I finished Princeps' Fury today, the latest installment in Jim Butcher's Codex Alera.

This is, in my opinion, the best of the series yet. Through the series, now five volumes long, we have followed the life of young Tavi, from a simple shepherd for his uncle Bernard, to the point of realization that he is actually heir to the throne of Gaius Sextus, the First Lord of Alera. In book four we learned that his mother, Isana, was actually married to Gaius Sextus's son, Gaius Septimus, who was killed in battle. But not before they had time to make a baby together. So, "Tavi" turns out to be short for "Octavius," because he is actually Gaius Octavius.

So, in book five, we follow more of Tavi's adventures, as he attempts to bring enemies together to fight a different, common enemy, as the notorious Vord have begun yet another assault on their world. So he reaches out to the Canim, with whom he had already begun forging an alliance in the previous book.

There are some epic battles in this book, and some very close calls for some of our favorite characters. There is also a major death in this one. That's all I'm going to say about that, although for anyone who is following this story, it will be no surprise. It's still a sad moment, though.

And the last line of the book, once it dawned on me what had actually transpired, left me in tears.

Very cool.

If you haven't read any Jim Butcher, you should. He's a good author, with two very successful series going on. The Codex Alera, and the Dresden Files, which are waaaaaaaaay better than the failed tv show of the same name.

TTFN, y'all!

Missed anything?
The Beatles--Abbey Road/Alice Cooper--Killer - July 04, 2012
The Beatles Eponymous Album - June 26, 2012
Autism's False Prophets - February 12, 2011
Santana--Guitar God? - November 11, 2010
Tribute To the Red Sox - September 29, 2010