Jim Butcher: Academ's Fury

Hi everyone

Academ's Fury, the second book in Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series is a hefty tome so it took some time to finish.
While you could jump into this book without reading Furies of Calderon first, I really wouldn’t recommend it. The story builds on the first book, and you’ll miss out on a lot of the worldbuilding and character development if you skip it. 
I read this on my e-reader.

"For centuries, the people of Alera have harnessed the furies—elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal—to protect their land from aggressors. But no fury can save them from the dangers they face within. A mysterious attack from across the sea has weakened the First Lord. Should he fall, a bloody civil war is inevitable. The responsibility of fending off assassination attempts and treachery within the First Lord’s circle of spies falls on Tavi, the one man with no fury to call..."

Don’t expect this series to blow you away with groundbreaking magic or a completely unique world. If you’re looking for something totally new or different, this isn't it. But what Academ’s Fury lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in entertainment, action and fun. The plot is packed with political schemes, action, and characters you can’t help but root for.

Tavi is a compelling character to follow. I also enjoyed getting to know the other characters better, especially Isana, who is now the first female steadholder. I'm on the fence with the romance between Amara and Bernard. I like their love and happiness but the constant focus on her inability to have children felt repetitive. Once was enough, and the whole “breaking it off because of duty” twist just didn’t work for me.

What really stood out to me is how Butcher blurs the lines between good and evil. Characters you think are villains turn out to have understandable motives, and the moral gray areas make the story feel more realistic. Don't worry, there are still actual true villains as well. Villains you can truly hate.
The action scenes, as always with Butcher, are gripping and well-written. I could barely put the book down!

That said, there were moments where I felt some scenes dragged on a bit too long, certain points were repeated more than necessary (Amara) and some things were too easy or convenient. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the world, the characters, and the tension Butcher builds so well.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds in the next books. 
If you love fantasy with a mix of political intrigue, action, and characters who feel real, this series is worth checking out!
Have you read Academ’s Fury or any of the Codex Alera books? What did you think? Let me know; I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena

M. R. Carey: Infinity Gate

Hi everyone

Infinity Gate is the first book in the Pandominion duology by M. R. Carey.
I got my book from Bol.com and I have to say, this book really pulled me in.

"The a political and trading alliance of a million worlds. Except that they’re really just one world, Earth, in many different realities. And when an A.I. threat arises that could destroy everything the Pandominion has built, they’ll eradicate it by whatever means necessary.
Scientist Hadiz Tambuwal is looking for a solution to her own Earth’s environmental collapse when she stumbles across the secret of inter-dimensional travel, a secret that could save everyone on her dying planet. It leads her into the middle of a war on a scale she never dreamed of. And she needs to choose a side before every reality pays the price."

I really liked this book. The writing style is quite dense, and I’ll admit, the first few days I picked it up, it took me some time to get into it and I was easily distracted. But once I was a few pages in, I couldn’t put it down. It’s definitely not a light read, but it’s absolutely worth the effort. The hard work to read this made this into a four star book instead of the full five stars.

The characters are what really made this story shine. You get to know them so well that you understand their choices, even when you know they’re not the smartest. The book focuses on a handful of characters, each with their own distinct personalities and plotlines. There’s never a dull moment, and I especially loved reading from the perspective of a machine; it was different, exciting, and made me question so much about our own world and what the future might hold.

The worldbuilding is rich and immersive. I loved learning about the different peoples and worlds, especially the races that evolved from completely different ancestors. It’s all so vivid and fascinating.
I’m really hoping we’ll learn more about the Ansurrection in the next book. It’s such an intriguing plotline, and I want to know how it came to be and how it all works. And honestly, I can’t wait to find out how everything ends! This book was so promising and left me with so many questions; especially about the narrator. Who are they/he/she? I have an idea but I can't know for sure. For now.

If you love sci-fi that makes you think and keeps you on the edge of your seat, Infinity Gate is absolutely worth your time. I’m already counting down the days until I can dive into the second book!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Robin Hobb: Dragon Haven

Hi everyone

Dragon Haven is the second book in The Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin Hobb. 
I got my copy from Bol.com.

"Return to the world of the Liveships Traders and journey along the Rain Wild River in the second instalment of high adventure from the author of the internationally acclaimed Farseer trilogy.
The dragon keepers and the fledgling dragons are forging a passage up the treacherous Rain Wild River. They are in search of the mythical Elderling city of Kelsingra, and are accompanied by the liveship Tarman, its captain, Leftrin, and a group of hunters who must search the forests for game with which to keep the dragons fed. With them are Alise, who has escaped her cold marriage to the cruel libertine Hest Finbok in order to continue her study of dragons, and Hest's amanuensis, Bingtown dandy, Sedric.
Rivalries and romances are already threatening to disrupt the band of explorers: but external forces may prove to be even more dangerous. Chalcedean merchants are keen to lay hands on dragon blood and organs to turn them to medicines and profit. Their traitor has infiltrated the expeditionand will stop at nothing to obtain the coveted body parts. And then there are the Rain Wilds themselves: mysterious, unstable and ever perilous, its mighty river running with acid, its jungle impenetrable and its waterways uncharted.
Will the expedition reach their destination unscathed? Does the city of Kelsingra even exist? Only one thing is certain: the journey will leave none of the dragons nor their human companions unchanged by the experience."

As always, Robin Hobb’s worldbuilding is immersive and breathtaking. The Rain Wilds feel alive and dangerous, and the mystery of Kelsingra keeps me just curious enough to keep reading. I do enjoy Mercor’s perspective; his thoughts and emotions feel more nuanced than Sintara’s, who still grates on me with her arrogance and one-dimensionality. So yes, it’s definitely a Sintara issue, not a dragon one.

The character development is still almost nonexistent. The teenage Dragon Keepers are juvenile, sex-crazed, and painfully shallow. Their constant focus on relationships (to the point where it feels like that’s all they think about) was maddening. I don’t care about any of them, and their obsession with themselves overshadows what could have been interesting character arcs.

The story moves at a snail’s pace, with certain situations dragged out needlessly. Hobb could easily have condensed the first two books into one tight, 400-page novel, it would have been so much more engaging. Instead, we get one main storyline with almost no character growth, and the plot feels stagnant despite the potential for adventure and danger.

At this point, I’m only reading this series because I’m committed to finishing all of Robin Hobb’s books and honestly, it feels more like a chore than a pleasure. The worldbuilding is still fantastic, but the characters and pacing make it hard to enjoy. I’m holding out hope that the next book picks up the pace and delivers more depth, but for now, I’m reading out of obligation rather than excitement.

Have you read Dragon Haven or any of Robin Hobb’s other works? Did you feel the same way, or did it grab you more than it did me? I’d love to hear your thoughts, maybe you’ll help me see something I missed!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Wrap Up: August 2025

Hi everyone

August flew by in a blur of laughter, cake, and way too many books! We went on a family holiday, celebrated my daughters turning 8 and 4 (how are they growing so fast?!), and my husband and I toasted to 11 years of marriage. Summer was packed with joy, and now we’re easing back into the school routine—though the Belgian weather seems determined to remind us that autumn is just around the corner.

As always, I found rest, relaxation and adventure in the pages of some wonderful books. 

Here's what I read last month:

- T. J. Klune: Under the Whispering Door

- Tommy Orange: Wandering Stars

- Neil Gaiman: Coraline 

- Glen Cook: The Black Company 

- Vernor Vinge: A Fire Upon the Deep 

- Katherine Addison: The Tomb of Dragons

- Brandon Sanderson: Tress of the Emerald Sea

- Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter: The Long Utopia 

What about you? Did August bring any gems your way? Or maybe a new favorite? Let me know! I’m always on the lookout for recommendations!

Happy reading!
Helena