One of the things I’ve particularly enjoyed about the Alex Verus series is how much more invested I’ve become in the characters with each successive book. Fated was promising but a little rough around the edges, while Chosen was the first instalment that really made me question how I felt about Alex himself. Hidden continues that progression, but what surprised me was how much I found myself caring about Anne. She’s been an interesting presence in the background for a while, and I was pleased to see Benedict Jacka finally give her the attention she deserves. By the end, I was considerably more worried about what might happen to her than whether Alex would manage to escape his latest encounter with somebody intent on killing him. Given how much I enjoy watching him think his way out of trouble, that’s quite an achievement.

Following the events of Chosen, Alex is dealing with the consequences of decisions that have damaged his relationships with the people closest to him. Anne, in particular, has distanced herself from him, and Alex isn’t entirely sure how to put things right. When she disappears under suspicious circumstances, he finds himself drawn into an investigation involving her troubled past, the Light Council and some decidedly unpleasant Dark mages. What initially looks like a straightforward attempt to find a missing friend becomes considerably more complicated as Alex discovers just how little he really knows about Anne and the people who have shaped her life.

I particularly liked that Jacka doesn’t simply reset the relationships between books. The events of Chosen have left their mark, and Alex can’t expect everyone to forgive him just because he’s ready to move on. I found his attempts to reconnect with Anne rather awkward to witness, not least because I could understand why she was keeping her distance. Alex clearly cares about her, but he’s also accustomed to deciding what needs doing and then getting on with it, regardless of whether everyone else agrees. There were moments when I wanted him to stop trying to fix the situation and actually listen to what Anne was telling him. His ability to anticipate danger is remarkable, but it doesn’t help much when the problem is that somebody no longer feels comfortable trusting him.

That makes his decision to investigate Anne’s disappearance particularly interesting. On one level, of course he wants to find her. She’s his friend, she’s in danger, and Alex has never been particularly good at ignoring somebody who needs help. But I couldn’t help wondering how much of his determination comes from wanting to make things right between them. He’s willing to put himself in considerable danger for Anne, yet he struggles with the much less dramatic business of accepting that she might not want him involved in her life. I found myself torn between admiring his loyalty and wishing he’d recognise that rescuing somebody doesn’t automatically repair a damaged friendship. It’s an awkward contradiction, and a very human one.

Anne herself is easily one of the book’s greatest strengths. Previously, her healing abilities and gentle manner made her seem almost out of place in a magical society populated by so many thoroughly unpleasant individuals. Hidden reveals considerably more about her history, and I found some of those discoveries genuinely unsettling. What had initially appeared to be simple kindness and restraint takes on a different meaning once we understand more about what she’s experienced. I particularly appreciated that Jacka doesn’t make her helpless simply because she’s reluctant to hurt people. Her abilities are extraordinary, and the suggestion of what she might be capable of if she abandoned that restraint makes her far more complicated than I’d anticipated. I found myself admiring her self-control while becoming increasingly concerned about what might happen if somebody finally pushed her too far.

Her relationship with Variam also benefits from this additional attention. Their shared history gives their friendship a weight that wasn’t always apparent in the earlier books, and Variam’s protectiveness becomes easier to understand as we learn more about what they’ve experienced. I’ve occasionally found Variam’s abrasive manner rather irritating, particularly when he seems determined to turn every conversation into an argument. Here, however, I found myself becoming more sympathetic towards him. His hostility doesn’t suddenly become charming, but understanding where it comes from makes it easier to appreciate why he reacts so strongly when Anne is threatened. I liked that Jacka allows him to remain difficult rather than transforming him into somebody more agreeable simply because we’ve learned his history.

The distinction between Light and Dark mages has always been one of the series’ more interesting ideas, but Hidden demonstrates just how misleading those labels can be. The supposedly respectable Light Council is perfectly capable of allowing injustice to flourish when confronting it would be politically inconvenient, while Dark mages operate according to a brutal hierarchy in which strength often matters more than anything resembling morality. I found myself growing increasingly frustrated with the Council’s willingness to hide behind procedure and political convenience. It’s difficult not to sympathise with Alex’s suspicion of authority when the people supposedly responsible for maintaining order seem more concerned with protecting their own positions than helping those who need it.

What I appreciate is that Jacka shows how these structures affect individual lives. Anne and Variam’s experiences give the politics a personal dimension, making the divisions within magical society feel less like background information and more like something with genuine consequences. Earlier books occasionally left me feeling that the magical establishment existed primarily to provide Alex with powerful enemies. Here, it feels more like a functioning society, albeit one I’d have absolutely no desire to live in. The rules, rivalries and inequalities have become part of the characters’ histories, and that makes the setting considerably more convincing.

Alex’s own position within that world remains fascinating. He’s capable of extraordinary feats of foresight, yet he’s painfully aware that knowing what’s coming doesn’t necessarily mean he can prevent it. I particularly enjoyed the moments when he has to investigate rather than fight, using his ability to examine possibilities, anticipate reactions and piece together information that others might overlook. There’s something satisfying about watching him work through a problem that can’t simply be solved by throwing increasingly destructive magic at it. But what interested me more was how often his decisions were shaped by his feelings for the people involved. Alex can calculate the safest route through a dangerous encounter, yet he’s increasingly willing to disregard his own safety when somebody he cares about is threatened. I liked that his judgement isn’t always as detached as he’d probably like to believe.

The narrative balances the mystery surrounding Anne with revelations about her past, political manoeuvring and moments of genuine danger. I particularly enjoyed the way the investigation gradually changes our understanding of characters we’ve already met. Rather than introducing an entirely new collection of people and problems, Hidden builds on relationships that have been developing across several books. That continuity makes the discoveries more satisfying, and I found myself paying closer attention to conversations because even apparently minor exchanges might reveal something important about the characters.

There are still occasional moments when the dialogue feels a little too convenient, particularly when somebody needs to explain an aspect of magical society, and a few secondary characters remain more functional than memorable. Nevertheless, these are relatively minor complaints. Jacka seems increasingly comfortable allowing his characters’ personalities and histories to drive events rather than relying entirely on external threats.

Gildart Jackson continues to do excellent work with the audiobook. His narration has become an essential part of how I experience these characters, particularly Alex’s dry humour and tendency to disguise genuine concern beneath a rather practical exterior. Jackson gives the expanding cast distinct voices without resorting to exaggerated performances, and his handling of Anne’s quieter, more guarded personality is especially effective. There’s a welcome subtlety to his delivery during the more emotional exchanges, while the action sequences retain the urgency and clarity needed to make Alex’s rapid calculations understandable. It’s another consistently strong performance that adds considerably to the experience.

Hidden is another excellent addition to the Alex Verus series. More importantly, I finished this one feeling considerably more attached to Anne and Variam than I had expected. Understanding their history has changed how I see both characters, and I’m particularly interested in what Jacka intends to do with Anne now that we’ve glimpsed just how complicated she really is. I also appreciated that Alex’s relationships haven’t magically recovered from the events of Chosen. The damage matters, and rebuilding trust is proving considerably harder than surviving another magical confrontation. Five books in, I’m enjoying the journey more than ever, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing where these characters go next.

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