Fated

Well there's a blurb by Jim Butcher on the cover, which is fitting because this does read like competently written Dresden Files fan fiction. Maybe that's a little harsh, and I don't mean to dismiss this book completely, but the utter lack of originality is a little grating (oh it's set in London - how novel!). If you are on the lookout for some urban fantasy a la Butcher you could probably do worse than this (though I would recommend checking out Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles first). Unfortunately Jacka doesn't imbue the narrative with the humour Butcher does, and the supporting cast is a lot less interesting than the one Harry Dresden has. So what we have is the story and that is fairly straightforward and either reassuringly familiar for Dresden readers or tediously predictable. Take your pick. I think it was a combination of the two for me but more of the later than the former.

I wouldn't necessarily give up on this series. In fact, I suspect now that the tedious formalities of the introductory book are out of the way, the series may well start developing in its own way and become more interesting. At least I hope so.