Fated

Alex Verus Series, Book 1

By: Benedict Jacka

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future-allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success.

But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none…

©2012 Benedict Jacka (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Harry Dresden would like Alex Verus tremendously - and be a little nervous around him. I just added Benedict Jacka to my must-listen to list." (Jim Butcher)

Iron Druid plus Harrys (Dresden and Potter)

I agree with the general tone of the other reviews of "Fated." It has similarities, as noted, with the Iron Druid books, but I liked that its pace is less frenetic than Atticus and Oberon's madcap, nonstop adventures. And it's a little less gritty (at least in this first book of the series) than Dresden.

Perhaps pushing it, I also noted a bit of Harry Potter in the mix. There's an evil sorcerer (his one-time mentor) who Alex defeated--or at least got free of--but who is obviously lurking out there, ready to appear as a character in future books. There's even a giant spider, but in this case she's one of the good guys.

The narration by Gildart Jackson is classic Brit, and is just right for the tone of the characters and the story. Jackson's narrative style is congruent with this book's differences from the two American series and their equally good narrators.

Alex Verus makes a fantastic first impression.

To make things clear and simple, this a great audiobook. Fated is well written, entertaining on a number of levels and read by a narrator that seems perfectly suited to the story.

It's about a man named Alex Verus who can see the future and ends up being forced into a war between several factions of mages. Every faction of this war is trying to get a hold of a mysterious magical artifact. To make things even more interesting, the entire time he is trying to protect the only real friend he has. The story is fantastic, but also strangely emotional. The plot also takes place in modern day England with a focus on developed characters wrapped up in a sort of magic action adventure swashbuckling vibe.

Highly recommended to anybody who enjoys fantasy themes at all. Fans who would enjoy something in the same vein as the Harry Dresden series should pick this one up especially fast as one can see plenty of positive comparisons between the two.

Very cute and highly entertaining

Before I start this review I just got to say I love this book. I don't know who caught this or not but I love the fact that the author tipped his hat to the Dresden files in the very beginning. And really that's what this book was, an attempt at a British version of the Dresden files. This book is to the Dresden files what CBS's Elementary is to BBC's Sherlock. A highly entertaining and not quite as good version of the same basic idea. But still very very good. So I would recommend it as it's really quite good, but if you are expecting another Dresden files your going to be disappointed.

Popcorn movie book. Light but fun.

Pretty good urban fantasy. Similar in scope to Dresden but somewhat lighter and less agnsty. He is another outsider anti establishment wizard type pitted against seemingly much more powerful forces. I like that he has to outwit and outmaneuver his rather than overpower them. Got some cool toys and interesting friends. Some plot holes but not too much to make it enjoyable. Good enough to get me to read the next one in the series.

How I became an Urban Fantasy Addict

I read the Dresden Files and decided to check out other Urban Fantasies and stumbled upon this gem. This book pushed me over the edge from fan to fanatic. I was a little concerned at first there wouldn't be enough magic to suit my tastes because the summary says he doesn't have "flashy" powers, but I was pleasantly disappointed. This series (I have read them all now) is different from many others because the main character solves problems using magic and clever thinking instead of overwhelming force like most main characters. I found it refreshing the main character wasn't able to slaughter anyone who opposed him with a wave of his hand. This is the beginning to a fantastic series I recommended it to anyone who can read.

My only complaint is the narrator makes the main character who is in his 30's sound like an old man which is confusing when the main character performs some impressive physical feat. Fortunately the books are so good I was able to overlook the poor narration AND still give it 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book/series so much I made a Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition Wizard - Diviner named Verus after the main character and have been playing him for over 2 years now.

Very nice break

from the serious non-fiction and documentary books I have consumed recently. Loved the author's ability to weave Olde and modern day London, along with the magical science fiction flavor, teasing my sensibilities, but remaining in the present day time line, and meeting ancient and imaginary characters. Enjoyed this listen so much, I am planning to listen to it a second time sometime soon. There are so many details, I know I missed a bunch !!

Interesting view on magic, predictable in places

The good guys are likable, everyone else is a bad guy. The take on magic is quite interesting. It is predictable in some places and the author even points that out at one point in the book itself. I finished it and will read the second book.

Like Earth 2 for the Dresden Files

Great lore and great story, will definitely be continuing the series. The rules of magic in this world are a bit more flexible, and there are times where I didn't quite follow how certain things could happen within the rules the author had laid down, but those moments are vastly outweighed by the varied and colorful world portrayed in the story. I look forward to exploring all the roads that are opened up in this first installment.

Right Book; Wrong Narrator!

Any additional comments?

I loved this book but had to subtract one star for the choice in narrator. I am NOT saying that Gildart Jackson does a bad job, he is simply the wrong man for the story. I don't know much about English accents but his voice just conjures up images of Peter Cushing or Basil Rathbone...that sort of older aristocrat. His tonality and voice modulation just doesn't fit Alex Verus.
That aside, I really like the story and even though I agree with many other reviews that it must be a parallel universe of Harry Dresden in Europe, Jacka does briefly pay homage to Jim Butcher and we quickly forget all about it.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to more!

A match made in heaven: book and narrator!

This book is set in an alternate London, and the narrator, Gildart Jackson, is just delightful. He speaks clearly and intelligibly, even at an increased speed, and does a great job in personifying the various characters. I enjoyed the book and its plot - it was refreshing to have a magician who actually was under powered rather than excessively over powered – another reviewer referred to him as like Niles Crane from the TV show Frasier, and you can kind of see that in both the plot and the narration. It was fresh!

I highly enjoyed this book and went right on to get the next one in the series.