Academ's Fury (Codex Alera, Book 2) (utgåvan 2006)

Academ's Fury turns everything up a level from Furies of Calderon - we have better character development, stronger battle sequences, better-aligned POVs, and a stronger plot. I struggled through the early chapters of this book because of the pacing there (as well as a few throw away sexist comments, which...no) but once it got rolling, I enjoyed it. The world and magic system here are decent and interesting. It's a solid high fantasy novel.

More than anything, I enjoyed Academ's Fury because I really enjoy Kitai's character. Unlike the other women in this series, Kitai is not hampered by a cultural who devalues her because of her gender. She's formidable and skilled and clever and I enjoyed every scene she's in. She's only a side character, too. More's the pity - I'd love to see her as a POV. ( )

I actually enjoyed this more than the first novel. The characters are better developed, and strands of politics are finally being drawn together to lay the foundation for what will hopefully be a complex, integrated rest of the series.

Actual Ratings:- 4.5 stars ( )

Better than the first book. Since I am listening this time to the audiobooks, having read the entire series several years ago in paperback, it is very interesting to see/hear the foreshadowing the Butcher puts in the story of things to come. Jim Butcher is an excellent writer and storyteller. I have yet to read a single one of his books that did not delight me and fully absorb me. I strongly recommend the Codex Alera series for any who enjoy fantasy novels. There are no dwarves or elves, but there are several very interesting and unique races who interact throughout the entire series. He creates a world and then inhabits it with people that you end up caring about. Well done. ( )

A very good follow-up to the first book in the series. The same characters appear in this one - Tavi, Isana, Amara, Bernard. The cast expands a little as we meet some of Tavi's friends and more people around the First Lord. There is plenty of action in this book, set against a reasonable amount of politics. There isn't pages and pages of political maneuvering, no endless discussions, just a realm in turmoil as they all try to maneuver to take over from the First Lord. There are new opponents too, the Canim. They are giant wolfmen (not werewolves, thankfully!) that share the same world and want Alera for their own. Good stuff. ( )

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Title: Academ's Fury
Series: Codex Alera #2
Author: Jim Butcher
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 720
Words: 183K

Synopsis:

CodexAlera.fandom.com & Me

Tavi has managed to enter the Academy under the patronage of Gaius Sextus, the First Lord of Alera and is training to be a cursor. Despite facing bullying at the hands of other students due to his lack of furycrafting talent, Tavi has managed to make numerous friends among his classmates, such as Max and Ehren. Tavi is also serving as a page for Gaius Sextus. Isana has also come to the capitol to get her citizenship and join the Dianic league. Back at home in the Calderon valley, Doroga, the leader of the marat, warns Bernard and Amara of a new threat, the Vord. He tells them that one nest has been killed, leaving 200 out of a force of 2000 Marat. Another nest is in the Calderon Valley, and one of the queens seems to be heading towards Alera Imperia. Tavi is sent on a mission as a Cursor in training, to find the mysterious thief "Black Cat", who has managed to circumvent various fury guards to steal things. Gaius Sextus falls ill, and Max is called to replace him. However, during a fight, Max is arrested and Tavi must break him out of Jail. Isana is also kidnapped. Eventually, Tavi manages to catch the thief, who is revealed to be Kitai, one of his Marat friends who followed him to Alera Imperia. Using her talents, Tavi breaks Max out of jail. Back in the Calderon Valley, Bernard is investigating reports of disappearances and goes to investigate Aricholt, the new Kordholt. However, it is completely abandoned, with the exception of a few children kept in a bunker underneath. The vord attack the holt, possessing many soldiers, and Garrison Legion is forced to hide in a nearby cave. The Canim Ambassador, Varg, shows Tavi the nest of Vord in the Deeps, and Tavi goes to warn the Citadel.

Bernard and Amara, along with Doroga and the remaining holders of Isanaholt, take refuge in a cave and fight off the Vord. Their situation looks hopeless and Amara agrees to marry Bernard since they are going to die the next day. Only they don't die, they are rescued by mercenary knights led by none other than that scum Aldrix Ex Gladius. The Taken and the Vord Queen are destroyed.

Isana can't get an audience with the First Lord (because he's incapacitated) nor can she get a hold of Tavi (who is trying to run things, as he's one of the few people who knows that Gaius is out of commission) and after a nearly successful attempt on her life, makes an alliance with Lord and Lady Aquitaine. They send the Knights Aeris to rescue Bernard.

Tavi is juggling trying to keep Gaius's secret safe and figure out how to deal with the Vord AND the Canim. One of the Canim, a blood priest, has made an alliance with the Vord Queen in the city and they plan an assassination attempt on Gaius. Ambassador Varg, as the last non-Taken Canim, reveals the plot to Tavi and it is up to Tavi to thwart it. With help from Fade (who slips back into his role as Araris, legendary swordsman), Kitai and many legionnaires, Tavi stops the attempt on the First Lord's life.
The Vord Queen, along with the Blood Priest, slip aboard a Canim vessel and head back to their land.

Gaius recovers and reveals that one of Tavi's friends (Gael) is actually a spy for Lord Kalarus and the book ends with Gaius baiting a hook to draw Kalarus out before he is truly ready. Gaius sends Tavi to an archeological dig in the same area where the bait is being dangled. With Tavi now being a Cursor it's time for him to begin truly working for the First Lord.

The book ends with Isana revealing to the readers that she is Tavi's mother, not his aunt.

My Thoughts:

I have these Codex Alera books in ebook, paperback and hardcover. I'm currently reading the paperback editions, as I am using these as my “word read”. Very easy to throw one into my book bag and since it's paper it doesn't matter if it sits in the sub-freezing cold all day. Can't do that with my kindle, sadly.

What that means is that I'm reading these books in dribs and drabs and not at a steady pace. However, much like Furies of Caldern, this takes place in just a couple of days. So while there might be a lot going on, there isn't too much going on simply because of author imposed time constraint. I think everything happens in a couple of weeks here but the majority of everything immediately happens in just a couple of days. I rather like that to be honest, as it fits the 5-15 minutes I have to read when at work.

Considering this is my 3rd read of this book in 10 years and I still enjoyed it, I'm going to call this a good book. I don't think I'll read it again for another decade though. For some reason, Tavi the main character seems younger than I remember! (hahahahaa)

I enjoy this series a lot. I'm sure someone else could come along and list all the faults. I simply have no interest in even thinking like that. As long as the series stays this strong, I'll be a happy and contented camper.

★★★★★ ( )