This fantasy book started well. I liked the interesting story premise.

By the end it had too much fighting, not enough plot. A frequent problem in this genre. 

Furies of Calderon (2004) is the first novel in the high fantasy series Codex Alera …

It tells the story of a young boy named Tavi who is the only one without any fury crafting abilities …

The story takes place in the Aleran Empire, which contains “crafters”, people who control the elements: water, air, earth, fire, wood, and metal, through a person’s bond with an element’s fury. …

Furies of Calderon was well received by critics. …

Not sure I want to carry on to book 2 – Academ’s Fury.