Price: $354.64 as of 03/21/2010 18:02 EDT
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780441011995
ISBN: 0441011993
Label: Ace Hardcover
Manufacturer: Ace Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 448
Publication Date: October 05, 2004
Publisher: Ace Hardcover
Release Date: October 05, 2004
Studio: Ace Hardcover
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
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.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Six chapters was all I could stand. Unfortunately, very little good fantasy exists anymore. The furies are totally unbelievable to me. This was a complete waste of money.
Unfortunately, I think I will never try a Jim Butcher novel again. I'm just stunned by some of the positive reviews. Maybe certain kinds of really bad writing have some purpose for less intelligent readers.
Try Martin and Hobb instead.
Rating: -
Am I over 13? What kind of question is that?
Mr. Butcher is one of the best out there, even if he has more hair on his head than I have on my entire body.
Rating:  -
This is my first Jim Butcher book, and it will be my last. His prose is simply terrible. I understand that fantasy fans have low expectations for writing quality, but this book is in a whole other category.
Rating: -
There's nothing else to say about this book that hasn't already been said. I decided to pick this up after reading the first of the Dresden Files and enjoyed it quite a bit. It does it's job well enough in introducing a new world and the characters are likeable. I'll be reading the rest of the series.
One thing bothered me though, just a minor gripe. It seemed like every time Jim wanted to convey uneasiness or anticipation in his characters he would use the action of them, "licking their lips". It's used so often that I started to laugh about it towards the end of the book.
Rating:  -
Typically, I'm not a fan of fantasy (although, the gray Mouse and Ffard stories do strike my memory as enjoyable). I'm a Kellerman (both him and her), Cornwell, Sanford, Connelly, etc. reader. I read a lot of Sci Fi growing up (Heinlein, Asimov, Ellison, Dick, Brunner, etc.) and absolutely loved Dune, but hated Lord of the Rings (too boring in book form - terrific in movie form). Based on the recommendation of a friend, I started the Harry Dresden books and got hooked and devoured all of them. So, then I started on the Codex Alera and have devoured them.
No spoilers here ... just a recommendation to give both of these series a try ... if my likes and dislikes sound familiar, you might find a new author to give a try.
This is really a 4.5 rounded up to 5 - it's not perfect, but it's a fun ride.
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