Read-along & Giveaway: Chosen by Benedict Jacka @BenedictJacka‏ @AceRocBooks @BerkleyPub @orbitbooks @TantorAudio ‏#Read-along #GIVEAWAY @CarolesLife

Posted May 3, 2019 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Book Review, Giveaway, Read-along / 18 Comments

Read-along & Giveaway: Chosen by Benedict Jacka

 

Read-along & Giveaway: Chosen by Benedict Jacka @BenedictJacka‏ @AceRocBooks @BerkleyPub @orbitbooks @TantorAudio  ‏#Read-along #GIVEAWAY @CarolesLife Chosen by Benedict Jacka
Narrator: Gildart Jackson
Series: Alex Verus #4
Published by Tantor Audio on January 27, 2014
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 304
Length: 10 hours, 24 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
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Alex Verus is a diviner who can see probable futures—a talent that’s gotten him out of many a tough scrape. But this time, he may be in over his head. Alex was once apprenticed to a Dark mage, and in his service he did a lot of things he isn’t proud of.

As rumors swirl that his old master is coming back, Alex comes face to face with his misdeeds in the form of a young adept whose only goal is to get revenge. Alex has changed his life for the better, but he’s afraid of what his friends—including his apprentice, Luna—will think of his past. But if they’re going to put themselves at risk, they need to know exactly what kind of man they’re fighting for…

Chosen was another great installment in the Alex Verus Series.  This is a series that really does need to be read in order since each book builds on the previous installments.  I think I am liking each book in the series a little more as I work my way through the series and I get to know Alex and the gang better.  I worked my way through this book rather quickly because I was eager to see how everything would work out.  It really was a very enjoyable listen.

At the start of this story, Alex is learning to adjust to life with his two new roommates.  He is spending a lot of time with the apprentices and running his shop.  Alex’s past comes into play and has a big impact on his present in this installment.  Alex was an apprentice under a dark mage when he was younger.  This is a group of adepts that wish to get revenge for Alex’s actions while working with the dark mage.

I really liked getting the chance to learn some of Alex’s history.  I had an idea that life with Richard was less than pleasant but it was very eye-opening to learn how things really were.  We actually learn some rather interesting things about several characters that currently play a role in Alex’s life.  I thought that seeing Alex’s past and how he dealt with those seeking revenge really showed what kind of man he has become.  Alex wants to do what is right and does not seek to harm anyone but he will do what needs to be done when pushed into it.  I really like that Alex is flawed and will cross lines when necessary but tries to be a good guy as much as he can.

I would recommend this series to others.  This book tells a very exciting story and is filled with an entire cast of fantastic characters.  I can’t wait to start working on the next book in this wonderful series!

Narration:

Gildart Jackson does a fabulous job with this book.  He has become the voice of Alex for me and I am so glad that I decided to work my way through this series in audio.  This narrator does a great job with all of the character voices and brings a lot of emotion into the story.  He has a very pleasant voice that is easy to listen to for hours at a time.

Listen to a clip:

This review  is brought to you by Carole from Carole’s Random Life in Books.


Anne’s  observations from Chosen:

  • Alex is adapting to the master / apprentice role with Luna pretty well.
  • Talisid is absent and Alex doesn’t have all that many trusted resources. He often hesitates to involve others taking all the risk on himself.
  • Alex is well known now to the bad guys.  They are not opposed at all to using him, or getting rid of him.
  • Like every good urban fantasy hero, Alex is starting to form an odd group of mixed allies.  There is upset in his band and his true friends may not be those I expected.
  • Alex faces a real dilemma about his enemies in Chosen. He has no wish to fight them but they won’t stop coming and keep trying to kill him.  He can’t hide for the rest of his life; they won’t talk. The Council won’t do anything about them unless he is dead.  What choices does he have other than killing in self-defense?

 


Anne’s questions from Taken:

  1. I still wonder if Alex will now become more knowledgeable about the Council and who are the “players” in the Dark and Light mages to protect himself better.
  2. Alex does a lot to support Anne and Vari. Who knows if they will be part of his allied group in the future.  We didn’t see the dragon this time.
  3. Will Alex find a way to remove Luna’s curse?
  4. Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
  5. Does Alex have other friends, or mage friends we will meet?
  6. Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
  7. Will there be a romance for Alex?
  8. Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear.  Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it?
  9. Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
  10. Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity?  Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
  11. (KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
  12. (KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
  13.  (KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?

 


Anne’s questions from Chosen:

  1. I still wonder if Alex will now become more knowledgeable about the Council and who are the “players” in the Dark and Light mages to protect himself better.
  2. Will Anne and Vari and the dragon now be part of the Verus band of misfit allies?
  3. Will Alex find a way to remove Luna’s curse?
  4. Luna relocked the force barrier with the cube but then where did the cube go?
  5. Does Alex have other friends, or mage friends we will meet?
  6. Will Alex ever be able to do anything about the cruel practices of dark mages?
  7. Will there be a romance for Alex?
  8. Talisid is right. People will start to notice how those going up against Alex disappear.  Alex is now on the radar; what will he do about it?  How will Alex deal with future threats?
  9. Will Alex ever be able to contact Starbreeze again, or find her?
  10. Is Lyle TSTL? He is lazy and weak, combined with a huge ego, a bad combination. Will he please get himself killed before he hurts too many other people with his power hungry stupidity?  Otherwise, I am afraid Alex will try to help him and get ensnared somehow.
  11. (KC)Will vampires be a future subject since it is hard to know if they are really all gone?
  12. (KC) Is Alex destined for a council position?
  13.  (KC) Will humans become a bigger threat, particularly to monsters and dark mages?

 


Games:

1. Who said (enter the answer in the Rafflecopter, don’t put in the comments)

“If you’re worried your good deeds are outweighed by your bad ones, why not do more of them?”

2.  Who is the villain in Chosen? (Enter in the rafflecopter)

3. We have an opportunity to do a Q & A with Benedict Jacka a few months down the line. I am asking you to please submit interesting questions (into the rafflecopter) I fear this may be a little difficult to ask something different as he does an Ask Luna on his site. I have yet to check it out, as I don’t want to be spoiled for the books.

4. If you have any other favorite quotes, put them in your comments below ( and one can also be entered in the rafflecopter) and I will share them next month.

Schedule:   

We are doing one book every month, posting on Fridays. We should have a review for most of the books with the team here at Books of My Heart plus some of our blogging friends.

May 3:  Chosen

Jun 7:    Hidden

Jul 5:    Veiled

Aug 2:   Burned

Sep 6:    Bound

Oct 4:    Marked

Nov 1:    Fallen


Miss a post?

Feb 1:    Fated

Mar 1:    Cursed

Apr 5:   Taken


Be sure to enter the giveaways!!!

 

Giveaway:

I’m giving away a digital copy of Hidden  from Amazon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read-along Giveaway:

This giveaway is for the entire event, with things to enter each month. Tantor is also supporting me by giving away digital codes for all 10 audiobooks in the series!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About Gildart Jackson

With acting credits that span stage and screen, Gildart Jackson is most often recognized for his role as Gideon on Charmed. Other notable TV roles include Jackson Palmer on Providence and Simon Prentiss on General Hospital, as well as guest appearances on Stargate: Atlantis, Las Vegas, and CSI. Theater roles include Trigorin in The Seagull, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, and Adrian in Private Eyes at the Old Globe.

About Benedict Jacka

Benedict Jacka became a writer almost by accident, when at nineteen he sat in his school library and started a story in the back of an exercise book. Since then he’s studied philosophy at Cambridge, lived in China, and worked as everything from civil servant to bouncer to teacher before returning to London to take up law.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • 2019 Library-Love
  • BTB 2019

Posted May 3, 2019 by Anne - Books of My Heart in Book Review, Giveaway, Read-along / 18 Comments


18 responses to “Read-along & Giveaway: Chosen by Benedict Jacka

  1. I’m really interesting in Alex’s past and this showed much more of it and that slippery slope he was on and how he payed some very high prices to get away. I did like that not everyone in his group was just okay to learn the things that he had done. It was a lot to take in and I really liked how it was a little polarizing.

    I’m very interested to see how that plays out in future books and if Deleo is with Richard or in the long run will play against him. Can she be saved?

    The story gets more interesting every book 🙂

    Robin recently posted: Audio: Archived by Victoria Schwab
    • Yes exactly! I’m glad you are enjoying it as much as I am. I think it’s great and can’t believe I never heard of it until recently. WTH. I really like how he didn’t have any great choices and did the best he could and kept his friends out of some things even though it was harder for him.

    • It is! I am so happy I chose it even though it is new to me. I wanted one this year I had never read before so I would be anticipating along not knowing what would happen. Of course, I could discover as I go along I don’t really like it which would be horrible since I have committed myself to read it this year.

      Anne recently posted: Time by Penny Reid
  2. Ooo… I LOVE this series, Anne:)). I think Jacka’s treatment of Alex’s gifts is outstanding – so very clever… This is a wonderful idea and I hope everyone is enjoying this series and the progression as much as I do.

    • OooO! I had not read, have not read past this one yet. but I am loving it. I am so glad you like it; you have excellent taste. I don’t suppose you would want to share a review one of the months like Carole did today? I do all the observations / questions and of course giveaways. You would only do 3-4 paragraphs of your thoughts on one? Have you read the whole series or will you read along? Yay! I’m so glad others are enjoying the series as I am.

      Anne recently posted: Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs
      • Oh… I would be delighted to take part! if it’s okay with you – I’d like to jump aboard in October as I haven’t yet read the final two books and it would be fab to take part when you start reading MARKED:)

        • Oh excellent! Would you like to do the review for Marked? It will be October 4. So we read it during September. You could also post the review at your own site that day or shortly thereafter? I’ll switch to email from here on out, if you want to do it.

    • That’s exciting! I hope you will catch up and join us the rest of the way. The audios are awesome. I want them. But I am reading so I can highlight and take notes, etc. Be sure to enter the giveaways. I am doing mine by library book but I am kicking myself that I didn’t buy the whole series at $5 each at Tantor the day after Thanksgiving. I just didn’t know yet for sure I would like them so much. sigh.

      Anne recently posted: Time by Penny Reid
  3. Calvin

    Sounds really cool. I have never read any of these ones before.

  4. I’m horrible at keeping up with the different urban fantasies I want to read. In fact I typically just put everything on hold in October and read everything UF. But this is a series that I have on my TBR that I want to get to. It sounds really fun. I love you are reading this all together, how neat!