Furies of Calderon discussion

I'm a HUGE Dresden Files fan. And have put off reading these books for fear that they aren't up to par. Does anyone have any insight or feedback that I shouldn't put this off any longer?

I was resisting the Furies series out of some misguided loyalty to Dresden. Until someone commented that if I enjoyed Butcher's writing, I would probably enjoy this series as well.

He was right. I thoroughly enjoyed them, and was sad they ended. It's certainly a different genre, in that it's a vague time, well into the future, but a "Middle-Earth" sort of environment.

Great fantasy adventure.

I read these first and had reservations about reading the Dresden Files for the same reason, but Butcher is just such an amazing author that any book he writes seems to be an instant hit with me!

Don't leave it any longer! You march straight to your nearest book shop and you buy The Furies of Calderon! Then tell us what you thought!

The Dresden Files and Codex Alera are as different as two Fantasy series can possibly be.
I've only read the first two Codex Alera novels so far (taking a break from new books and rereading my favorites right now) and I think it's a quite enjoyable series, but I'm not in love with it yet.
I got addicted to The Dresden Files right away though, and ended up reading the whole series in a month or so.

Anyways, Codex Alera is very much Classic Fantasy and has nothing in common with The Dresden Files. Not even the writing style. But I recommend it nonetheless.

Whereas Dresden is modern Urban Fantasy, the Alera books are high fantasy.

The Alera books are not as dark, are much tamer in language, and have a better magic system.


Butcher is a gifted writer, but his Dresden books have fairly coarse language and sexual content.

Furries of Calderon is fast paced, action packed with many a twist.

There are enough character pov's to keep the story changing scene to scene.The characters really come full circle to an entertaining conclusion that was a little too "fairy tale" ending for my liking.

Butcher has a great imagination. I thought book one was great, I plan on reading the full series in due time.

Guess I am different. I loved Codex Alera and hate the Dresden Files. Never been a fan of Urban Fantasy. Think Codex Alera is on par with Mistborn, Gentleman Bastards, KKC, WoT, Lightbringer, etc

Love both series. The Codex Alera takes a little while to adjust to the world but so does any fantasy series. I think if you enjoy fantasy books and like Butchers writing then you will have no problem loving the series.

Thanks Luke! I think after I listen to all the Dresden files again on audio I will pick them up. John Gregory, my heart broke a little bit when you said you hate the Dresden files.

John Gregory wrote: "Guess I am different. I loved Codex Alera and hate the Dresden Files. Never been a fan of Urban Fantasy. Think Codex Alera is on par with Mistborn, Gentleman Bastards, KKC, WoT, Lightbringer, etc"

I'm exactly the opposite. I read the first book of this series and it just failed to capture me. Perhaps that's because it was written 3rd person POV with multiple characters, instead of the tightly-focused 1st person that Butcher does so well with Dresden. Harry's voice is one of the main reasons I love the Dresden Files so much.

All I can say is that the first book of the Codex felt too "juvenile" to me. I certainly wouldn't put the first book up there with the likes of Mistborn (best fantasy trilogy of all time, imo). Though I *will* give it props for making me feel real sympathy towards an absolutely deplorable character. No easy feat, that.

I suppose it's possible that I judged the series too quickly. Do the books get more mature/complex/interesting as the series progresses?

Willow, I LOVE the Dresden Files! Just love them. But to be honest, the first book was meh. It wasn't bad. But, I think I approached them much in the same way I did the Sookie Stackhouse books. Usually the first books are alright. But nothing to harp on about. It isn't until the second and the third books that it grows on you like a fungus. I had the same experience with the Dresden Files. By the time Michael was there, I was cracking up like a crazed person. I can now read the first book and love it, because its the beginning of a series I love. But standing alone. I know I wouldn't have as much gusto.

That's a really good point, actually. Guess I'll throw this series back in the "to-read" queue and see what Butcher manages to do with it. . .

I would note that the Alera books are consistently strong through all six books, and provide pretty good closure for each novel and the series as a whole. I think Butcher does that well with Dresden too, although we're yet to see the climax of the series. The ability to sustain a six book (or more) arc and then rap it up is sourly lacking in most contemporary fantasy series (see Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, George Martin for series that declined and lost focus - possible Peter Brett is in the process).

Just a thought.

Willow I say yes the main characters actually aged quite a bit in the books and it does get more adult.

Don't go into Codex thinking "Dresden files". This is definitely a coming of age tale, straight up high fantasy genre of books.

I read this before reading Dresden and was leary. They don't really take off until the third book, but they were worth the read in my opinion.

I have read both the Dresden files series and the Codex Alera series both multiple times. They are 2 of my favorite series. As someone posted before me they are different. Codex is a coming of age fantasy tale. So you have to have an interest in that type of book.

This series was result of a bet with a friend. That Jim couldn't write a entertaining story with two overdone subjects. One part Lost Roman Legion & 1 part Pokemon = Codex Alera series.
I thank Jim's friend for this series!

Haha very interesting I did not know that.

I think I began The Furies 3 or 4 times and stopped reading it to read something else. When I found myself with nothing else to read, I started it again and in about the 4th chapter I was hooked and I could not stop reading until I had read all the books and I was sooo sad to have them end. I just keep hoping that Mr Butcher will show pity on all us Codex Alera fans and give us at least 3 more books. After all, the spiders are still out there! :-0

I think his next non- Dresden project is a steam-punk series,"The Cinder Spires." I haven't seen a release date, but I think probably early 2015.

Thanks for the info. Felix I had not heard about that. I am betting it will be excellent like everything else he writes :)

Dustin wrote: "Thanks for the info. Felix I had not heard about that. I am betting it will be excellent like everything else he writes :)"

Your welcome. He lives in my metro area. I've been a fan before he became NY bestseller. I used to talk to him at signings when he only has a couple of books out-so he had time to talk on various subjects-plus we share a mutual friend.

I liked Tavi because he's very much an underdog. He doesn't have talent so he uses his head. He does get into interesting scrapes. :)

I very much want to see a sequel, with his kids.

Since my original posting I have read the first book. But only just the first. I do plan on continuing, I am in no rush to do so at this time. I have been trying to keep up my book club, which have introduced me to a whole bunch of other lovely series Warbreaker The Way of Kings Heroes Die. Its hard to juggle so many series at once! I'm on pins and needles waiting for the new Dresden files coming out! I am doing side reads of The Iron Druid. AHHH! I CANT KEEP UP!

Hmmm....I stopped reading Iron Druid after the druid killed multiple gods. Looked like he wasn't gonna face consequences of his divinicide.

Felix wrote: "I think his next non- Dresden project is a steam-punk series,"The Cinder Spires." I haven't seen a release date, but I think probably early 2015."

I asked him at a book signing a few months ago about the Codex Alera series and he said he's taking the series to the future in a steam-punk direction.

Jon wrote: "Felix wrote: "I think his next non- Dresden project is a steam-punk series,"The Cinder Spires." I haven't seen a release date, but I think probably early 2015."

I asked him at a book signing a few..."

I think he posted on Twitter that with Skin Game behind him, he is working on his steam punk, Cinder Spires book. Well, I am sure that is after he gets back from Australia and recoups from jet lag.

Am I allowed to say that I didn't really enjoy them? They weren't awful and props to the dude for working a story from a pretty dicey premise (Pokemon plus the Lost Roman Legion) but they just didn't really click for me.

It felt very paint-by-numbers, which considering how out-there the premise is, it really shouldn't. It also uses the threat of sexual violence like four times to make the same "BAD GUYS BAAAAAAD" point, which always struck me as cheap and hackney, especially in fantasy.

I generally like Butcher, but as I said in my review, this one's a swing and a miss.

Xander wrote: "Am I allowed to say that I didn't really enjoy them? "

Of course you are! If everyone liked everything all the time, it would be boring. Having only read 1 book I still say I really enjoy the Dresden files over Codex.

Xander wrote: "Am I allowed to say that I didn't really enjoy them? They weren't awful and props to the dude for working a story from a pretty dicey premise (Pokemon plus the Lost Roman Legion) but they just didn..."

Thankfully, we are free to express our likes and dislikes. If we all had the same likes and dislikes it would be a very strange and boring world! To each his own.

But, I have to ask. Xander, have you read any of the catoragized grimdark books?

Grimdark? Not sure exactly what you mean, but I've read some pretty dark fantasy, I guess. I enjoyed reading Joe Abercrombie and GRRM, but Mark Lawrence less so.

Xander wrote: "Grimdark? Not sure exactly what you mean, but I've read some pretty dark fantasy, I guess. I enjoyed reading Joe Abercrombie and GRRM, but Mark Lawrence less so."

Here is a link to a blog about grimdark fantasy.
http://grimdark-fantasy-reader.blogsp...

Joe Abercrombie's Twitter handle is @LordGrimdark