Academ’s Fury: Codex Alera 2 – Jim Butcher 2005

In this second installment of Butcher’s high fantasy series, young Tavi of Calderon—now a page in the capital city of Alera—faces dual crises: a covert invasion by the wolf-like Canim while navigating the cutthroat politics of the Academy. As First Lord Gaius Sextus weakens from an assassin’s poison, Tavi must conceal his lack of elemental furycrafting abilities and outwit noble rivals, even as his aunt Isana battles her own demons in the political arena. Butcher expands the Roman-inspired worldbuilding with deeper intrigue, elemental magic battles, and revelations about the mysterious Vord.

If You Enjoyed This, Try:

• Cursor’s Fury (#3) – Tavi joins the military as the Vord escalate.
• The Lies of Locke Lamora (Scott Lynch) – Similar wit in a fantasy underworld.
• Red Rising (Pierce Brown) – Another underdog in a hierarchical system.