Review - Captain's Fury - Jim Butcher

Title: Captain's Fury
Author: Jim Butcher

While I said, in the review of the third book in the "Codex Alera" series, that it was the best of the lot so far, you should in no way take that to mean that this, the fourth book, is to be ignored.  Oh, no.  Keep reading.  This is still plenty good!

Book four gives Amara a very difficult task, and Butcher's writing keeps you hanging on every part of her journey.  And she's not even the key figure in the story!

Again, that position belongs to Tavi, who is now in charge of a Legion of soldiers.  While he has been successful, others are jealous, and they intend to use their positions and their Furyborn power to take what they can.  Meanwhile, as always, Tavi has seen the next threat to the Empire, and must seek to neutralize it.

By the time you read book four, you will have seen the heroes make tactical alliances with "bad guys" already, and this theme continues.  And, by this time, you will probably be impressed with the ways the author can find of putting his heroes in seemingly hopeless situations, only to have them emerge, if not victories, at least alive, if somewhat damaged.

The only "negative" I can write about this book is that the ending did not drive me to pick up the next book immediately.  Books two and three almost demanded me to start the next story -- not because the story was incomplete, but because I simply had to see what would happen next.  I have not yet read book five simply because Butcher "let me off the hook" with the end of this novel.  Oh, I'll go back.  I have to.  At this point, it seems to me that Butcher has a plan, and there might actually be an ending to this books-long story.  I want to see what that end is.  I think you will, too.

Review - Cursor's Fury - Jim Butcher

Title: Cursor's Fury
Author: Jim Butcher


Book 3 of the "Codex Alera" by Jim Butcher finds our hero, Tavi, grown into a young man who has been given a very special job -- that of Cursor.

We encountered the concept of a Cursor back in book one, and learned more in book two, and it's pretty clear by this point that a Cursor is a "secret agent" of sorts.  This allows for a very interesting story, as Tavi takes on a secret identity in order to carry out his mission.

Now, much as in the first book and the second, while the main storyline centers on Tavi, the other major characters we've followed continue to have their own parts to play.  Amara, in particular, takes on a very key role in this book, and her relationships become very critical to the story.  I truly appreciate the skill Butcher has in creating multiple threads, keeping the reader learning new things,  while hiding information from the characters.

At the same time, while the characters and the intrigue are impressive, the attention to war craft -- the Aleran armies are very similar to ancient Roman armies in their techniques and structure -- sets this series apart from many other fantasy stories I've read.

By this point, the series is really rolling, and I have become quite involved with the characters, and pleased by the writing.  I'll continue.  If you read books one and two, you should, also.  This book is excellent.  I've read the first four by now, and I think this might be the best of the lot so far.

Review - Academ's Fury - Jim Butcher

Title: Academ's Fury
Author: Jim Butcher

This is Book 2 in Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera" -- a series begun with Furies of Calderon.  (I suggest you read the first two paragraphs of my review of that book to get the fantasy context.)

Most of the primary characters from book 1 return for this installment, and in particular, the young boy, Tavi, begins to take center stage.  Tavi has been brought to the school in the capital of the Aleran realm, and is being taught in the same manner as the rest of the Aleran children, but because he has no Furycrafting, and most of the students are relatively highborn and thus have Furies of their own, he struggles.

Still, he has made some friends, and he has a special work assignment as a messenger for the First Lord, so while his life is busy, it is interesting.

Before we get very deep into the novel, it becomes even more dangerous than it is interesting, and Tavi is forced to improvise as he helps implement a political cover-up, while also attempting to solve a mystery, as a strange attack on the empire seems to appear out of nowhere.

This installment is even more intriguing than the first, as Butcher continues to fill out his world with new characters, and with a deeper understanding of the nature of Fury-based power/magic.  Do not read this book until you have read the first, but if you liked the first, you will definitely enjoy the second.

Review - Furies of Calderon - Jim Butcher

Title: Furies of Calderon
Author: Jim Butcher

Jim Butcher, author of the highly imaginative "Dresden Files" books, has created a fantasy world with a novel system of magic.  In this world, all humans have some level of magical ability -- well, all but one human, a teenage boy named Tavi.  People, in their adolescent years, find a fury (or more than one) which is an elemental being which binds itself to the person for life, and responds to the person's wishes by allowing the person to perform actions according to the ability of the fury.  For example, an air fury can help a person by controlling air and wind, even to the point that the strongest Air Furycrafters can fly.

Now, many people don't have much power with their fury, but everyone has some -- except, as I said, for Tavi.  And so, of course, as fantasy hero stories go, Tavi is our hero.

But as Butcher tells the story, Tavi is only one of several major characters.  We get to know some of the villains from their viewpoint, and we get to know several other heroes, as the world of the humans comes in conflict with the neighboring civilization, the Marat, who, while human-like in some respects, are definitely not human, and who have a history of war with the people of the human empire.

Yet, as with many empires, there are people who want power for themselves, and they prove to be as dangerous as any outside force.

Like the Dresden novels, the pace of Furies of Calderon is fast.  Our "good guys" (once we figure out who they are) do not have time to stop and plan, let alone get any rest.  Danger and death are a part of the story, even in a land where Water Furycrafters can perform amazing healing magic.

As the first story in what is clearly meant to be an epic, this is a good start.  The characters involved are fleshed out.  There are clearly secrets to be unraveled over time, and only a spare few of them are revealed in this first book.  Yet we don't feel cheated, because the world is well designed, the story is entertaining, and the narration pulls us in.

I like it.  I'm going to keep going.