Series rating: 4.5/5
Disclaimer: Yep, I’m cheating. I know posting a review of 4 books all together is probably bad form. However, I don’t want to go into enough detail about a series to give away what happens (on the off chance you don’t guess). Plus, I’m behind in my blogging. 🙂
Summary: In Academ’s Fury, Tavi is a student at the Academy learning to be a spy, despite the fact that he doesn’t have the ability to wield the furies that are the magic of Alera. He faces many challenges, from fellow students who hate him to (another) threat to the empire.
In Cursor’s Fury, Tavi is now a bona fide cursor – a spy and diplomat of the realm. He is sent to a post where he is an officer in the army, despite the fact he has yet to serve the mandatory years of service to the realm. Due to enemy attacks and death in the upper ranks, he’s faced with defending an empire from the Canim with an experimental cohort of mostly untrained, untested soldiers. Civil war also erupts, and Tavi discovers the Canim attack isn’t a coincidence.
In Captain’s Fury, Tavi of Calderon, now Captain of the First Aleran Legion, realizes that despite his victory (or at least stalemate) the Canim, there is a greater threat – the Vord, who drove the Canim from their home, the same Vord that attacked the empire before. Tavi must find a way to overcome the deeply-seated hate between the Alerans and the Cane in order to forge an alliance against this greater evil.
In Princeps’ Fury, Tavi realizes the increasing obvious secret of his birth and parentage. In a combined diplomatic and strategic mission, Tavi decides to escort the Canim back to their homeland and to aid them in their fight against the Vord. What they find when they arrive is beyond their worst fears. Meanwhile, all is not well back in Alera as nobles deny Tavi’s legitimacy and scheme. Tavi again must find a way to save the empire AND the Canim against all odds.
Reaction: Enjoyable. Yes, I realize that Tavi is constantly saving the day. Yes, enemies attacking the empire is predictable, but that’s part of the fun and that’s kind of the bread-and-butter of fantasy – it’s how we get to know the characters. As I believe I said before, it’s very Romanic. This basis lends it an air of historical fiction (almost), which I enjoy. Tavi is a great character, as are his family and his lover. I can do without some of the other characters, but they also add to the story. My personal testimony is that I was absolutely sucked in and read the whole series in under a week… take that as you will.
Definitely a must read for fantasy lovers. For all you others, it wouldn’t be a bad series, but you have to commit through at least Book 2 – I think it gets better after that point.
NOTE: Among other things, this post fulfills my challenge requirement in the Once Upon a Time Challenge IV, hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings.
Interesting review! Was wondering what had happened to you as you were quiet for a while 🙂
Jim Butcher looks like an exciting new fantasy writer. Is the series in progress, or does it end with Book 5?
Did you get to read Michelle’s review of Robert Jordan’s ‘The Eye of the World’?
I was distracted by life – but I’m back again. 🙂 As for the series, there is one more book that came in December 2009 that I haven’t gotten ahold of yet. I think it ends at that point. And this is by far a faster read than Jordan!
Nice to have you back. I would love to hear your thoughts on the last book of this series.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Jordan’s series. It does look like a unique fantasy epic. I will try reading volume 1 sometime, and if I am brave enough I will try to venture till volume 4.
You can do whatever you like on YOUR blog. 🙂