Fated

Narrator Gildart Jackson's versatility is perfect for Jacka's novel of urban fantasy--a mix of Harry Potter and The Twilight Saga. Protagonist Alex Verus is a member of the unseen world of London's mages--those who have magical powers. He can see the future but is not as powerful as other mages, who can do things like throw fire or fly. Alex and his apprentice mage get caught up in the search for a relic and soon finds themselves in a desperate struggle for survival. Jackson presents the numerous characters with distinctive voices that are credible, expressive, and suitably animated. The narrative sections are performed with equal skill. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

Starred review from January 9, 2012
Jacka’s extremely promising urban fantasy series starter introduces cheeky British diviner Alex Verus, who’s caught in the middle of a conflict between Light and Dark mages over an ancient magical weapon. Alex can not only see all possible futures but can often choose which ones to make real, so both sides want to use him as a tool. Alex, alienated from other mages because he has developed empathy for the beings around him, refuses to take sides. To save himself and his dependents—Luna, a lonely, cursed young woman, and Starbreeze, an ancient air elemental who’s “dumb as a sack of rocks”—he’s forced to think and move nimbly through London and its associated magical realms. Jacka deftly invents the rules of magic as he goes along, creating an emotionally satisfying story arc and a protagonist who will keep readers coming back. Agent: Sophie Hicks, Ed Victor Literary Agency.