Captain's Fury (Codex Alera #4)[September 1, 2023]

[Yanique, Thread Master]

This is a Buddy Read Captain's Fury by Jim Butcher starting September 1, 2023.

[Shaitarn]

Starting.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yea… this is my #1 priority

[Nirkatze]

Will be here this weekend!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Started... this is the one where I get a bit frustrated at Isana for keeping secrets a bit too long, when Tavi could use having all the facts...

[Nyssa]

I am starting this right now.

[Monika]

Maybe I'll catch up with your on this series one day... Have book 1 so far I think... Enjoy!

[Nirkatze]

I'm sure you will love it Monika! It is so much fun.

No really, you should just drop whatever you are currently reading, binge the first few and join us.

[Nyssa]

Nyssa wrote: "I am starting this right now."


I have read through Chapter 10.

What did Araris Valerian think would happen? How did he expect Tavi to respond? And why then? I mean, I know why then, but seriously?

I know what he wanted for and from Tavi, (view spoiler)[and the telling was as gentle as it could be in that moment (hide spoiler)], but I can't blame how Tavi feels.

(view spoiler)[ I think Tavi would have been more forgiving of the lies if the watercrafting didn't add insult to injury. I hope he soon realizes that he grew a more substantial base (romantic skills) without the ability to craft, which now gives him a chance to grow stronger with it. (hide spoiler)]

I hope his newly gained knowledge doesn't hamper him on the battlefield.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It’s more than that… (view spoiler)[it gave him a base of empathy that encompassed all his training, and allowed him to forge ties with the Marat, and potentially the Canim, through Varg…

Removed preconceptions, like that teacher that looked down on pre-Fury construction methods in the Cursor book… (hide spoiler)]

[Nyssa]

Timelord Iain wrote: "It’s more than that… (view spoiler)."


Yes, but I was speaking of him physically - as in his ability to fight.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Definitely, just saying Tavi’s skills at diplomacy and statecraft are almost more important in the grand scheme of things…

[Nyssa]

I just finished Chapter 37.

Man, once this story gets started, it does not stop! There are few natural stopping places as we're whipped from one crisis to the next!

In very Tavi fashion, the group jumps out of the frying pan into the fire but somehow ends up on the stovetop before safely landing on the counter.

[Nyssa]

Well! That was interesting.

1. Where did (view spoiler)[Lady Aquitaine (hide spoiler)] go?
2. I had forgotten about Lady Antillus; is it bad that I feel nothing for her?
3. I think the truth set Isana free - she seems stronger now.
4. Poor Tavi is the embodiment of no good deed going unpunished.

[Choko]

"Is he always this pink, or is he doing it to amuse you?"... Hahaha!

Up to Ch. 10... (view spoiler)[ I love that he is still with Katai even after two years.

Wow, Markus is between the rock and a hard place! I almost feel sorry for him, finally believing in someone, but still beholden to Lady Aquitaine, who is obviously determined to have Tavi killed...

I wish Issana had had the guts to tell him the truth about his parentage long before, and I actually wish Araris hadn't taken it upon himself to give him the truth... This was a tremendous shock! And telling him about Issana stunting his talents was way too much for him... I also understand his reaction, but as you guys said, he was able to develop his strategic thinking and other ways for survival apart from Fury Crafting. I am sure he will figure things out and forgive her eventually... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I finished and once again, loved it! I don't think it was as good as the previous books, but I am loving the overall storyline. Isana could have done a lot of things better, but I guess it's all water under the bridge... Katai is awesome! She is too good for Tavi, but I still think they make a great couple:)

Really looking forward to the next book!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

This is the only book in the series I rates under 5 stars the first time through… and maybe #1, but I bumped that one up on re-read…

[Choko]

I can totally see that. It didn't feel like it had a full plot for the volume of pages, somehow... It was still awesome though. I am loving every minute of it, and am trying to make my friend read it, so we could discuss:)) I have a hard time getting her to read what I like, but it was very successful with the Wondering Inn - she loved it, although not as much as I do...

[Nirkatze]

I find it interesting... I feel like each of these books needs a shifting of titles... like, the previous book was (view spoiler)[Cursor's Fury, but Tavi spent most of his time Captaining. This one is Captain's Fury, but he spends most of his time Cursor-ing.... (hide spoiler)]

Should be starting this tonight or tomorrow.

[Choko]

Good point... But I guess Butcher was going for gradation in growth, rather than what Tavi was actually doing?

[Nirkatze]

Yeah--kind of like Cradle, maybe. Title = what Tavi is at that time. And then he usually progresses to the next stage by the end of the book.

I think of this book as heist + political intrigue. Not as much action as previous books, but still lots of fun.

@Nyssa, re: Chapter 10--I really like your analysis, and I think you're spot on about Tavi's reaction and reasonings--(view spoiler)[the watercrafting definitely being the last straw... finding out that not only is Isana his mother when he always wanted one, but finding out that she was also responsible for his lifetime of yearning for furycrafting... basically killing all of his hopes from the cradle.... yeah, that's not something someone takes easily, even without the double-punch of "oh hey, you're actually a princeps for an ailing realm." (hide spoiler)]

Also love your "Poor Tavi is the embodiment of no good deed going unpunished." <--- I feel like this sums up this whole series in one sentence.

@Choko, re: Chapter 10--(view spoiler)[I do really love Tavi & Kitai's relationship. It's a very low-key romance, but very heartwarming.

And I was thinking similar things about how Isana's watercrafting gave Tavi a backwards gift... would he have developed his intellect so much if not forced to be innovative? I don't know if he will ever take the realization that far though... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Flying through--almost done, about 2 hours left on audiobook (which boils down to 40 minutes or so on 3x speed) and I don't want it to end... these books are just so much fun... Libby says I'm in Chapter 55. (view spoiler)[I love Tavi starting to throw his weight around as Princeps--and how people challenge him on it, like "Do you realize you shouldn't be abusing your (very new and shiny and unproved) authority like this?" And Tavi's like "you know, I'm not stupid and I already thought of that, and do you have a better idea? Because I don't." Like, Princeps is just one more tool in his toolbelt, and it's a good thing he has it, because otherwise things wouldn't be getting done at all.

The evil senator massacring citizens (not Citizens) is just horrible. I like the Free Aleran, and I like that the Canim are opening folks's eyes about the evils of slavery and possibilities of freedom. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Oh, and the first several times I read this series, I swear I read "garic oil" as "garlic oil" and started thinking that garlic in wounds was poisonous. Isn't it actually an antiseptic?

[Choko]

It is:))) And I loved his assumption of power as well:)))

[Nirkatze]

Finished! I wish I didn't finish, because then I'd still be reading it... love this series...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Finished! I wish I didn't finish, because then I'd still be reading it... love this series..."

I think that's why I love The Wandering Inn... except for the whole audiobook backlog thing, I feel like I could read the series as fast as I want, and never run out...

[Shaitarn]

Nirkatze wrote: "Oh, and the first several times I read this series, I swear I read "garic oil" as "garlic oil" and started thinking that garlic in wounds was poisonous. Isn't it actually an antiseptic?"

That reminds me of when I was reading The Mists of Avalon; I kept misreading the name Lancelet as Lancet and thinking of bursting blisters.

39 chapters in and I'm loving it. It's funny that there are a number of tropes in these books, but Jim Butcher has polished them up and made them all nice and shiny!

Tavi: (view spoiler)[ I can sort of understand Isana's reasoning in stunting his fury growth, but I still think it's kind of dumb; I mean, Tavi probably looks a lot like his dad - wouldn't having strong furies be an advantage? I'm guessing Gaius is going to gift him his furies; Tavi with powerful furies would be fascinating - those rebellious lords better watch out! (hide spoiler)]

Kitai(view spoiler)[ is shaping up to be one of my favourite characters; I love her untroubled, practical outlook. (hide spoiler)]

'Marcus' (view spoiler)[ I hope he gets a redemption arc. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Shaitarn, I thought the same about Isana (view spoiler)[ stunting Tavi's Furies, but then I thought, she was hiding him in a distant, small homestead, and if circumstances hadn't happened that Valerian was following his apprentice and she fell onto his farm, he wouldn't have come to the attention of anyone of power as long as he stayed as just a mundain non-crafter. In her eyes, she was protecting him of all the people in power and their machinations...

I do want him to get Furies, but I am very glad that he developed his thinking without them, thus being able to not use them constantly as a crutch...

I want a redemption arc for Marcus so bad as well!!!! But I don't see how the author could keep him alive:((( (hide spoiler)]

[Shaitarn]

Finished. Loved it.

(Not really spoilers, but if someone's still reading this book) - (view spoiler)[I'm looking forward to seeing what the Canim can do against the Vord, and what their homeland is like. (hide spoiler)]

Tavi(view spoiler)[ Has to go with the Canim and face the Vord, because of course he does. I'm guessing Kitai will certainly be going with him , but I hope some of his other friends will as well. I wonder if there are Furies in the Canim lands - I'm having visions of Tavi acquiring a Fury that takes Cane shape - imagine how terrifying a fire fury in Canim form would be!
(Incidentally I love that Gaius Octavian (Gaius the Eight) is the inevitable name for the future First Lord, but Gaius Octavius was also the original name of Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome and grand-nephew of Julius Caesar; I can't believe that's a coincidence!). (hide spoiler)]

'Marcus' (view spoiler)[ Okay, putting an arrow through Lady Aquitaine's chest is a pretty good start to a redemption arc! In most fantasy series' I'd guess he'd end up protecting Tavi or Isana in the next book, but I don't want to try predicting anything in this series! (hide spoiler)]

I hope the quality is maintained; I'm cautiously bookmarked this series as one I'm going to binge (re)read in the future.

[Nirkatze]

@Iain, re: Wandering Inn--totally agree! Though that's also part of the reason I've been slower to jump in to the next audiobook than most... I like knowing there's more waiting and ready when needed...

@Shaitarn--LOL "Lancet"! That's hilarious! Glad to see I'm in good company.

re: Isana/Tavi--some really good points there--(view spoiler)[I can't help but think that Isana's decision to suppress his furies was extremely shortsighted and born from panic... she didn't factor in the fact that he'd grow up to look like his father, or what kind of person Tavi himself would become. She just wanted to hide him... if she had stopped after a few years, then maybe... but the fact that Tavi's furies only appear after he's been five years away from Isana and that furies usually manifest around age 5-6 is pretty indicative of her having continued even when he started looking like Septimus and his moral character developed into something impossible to hide... not the smartest move there. (hide spoiler)]

Grats on your finish, Shaitarn! I love your idea for a fire fury, that would be awesome. (view spoiler)[I can't believe I didn't see the connection to the historical Octavian!!

I find it interesting how Fidelius's redemption arc had to start with him literally becoming another person. And did you notice how someone...don't remember who... mentioned that he could have been named to the house of the Faithful (as Marcus is named to the one of Valor)? As Fidelias, he is... I wonder how many people in Aleran history have been named to more than one house? I'm a little bummed that this isn't explored more...

I binge-read this probably every 3-5 years or so. It hasn't lost its charm yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I agree! This is a great series! This is why I lament the fact that he is not writing more in this genre. And I also completely missed the connection to the real Octavian!

A fire Canim shaped Fury would be awesome!!!

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I agree! This is a great series! This is why I lament the fact that he is not writing more in this genre. And I also completely missed the connection to the real Octavian!

A fire Canim shaped Fur..."

Agree! As much as I love the Dresden Files, I think I love the Codex Alera more, and would love to see him write more High Fantasy. The Cinder Spires first book was fun, but didn't hit the same highs... I'm cautiously optimistic for the new book coming out. ^^ We'll see!

[Shaitarn]

Nirkatze wrote: "Choko wrote: "I agree! This is a great series! This is why I lament the fact that he is not writing more in this genre. And I also completely missed the connection to the real Octavian!

A fire Ca..."

I never really got on with the Dresden Files; I read the first two books and decided to give it a miss. I know in a lot of UF people say 'you really have to read the first three books and then it takes off' but with books costing £10 or more now, I really resent the idea of having to spend £30 to possibly enjoy the third book...

I'm loving this series, though!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Shaitarn wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Choko wrote: "I agree! This is a great series! This is why I lament the fact that he is not writing more in this genre. And I also completely missed the connection to the real Octa..."

Just need to try and catch it on sale, thrift shop, or humble bundle... or just admit it's not for you and move on, I guess :D

Some people like the early books, and feel like "Book 3ers are giving the early books a bad rap... but book 3 truly is one of my favorites in the series... it introduces Michael (Knight of the Cross), and kicking off the ongoing Red Vampire conflict for the next 9 books...

[Nirkatze]

I do agree on the book 3 issue with Dresden... Book 1 is okay. Book 2 I think is the weakest in the series. But everything is (mostly) uphill from there--with great characters and epic series ties. It's funny... I feel like most of the epic-length series I've read recently hit their stride in book 3.... I didn't really start appreciating October Daye until book 3 either...

[Nyssa]

Re: Dresden: I seem to feel the opposite to many. I liked book #2 but not book #3; however, I fell in love with the series with book #4; it is one of my favorites!

[Nirkatze]

Maybe it's in part that the collective weight of the ongoing character stories hit critical mass in a third book... that's when I'd start caring about the people, more than the individual story of the book...