Cursed

An Alex Verus Novel

By: Benedict Jacka

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Things are going well for Alex Verus. He's on moderately good terms with the Council, his apprentice is settling in, and his shop in Camden is gaining quite a reputation.

But when a mysterious woman bursts into the Arcana Emporium one night with an assassin on her tail, Alex is thrown into a plot to revive a long-forbidden ritual. His old enemies are after the secret as well as a Council mage named Belthas and a mercenary named Garrick, and at least one of them is trying to get Alex killed - if he only knew which.

He can see the future, but knowing who to trust is something else.

©2012 Benedict Jacka (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Fast-moving and energetic." ( Sunday Telegraph)

Plot problems

I gave 5 stars to the first book in the series. This one is not bad also, the narrator is good, the characters well described, simple but enjoyable. However, at least for me, consistency is important in a fantasy novel. In the first book the author made quite an effort to show the strong points and the weak points of Alex s diviner powers. He made an effort to comply with his own limits. In this book it is not the case. Alex should have used his divining powers several times and he did not. There are moments when you dont have to be a diviner, simple human intuition would help. Thus, the fantasy world created becomes inconsistent, Alex s magical abilities can vary not in accordance with a rule but in accordance with the whim of the author.

Couldn't stop listening

For those who loved Dresden Files, look elsewhere no more! Fun, well paced, interesting characters!

If you love Harry Dresden II...

As mentioned in my review for Alex Verus Book 1 (Fated), this is excellent stuff. Make no mistake, this is unique. It's no Harry Dresden spin-off or copy, but it's just familiar enough that if you love one, you'd love the other too. Excellently read by Gildart Jackson.