Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Orbit (2009), Edition: paperback / softback, Paperback, 624 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML:In his acclaimed Codex Alera novels, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher has created a fascinating world in which the powerful forces of nature take physical form. But even magic cannot sway the corruption that threatens to destroy the realm of Alera once and for all... When the power-hungry High Lord of Kalare launches a merciless rebellion against the First Lord, young Tavi of Calderon joins a newly formed legion under an assumed name. And when the ruthless Kalare allies himself with a savage enemy of the realm, Tavi finds himself leading an inexperienced, poorly equipped legion�??the only force standing between Alera and certain doom
User reviews
LibraryThing member Karlstar
A very enjoyable continuation of the Codex Alera series. We continue to follow the same cast of characters - Amara, Bernard, Isana and Tavi and their friends as the political situation in Alera gets worse and closer and closer to full blown civil war. I enjoyed the continued development of the
Well written, fast paced and fun to read. This is not buried by politics or excessive writing, just enough to tell the story well and keep the plot moving.
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story, the continued exploration of the history of the characters and the general plot. There is more of the giant wolf-men Canim in this book as well, though less of the Marat. Well written, fast paced and fun to read. This is not buried by politics or excessive writing, just enough to tell the story well and keep the plot moving.
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LibraryThing member Nikkles
The Codex Alera series is very good with fantastic characters and a fast passed and complex story. Jim Butcher is a great author and really put a lot of humor and morals into his work (without being annoying or preachy) A really good book.
LibraryThing member Caspettee
The 3rd book in the Codex Alera series and I think it just gets better. I really enjoyed this book it was action packed and intense with a liberal dusting of humor. I saved this book for a weekend so I could just sit and read and I am glad I did. I only surfaced to do the bare necessities of house
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chores then returned to the novel and resumed being immersed in the world of Alera. Show Less
LibraryThing member elric17
One of those series that just keep getting better. Tavi is quickly becoming an engaging character and looks to be well on his way to becoming the next First Lord. I can not wait to read the future installments to watch as his growth continues.
LibraryThing member lewispike
The continuing story of Tavi (short for Octavian) and the fight of the Alerans on many fronts.
Kalarus, a High Lord from the South, makes a deal with the Canim and strikes against the throne - at least in part provoked by a ruse that Gaius tries against him.
Kalarus' attack is well organised, with
Tavi gets assigned to a legion as a very junior officer, but ends up leading his legion for most of the battle, in a rather bloody but really quite unconventional way, using his experience and knowledge and using the resources available to him in a range of ways.
Bernard and Amara have an important hostage rescue mission that puts them into a temporary alliance with Lady Aquitaine. The rescue is a success, but politics rears its ugly head once more and the exfil turns into intrigue and a fight just as deadly even if there are no obvious wounds as yet.
Book Four will be out in paperback soon all being well. Really looking forward to it.
Kalarus, a High Lord from the South, makes a deal with the Canim and strikes against the throne - at least in part provoked by a ruse that Gaius tries against him.
Kalarus' attack is well organised, with
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quite a few surprises for the "good" guys, but the Canim also have a surprise or two - they arrive in much larger numbers than expected and burn their boats - they're here to stay!Tavi gets assigned to a legion as a very junior officer, but ends up leading his legion for most of the battle, in a rather bloody but really quite unconventional way, using his experience and knowledge and using the resources available to him in a range of ways.
Bernard and Amara have an important hostage rescue mission that puts them into a temporary alliance with Lady Aquitaine. The rescue is a success, but politics rears its ugly head once more and the exfil turns into intrigue and a fight just as deadly even if there are no obvious wounds as yet.
Book Four will be out in paperback soon all being well. Really looking forward to it.
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LibraryThing member Darla
Oh, geez. There is no way I can do this book justice. I tend to babble when I love a book, and waffle between fangirly squeeing and a dry synopsis. I've been a fan of Jim Butcher's writing for 6 years--hard to believe it hasn't been longer than that. The books have always been good, but each book
Cursor's Fury is the third book in the Codex Alera. And before the dingbats on Amazon get their panties in a twist--the Codex Alera is not a trilogy. It was never intended as a trilogy. But neither is it an open-ended series. It's a 6-book series. Quit getting pissy about what-ifs just because some authors don't know when/how to wrap things up. This one does.
Heh. I knew I'd wind up on a soapbox sooner or later here.
Anyway. The series is mostly about Tavi. If you've read the other books (and you really need to read this series in order, because each book builds on the previous ones--though enough details are given so a newcomer wouldn't be completely lost), you know that Alera is a world of magic, where people use elemental furies (air, earth, water, fire, metal, & wood) the way we use technology. And Tavi can't use furies. At all.
In Cursor's Fury, Tavi is now a cursor (secret agent for the Crown)--hence the title--and as such, he's sent to the newly-formed First Aleran legion as a junior officer (think butterbar). It's composed of soldiers and officers from every part of Alera, and they're sent off to the far reaches of the realm where, presumably, they'll all just spy on each other and keep out of trouble. Instead, they find themselves facing an invasion of Canim (huge dog-like creatures), and nearly the entire command structure of the First Aleran is killed, leaving young, fury-less Tavi in charge of once again saving the realm.
Meanwhile, High Lord Kalare is attempting a coup, and fellow cursor Amara has to team up with the scheming Lady Aquitaine to rescue the hostages he's taken; and Isana is busy fighting for both her life and that of the slave Fade, as she tries to heal him of a poisoned wound he received in Kalare's attack on the city of Ceres.
The characters are very complex--none is entirely good or entirely evil, and their personalities are backed up by their histories. Cursor's Fury gives us not only the external plot, but also developments in the character's emotional lives, and their emotions are clear and affecting without being manipulative or sappy.
One of the things I like best about this series (and it applies to the Dresden Files as well) is how deceptively simple it is. I've been reading a bit more fantasy again lately, and the contrast is marked. For me, reading an average fantasy book is like wading through thick mud. Reading the Codex Alera is like running on a track. It reads smooth and clean. There's plenty of atmosphere, and the worldbuilding is first rate, but it's not hidden in a dense tangle of oddly-spelled words and long passages of dull description. Conversely, the plot of the average fantasy book is really rather straightforward once you get to it, while the Cursor's Fury's plot is just full of twists and turns and tiny details that turn out to be major clues to future events. The closer you pay attention, the more complex the book gets.
I loved the military setting, particularly Tavi's assuming command. You could see hints of his future in the way he dealt with it.
Amara's thread of the story was mostly exciting action, but there was also a bittersweet emotional content to it as well that put a lump in my throat.
Isana's thread was the most emotional, and through it we learned a lot of the history we'd previously surmised. That one had me in tears more than once.
A note about the cover. It's been the wallpaper on my monitor for months now. It's not perfect, but the scene it depicts is one of my favorites in the book. It's an exciting life-or-death moment, and an emotional one for two different reasons. It makes me smile every time I see it.
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is just a little bit better than the one before, making Cursor's Fury his best book yet. Captain's Fury will be even better--trust me on this.Cursor's Fury is the third book in the Codex Alera. And before the dingbats on Amazon get their panties in a twist--the Codex Alera is not a trilogy. It was never intended as a trilogy. But neither is it an open-ended series. It's a 6-book series. Quit getting pissy about what-ifs just because some authors don't know when/how to wrap things up. This one does.
Heh. I knew I'd wind up on a soapbox sooner or later here.
Anyway. The series is mostly about Tavi. If you've read the other books (and you really need to read this series in order, because each book builds on the previous ones--though enough details are given so a newcomer wouldn't be completely lost), you know that Alera is a world of magic, where people use elemental furies (air, earth, water, fire, metal, & wood) the way we use technology. And Tavi can't use furies. At all.
In Cursor's Fury, Tavi is now a cursor (secret agent for the Crown)--hence the title--and as such, he's sent to the newly-formed First Aleran legion as a junior officer (think butterbar). It's composed of soldiers and officers from every part of Alera, and they're sent off to the far reaches of the realm where, presumably, they'll all just spy on each other and keep out of trouble. Instead, they find themselves facing an invasion of Canim (huge dog-like creatures), and nearly the entire command structure of the First Aleran is killed, leaving young, fury-less Tavi in charge of once again saving the realm.
Meanwhile, High Lord Kalare is attempting a coup, and fellow cursor Amara has to team up with the scheming Lady Aquitaine to rescue the hostages he's taken; and Isana is busy fighting for both her life and that of the slave Fade, as she tries to heal him of a poisoned wound he received in Kalare's attack on the city of Ceres.
The characters are very complex--none is entirely good or entirely evil, and their personalities are backed up by their histories. Cursor's Fury gives us not only the external plot, but also developments in the character's emotional lives, and their emotions are clear and affecting without being manipulative or sappy.
One of the things I like best about this series (and it applies to the Dresden Files as well) is how deceptively simple it is. I've been reading a bit more fantasy again lately, and the contrast is marked. For me, reading an average fantasy book is like wading through thick mud. Reading the Codex Alera is like running on a track. It reads smooth and clean. There's plenty of atmosphere, and the worldbuilding is first rate, but it's not hidden in a dense tangle of oddly-spelled words and long passages of dull description. Conversely, the plot of the average fantasy book is really rather straightforward once you get to it, while the Cursor's Fury's plot is just full of twists and turns and tiny details that turn out to be major clues to future events. The closer you pay attention, the more complex the book gets.
I loved the military setting, particularly Tavi's assuming command. You could see hints of his future in the way he dealt with it.
Amara's thread of the story was mostly exciting action, but there was also a bittersweet emotional content to it as well that put a lump in my throat.
Isana's thread was the most emotional, and through it we learned a lot of the history we'd previously surmised. That one had me in tears more than once.
A note about the cover. It's been the wallpaper on my monitor for months now. It's not perfect, but the scene it depicts is one of my favorites in the book. It's an exciting life-or-death moment, and an emotional one for two different reasons. It makes me smile every time I see it.
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LibraryThing member bell7
A few years after the Vord's defeat, Gaius sends Tavi as a Cursor and officer in the newly created First Aleran, a group of legionares purposely made up of men from various cities so that it would not be under the control of any one of the High Lords of Alera. At the same time, Bernard tries to
Fast-paced action and cliffhanger chapter endings have been the strength of the Codex Alera series so far, and book three is no exception. I did sometimes get frustrated with the narrator's tendency to slow down the action with unnecessarily lengthy explanations of what was going through a character's head. I like getting to know the characters, but sometimes only a few words rather than two paragraphs would have explained their thoughts and actions sufficiently. Still, the ending left me looking forward to the next book in the series.
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convince others of the threat the Vord still poses and the High Lord Kalarus maneuvers against the First Lord.Fast-paced action and cliffhanger chapter endings have been the strength of the Codex Alera series so far, and book three is no exception. I did sometimes get frustrated with the narrator's tendency to slow down the action with unnecessarily lengthy explanations of what was going through a character's head. I like getting to know the characters, but sometimes only a few words rather than two paragraphs would have explained their thoughts and actions sufficiently. Still, the ending left me looking forward to the next book in the series.
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LibraryThing member edstan76
This was much better the second time around. It was good the first time and WOW the second time.
In this installment we learn some background from Isana and Araris, Tavi shows some leadership qualities, and Bernard and Amara work with Lady Aquitiaine (strange bedfellows). Kalare shows just how
Jim is again able to craft the different plot lines around in such a way that you are always left wanting more. The mysteries surrounding Tavi and Fade are not major, in fact the reader figures things out before the characters do. Its how the other characters handle things that keep you wanting to know more. And their reactions to learning things.
The only thing that is a bit farfetched is Tavi a 20 year old being left to command after all the other officers get killed. But i can get past that easliy b/c i like the story so much. This is a series that i think any fantasy buff should read. It has everything. Then go onto a video sharing website and look at the interviews that Jim has done and listen to his story of how the Codex and furries came to be.
In this installment we learn some background from Isana and Araris, Tavi shows some leadership qualities, and Bernard and Amara work with Lady Aquitiaine (strange bedfellows). Kalare shows just how
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treacherous he is by plotting with the Canim to overthrow Gaius. Jim is again able to craft the different plot lines around in such a way that you are always left wanting more. The mysteries surrounding Tavi and Fade are not major, in fact the reader figures things out before the characters do. Its how the other characters handle things that keep you wanting to know more. And their reactions to learning things.
The only thing that is a bit farfetched is Tavi a 20 year old being left to command after all the other officers get killed. But i can get past that easliy b/c i like the story so much. This is a series that i think any fantasy buff should read. It has everything. Then go onto a video sharing website and look at the interviews that Jim has done and listen to his story of how the Codex and furries came to be.
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LibraryThing member Wova4
The readers who persevere to the third book in the Codex Alera will enjoy an overall improvement in the storytelling and craft of Jim Butcher. Gone, for the most part, are the cheats and ruses that marred the first two volumes. The narrative is more focused, giving primary importance to Tavi's
Still, none of the main characters have died. In this volume, it's easier to excuse. Many of the auxiliary primary characters aren't in as dangerous a position to which we've grown accustomed.
It's fairly easy to imagine the broad strokes of the story which are yet to come: family killed, Tavi acknowledged, Marat allied, Canim allied, Vorg confronted, Gaius dies, Tavi elevated, Fidelias reconciled, Acquitaines revolt, family avenged, peace and prosperity for all. I suspect I'll stay on for the duration of the ride and be a bit sleep-deprived.
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trials against the Canim. While the Canim opposition looks unassailable, the method by which Tavi's legion overcomes them is less arbitrary. Butcher's been at his best in Codex Alera when writing about massed combat and the strategies employed, and there's plenty to go around in Cursor's Fury.Still, none of the main characters have died. In this volume, it's easier to excuse. Many of the auxiliary primary characters aren't in as dangerous a position to which we've grown accustomed.
It's fairly easy to imagine the broad strokes of the story which are yet to come: family killed, Tavi acknowledged, Marat allied, Canim allied, Vorg confronted, Gaius dies, Tavi elevated, Fidelias reconciled, Acquitaines revolt, family avenged, peace and prosperity for all. I suspect I'll stay on for the duration of the ride and be a bit sleep-deprived.
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LibraryThing member EowynA
This story goes at a breakneck pace. We find out Tavi's parentage (which has been only hinted at up till now), and see how the choices of his parents and their friends have affected his life. He spends most of the book serving undercover (which Cursors do) in the Legion. There is an invasion from
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the Canim, which was foreshadowed in the previous book, and civil war. People who were the bad guys might not be so bad. People who were the good guys gain more dimension. A complex, fascinating series. I'm enjoying it a great deal. Show Less
LibraryThing member woodge
This entry in the Codex Alera find Tavi at the age of 19 and sent to the western province of Ceres to join the First Aleran Legion under the assumed name of Rufus Scipio. Ceres is just north of Kalare and Tavi ends up in the thick of trouble as Lord Kalare is goaded into trying to take the throne
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from Gaius. Things take a little while to get interesting in this book but around halfway in it gets very good. Tavi's got his hands full dealing with an overwhelming army of Canim (huge dog-like warriors) and Amara and company are tasked with a risky rescue mission. As before, the last ten pages have some eye-opening revelations. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jvstin
Cursor's Fury is third in the Codex Alera Series by Jim Butcher and continues the story of Tavi, the fury-less young man whose skill, intelligence and bravery have saved the Empire falling apart around him, twice.
In this third novel, noew that his school studies are behind him, Tavi is sent off to
However, the rise of a rebellion causes the Gaius to send Tavi's Legion out of the way--and, unwittingly, straight into the path of something even worse: An invasion of the canine, wolf like Canim. Tavi's Legion has been moved out of the way of the frying pan of the rebellion, into the fire of being the only force in the area between the Canim and a large chunk of the Empire.
In the meantime, as always, the story follows Tavi's Aunt Isana, Uncle Bernard and Bernard's lover (now wife) Amara as they are sent to try and counter the rebellion threat.
And just where is Tavi's "barbarian" friend, lover and possible lifemate Kitai in all this?
The Codex Alera universe grows and expands in this third novel, and a couple of characters actions, going back to the first novel, are reviewed and reinterpreted. And again, characters and the world change, develop and progress. Butcher has a real sense of moving events in this books--things do not merely happen only when characters are there to see it, and none of his characters are perfect. And the ending. Anyone can write a decent opening to a novel. Butcher, with the sting in the tail of this ending, proves he can end a book as forcefully as he begins one.
I am definitely looking forward to getting to and reading the next novel in one of the most entertaining epic fantasy series out there.
Butcher's novels may not be high literary fantasy in the sense of George R R Martin, but they provide "value for money" in terms of entertainment. And, in a mild digressive criticism of Mr. Martin, Butcher has shown little trouble in turning out novel after novel in this entertaining series.
Again, though, don't start here with this novel if you are new to the Codex Alera universe. Start with Furies of Calderon, and see for yourself.
In this third novel, noew that his school studies are behind him, Tavi is sent off to
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be an officer in the Legions, in specific a new Legion formed by the Gaius in a bid to try and create a force that will not be caught up in the tensions rising in his Empire. However, the rise of a rebellion causes the Gaius to send Tavi's Legion out of the way--and, unwittingly, straight into the path of something even worse: An invasion of the canine, wolf like Canim. Tavi's Legion has been moved out of the way of the frying pan of the rebellion, into the fire of being the only force in the area between the Canim and a large chunk of the Empire.
In the meantime, as always, the story follows Tavi's Aunt Isana, Uncle Bernard and Bernard's lover (now wife) Amara as they are sent to try and counter the rebellion threat.
And just where is Tavi's "barbarian" friend, lover and possible lifemate Kitai in all this?
The Codex Alera universe grows and expands in this third novel, and a couple of characters actions, going back to the first novel, are reviewed and reinterpreted. And again, characters and the world change, develop and progress. Butcher has a real sense of moving events in this books--things do not merely happen only when characters are there to see it, and none of his characters are perfect. And the ending. Anyone can write a decent opening to a novel. Butcher, with the sting in the tail of this ending, proves he can end a book as forcefully as he begins one.
I am definitely looking forward to getting to and reading the next novel in one of the most entertaining epic fantasy series out there.
Butcher's novels may not be high literary fantasy in the sense of George R R Martin, but they provide "value for money" in terms of entertainment. And, in a mild digressive criticism of Mr. Martin, Butcher has shown little trouble in turning out novel after novel in this entertaining series.
Again, though, don't start here with this novel if you are new to the Codex Alera universe. Start with Furies of Calderon, and see for yourself.
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LibraryThing member majkia
Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher just keeps getting better and better.
The series covers a classic tale of a seemingly unimportant child who turns out to be anything but. It's the journey that boy makes, not his identity which is important. It's watching him grow to be a cunning, intelligent spy
He's a 'freak' without the natural powers of his people, so he's had to find new ways of doing things: learn to be daring and risk exploring entirely new avenues of thought. Seeing him triumph, and watching him teeter on the point of failure is compelling.
Butcher creates a believable world, with limits and surprises, and creates enemies who are believable and not just caricatures. They too have reasons and are not cardboard evil. Yet the stakes are clearly shown, as is the horrors of war and the misery it engenders. Which all makes Tavi's struggles so fascinating.
Highly recommended.
The series covers a classic tale of a seemingly unimportant child who turns out to be anything but. It's the journey that boy makes, not his identity which is important. It's watching him grow to be a cunning, intelligent spy
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and agent for his king, yet learning to love and risk life and limb for family and country. It's also about his learning that limits are in your mind. He's a 'freak' without the natural powers of his people, so he's had to find new ways of doing things: learn to be daring and risk exploring entirely new avenues of thought. Seeing him triumph, and watching him teeter on the point of failure is compelling.
Butcher creates a believable world, with limits and surprises, and creates enemies who are believable and not just caricatures. They too have reasons and are not cardboard evil. Yet the stakes are clearly shown, as is the horrors of war and the misery it engenders. Which all makes Tavi's struggles so fascinating.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
This is the third book in the increasingly confusingly named sereis. Last book, Academ's fury, our hero was technically an Academ (trainee) but he quickly became a full Cursor and most of the book was about his time as a Cursor. This book, Cursor's Fury, starts with Tavi as a Cursor but he quickly
Tavi is sent to the newly formed Aleran Legion to gather information about which High Lords are trying to infultrate it. As a new Legion it's mostly training and unlikely to meet any real combat. Hence with Tavi there, combat becomes a certainty. JB is way too obvious at times. It turns out our old friend Sarl the Canim has returned with a vast horde of his fellows and poor old furyless Tavi has to stand on top of another wall and defend again. This is basically a repeat of book 1 with Tavi using a different strategy. meanwhile various other people we've been following flit around a bit.
The writing style continues to be annoyingly discontinuous - somethign that JB grew out of in the Harry Dresden books, and something I hope he manages to grow out of in this series. It has never been a favourite style of mine anyway, but Jb takes discontinuous abrupt character and scene changes to a new extreme. Disregarding that, and ignoring how increasingly MarySue the miracle boy Tavi is getting, it's an enganging romp through fairly standard fantasy fare. Lots of battles a few minor moral quandries, some fairly clever tactical choices with surprisingly clear explanations.
Overal it's complelling and fast paced, just try not to think about it too hard.
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become a captain, and most of the time is spent with him as a Captain. the next book is Captain's Fury where I'll be very unsurprised if Tavi doesn't remain as Captain for very long. And it look slike my prediction in the first of the series is already realised.Tavi is sent to the newly formed Aleran Legion to gather information about which High Lords are trying to infultrate it. As a new Legion it's mostly training and unlikely to meet any real combat. Hence with Tavi there, combat becomes a certainty. JB is way too obvious at times. It turns out our old friend Sarl the Canim has returned with a vast horde of his fellows and poor old furyless Tavi has to stand on top of another wall and defend again. This is basically a repeat of book 1 with Tavi using a different strategy. meanwhile various other people we've been following flit around a bit.
The writing style continues to be annoyingly discontinuous - somethign that JB grew out of in the Harry Dresden books, and something I hope he manages to grow out of in this series. It has never been a favourite style of mine anyway, but Jb takes discontinuous abrupt character and scene changes to a new extreme. Disregarding that, and ignoring how increasingly MarySue the miracle boy Tavi is getting, it's an enganging romp through fairly standard fantasy fare. Lots of battles a few minor moral quandries, some fairly clever tactical choices with surprisingly clear explanations.
Overal it's complelling and fast paced, just try not to think about it too hard.
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LibraryThing member kayceel
I'm completely loving this series, and am seriously considering going into work JUST to get the next in the series, rather than wait til Monday...
Tavi's strength, courage and leadership is shining even brighter, now that he is an official cursor for the First Lord, and on his first 'undercover'
Tavi's strength, courage and leadership is shining even brighter, now that he is an official cursor for the First Lord, and on his first 'undercover'
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mission. Intense, twisty, sexy and brutal, this one matches the others in this fantastic series. Show Less
LibraryThing member willowcove
This is a GREAT series with a new 'power' twist.
LibraryThing member edlib
I'm impressed by Butcher, but I'm happier with his Chicago wizard. This series is quite good, well worth your time, not as original as the Chicago books.
LibraryThing member jenspirko
Possibly my favorite of the whole series, due mostly to Tavi's continued growth and development into an interesting man and brilliant leader.
LibraryThing member MlleEhreen
I am a big fan of the Dresden Files series, and I occasionally like sword-and-sorcery books, so one day when I was waiting impatiently for the next Dresden book, I started the Codex Alera series. I picked up the first one in the series, Furies of Caderon, I read it, and I thought, "Well, what a
So I finally read book two, Academ's Fury. And by the time I was done, I was totally hooked on the series. The first thing I did after I finished the last page was order book three, Cursor's Fury, even though it was only available in hardback. I couldn't help it. I had to know what happened. Cursor's Fury was even better than Academ's Fury - Butcher has this truly incredible ability to get a series off to a good start and then make each book better as it goes along.
I think it's only now, at the end of the third book, that this series is really ready to begin. All of the characters are on the brink of major changes, all of them are well developed, there are incredibly complex relationships between them, conflicts between personal and political goals, between feeling and principle. Characters must choose between good and evil, but they must make even more difficult choices between different goods, which cannot both be obtained, and different evils, which cannot both be prevented. We know who the (many) main characters are, what they're up to, and how it came to be so.
I love the character of Tavi, and I really love that Butcher has written against the genre and created a character who can be a hero in a magical world without ever using magic. And I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment of the series to appear.
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good book, that Jim Butcher is a talented author." Then I went about my business for a while, without any burning desire to read book two. I checked bookstores when I passed the fantasy section, but for some reason bookstores never stock book two, and it was almost a year before I finally bothered to order it. So I finally read book two, Academ's Fury. And by the time I was done, I was totally hooked on the series. The first thing I did after I finished the last page was order book three, Cursor's Fury, even though it was only available in hardback. I couldn't help it. I had to know what happened. Cursor's Fury was even better than Academ's Fury - Butcher has this truly incredible ability to get a series off to a good start and then make each book better as it goes along.
I think it's only now, at the end of the third book, that this series is really ready to begin. All of the characters are on the brink of major changes, all of them are well developed, there are incredibly complex relationships between them, conflicts between personal and political goals, between feeling and principle. Characters must choose between good and evil, but they must make even more difficult choices between different goods, which cannot both be obtained, and different evils, which cannot both be prevented. We know who the (many) main characters are, what they're up to, and how it came to be so.
I love the character of Tavi, and I really love that Butcher has written against the genre and created a character who can be a hero in a magical world without ever using magic. And I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment of the series to appear.
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LibraryThing member AdriaFaye
These books just keep getting better and better with each one.Jim Butcher is amazing at classic fantasy just as he is with urban fantasy!
LibraryThing member jmoncton
This is the 3rd book in Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series and it just keeps getting better and better. The series is a mashup of historical fiction set during the Ancient Roman Empire and magical fantasy adventure. I definitely want to finish this series - it's fun, exciting, and has a great audio
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narration. Show Less
LibraryThing member DanThompson
This is the third book in Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series, and I get the feeling that this is where the story really gets rolling. We learn more about two of the principal political players in the realm, and we learn more about young Tavi’s back-story. We also get a taste for what’s going on
I think what I really liked about this one, however, was seeing Tavi in action. Yes, we got some of that in the first two books, but here is where I think we really see him come into his own. You see, Tavi has never developed his “fury” powers, which are basically a magical mastery of the various elements (fire, earth, water, air, metal, plants, etc.). In that, he’s kind of a powerless freak in an unkind world, but he’s also a very intelligent powerless freak. So here, we finally get to see him use his intelligence to not only overcome his lack of furycrafting, but to outwit and outmaneuver those with much greater abilities.
The book also has some major revelations about both the past and future of the realm. The First Lord is old and without an heir, and this book finally opened up the door on some new possibilities of what is going to happen when the old man finally dies. It left us with a teaser, bordering on a cliffhanger, that has made me eager to get to the next one.
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in the larger world.I think what I really liked about this one, however, was seeing Tavi in action. Yes, we got some of that in the first two books, but here is where I think we really see him come into his own. You see, Tavi has never developed his “fury” powers, which are basically a magical mastery of the various elements (fire, earth, water, air, metal, plants, etc.). In that, he’s kind of a powerless freak in an unkind world, but he’s also a very intelligent powerless freak. So here, we finally get to see him use his intelligence to not only overcome his lack of furycrafting, but to outwit and outmaneuver those with much greater abilities.
The book also has some major revelations about both the past and future of the realm. The First Lord is old and without an heir, and this book finally opened up the door on some new possibilities of what is going to happen when the old man finally dies. It left us with a teaser, bordering on a cliffhanger, that has made me eager to get to the next one.
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LibraryThing member debbie.menzel
I'm going to review the entire 6 book series as a whole. This was a super fun, fantasy series, complete with strong and unlikely "good guys" and very creepy "bad guys". Although those characters are very black and white, there are many "grey" characters, which always makes for good story telling.
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The entire story is typical fantasy fare - a young, unassuming boy ends up becoming the hero, saving the land from villans by employing cleverness and surprising strength. The battle sequences were a little detailed for me, but not to the detriment of the story. If you love fantasy books, check out this series. It's completed in 6 books, so you don't have to wait for the next book to come out! You get a nice, satisfying, appropos ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member jimmaclachlan
Another good addition to the series, but some of the foreshadowing was heavy handed, so 3.5. A fun, quick read. This didn't appeal to me in some ways as much as the first or second because Butcher is getting a little too predictable, still it had its moments. The series is definitely worth
Update: This book in the MMP edition, is the only one to have a map, so far & I'm on book 5. I REALLY wanted a map in the others, too. That makes this book very important to keep handy.
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continuing. No real need for a full review - if you liked the first 2 books, you'll like this one. I did & am moving on to the 4th.Update: This book in the MMP edition, is the only one to have a map, so far & I'm on book 5. I REALLY wanted a map in the others, too. That makes this book very important to keep handy.
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LibraryThing member readafew
This is the 3rd book in the Codex Alera series and Tavi has been a Cursor for the last 2 years working for Gaius all over the place. Then he's sent to work with a man he's admired for years as a research assistant.
Tavi and the researcher are called back to be added to a new 'test' legion, made up
The new legion was sent out to an area that was supposed to be calm to allow it time to train and get up to speed. When a rebellion is started, it was thought to be the safest place to be. Unfortunately, the Carnim decided to land en mass, and they had help. When a lightening bolt took out all the senior officers, it left Tavi as a field promoted captain. In charge of stopping the invasion.
Tavi and the researcher are called back to be added to a new 'test' legion, made up
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from soldiers from all over Alera. The idea was to have a legion that was not biased toward any one providence. Tavi is an officer and Max is sent as a Centurion for training. Unfortunately, Max's Step-mother is there, and she doesn't like Max, at all.The new legion was sent out to an area that was supposed to be calm to allow it time to train and get up to speed. When a rebellion is started, it was thought to be the safest place to be. Unfortunately, the Carnim decided to land en mass, and they had help. When a lightening bolt took out all the senior officers, it left Tavi as a field promoted captain. In charge of stopping the invasion.
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Language
Original publication date
2006-12-04
Physical description
4.06 inches
ISBN
1841497460 / 9781841497464
Local notes
Gaius Sextus, the First Lord of Alera, plants his nephew Tavi in a new legion, where Tavi can gather information on the rebellious High Lord of Kalare. Tavi, now a full-fledged Cursor, or spy, infiltrates the legion under the assumed identity of an officer, a station the green young man has not yet actually achieved. Treachery from a supposed ally opens the legion to attack from its bestial enemies, the Canim, incapacitating the captain and catapulting Tavi to the rank of the legion's commanding officer. Cut off from contact with the First Lord and with few seasoned officers to guide him, he must lead the troops in a defense of the Imperium against a horde of frenzied Canim warriors set on annihilating the Aleri people.
Other editions
Codex Alera, Book 3: Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher (Hardcover)