The Vord are swarming over what's left of the Aleran Imperium, and the Vord Queen even has a treacherous Aleran ally, Invidia. 
 Things are looking pretty bleak in "First Lord's Fury," and at first it's hard to see how Jim Butcher can not only satisfactorily wrap up his Codex Alera series, but also turn around the war against the Vord so the Alerans might actually be able to win. But this grand finale is a brilliant end for such an epic tale -- it's a bit rushed and scattered, but also a powerful and passionate story that leaves you thoroughly satisfied. 
 Gaius Octavian returns to his homeland, only to discover that the Imperium has fallen, many of the cities have been conquered, and his grandfather has been slain. What's worse, the Realm is divided over who the First Lord is, undermining his position. And when the Vord Queen offers an unacceptable surrender to the entire Realm (live but stop reproducing), Tavi reveals the depth of his determination: "When I`m finished, nothing will be left of your kind but stories." 
 Easier said than done. Isana has been kidnapped by the queen, and is slowly learning her reasons for this war. And Tavi must concentrate on driving back the Vord -- first in the furycraft-torn city of Riva, and then in the Calderon Valley where the conflict began.The final battle between the Vord and the Aleran legions begins... and it all will boil down to Tavi fighting the Queen herself. 
 "First Lord's Fury" is a pretty epic affair -- dozens of subplots to tie off and a large cast of characters to deal with. The grand finale is a powerful and masterful one, sweeping you off your feet... and the only real flaw is that the narrative is a bit rushed sometimes, and important stuff is skimmed over (the alliance with the Icemen... what, we don't see anything? Anything at all?). 
 But that is outweighed by the brilliant spectacle of the finale. Butcher is in fine form here, twisting together complex plots, big gobs of politics and powerful personal relationships. And he laces them with fun dialogue ("We obey without question." "We do?" "That was a question. You're questioning") and evocative prose ("fragile and beautiful, like a flower coated in ice"). And his brilliant battle scenes are an eruption of blood, insect monsters, swords and raging vast furies -- one highlight is a brilliant scene where Tavi tears apart city walls with nothing but water and plants. 
 It's also clearly the ending of the Codex Alera: Things can't get any worse without the good guys completely losing once and for all. Some people die, others live, traitors are revealed and desperate measures are taken. But while this story is ended, Butcher leaves the door wide open for more to be told. 
 And Tavi is the point that the epic story pivots on -- he's an enemy, an ally, a rival, a friend, a leader, a lover, a "father," and a son. Now he's carrying the weight of an empire on his shoulders, and facing terrible trials even if the Alerans win. The other characters are similarly strong: his fiery lover Kitai, quiet strong-willed Isana, Max, the stealthy traitor Fidelius, and Warmaster Varg. Even the bad guys are fleshed out: Invidia is pretty clearly going bugnuts, and the Vord Queen is shown both as a cruel villain and a confused childlike monster. 
 "First Lord's Fury" is a brilliant and powerful ending to the Codex Alera series, drawn back only by a slightly rushed narrative. A truly epic fantasy story, and one deserving of many rereadings.