Hidden, Alex Verus Series Book 5 by Benedict Jacka - Review

Alex Verus Series - Book Five: Hidden by Benedict Jacka

Alex Verus has a premonition that danger is ahead for a close friend. However, given his past as an apprentice for a Dark Master, she refuses his help. As a result of her kidnapping, Alex must find a way to save her.

Hidden is the fifth book in Benedick Jacka’s Alex Verus series. The novels are urban fantasy, of the Harry Dresden type – indeed, Jim Butcher has blurbed Jacka, and Alex has named-checked Harry as someone who exists in this universe, though far away. Alex Verus, for those heretofore unfamiliar with him, is a London-based practitioner of divination. This means that he has a gift for looking into the future and seeing what the results will be if he does this or if he does that. There are limits to this ability, but it’s a great help in knowing if turning a particular corner will lead to safety, confrontation or sudden death. Alex Verus can also wield certain magical implements, but as he’d be the first to say, he’s no mage.

In Hidden, some of Alex’s erstwhile associates aren’t speaking to him as a result of what happened in the previous book (Chosen). Jacka has a gift for bringing the reader up to speed without getting bogged down in exposition or, worse, repetition, so that newcomers will understand what’s going on and faithful readers won’t be bored.

Alex, who narrates, has his own moral qualms about what he’s done, but still rather resents the fact that people are so suspicious of him. Then Anne, an up-and-coming Life mage who’s not speaking to him, is kidnapped, and Alex is coerced into trying to find her.

What’s especially engaging aboutHidden is that there’s a lot more going on than just inventive plot, locations and magic, though all of these are present throughout. The book deals with who people perceive themselves to be, who they want to be and what they feel is unacceptable change and

loss of identity. This is often subtext in novels, but Jacka brings it to the fore in a way that is both dramatic and empathetic. Too often, when fantasy novels deal with souls at stake, it’s all both pat and abstract. While Alex Verus and company don’t throw the word “soul” around – they’re concerned with what they’re doing as living beings, not the afterlife – they are concerned with what is at the core of their actions, and what the implications are for themselves and those around them. It’s a refreshingly deep and frank look at the characters.

Alex Verus is agreeable company and a fairly decent fellow, for all of his fears about what he’ll do if cornered. Other notable characters include Anne, who has some surprising sides to her personality, and Alex’s dogged assistant Luna, as well as a new entity called a blink fox, and several people from Alex’s past.

Jacka doesn’t bring traditional religion into his universe – human and nonhuman beings grapple for power. It’s impossible in this universe to always do the right thing, but we both like and respect Alex for trying, and Jacka makes the attempt engrossing.

Written by: Abbie Bernstein

 

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