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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well written as always. But this was fairly predictable, more so then the others, so I didn't really have that "OMG-this-book-is-so-awesome-I-can't-even-think-about-putting-it-down" feeling. But solid read.
Damn entertaining and the best book of the series so far in my opinion. Tavi learns of his heritage and the whole conspiracy (minus who really was behind the death of Septimus) comes unraveled with some pretty interesting consequences.
Butcher shows his politically medieval acumen as the jostling for power in Alera continues with the added threat of the Canim lurking to the north. Just what are they up to? And why are they building ships?
Butcher also creates one of the most loathsome villains in fiction since the Dursleys of Harry Potter fame in Senator Arnos, the arrogant, ambitious and scheming leader of the Senatorial Guard, which assumes command over Tavi's First Aleran legions on a politically-driven suicide mission. Butcher makes Arnos bleed arrogance to the point that you wish he were real so you could hit him in the face to shut him up and put him in his place. The only other time I've had a reaction this strong to a fictional character was my intense dislike at the injustice Harry experienced at the hands of the small-minded and rotund Dursley family. Again, you wish they were real so you could throw them in prison and make them suffer for their child abuse.
Butcher also creates some interesting transitional imagery as he progress through the series. This novel changes fundamental aspects of certain characters' profiles. As Tavi gains in strength and confidence, Gaius Sextus is forced on a mission in which he must restrain and conceal his power, experiencing their absence, and what it must have felt like for Tavi growing up, for the first time in his life. As Tavi comes into his own power, it's interesting to see how he uses it as compared to the First Lord, and how the First Lord deals with his lack of power compared to how Tavi lived his life in the first two to three books.
And let us not forget the Canim! The samurai of Alera, the warriors of honor and probably the smartest, most straight forward, but ruthless of all the creatures introduced so far. I find them fascinating, noble, and likable, in spite of the fact that they are trying to kill Tavi, Max and Crassus (who I've found tremendous respect for).
Ultimately, the plot is going in the direction I thought it would since about a quarter of the way through book 2. But it's predictability in no way robs from the majesty of the epic as it unfolds.
Looking forward to book 5.
Butcher shows his politically medieval acumen as the jostling for power in Alera continues with the added threat of the Canim lurking to the north. Just what are they up to? And why are they building ships?
Butcher also creates one of the most loathsome villains in fiction since the Dursleys of Harry Potter fame in Senator Arnos, the arrogant, ambitious and scheming leader of the Senatorial Guard, which assumes command over Tavi's First Aleran legions on a politically-driven suicide mission. Butcher makes Arnos bleed arrogance to the point that you wish he were real so you could hit him in the face to shut him up and put him in his place. The only other time I've had a reaction this strong to a fictional character was my intense dislike at the injustice Harry experienced at the hands of the small-minded and rotund Dursley family. Again, you wish they were real so you could throw them in prison and make them suffer for their child abuse.
Butcher also creates some interesting transitional imagery as he progress through the series. This novel changes fundamental aspects of certain characters' profiles. As Tavi gains in strength and confidence, Gaius Sextus is forced on a mission in which he must restrain and conceal his power, experiencing their absence, and what it must have felt like for Tavi growing up, for the first time in his life. As Tavi comes into his own power, it's interesting to see how he uses it as compared to the First Lord, and how the First Lord deals with his lack of power compared to how Tavi lived his life in the first two to three books.
And let us not forget the Canim! The samurai of Alera, the warriors of honor and probably the smartest, most straight forward, but ruthless of all the creatures introduced so far. I find them fascinating, noble, and likable, in spite of the fact that they are trying to kill Tavi, Max and Crassus (who I've found tremendous respect for).
Ultimately, the plot is going in the direction I thought it would since about a quarter of the way through book 2. But it's predictability in no way robs from the majesty of the epic as it unfolds.
Looking forward to book 5.
This series has consumed my free time. Each book is better than the the last. The revelations contained within this volume weren't surprising, but I don't think they were meant to be. They grew quite organically out of everything that's come and been revealed before. Here's hoping the last 2 keep up the quality...
Alera is once again thrust into chaos, for the last 2 years the Alerans have held the Canim from invading their land and are also currently in a siege with Lord Kalare and his forces in the southern portion of the country. The people of Alera need these wars to be over before things get worse an things are certainly about to change; whether, that is for the better or not can only be decided by the wits of a young man who started on a Steadholt and has moved up through the world, Tavi.
This book was a little different from the first three in the series. While the other three seemed very formulaic with a very slow buildup and world building until the last 200 pages where is was outright chaos. I think this one did follow that pattern in a sense, but it didn't have as much impact as book 3 which I could not put down by the end.
I think this book was very well done and the amount of political intrigue in this series continues to grow making it almost impossible to decide who are the heroes and who are the villains. I think the author does a great job of showing multiple perspectives throughout the book and giving each character their own personality. This really adds to the story because we can see what is going on throughout the entire country of Alera since the main characters are rarely together.
I had a blast reading this book and I hope this one was more of a set up for what is to come in the last two books in the series. I think the author writes characters fantastically and has a very interesting plot and well thought out world to go along with them. Also I am completely living for Tavi and Kitai, they are the most adorable thing in the world! This book has an excellent mix of humor, with bloody fights, and character interactions and I can't wait to continue with the series.
This book was a little different from the first three in the series. While the other three seemed very formulaic with a very slow buildup and world building until the last 200 pages where is was outright chaos. I think this one did follow that pattern in a sense, but it didn't have as much impact as book 3 which I could not put down by the end.
I think this book was very well done and the amount of political intrigue in this series continues to grow making it almost impossible to decide who are the heroes and who are the villains. I think the author does a great job of showing multiple perspectives throughout the book and giving each character their own personality. This really adds to the story because we can see what is going on throughout the entire country of Alera since the main characters are rarely together.
I had a blast reading this book and I hope this one was more of a set up for what is to come in the last two books in the series. I think the author writes characters fantastically and has a very interesting plot and well thought out world to go along with them. Also I am completely living for Tavi and Kitai, they are the most adorable thing in the world! This book has an excellent mix of humor, with bloody fights, and character interactions and I can't wait to continue with the series.
1 star deducted for the stupid way Butcher handled the Kalarian rebellion.
I find myself enjoying this series, probably because it is one of the few times I have chosen a series that has 7 or 8 books already written that I can breeze through. It took four books, but Tavi finally found a little bit of his power. The slowly developing storylines have been interesting, all with larger implications. Characters have some interesting choices to make and even while battle are being waged, politics and other battles are being waged. Butcher writes in a lot of long term planning (from the character's perspective) and I like that the lead Tavi has mostly earned his keep because of his effort and mind.
The best of the series so far. The canim are a really great culture that I enjoyed seeing fleshed out more.
Not as good as the last one, but still fast paced, easy to read, solid fantasy writing. A bit predictable, but it follows very well along with the other books.
EDIT: The complete background for Tavi is revealed for those very few, who didn't realize who he was already. And the repetitions with Amara and Bernhard are so plenty that reading the chapters with them can be skimmed (love/kiss/trouble/kiss/love repeat).
EDIT: The complete background for Tavi is revealed for those very few, who didn't realize who he was already. And the repetitions with Amara and Bernhard are so plenty that reading the chapters with them can be skimmed (love/kiss/trouble/kiss/love repeat).
It was great and filled with action. Can't wait to read the next one.