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svnsn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tldr: Men, men, men, why so many male characters. But the plot was very exciting.
Now, a bit more elaborately for those who care:
The imbalance between male and female characters really started to annoy me at some point. (Almost) anytime a new powerful character was being introduced it was a man. Now if the book had somehow acknowledged and commented on the magician society being a patriarchial system, that could have been an interesting point (maybe even a plot point for future books) but instead it felt like male was just the default for all the characters and then there were some female characters sprinkled throughout. Most of them, especially the human ones, were somehow weak and/or victims somehow. The powerful players (Richard Drahk, Morden, Levistus, Verus, Abithriax, Talisid, Helikaon, Onyx ) are all men.
Side note, but I was also side eyeing the scene were severe violence was committed against women, described in gruesome detail. It was giving torture corn.
The magic system is also a bit wishy washy. There is no hard magic system which led to Alex abilities conveniently working or not working however it fit the plot. But it honestly didn't bother me too much.
Which leads me to the good parts!
While my criticism stands, I ended up enjoying the book. The plot was fast paced and didn't linger too long on scenes it didn't have to. I found myself pretty much excited throughout the entire book. Even though, as I said, I wish there had been more well developed female characters, I did like the characters a lot.
I'm especially excited to find out what Rachel and Cinder are up to, Starbreeze was dumb but adorable, Sonder was cute as well, I was also very intrigued by Talisid. While I didn't exactly love Luna, I think her story might become very interesting in the next books. Alex is still a bit of a blank sheet to me at this point, but very well could become a very interesting character in the future with his struggle of not belong to either the light or the dark side, not wanting to succumb to thriving for more power but also detesting being a plaything for the light and dark mages
Now, a bit more elaborately for those who care:
The imbalance between male and female characters really started to annoy me at some point. (Almost) anytime a new powerful character was being introduced it was a man. Now if the book had somehow acknowledged and commented on the magician society being a patriarchial system, that could have been an interesting point (maybe even a plot point for future books) but instead it felt like male was just the default for all the characters and then there were some female characters sprinkled throughout. Most of them, especially the human ones, were somehow weak and/or victims somehow. The powerful players (
Side note, but I was also side eyeing the scene were severe violence was committed against women, described in gruesome detail. It was giving torture corn.
The magic system is also a bit wishy washy. There is no hard magic system which led to Alex abilities conveniently working or not working however it fit the plot. But it honestly didn't bother me too much.
Which leads me to the good parts!
While my criticism stands, I ended up enjoying the book. The plot was fast paced and didn't linger too long on scenes it didn't have to. I found myself pretty much excited throughout the entire book. Even though, as I said, I wish there had been more well developed female characters, I did like the characters a lot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment, Blood, Rape, and Sexual assault
atsumeri's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sparkatito's review against another edition
I liked this story of dark mages and council mages and one rogue mage and his friends it was amusing and had good magic and a good ending. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
gottimus's review against another edition
5.0
I think I will really enjoy the rest of these books! IMO this series seems like it may be fairly close to The Dresden Files! I look forward to reading the remaining books in the series.
lbelow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
4.5
I picked this up on the recommendation of a friend and I'm glad I did! This book had me on the edge of my seat. With a series this addictive on my hands, with complex female characters with agency, I know I'll binge through these books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Rape, Mental illness, and Slavery
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
5.0
FATED is a ton of fun. It's a book that has been on my TBR for so long that I almost forgot about it didn't know if I'd have time to try it. So I'm glad that I did. FATED is perfect for readers who want an exciting, urban fantasy adventure with a new hero and an immersive setting.
The story follows Alex Verus, a mage with a complex past, as he and his friend Luna come across a valuable object that every mage in London wants to possess. What follows is a series of adventures as Alex and Luna racce to discover what the strange device can do, and stay alive in the process.
It was very easy for me to connect with Alex. He's kind, clever, and doesn't have the arrogance that some UF leads can have. He really did feel like a normal person with justifiable motives and logical actions. The side characters were fun and complimentary to Alex, though I hope to see Luna become more confident in future books.
The world building is immersive and easy to follow, the action and pacing are quick, and the book is full of heart and humor. I truly enjoyed the imagination put into this story and am eager to read through the rest of the series. This is the perfect book to enjoy over a weekend or to binge over the summer. Highly recommended!
The story follows Alex Verus, a mage with a complex past, as he and his friend Luna come across a valuable object that every mage in London wants to possess. What follows is a series of adventures as Alex and Luna racce to discover what the strange device can do, and stay alive in the process.
It was very easy for me to connect with Alex. He's kind, clever, and doesn't have the arrogance that some UF leads can have. He really did feel like a normal person with justifiable motives and logical actions. The side characters were fun and complimentary to Alex, though I hope to see Luna become more confident in future books.
The world building is immersive and easy to follow, the action and pacing are quick, and the book is full of heart and humor. I truly enjoyed the imagination put into this story and am eager to read through the rest of the series. This is the perfect book to enjoy over a weekend or to binge over the summer. Highly recommended!
bougle's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tshim's review against another edition
3.0
Overall unpolished: a wonderful and well-thought out concept, rife with awkwardly stereotypical lilts that are only somewhat countered by occasional veins of brilliance. The seeds of greatness are there, but the execution is lacking. It's worth reading, though: Verus's succeeding tales fulfill the potential glimpsed here, then, around book 4, reach nigh-Dresdenian levels of genius.
I apologize for that, by the way. This book, heck, this whole series, is heavily influenced by and bears a good amount of resemblance to the Dresden Files. My intent at the outset is to refrain from alluding to Dresden's universe unless I have to. This is where it all starts. Alex Verus is a diviner, a mage without any power save that of seeing the branching lines of fate and probability. I've always enjoyed authors who delve into the power of knowledge, and this series is no exception. The divination bits of the story shine. Jacka has a gift for smoothly using plot context to help characterize abstruse concepts that are difficult to adequately pin down pithily. He uses them for comedic effect, too, and in doing so lends wry color to Verus's character.
That color is sorely needed, because, apart from a few scenes, Verus's perspective and thoughts are muzzily defined, or at best difficult to distinguish from the obvious touchstone, Harry Dresden of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. The first time I read this book, I came out of it with a wholly incorrect idea of who Verus was. My second time through, I caught more of the clues Jacka laid out, but they were sparse and/or ambiguous enough that I couldn't but recognize how much of an aid my knowledge of the series' future was.
That said, the remaining cast are a treat. Alex's friends are a joy to read. Luna's curse is one of the most inspired pieces of world-building I've ever read, and her nihilistic stance to danger, severe depression, and outlook are efficiently and powerfully characterized. A couple moments felt slightly unwieldy, but Luna's growth arc is one of my favorite parts of the plot. Arachne is solidly and hilariously constructed, and no, I'm not going to tell you why. I laughed.
And the antagonists are just as well-crafted, if not more so. Most of them are what is referred to in-universe as a 'dark' mage. This doesn't refer to any inherent good or evil in the magic, but to a particular ideology the mage follows: that morality is merely a habit, a tradition, or a lie, and that only power and the will to use it matter. It's not fully explored in this book, yet it still captured my mind and curiosity. Of these dark mages, Richard Drakh, the Justin DuMorne to Verus's Harry Dresden, is rarely mentioned, but nevertheless he succeeded in scaring me right down to my boots. Morden, another dark mage, is the politest, most respectful person to Verus in the entire book. Verus immediately assumes Morden intends to backstab him, and his reasoning does wonders for characterizing dark mages in general, Morden, and Verus himself. Cinder, Deleo, and Khazad are flatter as characters, but the first two still feel 'real' in a way that's difficult to quantify.
Honestly, I feel like the plot of this book is unimportant. It's not particularly well done, nor is it engaging. Divination and the characters other than Verus are the major draw here.
Rating: 3/5
Should you read it? Firm yes.
I apologize for that, by the way. This book, heck, this whole series, is heavily influenced by and bears a good amount of resemblance to the Dresden Files. My intent at the outset is to refrain from alluding to Dresden's universe unless I have to. This is where it all starts. Alex Verus is a diviner, a mage without any power save that of seeing the branching lines of fate and probability. I've always enjoyed authors who delve into the power of knowledge, and this series is no exception. The divination bits of the story shine. Jacka has a gift for smoothly using plot context to help characterize abstruse concepts that are difficult to adequately pin down pithily. He uses them for comedic effect, too, and in doing so lends wry color to Verus's character.
That color is sorely needed, because, apart from a few scenes, Verus's perspective and thoughts are muzzily defined, or at best difficult to distinguish from the obvious touchstone, Harry Dresden of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. The first time I read this book, I came out of it with a wholly incorrect idea of who Verus was. My second time through, I caught more of the clues Jacka laid out, but they were sparse and/or ambiguous enough that I couldn't but recognize how much of an aid my knowledge of the series' future was.
That said, the remaining cast are a treat. Alex's friends are a joy to read. Luna's curse is one of the most inspired pieces of world-building I've ever read, and her nihilistic stance to danger, severe depression, and outlook are efficiently and powerfully characterized. A couple moments felt slightly unwieldy, but Luna's growth arc is one of my favorite parts of the plot. Arachne is solidly and hilariously constructed, and no, I'm not going to tell you why. I laughed.
And the antagonists are just as well-crafted, if not more so. Most of them are what is referred to in-universe as a 'dark' mage. This doesn't refer to any inherent good or evil in the magic, but to a particular ideology the mage follows: that morality is merely a habit, a tradition, or a lie, and that only power and the will to use it matter. It's not fully explored in this book, yet it still captured my mind and curiosity. Of these dark mages, Richard Drakh, the Justin DuMorne to Verus's Harry Dresden, is rarely mentioned, but nevertheless he succeeded in scaring me right down to my boots. Morden, another dark mage, is the politest, most respectful person to Verus in the entire book. Verus immediately assumes Morden intends to backstab him, and his reasoning does wonders for characterizing dark mages in general, Morden, and Verus himself. Cinder, Deleo, and Khazad are flatter as characters, but the first two still feel 'real' in a way that's difficult to quantify.
Honestly, I feel like the plot of this book is unimportant. It's not particularly well done, nor is it engaging. Divination and the characters other than Verus are the major draw here.
Rating: 3/5
Should you read it? Firm yes.
guybrush's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
qu33nofbookz's review against another edition
3.0
This story, and series is a spin on another series that is well established and blatantly says so, even going on to reference the series it is copying. However is has a quote from the author of the series it's ripping off so I guess there are no hard feelings.
This is basically a chase story. From the first few chapters it is nonstop running to get to the end of the story. The dialogue is good, with humor and some wit (except for the hundred Um's). The characters were fully fleshed out and well rounded. The background information and setting were both well done without being info dumps and came just when you needed them for a situation or change. I think I will read the next book.
This is basically a chase story. From the first few chapters it is nonstop running to get to the end of the story. The dialogue is good, with humor and some wit (except for the hundred Um's). The characters were fully fleshed out and well rounded. The background information and setting were both well done without being info dumps and came just when you needed them for a situation or change. I think I will read the next book.