Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

Link to books in the Codex Alera series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/4554...

Thanks for the useful link. I hadn't realized that the series was so long, we'll be finishing in potential sunshine, or at least not snow!

I've started and am enjoying it so far, about 10% in, I think.

This is another one I've been wanting to cross off my list. I'm simultaneously working my way through his Dresden Files series.

I was worried it was even longer!
Hehheh...
It is finished...I hope.....???

How did I miss this series...When I've read every "Dresden Files" book/short/comic??

I just watched an interview with Jim Butcher from 2008 in which he tells how Codex Alera came to be:

I wrote the first book on that series on a bet...You give me two terrible ideas and I'll use them both [in a good book].

He was given "Lost Roman Legion" and Pokemon.

The video is found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylKRYe...

Logan wrote: "This is another one I've been wanting to cross off my list. I'm simultaneously working my way through his Dresden Files series."

Yes it is finished and well worth reading. I'm looking forward to rereading the series and following the upcoming discussions.

I have not read anything by Jim Butcher, although my husband is working his way through the Dresden Files. I have all the Codex Alera books and am looking forward to reading them with the group. However, I'm sure I will be late to the first book as I have a book to finish and then Ysabel to read for another group before I can start Furies of Calderon.

I'm supposed to read Ysabel also.
I think i'll try to pick it up at the end of the month.
:)

Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "I'm supposed to read Ysabel also."
Beyond reality, heh? That was my pick ;)
I'll have to start with that one and with The Anubis Gates. So the Alera will have to wait a couple of days.

I have a copy of Furies, so started with it.
:)

Hoping to find Ysabel this coming week.

Finished Furies, on Memory of Light then Ysabel. I like how I can guess what groups you're in from the books.

Im a little over halfway done now, but I really am enjoying this book so far. Ive read a few bad ones recently so this is a good book to get me going again. It did start off a bit slowly, but has picked up nicely!

This is the first work of Jim Butcher that Ive read and do enjoy his writing style, which is important to me. I cant read a book if I don't like the writing style even if its a good story.

I do hope he builds the characters a bit more, at the moment I feel like I know the bad guys better (Fidelias and Aldrick are my two favorites so far) than the good guys.

Haha Helen!
Yes....you are reading a few of mine.
:D Ahead if me, though.

Jeff, You like the bad guys....lolol. They make me cringe. Fidelias betrayed his student Amara. And Aldrick is right beside him. I did like a couple of R. A. Salvatores evil characters., Artemis and Jarlaxle. So, I do understand how the bad guys can be fun. I wish to learn more about Bernard. He must have a history of being a strong character somewhere in his past. That could be interesting. Tavi, the boy, needs to be developed more. He does seem to be a smart boy, although he has no furies. I do believe many of the people with furies saved him several times where I wish his being smart and figuring things out on his own helped him out more. He does rely on himself a lot, but I just thought he was saved more times by others than I'd have liked to have seen. I enjoyed the book. Right now, I am enjoying his Dresden Files more. Maybe as I get into more of his Codex Alera books, that will change.

I'm about a quarter of the way done and I feel pretty neutral still. I've previously read 1.5 Dresden books and didn't really have any desire to read any more. Decided to give this one a shot and I think it may be just Butcher's style that doesn't do it for me.

The characters strike me as one dimensional, I haven't figured out a reason why I should care about any of them yet. The world is generic fantasy background with some random made up creatures and I have no feel for the size or make up of the place. Different areas have been mentioned but there's no info about them. There's slavery but no mention that I recall of how one becomes a slave, nor anyone who seems to find the practice objectionable.

Descriptions of people or places are essentially told in a list: on the block was a man. His eyes were closed. He had a helmet at his feet. He wore a cloak. His hair was close cropped.

The fury system does have a lot of potential and is a good idea (although I always read it as furry so whenever there is "furycrafting" I picture a bunch of costumes being made for the next furry convention) but so far there is no explanation, it just is. What is the nature of the bond between people and their furies? Are the furies sentient beings? All they seem to do is show up whenever called and do what they're told. The idea has a lot of potential but based on what I've read from Butcher before I'm not sure it will be realized and fleshed out.

Rob wrote: "I'm about a quarter of the way done and I feel pretty neutral still. I've previously read 1.5 Dresden books and didn't really have any desire to read any more. Decided to give this one a shot and..."

Rob I agree, I am almost done now, and I still dont feel like I know the characters or the land. Very good point about the furycrafting/furies. Some background would be nice.

Im finding it still to be just a fun and entertaining book, which is nice to have every now and then. When book are TOO descriptive or complex (WoT and Malazan come to mind), I dont like them either. I read to be entertained not to give me a headache lol.

Don't forget to check out the threads for Furies of Calderon, one for initial thoughts the other with spoilers.
:)

This is the series that actually got me involved in fantasy. It still holds a hallowed place on my bookshelf, and I've read certain parts multiple times.

While this series is not nearly as long or detailed as some, it will always have a place in my heart.

I enjoyed the Dresden Files books, but I'm not enjoying this series as much. For some reason, it just can't catch my interest.

I've heard Dresden is better, but I am not much of a fan of urban fantasy.

I just finished reading this series a week ago. I am fairly new to the fantasy genre but I have to say, so far this is one of my series of all time. I really can't say hoe much I enjoyed reading these books. I read First Lord's Furies in two days!

Yeah, once you really get into it, you can really get carried away lol. It's an amazing series to get people involved in fantasy. I think Tavi is still one of my all time favorite characters to this day.

Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "I've heard Dresden is better, but I am not much of a fan of urban fantasy."

The Dresden Files is amazing, but for different reasons. Each series has a very distinct flavor, and I'm impressed with how well Butcher can tread in both genres.

I'll probably give it a go after.

At this point...it will most likely....much after for me.

I haven't dismissed it entirely.
:)

Pick tv showed the tv series a couple of months ago, I quite enjoyed it.

Helen wrote: "I'll probably give it a go after."

Like Alera, the Dresden Files' roughest book is probably the first. Just a heads-up for when you pick it up. :)

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind.

Willow wrote: "Helen wrote: "I'll probably give it a go after."

Like Alera, the Dresden Files' roughest book is probably the first. Just a heads-up for when you pick it up. :)"

I've heard that. I just bought the first one, but like Malazan Book of the Fallen, I just can't commit to a 10+ book series right now lol.