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Codex Alera #4
Captain's Fury
In his acclaimed Codex Alera novels, bestselling author Jim Butcher has created a fascinating world in which the powerful forces of nature take physical form. For millennia, the people of Alera have used their unique bond with these elementals for protection. Now, as enemies become allies, and friends become bitter foes, a danger beyond reckoning looms. . . .
451 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2007
877 people are currently reading
11737 people want to read
About the author
Jim Butcher
214 books50.5k followersJim Butcher is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. An avid gamer, he plays tabletop games in varying systems, a variety of video games on PC and console, and LARPs whenever he can make time for it. Jim currently resides mostly inside his own head, but his head can generally be found in his home town of Independence, Missouri.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,512 reviews
May 10, 2020
I had to think of Sandersons´ Laws of magic while reading the novels because there are more and more differences between oldfashioned worlds that use the inner character personalization universe as a contrast point in mixture with the world and the fantasy and the new works that unite all elements.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_an...
And I would subjectively say that the amalgamation of every aspect of the story in the character makes the works more complex and opens plot options that wouldn´t be possible if the intrinsic motivation of the protagonists isn´t directly linked to their abilities, superpowers, sheer will,...
This is of cause a huge matter and question of taste too, as some might like their magic info dumping separated from their beloved characters and their development curve and hero´s journey, but for the readers who like the more and more dominating quick, fast cut, cliffhangery, newer writing style, many of the new fantasy authors, who often do great characterization too, may be the revelation.
I do like the Canim, it may be possible that mammals evolve to higher intelligence, but don´t lose their instincts, scent, hierarchies, archaic warrior castes,… and it´s an interesting topic in Sci-Fi and fantasy, but a bit underrepresented in fantasy. The evil may be pure evil or something between or not evil in the real sense, just forced to do it, but a whole evolution of complex species is often more something for the main protagonists or their allies, not the standard orcs and evil minions.
In sci-fi, on the other hand, it´s logical that with the advanced technological development each fraction that is relevant to the plot has to have a certain military strength and the endless source for new ideas is creating fresh and tasty combinations of the level of how society, mentality, and tech cooperate.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_an...
And I would subjectively say that the amalgamation of every aspect of the story in the character makes the works more complex and opens plot options that wouldn´t be possible if the intrinsic motivation of the protagonists isn´t directly linked to their abilities, superpowers, sheer will,...
This is of cause a huge matter and question of taste too, as some might like their magic info dumping separated from their beloved characters and their development curve and hero´s journey, but for the readers who like the more and more dominating quick, fast cut, cliffhangery, newer writing style, many of the new fantasy authors, who often do great characterization too, may be the revelation.
I do like the Canim, it may be possible that mammals evolve to higher intelligence, but don´t lose their instincts, scent, hierarchies, archaic warrior castes,… and it´s an interesting topic in Sci-Fi and fantasy, but a bit underrepresented in fantasy. The evil may be pure evil or something between or not evil in the real sense, just forced to do it, but a whole evolution of complex species is often more something for the main protagonists or their allies, not the standard orcs and evil minions.
In sci-fi, on the other hand, it´s logical that with the advanced technological development each fraction that is relevant to the plot has to have a certain military strength and the endless source for new ideas is creating fresh and tasty combinations of the level of how society, mentality, and tech cooperate.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
December 24, 2019
My least favorite, so far.
I love to read about Tavi and his immediate circle of friends - Kitai, Max, Ehren, Crassus, Marcus. I love to read about what political hijinks Lord & Lady Aquitaine are up to, and what Lady Aria Placida, Issana & Araris are doing to try to help stop them. And I love to read about Fidelias and his struggle to play both sides against each other.
But Bernard and Amara are just as dull as dishwater.
I mean, I like them, but I tend to zone out a tad when reading about their adventures. And this time around they were even more boring than usual.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Too big a chunk of the story was spent following Bernard, Amara, and Gaius on their loooooong journey to Lord Kalare's lands.
They're heading into the woods!
Now it's raining!
Now they're in a swamp!
Will they make it in time to save the day?!
And, yes. It wasn't like things didn't happen to them on the journey, but none of those things needed to be described in any sort of detail. Butcher could have told us where they were going and why, skipped over all the traveling through the woods crap, and then had them show up and do their thing at the end.
Boom! Done! <-- I would have enjoyed the book a lot more.
But there were some really cool stories that unfolded in Captain's Fury, and those kept me coming back for more.
Gaius leaves Tavi and his legion with some high-ranking political vipers, which leads him into several (seemingly) impossible situations with massive moral and legal ramifications.
Of course, I knew Tavi would fix it in some ingenious way.
But that confidence was in no small part due to the spoilery, idiotic names of these books.
Seriously? Come on, Butcher!
Still.
For all its faults, I'm totally into this series and I can't wait to read the next one!
I love to read about Tavi and his immediate circle of friends - Kitai, Max, Ehren, Crassus, Marcus. I love to read about what political hijinks Lord & Lady Aquitaine are up to, and what Lady Aria Placida, Issana & Araris are doing to try to help stop them. And I love to read about Fidelias and his struggle to play both sides against each other.
But Bernard and Amara are just as dull as dishwater.
I mean, I like them, but I tend to zone out a tad when reading about their adventures. And this time around they were even more boring than usual.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Too big a chunk of the story was spent following Bernard, Amara, and Gaius on their loooooong journey to Lord Kalare's lands.
They're heading into the woods!
Now it's raining!
Now they're in a swamp!
Will they make it in time to save the day?!
And, yes. It wasn't like things didn't happen to them on the journey, but none of those things needed to be described in any sort of detail. Butcher could have told us where they were going and why, skipped over all the traveling through the woods crap, and then had them show up and do their thing at the end.
Boom! Done! <-- I would have enjoyed the book a lot more.
But there were some really cool stories that unfolded in Captain's Fury, and those kept me coming back for more.
Gaius leaves Tavi and his legion with some high-ranking political vipers, which leads him into several (seemingly) impossible situations with massive moral and legal ramifications.
Of course, I knew Tavi would fix it in some ingenious way.
But that confidence was in no small part due to the spoilery, idiotic names of these books.
Seriously? Come on, Butcher!
Still.
For all its faults, I'm totally into this series and I can't wait to read the next one!
June 23, 2017
[4 stars] Academ’s Fury and Cursor’s Fury were two of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read – I loved the snot out of them. They took me on a whirlwind of a ride and so, by comparison, Captain’s Fury was a slower burn, more on par with the first book (although the events that happened within this one still rocked my world). It seemed more like a set up novel for the last couple books in the series and it did a great job generating some momentum. I can’t wait to finish this series – almost everything about it has made me very upset that I didn’t start it ages ago (and that my library holds are taking sooo long to come in). I love it!
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com
March 28, 2017
The series has definitely gotten better each book. I'm glad I stuck with it. The less whiny Tavi gets the better.
June 10, 2020
This series gets better and better with each book. This one was a labyrinth of political intrigue and decisions and out-maneuvering ones opponents both literally and figuratively. I loved it and can't wait to read the next two.
Ratings:- 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Ratings:- 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
June 19, 2015
To me, this book has been the most fun in the series so far, which is great! I read this as part of the #Rainbowthon and I found myself managing to get through this is just 2 days, very exciting.
This is set in a world where magic is the norm and everyone has at least one weak Fury (kind of a magic spirit). If you are very proficient with the Fury or Furies that you control and use then it's more likely that you're a noble or someone who has a position of power, although some keep the true extent of their powers hidden.
There are three major races in this book who we follow. The Aleran's are the main race that most of our central character's are from. We then have the Marat race which is largely based on tribes and customs, and have very different ways to the Aleran's. Finally we have the Canim who are a super large wolf-like race. They're often seen as the 'bad-guys' and in this book they're against the Aleran's, but some of them are more reasonable than others.
So this story once more follows Tavi as the lead character with others also taking leading roles. Tavi is a young man by the time we meet him in this book and he's been masquerading as Scipio, the young Captain leading troops against the Canim. The war against the Canim has been going on for a while and it's only now that Alera are at full strength and ready to really take them on (and *hopefully* win). Tavi is stuck leading troops and soldiers whilst all around him people are jealous of his position and envious of the men loyal to him. He's in a fair few deadly situations and close calls across the book, but this doesn't stop him from showing us his determination and skilful planning, and resourcefulness when things (inevitably) go wrong.
Isana is Tavi's aunt and has basically cared for him from his birth. She's one of the closest people to him, but she's kept a secret about his heritage for a long long time, and she's reluctant to tell Tavi even though he's now old enough. This secret has been the worry of her life, and she's tense and worried about his reaction to it. She's also kind of a pawn in another's game (Lady Aquitine) who wants her to do her bidding in return for earlier help. Overall Isana is also put into some tough predicaments, yet she actually relishes these once they're done with and the unburdening seems to help her expand herself and her powers.
Amara is a Curser who is working for the First Lord, Gaius as she has done for much of her life. She's a clever character who knows how to act quickly and do her job well. She's very competent and one of the best wind Fury controllers out there when it comes to flight. She's loyal to Gaius beyond a doubt, and she's happy to accompany him on a very mysterious mission without too much explanation.
Despite all this she has a secret which is to do with the man she loves. She's trying to fulfil her role to Gais at all times, but sometimes she wishes things were different and Curser's could get married and live a simple life...
Marcus is a member within the troops working with Tavi. He's a man who has a very shady past, but due to some events of the previous books his earlier alliances with the Aquitine's may now be tested and he's not sure who he should root for. He's manipulative and very good at guessing what may come to pass so he's a dangerous character to be on the wrong side of. He also doesn't like to be controlled. His story certainly interested me a lot more as the book went on and we saw him as a more major viewpoint character.
Kitai was, once more, my favourite character as she's quick and sharp in all senses of the words. She's funny and can make jokes, but she's also been raised in a way that's very different from the people of Alera because she's a Marat. She's fun to read about and imagine and I feel like she's the sort of person you'd like to be friends with (because being her enemy would be deadly).
Finally Gaius himself deserves a fair mention as he's one of the most powerful men in all of the land with many Furies under his command and a long time of ruling and experience. He's a fairly old man by this point of the story but the events of the ongoing conflicts from two sides have forced him to act and take matters into his own hands. At some points of this book his frailty was wonderfully shown and at others his power and immense strength of will and magic was also brilliantly shown. Overall I think he's a bit of a bad-ass :)
On the whole this book was just the type of book I was looking for right now. It was fun, fast-paced and a return to character I already knew and enjoyed. Slipping back into the world was very easy and it felt like I could remember everything that I needed to even though it had been a fair time since I last picked up the book before. I thoroughly enjoyed the read through for this and would give it a 5* rating. Recommended as a very fun and fast high fantasy series.
This is set in a world where magic is the norm and everyone has at least one weak Fury (kind of a magic spirit). If you are very proficient with the Fury or Furies that you control and use then it's more likely that you're a noble or someone who has a position of power, although some keep the true extent of their powers hidden.
There are three major races in this book who we follow. The Aleran's are the main race that most of our central character's are from. We then have the Marat race which is largely based on tribes and customs, and have very different ways to the Aleran's. Finally we have the Canim who are a super large wolf-like race. They're often seen as the 'bad-guys' and in this book they're against the Aleran's, but some of them are more reasonable than others.
So this story once more follows Tavi as the lead character with others also taking leading roles. Tavi is a young man by the time we meet him in this book and he's been masquerading as Scipio, the young Captain leading troops against the Canim. The war against the Canim has been going on for a while and it's only now that Alera are at full strength and ready to really take them on (and *hopefully* win). Tavi is stuck leading troops and soldiers whilst all around him people are jealous of his position and envious of the men loyal to him. He's in a fair few deadly situations and close calls across the book, but this doesn't stop him from showing us his determination and skilful planning, and resourcefulness when things (inevitably) go wrong.
Isana is Tavi's aunt and has basically cared for him from his birth. She's one of the closest people to him, but she's kept a secret about his heritage for a long long time, and she's reluctant to tell Tavi even though he's now old enough. This secret has been the worry of her life, and she's tense and worried about his reaction to it. She's also kind of a pawn in another's game (Lady Aquitine) who wants her to do her bidding in return for earlier help. Overall Isana is also put into some tough predicaments, yet she actually relishes these once they're done with and the unburdening seems to help her expand herself and her powers.
Amara is a Curser who is working for the First Lord, Gaius as she has done for much of her life. She's a clever character who knows how to act quickly and do her job well. She's very competent and one of the best wind Fury controllers out there when it comes to flight. She's loyal to Gaius beyond a doubt, and she's happy to accompany him on a very mysterious mission without too much explanation.
Despite all this she has a secret which is to do with the man she loves. She's trying to fulfil her role to Gais at all times, but sometimes she wishes things were different and Curser's could get married and live a simple life...
Marcus is a member within the troops working with Tavi. He's a man who has a very shady past, but due to some events of the previous books his earlier alliances with the Aquitine's may now be tested and he's not sure who he should root for. He's manipulative and very good at guessing what may come to pass so he's a dangerous character to be on the wrong side of. He also doesn't like to be controlled. His story certainly interested me a lot more as the book went on and we saw him as a more major viewpoint character.
Kitai was, once more, my favourite character as she's quick and sharp in all senses of the words. She's funny and can make jokes, but she's also been raised in a way that's very different from the people of Alera because she's a Marat. She's fun to read about and imagine and I feel like she's the sort of person you'd like to be friends with (because being her enemy would be deadly).
Finally Gaius himself deserves a fair mention as he's one of the most powerful men in all of the land with many Furies under his command and a long time of ruling and experience. He's a fairly old man by this point of the story but the events of the ongoing conflicts from two sides have forced him to act and take matters into his own hands. At some points of this book his frailty was wonderfully shown and at others his power and immense strength of will and magic was also brilliantly shown. Overall I think he's a bit of a bad-ass :)
On the whole this book was just the type of book I was looking for right now. It was fun, fast-paced and a return to character I already knew and enjoyed. Slipping back into the world was very easy and it felt like I could remember everything that I needed to even though it had been a fair time since I last picked up the book before. I thoroughly enjoyed the read through for this and would give it a 5* rating. Recommended as a very fun and fast high fantasy series.
June 25, 2023
***100 Days of Summer 2023***
Reading prompt: Book with a dog on the cover
Virtual 12 sided dice roll: 8
A lot of things shift in this book. The First Lord has to do something drastic. Tavi (or maybe I should refer to him as Octavian now?) learns his heritage, reaches his full growth, and figures out just how difficult adulting can be. Bernard and Amara have their loyalty stretched to its limits. Isana has to relinquish her most deeply guarded secret.
Butcher has cleverly plotted this volume, giving out problems left and right, then providing clever ways around or through said problems. Some of the solutions you can predict, others are less obvious. Thankfully, he is still able to surprise readers.
One of the high spots for me was the oceanic encounter with the leviathans. The creatures themselves were an inspired creation, being so huge, wild, and uncontrollable. The uncertainty of that adventure kept me reading frantically. Isana was amazing! Punching a shark away with her water fury! Following that remarkable incident, I have come to wonder if she has far more power than she has allowed herself to believe. Excessive power could have drawn attention to her little steadholt and to her family that she just didn't want.
Two books in the series remain. One in which Tavi can get the Canim back to their own lands and one in which he can consolidate what he has set up in this book. And we still have the unresolved question of where Lady Aquitaine has disappeared to and what repercussions Marcus/Fidelius will face for his disobedience. Plenty of issues for two more books.
Book number 490 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
Reading prompt: Book with a dog on the cover
Virtual 12 sided dice roll: 8
A lot of things shift in this book. The First Lord has to do something drastic. Tavi (or maybe I should refer to him as Octavian now?) learns his heritage, reaches his full growth, and figures out just how difficult adulting can be. Bernard and Amara have their loyalty stretched to its limits. Isana has to relinquish her most deeply guarded secret.
Butcher has cleverly plotted this volume, giving out problems left and right, then providing clever ways around or through said problems. Some of the solutions you can predict, others are less obvious. Thankfully, he is still able to surprise readers.
One of the high spots for me was the oceanic encounter with the leviathans. The creatures themselves were an inspired creation, being so huge, wild, and uncontrollable. The uncertainty of that adventure kept me reading frantically. Isana was amazing! Punching a shark away with her water fury! Following that remarkable incident, I have come to wonder if she has far more power than she has allowed herself to believe. Excessive power could have drawn attention to her little steadholt and to her family that she just didn't want.
Two books in the series remain. One in which Tavi can get the Canim back to their own lands and one in which he can consolidate what he has set up in this book. And we still have the unresolved question of where Lady Aquitaine has disappeared to and what repercussions Marcus/Fidelius will face for his disobedience. Plenty of issues for two more books.
Book number 490 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
December 2, 2010
3.5 stars. Another excellent installment in what has turned out to be an above-average epic fantasy series. The description of the book tells enough about the story that I won't re-hash the plot and will simply point out a few things I like about the story.
The progression of Tavi from young, naive, fury-less Country boy to a veteran, capable, fury-full (is that a word) Captain of the Aleran forces has been thoughful, understandable and well done. I also find myself really liking the characters Butcher has created and believe that he has done a better job in this series at fleshing out the characters and making them three dimensional than in his more popular Dresden books (which I also like by the way).
As with the previous books, the political elements are always present and Butcher does a good job in creating tension among the various factions while continuing to introduce new players to the game. I also have enjoyed how Butcher has continuously added new elements to the magical elements of the story in order to keep the story from growing stale, but not does SO MUCH that the story loses its dramatic appeal (the introduction of the "Great Furies" in this book is a good example).
Overall, this is top-notch epic fantasy and one I RECOMMEND fans of the genre. Looking forward to the next installment.
The progression of Tavi from young, naive, fury-less Country boy to a veteran, capable, fury-full (is that a word) Captain of the Aleran forces has been thoughful, understandable and well done. I also find myself really liking the characters Butcher has created and believe that he has done a better job in this series at fleshing out the characters and making them three dimensional than in his more popular Dresden books (which I also like by the way).
As with the previous books, the political elements are always present and Butcher does a good job in creating tension among the various factions while continuing to introduce new players to the game. I also have enjoyed how Butcher has continuously added new elements to the magical elements of the story in order to keep the story from growing stale, but not does SO MUCH that the story loses its dramatic appeal (the introduction of the "Great Furies" in this book is a good example).
Overall, this is top-notch epic fantasy and one I RECOMMEND fans of the genre. Looking forward to the next installment.
April 2, 2021
Captain’s Fury is the fourth out of six books in the Codex Alera series. This may be one of my shortest reviews ever because I don’t have anything new to say about it that I haven’t already said about the previous books, but I continue to really enjoy this series.
As I’ve said in other reviews, the progression of the main character and the story in general is somewhat predictable and not particularly twisty. However, I also really, really like the main character, as well as many of the secondary characters, I like the direction the story is going in, and I think it’s written well. It has a lot of the elements I tend to enjoy most in epic fantasy.
As I’ve said in other reviews, the progression of the main character and the story in general is somewhat predictable and not particularly twisty. However, I also really, really like the main character, as well as many of the secondary characters, I like the direction the story is going in, and I think it’s written well. It has a lot of the elements I tend to enjoy most in epic fantasy.
November 23, 2021
4.25 Sterne
Mag es total gerne, die Welt und die Handlung. Manches ging mir zu schnell, anderes viel zu langsam. Ingesamt aber wirklich eine tolle Reihe!
Mag es total gerne, die Welt und die Handlung. Manches ging mir zu schnell, anderes viel zu langsam. Ingesamt aber wirklich eine tolle Reihe!
December 13, 2018
This series gets more and more interesting with each book!
It could have been a tad shorter as we really didn't need to know so many details about that very long journey of the First Lord through so many places. I get it. It was loooooong and dangerous! And I almost reached the stage of: Oh, come on!! Still not done with it?!
Apart from that however, no complains from me!
A thumping good read!
And if you love adventure with a great touch of magic, you're going to love this!
Those furies are awesome by the way!! I wish I could get one myself! :)
It could have been a tad shorter as we really didn't need to know so many details about that very long journey of the First Lord through so many places. I get it. It was loooooong and dangerous! And I almost reached the stage of: Oh, come on!! Still not done with it?!
Apart from that however, no complains from me!
A thumping good read!
And if you love adventure with a great touch of magic, you're going to love this!
Those furies are awesome by the way!! I wish I could get one myself! :)
February 3, 2015
Executive Summary: While this one didn't live up to my memory of it, it's still a really fun read with a lot to like.
Audio book: At this point, I'm used to Kate Reading as a reader and can't imagine anyone else doing it.
Full Review
I originally maintained my 5 star rating after finishing my reread, but I think if I'm honest and rate it how I would if I were reading it for the first time, it would be a solid 4 star. This book starts and ends really well, but slows down in the middle some.
Like the first two books, some of the subplots just move too slow and left me wanting to get back to Tavi's story. In particular Amara's story really dragged for me here. I felt the tedium of her journey a little too much for my liking.
The start of this book mostly picks up right where Cursor's Fury leaves off (albeit a few years have passed) with Tavi and the First Aleran fighting the Canim.
Mr. Butcher does war well, and I think of all the antagonists of the series, the Canim are by far my favorite. They remind me a bit of Klingons. They really fit the proud warrior trope merged with wolfpack mentality to create a fun and interesting race.
The politics are ramped up in this one along with the stakes. Alera is at war on two fronts, and something has to give. The senator and his "bodyguards" remind me of everything I hate about politicians, so Mr. Butcher did a good job on that front I think.
The dialogue and the humor are great once again. Mr. Butcher always writes an excellent climax and this one is no different.
While there is still a lot yet to resolve, this one ends in a nice place that allowed me to take a short break and read another book.
Audio book: At this point, I'm used to Kate Reading as a reader and can't imagine anyone else doing it.
Full Review
I originally maintained my 5 star rating after finishing my reread, but I think if I'm honest and rate it how I would if I were reading it for the first time, it would be a solid 4 star. This book starts and ends really well, but slows down in the middle some.
Like the first two books, some of the subplots just move too slow and left me wanting to get back to Tavi's story. In particular Amara's story really dragged for me here. I felt the tedium of her journey a little too much for my liking.
The start of this book mostly picks up right where Cursor's Fury leaves off (albeit a few years have passed) with Tavi and the First Aleran fighting the Canim.
Mr. Butcher does war well, and I think of all the antagonists of the series, the Canim are by far my favorite. They remind me a bit of Klingons. They really fit the proud warrior trope merged with wolfpack mentality to create a fun and interesting race.
The politics are ramped up in this one along with the stakes. Alera is at war on two fronts, and something has to give. The senator and his "bodyguards" remind me of everything I hate about politicians, so Mr. Butcher did a good job on that front I think.
The dialogue and the humor are great once again. Mr. Butcher always writes an excellent climax and this one is no different.
While there is still a lot yet to resolve, this one ends in a nice place that allowed me to take a short break and read another book.
December 11, 2008
Butcher crafts a compelling fantasy. These are some of the first books in years that have given me chills during some of the more stirring scenes. Can't recommend the series enough. Hail Octavian!
March 31, 2014
Perfection! 5 Every book has gotten better for me and I loved them from the beginning. Instead of a book of theories and questions it was an entire book of ANSWERS! The battle scenes were more condensed and that left more room for personal storylines. LOVE this series!
August 20, 2016
Another solid addition to this series.
I've been partially listening to these books, and now there is one person ahead of me in line from the library for the audiobook of book 5. Sad.
Also, I very much appreciate that the audiobooks are narrated by a woman. In my experience, that only tends so happen when the protagonist is female, and in this case, it is not.
Edit: I've wanted to start mentioning it when fantasy authors address periods, especially male authors. Jim Butcher both acknowledged cramps and the desire not to have sex while on your period (and of course this is individual, many woman do). Well done.
I've been partially listening to these books, and now there is one person ahead of me in line from the library for the audiobook of book 5. Sad.
Also, I very much appreciate that the audiobooks are narrated by a woman. In my experience, that only tends so happen when the protagonist is female, and in this case, it is not.
Edit: I've wanted to start mentioning it when fantasy authors address periods, especially male authors. Jim Butcher both acknowledged cramps and the desire not to have sex while on your period (and of course this is individual, many woman do). Well done.
January 2, 2019
The fourth installment of this series is easily my favorite so far. Taxi really is growing up, isn't he! I love that Jim Butcher can deliver such a sweeping epic fantasy adventure and still take the time to do right by the characters, even those secondary and minor characters I've come to care about. I can't wait to continue this series.
February 2, 2009
The continuing adventures of Tavi and the rest of the crew. If you are a fan of the series, you know what to expect. The characters get into loads of impossible scrapes, only to somehow pull themselves through.
I've noticed a disturbing trend in this series since the second book--I spend the first quarter to third of the book trying to remember who all the characters are, and where the assorted story lines were going. I spend the next third or so thinking "I love Butcher's novels, but I'm not sure I'm going to finish this one." I then spend the last third racing through as the action picks up dramatically and I'm eager to read how it finishes.
Captain's Fury was much the same. Admittedly, I did remember many of the characters a bit better this time, but I think the series suffers from the large number of recurring characters. Butcher's normally good characterization is noticeably absent here--many of the characters are little more than a name and collection of traits.
I did finish, I did enjoy the ending, but I personally think the book has taken some wrong turns along the way. I found the first book refreshing because Tavi was a hero who had to survive through his wits because he had no power of his own. But Butcher has changed this to a typical seemingly weak character who slowly comes into his power.
I wish he'd kept Tavi the way he was. A duel Tavi fights near the end of the book perfectly outlines what I mean--the old Tavi would never have been able to do what the current Tavi accomplishes. No swords cutting through metal, superhuman leaps to nearby roofs, etc.
I liked Tavi with no access to crafting. He was much more interesting, because he was not like every other fantasy character on the market. I'll probably read the next book, because I read all of Butcher's work. I just hope the next one mixes things up a bit more.
I've noticed a disturbing trend in this series since the second book--I spend the first quarter to third of the book trying to remember who all the characters are, and where the assorted story lines were going. I spend the next third or so thinking "I love Butcher's novels, but I'm not sure I'm going to finish this one." I then spend the last third racing through as the action picks up dramatically and I'm eager to read how it finishes.
Captain's Fury was much the same. Admittedly, I did remember many of the characters a bit better this time, but I think the series suffers from the large number of recurring characters. Butcher's normally good characterization is noticeably absent here--many of the characters are little more than a name and collection of traits.
I did finish, I did enjoy the ending, but I personally think the book has taken some wrong turns along the way. I found the first book refreshing because Tavi was a hero who had to survive through his wits because he had no power of his own. But Butcher has changed this to a typical seemingly weak character who slowly comes into his power.
I wish he'd kept Tavi the way he was. A duel Tavi fights near the end of the book perfectly outlines what I mean--the old Tavi would never have been able to do what the current Tavi accomplishes. No swords cutting through metal, superhuman leaps to nearby roofs, etc.
I liked Tavi with no access to crafting. He was much more interesting, because he was not like every other fantasy character on the market. I'll probably read the next book, because I read all of Butcher's work. I just hope the next one mixes things up a bit more.
August 21, 2019
I’ll keep this short and spoiler free since Captain’s Fury is the fourth book in the series.
Captain’s Fury is slower than the previous novels, but that does not detract from its awesomeness. If you’ve made it this far into the series, you can forgive it’s slowly pace and lengthy set up for the final two novels.
The series is now embroiled in war. Butcher writes such energetic and gritty war scenes making it easy to follow and visualize. At no point does he glorify war. He shows it in all its dirty details.
I especially loved Amara’s journey in this novel. The actual mission she was on and her character’s spiritual, if you will, journey was easily the best aspect of Captain’s Fury.
With things concluded as they are, I am very excited to see what’s next for these characters. Princep’s Fury is sure to deliver!
Captain’s Fury is slower than the previous novels, but that does not detract from its awesomeness. If you’ve made it this far into the series, you can forgive it’s slowly pace and lengthy set up for the final two novels.
The series is now embroiled in war. Butcher writes such energetic and gritty war scenes making it easy to follow and visualize. At no point does he glorify war. He shows it in all its dirty details.
I especially loved Amara’s journey in this novel. The actual mission she was on and her character’s spiritual, if you will, journey was easily the best aspect of Captain’s Fury.
With things concluded as they are, I am very excited to see what’s next for these characters. Princep’s Fury is sure to deliver!
October 23, 2014
Another fun, quick read, although a bit predictable. The main character, Tavi, matures further & is slowly coming into his own, which is neat. The interactions with the Camin are interesting - different cultures meeting & clashing. It's nice to see that the 'good' guys aren't always perfect & often, no matter what they do, their options are limited so that they can seem pretty bad. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.
October 6, 2014
Our hero continues to grow into his destiny and things are brought out into the light for all to see in this book.
October 13, 2016
Fantastic!
June 5, 2020
4 of 5 stars
-----
"Very few people understand that swords aren't dangerous, Tavi, nor hands nor arms, nor furies. Minds are dangerous. Wills are dangerous. You are heavily armed with both"
Probably my least favorite in this series so far but still a very much solid read. I appreciate how the author makes Tavi's character so consistent but not repetitive. He still managed to suprise me with his clever decisions. He's flawed, just like any other characters, but he somehow used his flaws to his advantage most of the time.
I just wished there are more Max scenes in this book. For me, this has the least battleground appearance, atleast where Tavi's involved, compared to the first three books, and as I said before, I loved the battles and actions and tactics a lot more in this series.
-----
"Very few people understand that swords aren't dangerous, Tavi, nor hands nor arms, nor furies. Minds are dangerous. Wills are dangerous. You are heavily armed with both"
Probably my least favorite in this series so far but still a very much solid read. I appreciate how the author makes Tavi's character so consistent but not repetitive. He still managed to suprise me with his clever decisions. He's flawed, just like any other characters, but he somehow used his flaws to his advantage most of the time.
I just wished there are more Max scenes in this book. For me, this has the least battleground appearance, atleast where Tavi's involved, compared to the first three books, and as I said before, I loved the battles and actions and tactics a lot more in this series.
November 18, 2015
Tavi still overcomes by depending on his wits and forming strong friendships. A good read, especially aboard the Slive with Captain Demos, and in Alera Imperia with Ambassador Vaug. Cool dueling scene at the end. Tavi learns a few things about himself, and the cause of his inhibited fury-crafting abilities.
Major problem with the characterization of Fidelius. Early in book 1, Gaius told Amara that he suspected FIDELIUS. He knew Fidelius incapable of truly understanding loyalty. He saw portents of a capacity for vicious treachery when Fidelius was a young graduate. So, trusting this treacherous, murderous pig diminishes Tavi's and Katai's perceptiveness.
On to the next.
Major problem with the characterization of Fidelius. Early in book 1, Gaius told Amara that he suspected FIDELIUS. He knew Fidelius incapable of truly understanding loyalty. He saw portents of a capacity for vicious treachery when Fidelius was a young graduate. So, trusting this treacherous, murderous pig diminishes Tavi's and Katai's perceptiveness.
On to the next.
June 12, 2018
7.5/10
Moving towards the second half of the series, where most authors would have already brought their story arcs to their completion, having managed to build a huge world through his imagination, Jim Butcher takes us in Captain’s Fury, the fourth installment, back to the Realm's civil war, into a story of Legionares and Senators, of singulares, pirates and wolfish warriors, and into an adventure of stratagems and conspiracies, of discipline and leadership, and of truth and trust that will test the heroes’ abilities more than ever.
It’s been two years since the Night of the Red Stars and Lord Kalarus’s rebellion, and the sacrifices they had to make; an instigated war that challenged their very survival, bringing the western regions and the people of Alera into chaos, despair, and disarray, and now, with the Realm being threatened by two fronts, the High Lords and the Senate have at last united their forces under one common purpose - but for Tavi, having stood before the worst possible odds, fighting alongside his legionares, these years were the most difficult he has passed so far.
Stationed along with the First Aleran at bridge of the Elinarch, at Tiber River, to repel the Canim forces, Tavi’s young military life has been filled with more responsibilities than ever before, dividing his time among the preparation and the defense of the fortifications, the intense exercise of his growing abilities, and his irresistible lust for Kitai, leaving him barely with any rest.
Yet, with the constant conflict between the Canim warriors and their Legions having cost to both too much, as he’ll try to find a peaceful solution that will bring a cessation of hostilities - wanting nothing more than to put an end to the needless bloodshed and waste of lives - when the newly appointed commander of the Senate, the haughty Senator Arnos, in his deep hunger for vengeance, begins his own campaign to wipe them out from their land once and for all, and a political conspiracy sets to undermine anyone that'll stand against it, Tavi and those loyal to him will be faced with the laws of the Realm and a high-risk mission through the seas and prisons of Alera, holding in their hands the fate of all of them.
At the second front of the war, at the city of Kalare, Amara, having become the First Lord’s personal liaison, these years she's spent them traveling between the capital and the sieging camps of their Legions, delivering and collecting reports for the course of their forces that has taken her away from Bernard’s company more than she would've liked.
But, as her last order will assign her to convene the War Committee at the Elinarch, when the First Lord leads her to the outskirts of the city of Kalare, in a mission of utmost secrecy, she and Bernard will find themselves amidst a dangerous adventure of survival through the forests and the swamps; an adventure that, when the real intentions of their mission are revealed, will bring them into a test that could destroy everything of what they believed in.
Meanwhile, Isana, with the secrets of her past having begun to bring her a deep guilt, eating her very soul, when she undertakes to deliver the supplies that she bought with the Dianic League’s funding to the refugees at the Elinarch, she’ll have to take a difficult decision that may well cost her the one person in this world that she loves most; while Valiar Marcus, having taken someone else’s identity these couple years, fighting at the side of a boy - a young man - that he wouldn’t had ever imagined that he would find again, he will have to choose between his loyalty and his honor, and his certain death and the preservation of his life.
However, with the war having extended beyond their control, touching the hearts of the slaves and the simple people, when the Canim warriors and their united free forces seem to be ready to surge towards the last defending troops of their Legions, and Lord Kalarus approaches at unleashing a restrained power of vast consequences, Tavi and his companions, Amara and Bernard, and Isana and Araris, will have to find a way to overcome the obstacles that will come before them and put a final end to this war before it’s too late, because if they fail, the future of the Realm of Alera will become more uncertain than ever before.
Continuing the threads that he left open in the third book of the series, Cursor’s Fury, and the events that triggered Lord Kalarus’s rebellion and the Canim invasion, Jim Butcher returns once again back to the Realm’s war, immersing us deep into the ranks of the soldiers and the commanding officers between the forces of the Legions and the Canim, showing us the difficulties of the military leadership, the orders and laws that they must follow, and the battles that they must survive, as well as into the lives of the slaves and the simple people of the western regions who, without having the Citizenry’s privilege, falling victims to the manipulation of their seemingly superiors and their political schemes - forcing them to abandon everything they had - brings to light the great impact that have the actions of wrong choices upon them, their homes and their families.
But taking to us at the same time and on a journey through the seas, the forests and the swamps of the Realm that brings to the surface a wondrous, unexplored world of creatures and magic, filled with turtle-like Leviathans, enormous Garim lizards and powerful Furies that inhabit beyond the authority of the humans - a world that, showing its good and its bad, reveals its many and different aspects.
And, though the book may not be as sweeping as its predecessor, losing its intensity a little in the middle, Butcher manages to bring in Captain’s Fury another exciting novel that blends wonderfully the military fantasy with the political intrigue, traveling us into a story of legionaries and singulares, of Citizens and simple people, of barbarian horsemen and wolfish warriors, but also into an adventure of stratagems and conspiracies, and of trust and truth that, as the characters’ lives get even more complicated, bringing them before greater difficulties, achieves in the end to offer lots of enjoyable moments of thrill and joy, making the anticipation of their next adventures even bigger.
All in all, Captain’s Fury is a satisfying fourth book, with Jim Butcher to travels us through the war of the Realm of Alera into an exciting military and political story of Legionares, pirates and singulares, as well as into an adventure of stratagems, conspiracies, and trust that leaves in the end many promises for something even better to come next.
Ελληνική κριτική:
Moving towards the second half of the series, where most authors would have already brought their story arcs to their completion, having managed to build a huge world through his imagination, Jim Butcher takes us in Captain’s Fury, the fourth installment, back to the Realm's civil war, into a story of Legionares and Senators, of singulares, pirates and wolfish warriors, and into an adventure of stratagems and conspiracies, of discipline and leadership, and of truth and trust that will test the heroes’ abilities more than ever.
It’s been two years since the Night of the Red Stars and Lord Kalarus’s rebellion, and the sacrifices they had to make; an instigated war that challenged their very survival, bringing the western regions and the people of Alera into chaos, despair, and disarray, and now, with the Realm being threatened by two fronts, the High Lords and the Senate have at last united their forces under one common purpose - but for Tavi, having stood before the worst possible odds, fighting alongside his legionares, these years were the most difficult he has passed so far.
Stationed along with the First Aleran at bridge of the Elinarch, at Tiber River, to repel the Canim forces, Tavi’s young military life has been filled with more responsibilities than ever before, dividing his time among the preparation and the defense of the fortifications, the intense exercise of his growing abilities, and his irresistible lust for Kitai, leaving him barely with any rest.
Yet, with the constant conflict between the Canim warriors and their Legions having cost to both too much, as he’ll try to find a peaceful solution that will bring a cessation of hostilities - wanting nothing more than to put an end to the needless bloodshed and waste of lives - when the newly appointed commander of the Senate, the haughty Senator Arnos, in his deep hunger for vengeance, begins his own campaign to wipe them out from their land once and for all, and a political conspiracy sets to undermine anyone that'll stand against it, Tavi and those loyal to him will be faced with the laws of the Realm and a high-risk mission through the seas and prisons of Alera, holding in their hands the fate of all of them.
At the second front of the war, at the city of Kalare, Amara, having become the First Lord’s personal liaison, these years she's spent them traveling between the capital and the sieging camps of their Legions, delivering and collecting reports for the course of their forces that has taken her away from Bernard’s company more than she would've liked.
But, as her last order will assign her to convene the War Committee at the Elinarch, when the First Lord leads her to the outskirts of the city of Kalare, in a mission of utmost secrecy, she and Bernard will find themselves amidst a dangerous adventure of survival through the forests and the swamps; an adventure that, when the real intentions of their mission are revealed, will bring them into a test that could destroy everything of what they believed in.
Meanwhile, Isana, with the secrets of her past having begun to bring her a deep guilt, eating her very soul, when she undertakes to deliver the supplies that she bought with the Dianic League’s funding to the refugees at the Elinarch, she’ll have to take a difficult decision that may well cost her the one person in this world that she loves most; while Valiar Marcus, having taken someone else’s identity these couple years, fighting at the side of a boy - a young man - that he wouldn’t had ever imagined that he would find again, he will have to choose between his loyalty and his honor, and his certain death and the preservation of his life.
However, with the war having extended beyond their control, touching the hearts of the slaves and the simple people, when the Canim warriors and their united free forces seem to be ready to surge towards the last defending troops of their Legions, and Lord Kalarus approaches at unleashing a restrained power of vast consequences, Tavi and his companions, Amara and Bernard, and Isana and Araris, will have to find a way to overcome the obstacles that will come before them and put a final end to this war before it’s too late, because if they fail, the future of the Realm of Alera will become more uncertain than ever before.
Continuing the threads that he left open in the third book of the series, Cursor’s Fury, and the events that triggered Lord Kalarus’s rebellion and the Canim invasion, Jim Butcher returns once again back to the Realm’s war, immersing us deep into the ranks of the soldiers and the commanding officers between the forces of the Legions and the Canim, showing us the difficulties of the military leadership, the orders and laws that they must follow, and the battles that they must survive, as well as into the lives of the slaves and the simple people of the western regions who, without having the Citizenry’s privilege, falling victims to the manipulation of their seemingly superiors and their political schemes - forcing them to abandon everything they had - brings to light the great impact that have the actions of wrong choices upon them, their homes and their families.
But taking to us at the same time and on a journey through the seas, the forests and the swamps of the Realm that brings to the surface a wondrous, unexplored world of creatures and magic, filled with turtle-like Leviathans, enormous Garim lizards and powerful Furies that inhabit beyond the authority of the humans - a world that, showing its good and its bad, reveals its many and different aspects.
And, though the book may not be as sweeping as its predecessor, losing its intensity a little in the middle, Butcher manages to bring in Captain’s Fury another exciting novel that blends wonderfully the military fantasy with the political intrigue, traveling us into a story of legionaries and singulares, of Citizens and simple people, of barbarian horsemen and wolfish warriors, but also into an adventure of stratagems and conspiracies, and of trust and truth that, as the characters’ lives get even more complicated, bringing them before greater difficulties, achieves in the end to offer lots of enjoyable moments of thrill and joy, making the anticipation of their next adventures even bigger.
All in all, Captain’s Fury is a satisfying fourth book, with Jim Butcher to travels us through the war of the Realm of Alera into an exciting military and political story of Legionares, pirates and singulares, as well as into an adventure of stratagems, conspiracies, and trust that leaves in the end many promises for something even better to come next.
Ελληνική κριτική:
January 4, 2016
I am not a Codex Alera fan. So far, the star spread is (links lead to the reviews):
Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera #1) - 2 stars
Academ's Fury (Codex Alera #2) - 2 stars
Cursor's Fury (Codex Alera #3) - 1 star
And this book, Captain's Fury (Codex Alera #4) - 2 stars
That's not a very good track record to continue on with. And yet, I'm still reading them. Some deep dark part of me obviously wants to know how the story is going to end, and whether any of these characters are ever going to bite it. So that does say something for this series. It is very readable. It is so...fluffy. Bad things continue to happen but the characters are never in any real danger, because no matter what, something will save them.
I love fantasy, there is no way around that. There are of course many reasons why I love fantasy so much, but one reason was actually present in this book. Shock! I know, right? I can't help it, I really like it when characters break down and accept their fate. The readers have known it was coming since the end of book 3 (or longer, depending on how quickly you picked up that the titles basically spoil the entire series), but here, it happens. Tavi accepts who he is, and who his dad was. He will never be without responsibilities again, will never be a little boy in Calderon again. I can't help it; even if I don't like the series, that scene was moving and well done. It was a paradigm shift, and the entire rest of the book plays out around his acceptance. Nothing can ever be the same. This is a big deal!
For once, the second half of the book was not taken up by one long, drawn out battle. It is instead a lot more about sneaking around and getting a precise mission completed, rather than throwing legion after legion into battle like all the other books up until this point. A lot of blood still gets shed, of course, but I was getting very tired of half a book of set up just so we could have half a book of battle.
Unfortunately, I find just about every character insufferable.
The evolution of Finduilas is a side story I've enjoyed, up until now. I love it when bad guys become maybe-almost-kinda good guys. Friendship through adversity and all that. In this particular installment, Finduilas' story, or "Marcus," was just ok. His character was great but some of the...let's say the WAY he got his orders was completely ridiculous. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't go into details, but I feel like the nobility in this series has to have better things to do than harass Tavi out in the middle of nowhere. Apparently, that's the only hobby any of them have. Very frustrating.
Amara and Bernard are the worst. I thought their love story stilted from the beginning, while their ludicrous reasons for being married and hiding their marriage is just to create some drama. There was no real reason to write that their marriage had to be hidden, except that for some reason they are considered main characters and must therefore see some face time. Therefore: this marriage must be hidden! Let's talk about how we have to hide our love, endlessly! Plus, their mission in this book is an exercise in ridiculousness. The ONLY reason they are on such a stupid mission is to give them some face time, otherwise Bernard would be up in Calderon doing his count thing. Again, the nobility has nothing better to do than get their own hands dirty and perform their own work. I realize that the nobility houses the strongest furycrafters, but seriously, there's no one else the First Lord could have sent on this absolutely absurd quest? The entire idea behind this subplot was stupid, and then it just keeps on GOING. Walking through the swamp, come to find out, is just not that interesting.
The evolution of Tavi has been completely unbelievable to me from the very beginning, but it became a million times worse in, Cursor's Fury (Codex Alera #3). The whole idea of Tavi wresting control of a legion, and then out thinking an entire army, was not only baffling to me, it was also so completely far fetched, I ranted about it for ages over at my review of it. Because of everything that occurred so nonsensically in book 3, book 4 picks up right where it left off, with Tavi having an entire legion so completely loyal they are all willing to do whatever he says at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, I am still in disbelief to the loyalty, as the whole reason it came around was so preposterous.
He then continues to perform death defying acts across the continent, putting himself into one stupid situation after another. I found it all to be worthless - I knew no one would die, no matter how close to death they got, and I knew Tavi would always come up with some crazy scheme, and it would always work out. The whole thing was an exercise in futility for the reader. You know what is going to happen long before it does, so what's the point of reading it? This installation was the most predictable, and I have found EVERY book in this series to be disappointingly predictable. There is no depth here, only fluff.
My last note is: I hate the vord. I have hated them since the croach crater in book 1. I'm not even sure why I dislike them so much, but I really really do. Maybe because they're a Borg-style (or Dalek-style) villain but done poorly. Of course, I do feel that both of those villains became caricatures, and were no longer frightening by the end of their respective TV shows. We shall see how I feel after Princeps' Fury (Codex Alera #5), but for some reason I have this feeling I am going to hate that one. Big surprise!
Oh, yes! I can't forget to mention how much I hate the word "crow" now. SO MUCH! It's horrible. At least most fantasy books have a few different curse words to choose from. Having only one makes me have eye twitches.
Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera #1) - 2 stars
Academ's Fury (Codex Alera #2) - 2 stars
Cursor's Fury (Codex Alera #3) - 1 star
And this book, Captain's Fury (Codex Alera #4) - 2 stars
That's not a very good track record to continue on with. And yet, I'm still reading them. Some deep dark part of me obviously wants to know how the story is going to end, and whether any of these characters are ever going to bite it. So that does say something for this series. It is very readable. It is so...fluffy. Bad things continue to happen but the characters are never in any real danger, because no matter what, something will save them.
I love fantasy, there is no way around that. There are of course many reasons why I love fantasy so much, but one reason was actually present in this book. Shock! I know, right? I can't help it, I really like it when characters break down and accept their fate. The readers have known it was coming since the end of book 3 (or longer, depending on how quickly you picked up that the titles basically spoil the entire series), but here, it happens. Tavi accepts who he is, and who his dad was. He will never be without responsibilities again, will never be a little boy in Calderon again. I can't help it; even if I don't like the series, that scene was moving and well done. It was a paradigm shift, and the entire rest of the book plays out around his acceptance. Nothing can ever be the same. This is a big deal!
For once, the second half of the book was not taken up by one long, drawn out battle. It is instead a lot more about sneaking around and getting a precise mission completed, rather than throwing legion after legion into battle like all the other books up until this point. A lot of blood still gets shed, of course, but I was getting very tired of half a book of set up just so we could have half a book of battle.
Unfortunately, I find just about every character insufferable.
The evolution of Finduilas is a side story I've enjoyed, up until now. I love it when bad guys become maybe-almost-kinda good guys. Friendship through adversity and all that. In this particular installment, Finduilas' story, or "Marcus," was just ok. His character was great but some of the...let's say the WAY he got his orders was completely ridiculous. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't go into details, but I feel like the nobility in this series has to have better things to do than harass Tavi out in the middle of nowhere. Apparently, that's the only hobby any of them have. Very frustrating.
Amara and Bernard are the worst. I thought their love story stilted from the beginning, while their ludicrous reasons for being married and hiding their marriage is just to create some drama. There was no real reason to write that their marriage had to be hidden, except that for some reason they are considered main characters and must therefore see some face time. Therefore: this marriage must be hidden! Let's talk about how we have to hide our love, endlessly! Plus, their mission in this book is an exercise in ridiculousness. The ONLY reason they are on such a stupid mission is to give them some face time, otherwise Bernard would be up in Calderon doing his count thing. Again, the nobility has nothing better to do than get their own hands dirty and perform their own work. I realize that the nobility houses the strongest furycrafters, but seriously, there's no one else the First Lord could have sent on this absolutely absurd quest? The entire idea behind this subplot was stupid, and then it just keeps on GOING. Walking through the swamp, come to find out, is just not that interesting.
The evolution of Tavi has been completely unbelievable to me from the very beginning, but it became a million times worse in, Cursor's Fury (Codex Alera #3). The whole idea of Tavi wresting control of a legion, and then out thinking an entire army, was not only baffling to me, it was also so completely far fetched, I ranted about it for ages over at my review of it. Because of everything that occurred so nonsensically in book 3, book 4 picks up right where it left off, with Tavi having an entire legion so completely loyal they are all willing to do whatever he says at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, I am still in disbelief to the loyalty, as the whole reason it came around was so preposterous.
He then continues to perform death defying acts across the continent, putting himself into one stupid situation after another. I found it all to be worthless - I knew no one would die, no matter how close to death they got, and I knew Tavi would always come up with some crazy scheme, and it would always work out. The whole thing was an exercise in futility for the reader. You know what is going to happen long before it does, so what's the point of reading it? This installation was the most predictable, and I have found EVERY book in this series to be disappointingly predictable. There is no depth here, only fluff.
My last note is: I hate the vord. I have hated them since the croach crater in book 1. I'm not even sure why I dislike them so much, but I really really do. Maybe because they're a Borg-style (or Dalek-style) villain but done poorly. Of course, I do feel that both of those villains became caricatures, and were no longer frightening by the end of their respective TV shows. We shall see how I feel after Princeps' Fury (Codex Alera #5), but for some reason I have this feeling I am going to hate that one. Big surprise!
Oh, yes! I can't forget to mention how much I hate the word "crow" now. SO MUCH! It's horrible. At least most fantasy books have a few different curse words to choose from. Having only one makes me have eye twitches.
November 27, 2018
3.5 Stars 🌟
January 22, 2024
Captain's Fury the 4th book of Codex Alera runs with the momentum the series had in Cursor's Fury, and is masterfully executed from beginning to end.
Captain's Fury once again has a time gap between it and the previous book. This time it is a time gap of around two years. Once again Jim Butcher handles the skip in time fantastically. It is clear the characters have changed over the last 2 years, but it also doesn't feel like we missed anything more important then the story we got.
“The past was gone. Nothing could change what had already been. Looking back at it, letting its wounds fester, indulging in regret was just a different, slower way to die. The living moved forward.”
I probably sound like a broken record here, but guess what the characterization of side characters continues to be really fantastic. Even characters with very minor side characters feel like there own person, with different values, and traits then those around them. The non PoV character who shines the brightest in this good is old Gaius Sextus himself. He is more involved with Amara's chapters then he ever has been in the previous books, and he is a fascinating character. Jim Butcher has always been really good at writing old people in my opinion. It really stands out in Dresden that people close to a hundred, or in there hundreds really feel like they are that age. He shows this skill here with Sextus.
As long as he was still alive , there was a job to do, a Realm to defend—and a captain to serve.
This book has the most Fidelias point of view chapters out of any book in the series, and that is definitely a good thing. While I love Tavi for what he is, Tavi feels like a classic fantasy character surrounded by modern fantasy characters. Jim shows that he can have the hero, and the morally gray character in the same story, and he can do both masterfully.
This is book four of a series, and from here on out the reviews are going to get shorter, but every book is fantastic from book 3 to the end.
I don't quite love Captain's Fury as much as Cursor's Fury, but that is a high bar, and Captain's Fury still comes in very very strong with a
8.9
Captain's Fury once again has a time gap between it and the previous book. This time it is a time gap of around two years. Once again Jim Butcher handles the skip in time fantastically. It is clear the characters have changed over the last 2 years, but it also doesn't feel like we missed anything more important then the story we got.
“The past was gone. Nothing could change what had already been. Looking back at it, letting its wounds fester, indulging in regret was just a different, slower way to die. The living moved forward.”
I probably sound like a broken record here, but guess what the characterization of side characters continues to be really fantastic. Even characters with very minor side characters feel like there own person, with different values, and traits then those around them. The non PoV character who shines the brightest in this good is old Gaius Sextus himself. He is more involved with Amara's chapters then he ever has been in the previous books, and he is a fascinating character. Jim Butcher has always been really good at writing old people in my opinion. It really stands out in Dresden that people close to a hundred, or in there hundreds really feel like they are that age. He shows this skill here with Sextus.
As long as he was still alive , there was a job to do, a Realm to defend—and a captain to serve.
This book has the most Fidelias point of view chapters out of any book in the series, and that is definitely a good thing. While I love Tavi for what he is, Tavi feels like a classic fantasy character surrounded by modern fantasy characters. Jim shows that he can have the hero, and the morally gray character in the same story, and he can do both masterfully.
This is book four of a series, and from here on out the reviews are going to get shorter, but every book is fantastic from book 3 to the end.
I don't quite love Captain's Fury as much as Cursor's Fury, but that is a high bar, and Captain's Fury still comes in very very strong with a
8.9
June 1, 2018
Tavi has grown so much within these 4 books, discovering some very important things about himself. Most of what he learns has in one way or another been hinted at in previous books, so I don’t really think the discoveries came as much of a surprise. Anticipating when these things would be revealed was still exciting though.
Tavi’s interactions with Varg and Nasaug are some of my most favorite moments. Over the course of time Tavi has gained an understanding of their social structure and has learned to use it to his advantage, also earning their deep respect, but not necessarily revoking his status as an enemy. It’s a very thin line he walks, which makes it all the more awesome. He’s created a very tentative relationship with the Canim, and I’m curious to see how long that lasts, and how far that will extend to the rest of Alera.
And of course, the First Lord is still battling the ongoing political scheming within his borders. It remains to be seen how the rest of Alera will feel with his most recent decision, and if/how his political enemies will use this event to further their causes.
Creatures are stilling threatening the security of the realm, High Lords are still maneuvering for power, and more secrets are coming to light, so I’m looking forward to the next two books.
Enemies are far more faithful than friends…more dependable than allies.
Tavi’s interactions with Varg and Nasaug are some of my most favorite moments. Over the course of time Tavi has gained an understanding of their social structure and has learned to use it to his advantage, also earning their deep respect, but not necessarily revoking his status as an enemy. It’s a very thin line he walks, which makes it all the more awesome. He’s created a very tentative relationship with the Canim, and I’m curious to see how long that lasts, and how far that will extend to the rest of Alera.
And of course, the First Lord is still battling the ongoing political scheming within his borders. It remains to be seen how the rest of Alera will feel with his most recent decision, and if/how his political enemies will use this event to further their causes.
Creatures are stilling threatening the security of the realm, High Lords are still maneuvering for power, and more secrets are coming to light, so I’m looking forward to the next two books.
September 15, 2022
Another solid book, although I still think book 3 has been my favorite so far!
While the story mostly picks up right after the events in book 3, clearly some time has passed. As before, the story switches amongst the different main characters, and I really enjoyed most of it. Amara and Bernard are traveling with Gaius, and while some things occurred that added some intrigue to the whole story, the overall quest was probably the least interesting part of the book. I'm sure I missed some details because my mind wandered a bit during those scenes. But what happened with them is definitely important to the main plot, so pay attention.
While Tavi begins the book as the leader of the First Alerans (which is where he ended in the previous books), he ends up on multiple quests that ultimately leave his friends in charge, but before that happens, he has to deal with the senator and his bureaucratic nature. I found all of this very interesting, frustrating, and entertaining, depending on what was happening. But no matter what, it kept my interest.
But in this book, my favorite parts were the ones with Tavi and Isanna and the development of their relationship. I also loved the conversation Tavi had with Gaius at the end.
Overall, I think this was a solid book and I'm looking forward to the next book!
While the story mostly picks up right after the events in book 3, clearly some time has passed. As before, the story switches amongst the different main characters, and I really enjoyed most of it. Amara and Bernard are traveling with Gaius, and while some things occurred that added some intrigue to the whole story, the overall quest was probably the least interesting part of the book. I'm sure I missed some details because my mind wandered a bit during those scenes. But what happened with them is definitely important to the main plot, so pay attention.
While Tavi begins the book as the leader of the First Alerans (which is where he ended in the previous books), he ends up on multiple quests that ultimately leave his friends in charge, but before that happens, he has to deal with the senator and his bureaucratic nature. I found all of this very interesting, frustrating, and entertaining, depending on what was happening. But no matter what, it kept my interest.
But in this book, my favorite parts were the ones with Tavi and Isanna and the development of their relationship. I also loved the conversation Tavi had with Gaius at the end.
Overall, I think this was a solid book and I'm looking forward to the next book!
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