Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera # 1)

SUMMARY: In the realm of Alera, where people bond with the furies-elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal-fifteen-year-old Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. But when his homeland erupts in chaos-when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies-Tavi's simple courage will turn the tides of war. For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies - elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal. But now, Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, grows old and lacks an heir. Ambitious High Lords plot and maneuver to place their Houses in positions of power, and a war of succession looms on the horizon. " "Far from city politics in the Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans' most savage enemy - the Marat - return to the Valley, he will discover that his destiny is much greater than he could ever imagine. " Caught in a storm of deadly wind furies, Tavi saves the life of a runaway slave named Amara. But she is actually a spy for Gaius Sextus, sent to the Valley to gather intelligence on traitors to the Crown, who may be in league with the barbaric Marat horde. And when the Valley erupts in chaos - when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies - Amara will find Tavi's courage and resourcefulness to be a power greater than any fury - one that could turn the tides of war. In the kingdom of Alera, the people bond with the furies, elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal. In the competition for succession to the old ruling Lord, the high lords plot and manuver to place their Houses in postions of power and, the Marat, the savage enemy of Alera returns to the Valley. Meanwhile, Travis, an unassuming fifteen-year-old orphan boy, struggles with his lack of furycrafting. But, when his homeland erupts in chaos, when rebels war with loyalists, and furies clash with furies, Tavi's simple courage will turn the tides of war in this first book of the series In the land of Alera, where people bond with the furies--elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal--young Tavi struggles to cope with his lack of magical talent, until his homeland erupts into fierce conflct between rebels and loyalists and Tavi discovers that he holds the key to his realm's survival.