-7
P-8
I-8
L-9
E-10
TOTAL-8.29/10
Another continuing hit for Benedict Jacka, managing to keep the stakes high without going overboard and having twists that always seem to get me. Love the characters and the plots.
Starts with a hint of a tournament scene, but that takes backup for the main plotCAWPILECharactersSome new characters and we see some new goals for people. Lyle lyle couldn't figure it out it hit you with a stick.Anne Life mage. Shy doesn't like her magicVariam. Fire mage /heat mage angry a lot. Protects lunaJagadev the rakshasa- revenge on generationsAtmosphereMore immersed in the world.WritingFeel like the writing and some foreshadowing has gotten better. Though I can't point to specificsThese books don't feel like the beginning, every book builds off the previous books. (not monster of the week variety)PlotMage builds secret house to live forever in. kidnaps girls to be fuel (why all girls)InvestmentVery invested in Luna (tournament) variam and Anne. What shenanigansLogicEnjoymentSuper loved this book. The stakes keep changing but getting better. Loved the unique ways he keeps making things go sideways from where we start. Oh this the trick.... No wait that wasn't it. Here it is.MiscLIFE MAGE basically invincible with enough energy. And super deadly.More constructs but teleporting ones
I will be talking about it on Libromancy https://libromancy.podbean.com/ on 7/3/2022
Alex continues on his merry way though this time he is not battling a Light or Dark Mage. Well at least not directly. So for a change of scene he takes on a Rakshasha and an undead villain. We are also introduced to new type of Mages and a tournament too! All in all a nice ride and a total page turner. Way to go Jacka. Onto the next trip!
The tales of Alex Verus continue to entertain and impress. Benedict Jacka creates a fantastic and ultimately very believable London in which a whole spectrum of magical beings live under the noses of “normals” and we are quickly drawn into that world to have a seat at the magical table. Alex and company are easy to root for and those who oppose him are easy to boo and hiss at. Yet, no one is a cardboard character, but all are fully developed personages (human and non-human alike). Moving on immediately to the next in the series!
really don't know what to say about this one...good read. Another good read in a string of ‘em. Jacka's got this down–Verus and co. are back and better than before.
I really like the way that these characters are growing and the world is being built.
I feel like I should have more to say, but I don't. Ready and waiting for the next one!