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(Mass Market Paperback - Reprint)
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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.
At the start of Butcher's absorbing fantasy, the first in a new series, the barbarians are at the gates of the land of Alera, which has a distinct flavor of the Roman Empire (its ruler is named Quintus Sextus and its soldiers are organized in legions). Fortunately, Alera has magical defenses, involving the furies or elementals of water, earth, air, fire and metal, that protect against foes both internal and external. Amara, a young female spy, and her companion, Odiana, go into some of the land's remoter territories to discover if military commander Atticus Quentin is a traitor-another classic trope from ancient Rome. She encounters a troubled young man, Tavi, who has hitherto been concerned mostly with the vividly depicted predatory "herdbanes" that threaten his sheep as well as with his adolescent sexual urges (handled tastefully). Thinking that Amara is an escaping slave, Tavi decides to help her and is immediately sucked in over his head into a morass of intrigues, military, magical and otherwise. Butcher (Storm Front, etc.) does a thorough job of world building, to say nothing of developing his action scenes with an abundance of convincing detail. This page-turner bodes well for future volumes. Agent, Jennifer Jackson at Donald Maass Literary Agency. (Oct. 5) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
More Reviews and RecommendationsJim Butcher is a full-time writer who lives in Independence, Missouri, with his wife, son, and ferocious guard dog.
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October 24, 2009: What a pleasant suprise! I enjoy reading Furies of Calderon and I am looking forword to the "rest of the story" in the next 6 books that are available. I liked the his characters, even the villians, and how he stayed on course and kept the story going. But....there's always a but, A map that is easy to read would be helpful. Many authors furnish maps that are not the least bit legible. All in all, I would definitly encourage others to try this book out..
I Also Recommend: Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern Series #1), The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time Series #1), Winds of Fate (Mage Winds Series #1).
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October 10, 2009: I am a fan of Butcher's Dresden Files, but he changes gears and writes in a serious epic fantasy-style. Orphan Tavi depends on his wits and frontier training as his valley is overrun by the fierce, animal-allied Marat. Betrayals and new alliances keep the plot interesting, and all the characters, good and bad, are interesting with flaws and redeeming traits. A good beginning to a promising series.