Fated

Alex Verus, Book 1

By: Benedict Jacka

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Camden, North London: A tangled, mangled junction of train lines, roads, and waterways. Where minor celebrities hang out with minor criminals and where tourists and moody teenagers mingle.

In the heart of Camden, where rail meets road meets leyline, you might find the Arcana Emporium, run by one Alex Verus. He won't sell you a wand or mix you a potion, but if you know what you're looking for, he might just be able to help. That's if he's not too busy avoiding his would-be apprentice, foiling the Dark, outwitting the Light, and investigating a mysterious relic that has just turned up at the British Museum.

Fated is the first book in a major new series starring probability mage Alex Verus, for fans of Jim Butcher and Ben Aaronovitch.

©2012 Benedict Jacka (P)2013 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"Harry Dresden would like Alex Verus tremendously - and be a little nervous around him. I just added Benedict Jacka to my must-read list. Fated is an excellent novel, a gorgeously realized world with a uniquely powerful, vulnerable protagonist. Books this good remind me why I got into the storytelling business in the first place" (Jim Butcher)

"Filled with tense and compelling writing" ( SFX)

"Jacka writes a deft thrill-ride of an urban fantasy - a stay-up-all-night read. Alex Verus is a very smart man surviving in a very dangerous world." (Patricia Briggs)

"London's hidden wizardly community spell-blast each other entertainingly in this urban fantasy romp. Fated is highly enjoyable" ( Sun)

"Fated is an excellent example of not just great urban fantasy but also of brilliant story-telling. There is a near perfect mix of everything and it has been masterfully crafted with a meticulous eye for those pieces of humanity that make a great protagonist and a fantastic story" ( FANTASY FACTION)

"A novel with a very good plotline, and fascinating characters" ( BOOKCHICKCITY)

UK's better-mannered Dresden

If you like Dresden files, this is absolute must for you to read. References, expansion of the world but also unique in its plot, way of thinking, and the characters. Go ahead and read today

Stilted voice and Man Writes Woman

The story and characters have a lot of potential but (a) the voice actor is not good enough and (b) female characters are badly written.

You can tell when the VO artist is at the end of a line, rather than the end of a sentence. He barely modulates his tone, it’s too monotonous.

Female characters- oh lord I could be here all day. Dreadful. Oh? Tee hee? You big bwave man!

Hated the fake posh English accent

Loved the book but was very disappointed with the narration, the fake Shakespearean English accent given the main character completely discredited the performance and was not at all compatible with the authors' character who is living in today's London, not the Middle ages. As a result I was not able to enjoy the audiobook. I will read the rest of the series on my Kindle.

Well that was a great first book in a series.

Would you listen to Fated again? Why?

I am coming back to this series and this book again. tore through this book and grab the next one. I am sure I miss bit of coolness in the overall awesome.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Alex is the focus and at this point it must be him. Luna has promise and I wonder where that will go.

Which scene was your favorite?

The fight on the roof. So elegant in writing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and I did.

Entertaining

It was a nice, relaxing fantasy. The plot was interesting and the approach on magic quite new. I saw that many persons have criticized the narrator. I almost did not get the book because of this - a bad narrator can really ruin a book. Well, after listening, in my opinion, the narrator is excellent. He can transmit quite well the characters and their feelings. He is not speaking too slow and he articulates clearly with a good intonation. Some say he does not convey a lot of emotion. He conveys some emotion but this book is not Shakespeare. I do not think he should transmit a lot of emotion. I think that his approach on the main character (a bit aloof, ironic, with dry humor) is just what the author intended.