The Aeronaut’s Windlass (The Cinder Spires #1) By: Jim Butcher

Plot:

Jim Butcher, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Dresden Files and the Codex Alera novels, conjures up a new series set in a fantastic world of noble families, steam-powered technology, and magic-wielding warriors…

Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace.

Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship, Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy’s shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels. But when the Predator is severely damaged in combat, leaving captain and crew grounded, Grimm is offered a proposition from the Spirearch of Albion—to join a team of agents on a vital mission in exchange for fully restoring Predator to its fighting glory.

And even as Grimm undertakes this dangerous task, he will learn that the conflict between the Spires is merely a premonition of things to come. Humanity’s ancient enemy, silent for more than ten thousand years, has begun to stir once more. And death will follow in its wake…

Review:

One hundred and thirty-five pages into this book and I loved it. I knew it was a part of a series, but I didn’t realize the next book hadn’t been written yet, which immediately made me sad. I ended up putting the book down several times just to prolong it, something I normally only do with Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews books. It’s been a few years since I read a Dresden Files book but I seriously think I’ll have to go back to the series just to tide me over for the next book in The Cinder Spires.

I loved the fact that there were strong female characters, each of them unique and with their own weaknesses. I loved that the men worked well with them, were smart, and didn’t question their ability to do anything. I loved the way cats were used. I loved how freakin creepy the female villain was. I loved the world and the fact that the book wasn’t filled with minute detail, there was enough to paint the picture and build everything but you weren’t overloaded with all the fine details. I loved the fight scenes and the battles.

I seriously loved everything about this book. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like. There were large spider like monsters and I still loved this book and I am terrified of spiders. The only negative I can think of is that I haven’t found a release date for the next and I just don’t want to wait.

5/5

 

Side note: If anyone has any recommendations of books like this I would love them.