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. 

Happy reading!
Helena