Saturday 23 June 2012

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Alex Verus 2: Cursed - Benedict Jacka

Release Date: 07/06/12

SYNOPSIS:

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.


REVIEW:

A quirky and weird take on the Urban Fantasy with probability mage Alex Verus and whilst I wasn’t the biggest fan of the opening title I wanted to spend a little more time to explore the world that Benedict had loving crafted. Don’t get me wrong, the writing is crisp, the character interesting but without an underlying plot seeking to rear its head I’m left wondering if its just a poor man’s London based version of Harry Dresden without the incredible power almost as if he’s just taking the exploratory road whilst he comes up with a bad guy worthy to hide within the shadows.

All in a reasonable piece of writing and one that whilst not at the top of the genre for me was a middle of the road title but solid enough to keep reading to see what will unfurl next.



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