The people and places that Alex interacts with are also vividly described and come across as authentic and real. That's a rare gift that not every author can boast. Jacka describes the world in which Alex lives and works with such precision the reader is able to see the sights that Alex might see in his everyday life in their minds eye, almost like the story was playing out on the big screen. The world building in this one is just off the charts. It's quite the super-power and I thought Jacka did a fantastic job of describing how Alex used his ability. Or if he was in a situation which required him to choose one door or another, he could see what was on the other side of each.

For example during a fight he can see whether a particular move with benefit him or hurt him. He is able to see possible futures and steer events toward a particular outcome. His abilities are not quite as powerful as Harry's but they are more refined. He's tough when he needs to be and more curious than most, which tends to get him in trouble. There are similarities to Butcher's series, but they are not overwhelming and do not detract from the book in the least.Īlex is quite different from Harry. Benedict Jacka is on to something with this one and I can honestly say I liked just about everything about it. Fated can easily stand on it's own and boasts some exceptional characters and world building. However, I did go into it with an open mind and wasn't expecting Alex to be just like Harry.

Butcher's endorsement of this novel was one of the reasons I wanted to read it. Readers who are expecting this one to be exactly like Jim Butcher's series will be surprised at both the similarities and the differences.Īs many of you know I am a huge fan of Jim Butcher and especially the Dresden Files series. Jacka's novel is riveting and grips the reader from the first page to the last. It has a smooth pace and multi-faceted characters. The world building in this one is exceptional. Fated is the first book in the Alex Verus series and introduces readers to a mage, who is hiding in plain sight. 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.īenedict Jacka gives readers an Urban Fantasy alternative to the Dresden Files. 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.

Alex verus series fated