"Epic fantasy"

The realm of Alera has been at peace for centuries having pushed the barbarian hordes back behind the borders into lands that the realm does not claim. Yet for its entire serene surface, civil war appears imminent unless one of the high lords manages to become First Lord by ousting the aging and heirless Gaius Sextus from power. So far the First Lord refuses to name his replacement.

Amara is unprepared when her mentor Fidelias asks her help in overthrowing the First Lord. When she refuses to abet his quest, he tries to torture her into giving him the response he needs in order to make an assassination attempt. The student uses magic to learn what is going on and escape. Next, First Lord sends Amara to Calderon Valley on the outskirts of the realm where she learns Fidelias meets with his mercenaries and the Marat the barbarians who killed the First Lord's son. They overrun the valley to persuade people that the empire is crumbling and new leadership is needed to save Alera.

In Alera almost everyone has at least one elemental spirit to aid them in their daily lives especially in times of danger. The few without an elemental are considered freaks. In that environs Jim Butcher has created an epic fantasy reminiscent of Tolkien and Brooks yet has an originality of its own. Book one of Codex Alera is an enchanting and riveting work due to the ordinary people (mundane in this realm) fighting to do the right thing; ironically the villain believes he is doing the right thing too. Mr. Butcher provides a deep saga filled with a deep cast in which ordinary citizens must save the realm.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 10, 2004

Summary

In the realm of Alera, where people bond with the furies—elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal—fifteen-year-old Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. But when his homeland erupts in chaos—when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies—Tavi's simple courage will turn the tides of war.