[High Marshal Flit]

I didn't begin to read this series until last month, even though I've been a Butcher fans since Storm Front was first published, own all the books and have read and re-read each at least 2 or 3 times. That being said, I always passed up this series at the bookstores, I would read the back, read the first page, then inevitably put it back down with serious reservations. I didn't want to even try to get into them for fear that my opinion, so high off the Dresden Files, would be lowered and take some of the enjoyment out of Dresden. Irrational? Maybe, but so few and far between are really good series that I didn't want to chance it. I'm a wuss, I know. But how many writers have tried to change genres only to fail miserably? Over the past 3 weeks I've gotten the first 5 books out of the library and have been surprised at how much I liked the series.

They are good, not great (maybe as a whole they might venture close to that territory), but really quite good. And I should have known because Butcher can flat out write! There's nothing groundbreaking, but in a way that's refreshing. These books, like the Dresden Files are fun, escapist reading. They have a hero you can get behind, a cast of supporters that are just as strong and righteous, and Butcher doesn't apologize in the slightest that his characters are heroic,loyal, evil, misguided, etc. He shows enough that as a reader I'm satisfied because his writing is strong enough and confident enough that he doesn't need to get into excess depth and more than makes up for it with the fight scenes and battle sequences, which if you've read the Dresden Files, know that Butcher can write action with anybody. Perhaps the best compliment that I can give as a reviewer is that their work is re-readable (a reason Erikson remains one of my all time favorites) and while I couldn't bring myself to go back through all the parts of the supporting characters in the Aleran books, I did enjoy re-reading the scenes with the main character Tavi. Maybe this is the reason that keeps the books from that next level for me, then again the parallel storylines and characters are really strong and give the world a fuller aspect that you can't get from a single character's perspective. What Butcher does just as well as anyone in the game is his discipline regarding his plot. He has a six book plan and is sticking to it. It's extremely comforting to know that the author is firmly in control of his creation, unlike some other artist's that allow their stories to go down the rabbit hole until their tangents come to the forefront and frustration ensues. That doesn't happen here,and in a way I'm sort of glad that I waited so long to read this series because I could just about read it straight through.

So all in all these books are more than worth the read, the first book was alright, but as a body of work, their satisfying as long as your not expecting anything edgy or trend setting, and instead just want something sort of old school, an easy to read, enjoyable fantasy, with great action, done by a strong author, with little bits of that biting Dresden dry humor thrown in.

[Tarcanus]

I read Codex Alera for the furies and Canim. And for some reason Tavi is strangely likeable.

[Aztiel]

That is exactly how I felt about it. It's not, uh, shockingly new, or really new in anyways. It's just the fantasy genre executed on pretty flawlessly. Even when you're expecting everything that's on the way, there's a good feeling when it turns up and doesn't dissapoint.

[Tamilyrn]

I'm exactly the same - picked them up and put them back down loads of times.

You've sold me now; if only Amazon actually had the books in stock for sale...

This post has been edited by Tamilyrn: 03 April 2009 - 01:22 PM

[Zhuangzi]

IMO this series is better than the Dresden files, which I love. Great character development, entertaining story, nasty villians - great fantasy overall. Much better than a lot of the other crap thats out there.

[Pallol One Eye]

I just finished the first one last month. It was well executed and fun. Liked it enough to buy the second (not started yet).

I am a little concerned that I already know were the series is going by hints in the first one and the titles of the books. Perhaps I am wrong. Still, sometimes the journey is worth it even if you know the destination.

[kkyyyssss]

Tell you the truth, i wasnt impressed with the first book in the altera serie but i think they REALLY pick up starting with book 2 and more. Last one out right now, 4th one i think, is very good and im really anticipating the next installment with relish.

[Abyss]

Series is sitting on my to-read shelf next to Weeks' NIGHT ANGEL and Pullman's DARK MATERIALS series'. I trust Butcher, so i'll read it sooner or later.

- Abyss, has an excellent 'to-read' stack currently...

[Eddie Dean]

Just finished book 1 last night. I thought it was good, not great, but it was the same way with the Dresden files, so I'm looking forward to keep reading.

[Stalker]

I got book 1 about a month ago and also thought it was good but not great (better towards the end, Butcher always brings together in an interesting way for the end). So I kept reading and now I have finished all 5 that are available.

Book 2 gets better. Book 3 is my favorite so far of the series, so at least go though that.

[Use Of Weapons]

AOL!

Bought the second on the strength of the Alera love-in here, having read the first and thought it was OK but not much better than many other coming-of-age fantasies I'd read. (Read Lian Hearn's _Across the Nightingale Floor_ around the same time, and was much more impressed.)

But the second made me very happy, and I had to go out and buy the third immediately -- interrupting my Wimbledon viewing to do so -- and I'm now a true convert. Will get the fourth in hardback ASAP (it's not available in mmp yet is it?)

[RangerSG]

 jitsukerr, on Jul 6 2009, 11:43 AM, said:

AOL!

Bought the second on the strength of the Alera love-in here, having read the first and thought it was OK but not much better than many other coming-of-age fantasies I'd read. (Read Lian Hearn's _Across the Nightingale Floor_ around the same time, and was much more impressed.)

But the second made me very happy, and I had to go out and buy the third immediately -- interrupting my Wimbledon viewing to do so -- and I'm now a true convert. Will get the fourth in hardback ASAP (it's not available in mmp yet is it?)

The 1st two of Heard's series I found really strong. It was just the third which fell flat to me. As Heard insisted on plot twists that made the protagonists stupid. :S Mind you, I don't mind a protagonist making mistakes occasionally. That's realistic. I don't mind a character not making sense all the time even, as long as later you can see some internal coherence or motivation for the irrational behavior. But I'm never convinced when the author does a mass stupidity on the protagonists. It's like an inverse deus ex machina.

[Use Of Weapons]

 Briar King, on Aug 15 2009, 06:41 AM, said:

I absoultly love this series. I have never read a Dresden book but I picked these up when I was a manager at BAM have gotten the new books every year on release day. Tavi is great but the really great character to me is Max.

Tavi is great, but I actually love the following characters in order of preference:

Gaius Sextus
Amara & Bernard
Isana
Varg (and other Canim rock, too)
Lady Invidia Aquitaine
Fidelius

[QuickTidal]

Wasn't blown away by the first book, though it was good, and had some interesting ideas, but I am about 100 pages into ACADEMS FURY now and I am liking it MUCH better. Butcher seems to hit his stride a book or two into a series, so hopefully it will only get better from here.

[Stalker]

It does. Really.

Final book comes out in like 2-3 weeks. Definitely looking forward to it.

[Slow Ben]

My library finally got these available this week. Now impatiently waiting.

[Binder of Demons]

They are very YA, but enjoyable nonetheless.

The series does improve with each book too. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he concludes things.

[QuickTidal]

I am finding that the first book feels like the opening credits, and in book two we start the real story.

Also, The Canim? Pretty badass!

I also like the word battlecrafting. That's awesomesauce.

[HoosierDaddy]

Disagree on the YA, apart from the first two novels, I guess. Books 3, 4, 5 and presumably 6 are well beyond young-adult, as the main character isno longer young and no longer faces the problem sets of a young adult.

Further, while Tavi (the young adult) is arguably the main character, Isana and Amara are at least very heavily point of view written secondary characters, to the point where I think they are nearly co-equal. The books are relatively divided amongst the three equally, with Tavi having slightly more page time than the others.

[QuickTidal]

Just finished ACADEM'S FURY today...and man what a ride! The book started out kind of normally, but by about halfway through that telltale breakneck pace Butcher is so famous for showed up and damned if I didn't devour the rest in one sitting.

A MUCH better volume than the first one was. With the world and magic system established and inklings about some of the other races starting to flesh out, the second book rolled right along and started the action. Me like!

Spoiler

I liked the whole thread about the Aquitaines, with Isana having to go to them for help. The enemy of my enemy is my friend thing. I really dug that, especially when it was Aldrick who showed up leading his Windwolves to the rescue of the Garrison in Calderon. I also really liked Tavi's plotline, but mostly because we get more insight into the Canim, and totally for Miles and Fade's (Araris) story. When Fade comes up the stairway and starts whipping ass I was cheering like a madman!

Anyways, I've got the 3rd book on my bedside table now, so if you will excuse me, I'll be off to get a Butcher fix.

P.S. Loving this series now!

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 06 November 2009 - 01:33 AM