Review: Princep’s Fury by Jim Butcher

From the New York Timesbestselling author of Captain’s Furyand the Dresden Files novels.

Tavi of Calderon, now recognized as Princeps Gaius Octavian and heir to the crown, has achieved a fragile alliance with Alera’s oldest foes, the savage Canim. But when Tavi and his legions guide the Canim safely to their lands, his worst fears are realized.

The dreaded Vord—the enemy of Aleran and Cane alike—have spent the last three years laying waste to the Canim homeland. And when the Alerans are cut off from their ships, they find themselves with no choice but to fight shoulder to shoulder if they are to survive.

For a thousand years, Alera and her furies have withstood every enemy, and survived every foe.

The thousand years are over…

Jim Butcher’s Princep’s Fury, the 5th book in the Codex Alera series, maintains the same level of enjoyment and excitement as its predecessors.

Overall, this is a satisfying continuation of the series and it remains consistent in terms of what I do like, and maybe what I don’t love as well, as with the previous books. I still love Tavi’s character. He is an incredibly likable underdog who has a serious knack for finding clever ways out of seemingly unwinnable situations.

As the title implies, everyone is now aware of just exactly who Tavi really is. However, he is not in Alera would it might have more impact, instead he is journeying with the Canim across the sea, to escort them home and give the court a bit of time to adjust to the news of not just an heir, but an heir with practically no fury craft. In a society that seems to tie power as a fury crafter very closely with social standing, this is a huge deal.

As with previous reviews, I feel obliged to at least mention that Tavi is not the only POV in these books, he just seems to be the one I enjoy the most, and his story is so central, I find I don’t have much to say about the others. They are not like some books where I dread them, or feel completely disinterested, it just seems that when I sit down to write reviews, I don’t have much to say one way or the other about them. They are important though as they help keep the reader up to date on everything going on since the story, world, and conflict have grown so much and Tavi’s perspective can only keep us up to date on one small piece of that.

As Tavi ventures to the Cane’s homeland, the story and world grow more, yet again. We learn much more about the Cane, their culture, their world, their divisions. Back in Alera, their continues to be all sorts of political drama as well as continuing and escalating conflict with the vord.

This book is definitely building to what should be an epic conclusion to the series in the next book. Anyone that enjoyed the previous books, will continue to enjoy the series with this book. Now, on to book 6 to find out how this all ends!