Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series is a fantasy series with a hero who is interesting not because of any power he possesses, or mystical armour or weapons he finds, but because, even with the  absence of powers considered commonplace in his land and a distinct lack of magical or otherwise unique weapons he succeeds and survives, time after time, foe after foe–he is formidable because of who he is, not because of what he can do. Princeps’ Fury’ is the fifth book in the series and Tavi, more formally known as Gauis Octavian, has claimed his place as the heir to the First Lord and promptly left Alera to sail to the homeland of the Canim in a move both politically precipitous and personally necessary.

Tavi has a number of enemies in the First Lord’s court, and his departure for the Canim homeland neatly isolates him from the plotting while allowing him to continue to build relationships between the Alerans and the Canims–relationships that may become the only way to save either of them from the greatest threat of all, the Vord. The Vord threatened Alera earlier in its history, and were beaten back, but they have now been awakened and are threatening to take over everything in sight. They have already destroyed large swathes of the Canim homeland, and they are a threat to the lives of those travelling there and the fragile peace that Tavi has managed to craft with the Canim leaders. Even the might of the Aleran Legions, victorious for a thousand years, falls to the overwhelming numbers of the Vord and the powers they possess.

Tavi has grown as a hero in the previous books. Now able to access basic (but still not spectacular) fury-craft, he has also become an adept swordsman. It is his ability to connect with others and his intelligence, though, that have made him the success he is. His history with the Aleran Legions (fighting forces that echo the Roman Legions of history) and his youth spend as a shepherd on a working farm give Tavi a connection to the people of Alera that is proving more powerful than any magic held by those that surround him. Although he can back up his statements with physical and magical abilities, to an extent, that is all they are, back-up. Tavi gets himself into scrapes (and, well, fully staged battles with multiple enemies), but he is a hero who has learned that success is dependent on understanding a situation and all of its possibilities, not just being the most powerful person in the room. This difference in Tavi makes Princeps’ Fury (and all of the Codex Alera novels) a supremely satisfying and fun read. Because he cannot depend on being the most powerful magician, or best swordsman, Tavi must be creative in his solutions and they are often as hilarious as they are ingenious. Add in a cast of supporting characters that are some of the strongest magicians, best swordsmen, and skilled negotiators, and watching Tavi grow as a leader and character becomes both fascinating and completely understandable.

Princeps’ Fury is also a bold book because, although it feels and acts like the introduction to the final battle that must be coming in the sixth (and final) book, it satisfies on its own with very little trouble. Even with Tavi out-of-action as far as Alera is concerned, the competence of those he has left behind makes following the story through their eyes more than a waiting game for the “hero” to arrive. Butcher has done some interesting things with standard fantasy fare, created fascinating and fun characters, an intriguing world and backstory, and put together a series well worth reading and re-reading; Princeps’ Fury continues that pattern and sets up what looks to be an excellent finale in First Lord’s Fury.

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