Please excuse the name spelling! I listened to the audio of this.Great book two! This one picks up two years after the first book ended. Which is great, because Tavi got to grow up a bit without us watching. He's basically the same, only he has now been a page to Gaius and lived in the capital, so he's a little more worldly. He is, of course, picked on and bullied atrociously by many of his peers due to the fact that he has no furies of his own. But his strength of character far exceeds any physical strengths they may have. And his mettle is definitely tested. From scheming, conniving Lords and their vicious offspring, to the unknown Vord, an alien evil come to destroy, Tavi faces many tough choices. He has help along the way, including Kitai and a few new Academs that he has met while in class. His womanizing yet loyal roommate Maximus is sure to be a hit in coming books. And Fade, the idiot slave revealed to be much more in the previous book, makes another appearance. I can see where his involvement will be really exciting one day.Bernard and Amara realize that their relationship may not be able to survive each of their duties to the realm. Of course, they're battling their own horde of creepy creatures. Doroga stays with them for the ride, and provides much needed comic relief while poking fun at the 'silly human' inhibitions always on display when he spends time with them. Their obvious love for each other is touching and somehow comforting. Even as it is being tested, Mr. Butcher still somehow conveys the rightness of it, leaving me feeling really sad at the thought of them parting due to outside influences like Gaius.Meanwhile, Imara is thrown into capital intrigue, and is forced to keep her watercrafting emotions in check while residing in the biggest city in Alera. She meets the known traitors to the crown, yet can't act. Her family is in danger, and her only concern is getting them to safety and ensuring that Tavi is taken care of. She is literally sleeping with the wolves of the realm. It'll be interesting to see where she goes from here.I am so surprised by how much I love this author. I love fantasy, but even I have to admit the cheese factor in many fantasy series is pretty high. Not so in the Codex Alera series. Somehow, Butcher makes it believable, and I feel emotionally invested from page one. I've put aside my print book just to listen to audio while I cook or clean. My floors are continually sparkly! And I have to give props to the narrator. I wasn't sure that I'd like a female, with all of the manly parts of this story, but her voice is amazing! I don't think that I could read this series now. I'm going to have to finish it in audio, as I'm addicted to the way I've been getting the story. Big five stars for me!
