Princeps' Fury

Author Q&A

In the acclaimed “Codex Alera” novels, # 1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher has created a world of “epic fantasy in the best way, inspired by Tolkien.” (Simon R. Green, New York Times bestselling author) Now the people of Alera—who use their unique bonds with the elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal for protection—must face the ultimate conflict…

For Gaius Octavian, life has been one struggle after another. Struggles for survival… for honor… for glory…

For Alera.

It seems like yesterday that Tavi of Calderon—a young, unschooled shepherd’s apprentice—faced down the savage Marat hordes that threatened his home. Unable to furycraft, he still won the respect and alliance of the Marat leaders, and with it, knowledge of a darker threat, just in time. Then came the endless trials and triumphs of a man whose skill and power could not be restrained…

When Tavi attended the Academy in Alera Imperia, the bestial Canim—centuries-old enemies of Alera—orchestrated an attack on the palace and Gaius Sextus himself, and Tavi fought again for the realm. Bitter enemies became allies and long-kept secrets strained to be revealed.

As a Cursor for Gaius Sextus, Tavi became the eyes of the crown in the First Aleran Legion, a post meant to take him away from the eruption of civil war. But the Canim raided Alera’s shores as allies to the traitorous Lord Kalare, and the First Aleran Legion became all that stood in their way. After a crippling attack of Canim magic, Tavi, who was meant only to be a junior officer, found himself Captain of the ill-equipped and untrained Legion.

After two years of struggle, the Canim still clung to Alera’s shores, and Tavi learned first-hand that corruption within Alera may be crippling the kingdom just as effectively as the forces without. Even more, the Canim may have come to Alera for sanctuary as much as for war—and Tavi realized that the dark threat of the vord still loomed over all.

Battling ancient foes, forging new alliances, and confronting the corruption within his own land, Tavi became a legendary man of war—and the rightful First Lord of Alera.

But now the end of all he’s fought for is close at hand. The vord—brutal, dreaded enemies of all that is free—are on the march, using fear and chaos to turn the Alerans against one another, and forcing those who will not submit to flee to the outer reaches of the realm.

And, perhaps for the final time, Gaius Octavian and his Legions return to the Calderon Valley to stand against the bane of his people. There, it will take all of his intelligence, ingenuity, and furycraft to save their world from eternal darkness…