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lbelow's review
This series gets progressively darker as it goes on and for the most part, I could handle it. But the way the domestic abuse is told here, with Alex not in control of his own body, witnessing as another person uses it to break the woman he loves is too much for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence
tough_cookie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Things are ramping for mage Alex Verus as the series nears its end. Although he's a member of the Junior Council, with his girlfriend, Anne, as his aide and a few allies, his situation is far from stable: He's lied to protect Anne from certain death after the crimes she committed (albeit possessed) the year previous; he's trying to fend off political nemeses trying to, at best, have him thrown off the Council and, at worst, have him killed; and all the while, he's participating in the war against his old master, Richard Drakh.
Then, it all goes up in smoke when the truth about Anne is revealed and she and Alex become public enemy #1 -- again. Worse, Richard manages to release Anne's darker half and put her on a leash so he can control the jinn possessing her. With the life he's so painstakingly built torn down in moments, Alex realizes that if he wants to stop being the victim, he'll have to give in to his own darker side and become stronger than anyone would have expected of him.
Loss and sacrifice are part and parcel of the Alex Verus series, but this book was particularly painful for me. It wasn't as dark as the Nightstalkers episode, but it caused significantly more heartache because of how much Alex lost so quickly. Everyone beats down on him constantly: He's too Dark to be accepted by the Light mages, but too Light to be respected by the Dark mages. In essence, he tries to walk his own path, but time and time again, the world decides to deal him a harsh dose of reality to prove this is impossible, and at last, after losing just about everything and everyone, Alex learns his lesson. The first half was the hardest, as it's a steady decline for the protagonist (I had to skip the part where he approaches Anne at Richard's hideout). Then in the second half, the pace quickens as Alex stops holding himself to a code of ethics and instead brazenly does what's necessary to get revenge and try to save the people he loves. I've long been curious what Alex would look like if he decided to embrace the darkness in him (and slightly worried he'd become overpowered), and this book did not disappoint. Although colder, his personality didn't make a complete about-face; Alex remained very much a human being, full of rage at the people who betrayed him and love for his circle of friends. It would be better to say he evolved, and I look forward to see how this change affects his behavior in the last two books of this highly enjoyable series.
Then, it all goes up in smoke when the truth about Anne is revealed and she and Alex become public enemy #1 -- again. Worse, Richard manages to release Anne's darker half and put her on a leash so he can control the jinn possessing her. With the life he's so painstakingly built torn down in moments, Alex realizes that if he wants to stop being the victim, he'll have to give in to his own darker side and become stronger than anyone would have expected of him.
Loss and sacrifice are part and parcel of the Alex Verus series, but this book was particularly painful for me. It wasn't as dark as the Nightstalkers episode, but it caused significantly more heartache because of how much Alex lost so quickly. Everyone beats down on him constantly: He's too Dark to be accepted by the Light mages, but too Light to be respected by the Dark mages. In essence, he tries to walk his own path, but time and time again, the world decides to deal him a harsh dose of reality to prove this is impossible, and at last, after losing just about everything and everyone, Alex learns his lesson. The first half was the hardest, as it's a steady decline for the protagonist (I had to skip the part where he approaches Anne at Richard's hideout). Then in the second half, the pace quickens as Alex stops holding himself to a code of ethics and instead brazenly does what's necessary to get revenge and try to save the people he loves. I've long been curious what Alex would look like if he decided to embrace the darkness in him (and slightly worried he'd become overpowered), and this book did not disappoint. Although colder, his personality didn't make a complete about-face; Alex remained very much a human being, full of rage at the people who betrayed him and love for his circle of friends. It would be better to say he evolved, and I look forward to see how this change affects his behavior in the last two books of this highly enjoyable series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Gore
littletiramisu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Torture, Genocide, Murder, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Confinement, War, Slavery, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
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