Jim Butcher - Princep's Fury

The fifth book in the Codex Alera series, published November 25, 2008.
Genre: fantasy
Cover: beautiful



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. After a year of armistice, their occupation of Alera's shores has ended. 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 trapped alongside their former enemies - with no choice but to fight shoulder to shoulder if they are to survive.
Meanwhile, after the destruction of the city and High Lord of Kalare, war-torn Alera struggles to rebuild - while politicians and nobles manoeuvre for power. But from the south comes news of death and devastation unlike any have ever known - the Vord have come to Alera.
For a thousand years, Alera and her furies have withstood every enemy, and survived every foe.
The thousand years are over.


What a book. I almost stopped reading twice, when I found out about the Vord in the Canim lands, as I thought there was no solution there, only loss. But there was actually little fighting, and lots of planning and plotting. I was really proud for Tavi and his insights and daring actions, of thinking out side of the box and finding solutions to his problems. He has also gotten more mature and capable of wielding a little magic, even though he still can't manifest his own furies.
While Tavi and his friends are busy surviving in the Canim lands, the dying First Lord sends Tavi's mother to the Northlands. He needs Isana to make a truce with the Northmen, so the Legions tied up at the Wall can come south and fight the Vord. They are the best soldiers Alera has. But the High Lord in charge of the fighting doesn't believe Isana, or her companion, the Lady Placida, and he hates the First Lord with a passion. So he does what he can to thwart her attempts at peace talks, until she challenges him to a duel.
The First Lord also sends Bernard and Amara undercover to the Vord army, to find out who is helping the Vord with Fury power. They never had the power to manifest furies, and now they do, and that negates the only advantage the Alerans have always had over their enemies.


I ended up really loving this book. Horrible things happen, whole cities fall prey to the Vord, and lots of good people die horribly and at the hands of the traitor. But some good things happen as well, and the ending was amazing. I will read the last book soon, as I just have to know how it all plays out. Tavi and Kitai make such a good couple, and I love how she keeps him on his toes, as she has a very different outlook on live and everything that is happening.

And then there is that one traitor, the double agent, or triple? Or is he loyal after all? I can't figure it out, but I really do hope he chooses for Tavi in the end.

If you like to read fantasy, I do recommend this series.

9 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian