This entry in the Codex Alera find Tavi at the age of 19 and sent to the western province of Ceres to join the First Aleran Legion under the assumed name of Rufus Scipio. Ceres is just north of Kalare and Tavi ends up in the thick of trouble as Lord Kalare is goaded into trying to take the throne from Gaius. Things take a little while to get interesting in this book but around halfway in it gets very good. Tavi's got his hands full dealing with an overwhelming army of Canim (huge dog-like warriors) and Amara and company are tasked with a risky rescue mission. As before, the last ten pages have some eye-opening revelations. ( )

This story goes at a breakneck pace. We find out Tavi's parentage (which has been only hinted at up till now), and see how the choices of his parents and their friends have affected his life. He spends most of the book serving undercover (which Cursors do) in the Legion. There is an invasion from the Canim, which was foreshadowed in the previous book, and civil war. People who were the bad guys might not be so bad. People who were the good guys gain more dimension. A complex, fascinating series. I'm enjoying it a great deal.

Awesome! ( )

The readers who persevere to the third book in the Codex Alera will enjoy an overall improvement in the storytelling and craft of Jim Butcher. Gone, for the most part, are the cheats and ruses that marred the first two volumes. The narrative is more focused, giving primary importance to Tavi's trials against the Canim. While the Canim opposition looks unassailable, the method by which Tavi's legion overcomes them is less arbitrary. Butcher's been at his best in Codex Alera when writing about massed combat and the strategies employed, and there's plenty to go around in Cursor's Fury.

Still, none of the main characters have died. In this volume, it's easier to excuse. Many of the auxiliary primary characters aren't in as dangerous a position to which we've grown accustomed.

It's fairly easy to imagine the broad strokes of the story which are yet to come: family killed, Tavi acknowledged, Marat allied, Canim allied, Vorg confronted, Gaius dies, Tavi elevated, Fidelias reconciled, Acquitaines revolt, family avenged, peace and prosperity for all. I suspect I'll stay on for the duration of the ride and be a bit sleep-deprived. ( )

This was much better the second time around. It was good the first time and WOW the second time.

In this installment we learn some background from Isana and Araris, Tavi shows some leadership qualities, and Bernard and Amara work with Lady Aquitiaine (strange bedfellows). Kalare shows just how treacherous he is by plotting with the Canim to overthrow Gaius.

Jim is again able to craft the different plot lines around in such a way that you are always left wanting more. The mysteries surrounding Tavi and Fade are not major, in fact the reader figures things out before the characters do. Its how the other characters handle things that keep you wanting to know more. And their reactions to learning things.

The only thing that is a bit farfetched is Tavi a 20 year old being left to command after all the other officers get killed. But i can get past that easliy b/c i like the story so much. This is a series that i think any fantasy buff should read. It has everything. Then go onto a video sharing website and look at the interviews that Jim has done and listen to his story of how the Codex and furries came to be. ( )