I just loved Flex.  It gripped me virtually immediately with a very shocking start and then just had me hooked.  I really, really enjoyed it and it brings a whole new meaning to what goes around comes around!  This book is all about the payback and weighing the options that are in front of you.

Flex brings to us a world where magic exists.  In every other way the world is as we know it, well, except that Europe has been eliminated as a result of a cataclysmic event caused by magic users.  You see, every time magic is created (Flex) there is a downside, if you will, (Flux) and this has to go somewhere.  It usually ends up injuring the loved ones of those practising magic meaning they are usually quite solitary souls.  Consequently, magic is outlawed.  Magic users are feared and hated.  They’re like terrorists because of the damage they cause.  They’re hunted and when found indoctrinated (or brainwashed) in the army – where all the magic users now have a ‘hive’ mind mentality with no freedom of thought.  The flux can tear holes into the world that just basically swallow everything and so those with the ability to conjure, ‘mancers’, are hated with a vengeance.

The thing with Flex is that it’s kind of addictive and can be stored in crystals and used by others. The results are not usually good though because people ‘using’ Flex don’t know their own limits and they certainly don’t know how to syphon off the flux in the least damaging way, even experienced ‘mancers can still cause a ‘rain of toads’.  In that respect the book gets off to an immediate start.

Paul Tasbo is the main character in the book.  Paul used to be a cop.  He went after a ‘mancer and instead of following the golden rule (call in back up) he went in alone.  The result, he lost a foot during a shooting.  The ‘mancer was killed and Paul was the only person to survive such a meeting!  Consequently he became quite famous there for a while with all the ‘mancer haters’ loving him!  Paul left the force and went into insurance.  Strangely, this is where the story really comes into it’s own.  Paul has a love of paperwork and keeping things in order and his love of all things in their rightful place seems to extend to him having his own magical ability.  Paul is a Bureaucromancer!  Seriously!

Now, at the start of the book we have a series of terrible events that give a good idea of how seriously bad the Flux can really be.  However, these events have been orchestrated by a ‘mancer on a mission, almost a serial killer.  Unfortunately, during one of these attacks Paul’s daughter Aliya is badly hurt and now he’s hellbent on finding the culprit.  Coupled with this his his desire to learn more about his magic and his need to help his daughter.

This book is just so damned good.  There is plenty of action and the magic is great to read about with all the different strains.  Paul ends up with a ‘mentor’ called Valentine.  A young woman who is gamemancer – just how cool is that.  And, that’s the thing this book is filled with ‘all the cool’.  You can totally get your geek on with all the gaming references and Valentine is an excellent character with her obsessive gaming. In fact, Paul and Valentine make an excellent team.

Why did I love this book.  Well, whilst it feels like it has lots of things that may ‘remind’ you of other things it also feels totally unique.  It has the feel of something that would be great in a comic book and the action and magic put you in mind of super heroes.  That’s not to say that the magic is totally explained – or maybe I’m just too dense!  It seems that if you obssess enough about a thing you twist reality or physics into something more and unleash your own potential. Then there’s the whole conundrum of right vs wrong, loss, betrayal and – well, just everything.

Not a terribly eloquent review I have to admit – I’m probably too close to having just finished the book and still feeling in that excited zone that you reach when you read something different and compelling.  But, well, it may not be the most well written I hope that I’ve made my feelings clear.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book.  I don’t have any criticisms.  In fact I can’t conceive of anybody not liking it.  I want more.

I received a copy of this from the publishers through Netgalley.  The above is my own opinion.