Taken (An Alex Verus Novel) Mass Market Paperback – August 28, 2012

This book is just as enjoyable as the previous two, and we meet an increasingly large cast of characters, including some major ones that will be with us until the end of the series. I haven't emphasized this in my past two reviews, but in addition to intrigue and good character work, there is some great action too.The tournament is a nice background for the crazy stuff that happens in and around it. There is a wonderful villain you will love to hate--there are actually a few of those in this novel--and some old ones return. A couple of very important events take place here, in the overall arc of the series. Read this book!

I enjoy this series overall, but I was surprised upon reading Taken to realize that the plot is virtually identical to a story in the manga Ghost Hunt by Inada Shiho and Ono Fuyumi. I recognized what was happening as soon as the crazily built house was described. At first I thought it was just a superficial resemblance, but the details continued to be eerily similar throughout the rest of the novel. While I appreciate how well Jacka adapted the plot to his cast of characters, I had to deduct a star because the novel held no suspense for me; I knew pretty much exactly what was going to happen all the way to the end.

I chose this series based on a recommendation. That recommendation was based on my favourite authors list.What I like most about this series, is that the main character seems to have a very silly, useless talent when it comes to facing off with any others of his sort. He is always underestimated and laughed away, but soon no one is laughing anymore. The side characters are well built and they stand on their own. Yet again they don't possess flashy obviously dangerous gifts, but discrete and deadly ones. Verus is steadily building an army, not by strongarming but by being a morally correct person that feels like his talents should be used to help rather than seize power and gradually people start to respect and fear the silent determined mage. I have this feeling that beyond the separate book tales, a bigger picture is forming and I don't know how Jacka does it, but he builds two tensions, one for the stand alone stories but also one for the overall. I just know all this is going to come to a huge battle and conclusion with details that have been dropped and scattered in the three first installments. Hence my choice of words that Verus is gathering an army. He is unconsciously building an alliance with all types of mages, recolting favours, because I have the distinct feeling he will need them soon.Graphically the series is more than up to par. They don't consist of pages of descriptions yet they're clear but concise. I can easily transport my thoughts into alex's world and follow him through his eyes. In depth and quirky characters make it a whole. The storyline itself is straight forward and well paced. The detective aspect is thought out and doesn't seem manipulated or worked over with a deus ex machina. Everything follows its natural course and nothing feels forced. I loved every book on its own and I am excited for book four. I am glad to have found yet another addition to my fav author list.

This book kept me interested from the beginning to the end. It's the second I've read in the series. I actually am reading them out of order, but it doesn't matter because the characters are so rich and full of life.

I just finished reading book 3 and can't wait to start book 4. The only thing stopping me from starting book 4 right now is that I'm getting my granddaughter tomorrow for a week. It's been ages since a series grabbed me the way that this has so far. I love that the magic in not too dark and the stories just flow along. I'm definitely not interested in anything that comes off as horror and each of the books is a good magical read that carries me around the U K (Not unlike Harry Potter). I have become an Anglophile over the last few years and this series also fills that interest for me.I So, 5 stars still and I can't find any complaints yet.

Another great book in the Alex Verus series. Great premise, plot, and likable characters. I liked Alex from the very first book. He’s practical but caring and has enough of a sense of humor to acknowledge his weaknesses in laugh out loud terms. He’s also smart enough to cleverly maneuver around said weaknesses. This makes for great action scenes to unfold a compelling plot. A fun and entertaining read. On to the next in the series.

Another well written novel in this series with great character development and interestingplot lines. If you liked the previous books, you'll like this one also.

The first two were better, but still a great read. I got confused a few times on what people were capable of as far as their magic. Their power level and abilities seemed to be determined by what was needed in the plot a few times. That said, the characters continue to be flawless and the plot was fun.

Conforme à mes attentes.

It took awhile to get into this one but the action gets real interesting near the middle and keeps coming. I've read many monster scenes and got a little scared of this one. Next one please!

Auch der dritte Band der Alex-Verus-Reihe ist gleichbleibend spannend und gut zu lesen. Verus ist ein Magier, dessen Fähigkeit darin besteht, in die Zukunft sehen zu können. Daraus ergeben sich eine Reihe von interessanten Möglichkeiten. Daneben taucht noch eine Reihe von guten und bösen magischen Personen auf, Was mir gefallen hat, ist die Glaubwürdigkeit der Charaktere. Die Bücher sind nicht lustig, sondern eher düster. Insgesamt enthalten sie weniger Humor als die Dresden-Bücher von Butcher, sind aber in der Qualität vergleichbar.

This book continues a series that impresses with it's quality.In this book, Alex continues to grow as character and starts to become a lot more confident in himself and more focused in his motivations, becoming a much more rounded protagonist. We meet some old friends and enemies as well as a few new ones, which look to be ongoing members of the Verus cast. The characters are three dimensional because the author has taken care to make sure that everyone has there own motivations and interests. There is nobody in this book who feels like they are there just because they want to be evil.The story is in the typical ripping yarn format, with plenty of action and lots of twists, made more twisty by the author planting false trails that leaves you wondering till near the end what is going to happen. This is a well crafted tale of magical criminality that builds well on what has happened in previous books. The nice thing about these books is that you don't feel that the author is cheating by having Verus use his divination to see everything, he has to work out what is happening using good old fashioned brain power.It is easy to see the influence of the Dresden files in this series.....Maverick urban mage, with a heart of gold stands between the innocent and on the one hand, evil, and on the other, bureaucratic heartlessness in the ranks of the "good"........but to use a successful and entertaining formula is not in itself a bad thing. And Jacka, particularly in this book, has managed to come out of the Butcher shadow and create a distinct world with distinct characters, background and mythology which gives a very satisfying read.I look forward to the next book.

Very good