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Chosen

An Alex Verus Novel

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Chosen

By: Benedict Jacka
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
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Life is quiet for Alex Verus. Amazing. With a flat full of friends (and the occasional fish) and business booming, why not enjoy the humdrum here and now?

But of course that's too good to be true. In a sudden and cruel pincer movement of fate, Alex finds himself fighting a sinister and powerful gang as well as his own demons - for the same crime.

Held hostage by the choices of his past, Alex's future is now in jeopardy....

©2013 Benedict Jacka (P)2014 Tantor Fantasy Fiction Horror Science Fiction Scary Paranormal
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Living these books. Once I start to listen I can't put them down till the end. The narrative is a very good story te!ler

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Great

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Back with a bang and for me the best of the series so far.

As I realised I only had 15 minutes left I swiftly purchased more credits to purchase and download the next in the series! Download has finished as I type! Here we gooooo

Gripping

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This series has become utterly compulsive listening for me, pushing aside all other audiobooks waiting for my attention, in my library. So much so that I have, tonight, purchased the next two audiobooks, so desperate am I to continue the story!

You know that sense of satisfaction, when you find a great author, who has a decent enough back catalogue to keep you occupied for a time?

And then the sense of quiet sadness, as you realise that at the rate you are compulsively listening, you’ll burn through the entire lot in another week or less, and then have to find another - and that’s not easy these days!

The UF genre is flooded, awash with cheap Dresden imitations.

Benedict Jacka has hit exactly the right balance with his wonderful, imaginative and compelling stories, of a man of magic who is both selfless and yet flawed; whose greatest strength - and weakness - is not his talent, but that he knows he is flawed and has come to accept it.

Verus is so refreshing, it’s wonderful.

This book adds more to the layers and background of the main character and his previous co-stars - and enemies - and leaves you wondering what is coming next. The denouement is as stunning as it is disturbing, and I can’t help but feel with the cinematic quality of the prose, this would make a bloody wonderful Netflix series!

Still, I’m willing to stick with Gildart and his narration - I wasn’t sure about him, when I first started listening. Four books in and I’m a big fan! He delineates and defines each character effortlessly and entire conversations can take place, between multiple characters, without any real need for the narrator to explain, “he said” or “Verus said” (although he does, because it’s that way in the book, obviously!).

It’s a great fusion of great story and great storytelling and I’m not willing to wait any longer, to delay starting the next story, “Hidden”, so I’m sorry, but that’s pretty much it for me.

Buy it. Listen. You won’t regret it. If you do, there is no magic in your soul. ;)

Just.... write faster, for pity’s sake, Mr Jacka?! Faster, I tell you!!

Deservedly, this is a no-brained, straight-up, five star experience, on every level.

Better and better, with every book

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I've not been the greatest fan of the Alex Versus series. When asked for an opinion I've only managed to muster a 'okay to tide you over until the next Dresden files is out (insert your own favourite urban fantasy title here...double points if it's Rivers of London!), however with this installment it feels as though Jacka really got the series going with a sense of an over arching series narrative, a more fleshed out if a bit cliche protagonist, and something (perhaps somewhat contradicting my previous point) a bit different to the usual good guys beat bad guys trope.

I've had to dock a couple of points for performance because as well delivered as it is by the narrator, the constant juxtaposition of what sounds like an old man in his 60s Vs an all action hero hanging around, fighting with, and at times seemingly flirting with 18-20 something year olds spoils any hope of really losing yourself in the main character.

4 stars for a big step up in terms a story the previous books have been crying out for.

This is where the series gets going

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This was another good entry in the series. This is the first time when Alex seemingly outclasses his enemies but keeps holding back and that lack of an underdog story as well as some isolation from his friends makes everything a bit less exciting. It started well but dragged a bit in the middle. The narration was still good.

A solid entry but nothing spectacular

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