Furies of Calderon

Another Jim Butcher book, but with a twist. While this book is far from Urban Fantasy, it technically falls into the ‘real world meets the fantastical’ elements if you understand the story behind it. The entire Codex Alera series exists so Jim Butcher could win a bet on the internet–No joke. Can he write a good story that incorporates the Lost Roman Legion and Pokémon? Yes. Yes, he can.

This book kicks off one of the best fantasy series I’ve ever read. Compelling characters, intriguing politics, plenty of action and humor, magic and aliens, and one of the most terrifying… show more.

Well, I could have chosen Dresden for this list instead of the Codex Alera but come on! Spirit-like creatures, that inhabit the elements working alongside humans, how can you go wrong? It kind of feels like Pokemon without the balls. Seriously though, it is far more than that. Each person when they reach a certain age is approached by a Fury. They bond with this fury and then they are able to use the elemental-based powers to perform various different feats. Air furies can help you fly, earth furies can give you enhanced strength, and so on. And just like… show more.

With its mix of nations, magic, and just a twinge of real history, The Furies of Calderon is without a doubt my favourite book of all time. Not only a completely unique fantasy adventure but a mind-warping perspective of humanity that sticks with me to this day. Jim Butcher somehow made a story as complex as a master's game of chess an easy-flowing and incredibly pleasing experience that kept me diving back in till every page was gone, it is also one of the very few books that I have read no less than three times.

This book is an excellent read for lovers of fantasy, especially coming-of-age fantasy focused on the hero’s journey. The novel is the first in a series, the Codex Alera, and is the author’s first fantasy series and one of his life-long passion projects. It was written after a bet was made by another writer that he couldn’t write a series based on a lame idea. He upped the ante and based it on two lame ideas: the Lost Roman Legion and Pokémon. This series has a fantastic magic system, believable characters who make mistakes, learn, and grow, and an unforgettable… show more.