Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Much like book four in the Alex Verus series, book five features less action and is more focused on the characters and their relationships.
After the events of the previous novel, Alex Verus' life has somewhat settled down, except for a few key differences: 1) he has almost zero contact with former friends Sonder and Anne, and 2) rumors are swirling that his former master, Richard, has returned (although Alex vehemently refuses to give these any credence). Our favorite diviner has more immediate problems though when he finds out Anne has been kidnapped. Working with a reluctant Sonder as well as Keeper Caldera, Variam, and Luna, the team discovers she's been taken to her former master Sagash's shadow realm. It takes about half the book for this revelation, and when the opportunity presents itself, Alex jumps to the shadow realm. Now alone, he has to find Anne and figure out some way to get back to London -- all while being hunted by Sagash's apprentices, his army of shadow constructs, and a familiar face that does not bode well for Alex and Anne's survival.
Although slower paced, I liked how this novel addressed the personal issues that arose in the previous book. Sonder and Anne take issue with Alex's past and his handling of the adepts in book 4, and it's an interesting new dynamic between them since both sides have valid points. However, I did find Sonder to be very annoying this time around due to his blatant rudeness toward Alex at every meeting; I understand he disagrees, perhaps even dislikes Alex now, but he could at least maintain some level of civility and professionalism while strategizing about Anne's kidnapping.
Without Luna by his side in the shadow realm, it was just Alex and Anne, and I enjoyed seeing how they handled past hurts and opened up to each other.
Although many things remained unresolved at the end of this novel, some things were mended, so I finished the last page feeling much more relieved than I did with book four!
After the events of the previous novel, Alex Verus' life has somewhat settled down, except for a few key differences: 1) he has almost zero contact with former friends Sonder and Anne, and 2) rumors are swirling that his former master, Richard, has returned (although Alex vehemently refuses to give these any credence). Our favorite diviner has more immediate problems though when he finds out Anne has been kidnapped. Working with a reluctant Sonder as well as Keeper Caldera, Variam, and Luna, the team discovers she's been taken to her former master Sagash's shadow realm. It takes about half the book for this revelation, and when the opportunity presents itself, Alex jumps to the shadow realm. Now alone, he has to find Anne and figure out some way to get back to London -- all while being hunted by Sagash's apprentices, his army of shadow constructs, and a familiar face that does not bode well for Alex and Anne's survival.
Although slower paced, I liked how this novel addressed the personal issues that arose in the previous book. Sonder and Anne take issue with Alex's past and his handling of the adepts in book 4, and it's an interesting new dynamic between them since both sides have valid points. However, I did find Sonder to be very annoying this time around due to his blatant rudeness toward Alex at every meeting; I understand he disagrees, perhaps even dislikes Alex now, but he could at least maintain some level of civility and professionalism while strategizing about Anne's kidnapping.
Without Luna by his side in the shadow realm, it was just Alex and Anne, and I enjoyed seeing how they handled past hurts and opened up to each other.
Although many things remained unresolved at the end of this novel, some things were mended, so I finished the last page feeling much more relieved than I did with book four!
The choices that Alex made the year before caused a division among his friends. Sonder and Anne could not accept the deaths of the young Adepts and severed their friendship with Alex. Each of them held firmly to their idea of what is right and wrong. Reluctantly, Alex accepted the loss of their friendships and moved on.
While everyone else settled into their work and studies, Anne's life slowly fell apart until she is expelled from magical studies program. Luna twisted Alex's arm until he makes an effort to talk to Anne and try to help her. The talk crumbled into old arguments and he left Anne without anything being resolved.
Anne is taken but there's little clue to who, where or why. There are only suppositions and determination to find out whatever they can in order to save her and get her back.
There's a disjointed look into Alex's past presented by the introduction of his father. The whole setup with his father felt like a heavy emphasis on the idea of right and wrong. Alex struggled for years to wrap his head around the things he has done in his past. There are no easy answers. There are no simple solutions. He could have accepted death as an out but that doesn't actually solve the problem of living. It seems like the conflict he has with his father is a reflection of the struggle he has within himself. It's not a matter of what other people think of him that Alex can't handle. Alex cannot come to terms with what he thinks of his actions. He can't help but label himself as a bad man. How can he stand up for himself when he cannot argue with others that they are wrong?
The most striking thing that I felt was Alex's fear. The depth and irrationality of his fear for Richard was off the charts! It really felt like Richard was the Devil incarnate and that he was the worst nightmare to walk in flesh.
My romantic side really hopes that Anne gets her act together. I feel like she could be Alex's best friend and lover all rolled into one. It's not a matter of them being perfect as individuals. It's about how well their imperfections fit one another and how well they understand each other because of their flaws. This is all wishful thinking!
Hidden was a great adventure and suspenseful ride in Alex's world of magic and mayhem! So many interesting ways that magic can be used, the chaotic placement of powers among the mages and interesting possibilities of shadow worlds.
In my opinion, this book is a nice place to pause in the series if you want to wait to read the rest. I've been told that the need to know what happens next gets stronger and harder to resist as the series moves on. In some ways, I can't stand waiting. So if you're like me and you want to 'pause' in a nice spot. This would be it. Then you can devour several books in a row when you're ready.
I would say this book was the lull in the storm and there's a hurricane of events waiting right around the corner.
While everyone else settled into their work and studies, Anne's life slowly fell apart until she is expelled from magical studies program. Luna twisted Alex's arm until he makes an effort to talk to Anne and try to help her. The talk crumbled into old arguments and he left Anne without anything being resolved.
Anne is taken but there's little clue to who, where or why. There are only suppositions and determination to find out whatever they can in order to save her and get her back.
There's a disjointed look into Alex's past presented by the introduction of his father. The whole setup with his father felt like a heavy emphasis on the idea of right and wrong. Alex struggled for years to wrap his head around the things he has done in his past. There are no easy answers. There are no simple solutions. He could have accepted death as an out but that doesn't actually solve the problem of living. It seems like the conflict he has with his father is a reflection of the struggle he has within himself. It's not a matter of what other people think of him that Alex can't handle. Alex cannot come to terms with what he thinks of his actions. He can't help but label himself as a bad man. How can he stand up for himself when he cannot argue with others that they are wrong?
The most striking thing that I felt was Alex's fear. The depth and irrationality of his fear for Richard was off the charts! It really felt like Richard was the Devil incarnate and that he was the worst nightmare to walk in flesh.
My romantic side really hopes that Anne gets her act together. I feel like she could be Alex's best friend and lover all rolled into one. It's not a matter of them being perfect as individuals. It's about how well their imperfections fit one another and how well they understand each other because of their flaws. This is all wishful thinking!
Hidden was a great adventure and suspenseful ride in Alex's world of magic and mayhem! So many interesting ways that magic can be used, the chaotic placement of powers among the mages and interesting possibilities of shadow worlds.
In my opinion, this book is a nice place to pause in the series if you want to wait to read the rest. I've been told that the need to know what happens next gets stronger and harder to resist as the series moves on. In some ways, I can't stand waiting. So if you're like me and you want to 'pause' in a nice spot. This would be it. Then you can devour several books in a row when you're ready.
I would say this book was the lull in the storm and there's a hurricane of events waiting right around the corner.
I'm so glad I could find an early copy in a Parisian bookshop! Now I wish I had the next one!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another exciting, emotionally resonant entry in the series. Sets the series up to move towards a new, larger long-term goal.
I loved hidden.from start to finish. Some of the last parta felt like holding your breath before the storm breaks lose. now great things started. I am so looking forward to the next part.
These books have taken over my life. I read two books in this series in as many days. This may partly be the fact that they are so short and binge-friendly, but I usually don't read this much. So again, these books have taken over my life.
Both book 6 and 7 are out of stock at like all the bookstores (at least in the right edition and buying the wrong one and mismatch the series is filling with me dread) and I'm really considering buying the kindle edition, event though I only have the app and reading on the phone really mess with my eyes. I'm also a bit scared ordering from outside Sweden at the moment, since we recently got this new "law", that you had to pay a very high customs fee. Originally this was only going to affect those people ordering from Wish and AliExpress and such (aka China) but people here has also had to pay fee from packages ordered online/sent privately WITHIN the EU.
Both book 6 and 7 are out of stock at like all the bookstores (at least in the right edition and buying the wrong one and mismatch the series is filling with me dread) and I'm really considering buying the kindle edition, event though I only have the app and reading on the phone really mess with my eyes. I'm also a bit scared ordering from outside Sweden at the moment, since we recently got this new "law", that you had to pay a very high customs fee. Originally this was only going to affect those people ordering from Wish and AliExpress and such (aka China) but people here has also had to pay fee from packages ordered online/sent privately WITHIN the EU.
adventurous
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes