I have always thought that Jim Butcher was a good author. Unfortunately his Dresden series just never appealed to me; I just couldn’t get into the whole PI shtick, however well done it was. Thus when I saw he had a new steampunk-esque series coming out I was keen to get it, and I was not disappointed.

As I would expect from an author as experienced and accomplished as Jim Butcher the writing is top notch. This is just as well because he sets himself a high goal with the Aeronaut’s Windlass, introducing a very interesting and unique world of nations living in artificial mountains (“Spires”) above an alien and hostile word, linked by fleets of flying ships held aloft by magic (“crystal manipulation”). Butcher develops his new world through telling a riveting story of intrigue and war, along with no less than four interrelated personal storylines, without ever having to bore you with exposition to explain the world around the characters.

The world of the Cinder Spires is strongly European and nautical, very reminiscent to me of C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian. There is nothing banally derivative about it however: the familiar elements (and they are only elements) make the odd society and world far more easily accessible than they would have been otherwise. Not least because it alleviates any need for lots of detailed cultural and social exposition because (my brain at least) fills in many of the blanks by treating one Spire as English, another as Spanish etc. Differences from the historical nations become more apparent as the story proceeds, and will no doubt get larger still as the series goes on, but it is a great technique for allowing the reader to fill in the blanks quickly and easily while the story moves on at a rollicking pace.

The main storyline is straightforward: national competition for power and influence, a good Spire vs. a bad Spire. However, this is developed and deepened as the story proceeds, giving the plot complexity and mystery that keeps making it more interesting. The result is that the clear end of the first story leaves you waiting for the second book in the series. The main characters are likewise straightforward: heroic naval officer; dashing young noblewoman; troubled young noblewoman; and mad wizard/apprentice. However, they are very well done and given life and personality enough that the fact that they are standard archetypes doesn’t strike you until you sit down and think about it (like when writing a review). Like the world around them the characters continue to grow and expand in depth and complexity through the story, such that well before the end of the book you find yourself caring what happens to them. Indeed the characterisation is so well done you find yourself attached (for good and bad) to even many of the minor characters and the main villain.

There are many interesting highlights I could mention for both the world and the story, but I am trying to avoid spoilers. If you like rollicking adventure, intrigue, naval derring-do, and magic with your mystery then you will enjoy this series and I cannot recommend it enough.

Alright, so. Finished this story.

I recently "got into" Jim Butcher to shut up my friends about how "Harry Dresden" I was. Not bad, he gets better as you go. I'm hooked. Realized he had a Steampunk book, wow. Couldn't wait to jump into it. Before I get too lost in my... thoughts, I want to give an overall (Stars Above) thoughts. TLDR: The book was good. Could've done better, unimpressed with some of the elements but it's solid and fun. I'm super sad there's going to be, like, years in between each installment because I don't see the wait being worth what was set up here.

Alright, let's jump in.

First off. If you like steampunk, this book is OVERFLOWING with weird troupes. Absolutely Overflowing. Mystical City? Check. Airships? Check. Technology that doesn't need explaining because of magic? Check. Is that technology Crystals? Check. Animal-People fantasy race? Check. Is that race cats? Check. Monsters? Check. Weird class structures? Check. Strong Women? Check. Duels? Check. Goggles? Check. Super cool sounding names for normal stuff like Aether? Check. Magic users who fill a Mechromancer slot? Check! Reason for Goggles? CHECK!

Too many to count. Every single time something new was introduced I was left going "Really? Honestly? One more thing to keep track of? You have got to be kidding me.". First we got Airships, and some of the Airship stuff. We are then introduced to Regal Spire life, and their weaponized crystals, then it's to this idea of servitude in an elite police officer squad run by the rich houses.... which seems ripe for corruption galore. Then cat people. Then actual cats which some people can talk to. Oh, ontop of that the Cats have a weird viking/dwarven culture of their own with clans and stuff. Then magic. Magicians who are crazy. Enemies of the spire. Aliens? Lovecraftian monsters in the mist? It's just a lot. To be fair: He is setting up a whole world FROM SCRATCH and trying to do so through a story that is trying to settup an entire series... but it felt too much. It felt like a steampunk Fan-Fic in some parts.

However, that negative being said.... It was a meaty book. By the end of it I was invested. I wanted to know more. I found myself both happy it was winding down and ending but also angry it was ending as it was "getting good". Now that the groundwork is laid out, I am all in on this crazy, complicated world. I also don't see how more is going to come from these characters. Without too much spoilers: the end sets up a rather large conflict while neatly tying up our heroes' involvement in it. I can see one or two being pivotal in the coming conflict but without some sort of "Chosen one" or "Fellowship of the Ring" hook I can't see how every one of these characters will be carried into another book. That being said, I obviously want them in the next book because we spent so long getting used to them / attached to them!

It is at this point I would love to point out that they only, once, point out that the "Aeronaut" does not want his ship to become a "Windlass" and they quickly explain what that is. Almost immediately after, everything is worked out, the ship restored, and it is never brought up again. I kept expecting the ship to be hobbled or crippled into ending the book as a "Windlass" or his realizing there was some benefit to being a "Windlass" that would help them overcome a trial in the book but... nope. It's almost as if Mr. Butcher forgot that line of thought after mentioning it and he figured the name still sounds "Steampunky Enough" to keep.

Now, this all sounds negative, but the book is good. When everything is said and done, the story wraps up nicely, the world is built and set, stakes are raised and conclude. The characters were strong and, although hitting SO MANY troupes it isn't funny, it is a good mix of steampunk culture from all over. If you were to cosplay these characters, there's someone for everyone. The action is tense, the emotions are there in a place or two. This was a fun, good book. A great addition to any steampunk's shelf.

I look forward to seeing more but I fear the inevitable long wait between books will cause me to lose interest and forget a lot of the investments in world building this book set up. However, I can't complain too much. I'd rather more Dresden then more of this so I guess I better sit tight.

Jim Butcher has done it again.

When I started reading The Dresden Files, which was on book four at the time, I admired the way Jim Butcher never left loose ends. Each chapter was succinct and ended on a cliffhanger or funny beat, and each book wrapped up in a logical, satisfying way. You don't always know *how* Harry Dresden will survive the situations he gets into, but you know that however things turn out they won't be disappointing.

When the Codex Alera came along, I was skeptical. But I gave the first book a try and thought it was pretty good. Then I read the second one, which was pretty awesome, and by the end of the six-book series I was thoroughly impressed by how much foreshadowing there was in the first book that I didn't realize until the end of everything. What a great series!

But when I heard that Butcher was writing a steampunk novel, I was disheartened. I'm not a fan of the genre. I've tried it a few times - most notably with the Scott Westerfield series that mirrors World War I - and haven't been impressed. I don't think steam engines are cool. Gauges and mechanical doodads don't interest me. And flying airships don't appeal to me any more than regular old boats.

However, given Butcher's previous books, I bought this one and hoped for the best (fearing the worst...). I shouldn't have worried. Jim Butcher has created another fascinating, endearing, *alive* universe. The characters are great, the plot is plausible, if weird, and the steampunk stuff isn't overdone. There are flying ships. There are glowing crystals. There are (a few) steam engines. But there are also warrior-born humans who are part feral. And there are ehterealists, slowly growing crazy from their affinities for crystals. Plus there are awesome cats, brave soldiers, snooty rich people, and more.

All in all, I really loved The Aeronaut's Windlass and I'm excited to see where this series goes next. Count me in for the ride, Jim, and I'll tri-strap my harness for safety's sake!

I am a huge fan of Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files and am thrilled to find that the first book in The Cinder Spires lives up to Butcher’s proven style of detailed world building and the creation of characters you cannot help but love!

Worldbuilding:

Jim Butcher’s new world of The Cinder Spires is delightfully detailed. A lot of work has been invested in creating a world filled with class distinctions, religion, magic and different races and creatures. Humanity has made their home in the sky on Spires left by the original Builders. The surface of the planet is a wasteland of nightmares and men and women have figured out how to grow crystals that utilize etheric energy to power vast aeronautical warships, handheld weapons and simple machines that form the very foundation of the Spire’s civilization.

Characters:

The main protagonist, Captain Grim, is an discarded military officer who has made his fortune as a privateer protecting the interests of Spire Albion. Grimm believes in decorum and the kind of values that make a good officer: stoicism, professionalism and an unflagging sense of humor. Captain Grimm is the kind of person and officer that I want to be and I was delighted to read about such an interested character.

Just as Orson Scott Card’s godspoken are crippled by obsessions that walk hand in hand with their unearthly powers, Butcher’s etherealists are bound by odd compulsions that accompany their use of the etheric energy. As the immense power of the etheric energy rips through their minds, etherealists are forced to plug the holes however they can. Master Ferus and his apprentice Folly are great examples of characters with limitations who find ways to soar over them. The etherealists are powerful, yet are forced to carefully pick their way through their unique abilities instead of appearing omnipotent. It is refreshing to read about powerful characters who seem real – characters who have real fears and real challenges.

Butcher includes strong female protagonists who are predictable, but enjoyable to read – and let’s not forget about the talking cats! Whether you are a dog or a cat person, you will appreciate the anthropomorphic citizens that complete this world!

Story:

Jim Butcher is a master of superbly crafted plot twists and heartily brings this skill to The Aeronaut’s Windlass. While some of the characters and plot seem formulaic, Butcher’s writing style will keep readers engaged.

The design of the airships are fascinating and I was glued to the description of the aerial combat. While there is a nod to steampunk, most of the technology revolves around etheric energy.

The antagonist is compelling and a rich backstory weaves its way through the looping drama. The Aeronaut’s Windlass has the feel of a well developed prequel and I think that this series will only get better. The limited scope of The Aeronaut’s Windlass hints at a broader world and conflict that is just waiting to be discovered!

Overall:

Go and get your hands on a copy of The Aeronaut’s Windlass right now! The story is enjoyable, the characters and compelling and the first book in The Cinder Spires series promises the development of a truly epic story. I already cannot wait until the next book comes out!

Jim Butcher is an absolute master of world building. He has an uncanny knack for making the fantastical not just believable but logical. When he described the process of making a magical potion in the first Dresden Files novel, I was hooked. In The Aeronaut's Windlass he does that same thing as he describes air ships soaring through the skies with an "etheric web" powered by magical crystals. Everything about the world is well-conceived and interesting, and it is all given out at a pace that avoids vast exposition. 

His cast of characters are equally compelling. Captain Francis Grimm of the privateer airship AMS Predator is everything you want from a ship captain in nautical fiction. He is stoic with a shrewd tactical mind and unwavering commitment to the men he commands, but at the same time he is very human with the flaws and shrouded past you'd expect. There is a trio of young adults including the headstrong but savvy aristocrat Gwendolyn of House Lancaster, her cousin Benedict who is "warriorborn" with feline eyes and enhanced strength and reflexes, and Bridget from the lesser House Tagwyn who, ever reluctant and practical, is able to converse with cats. Rarely out of Bridget's sight is the cat Rowl, prince of the Silent Paws tribe who has claimed Bridget as his human. These four characters remind me of the Potter trio, only without the author having to lean heavily on questionable tropes. Then there are the two eccentric Etherialists, Master Ferus and his apprentice Folly. They give tantalizing insight into the mystical side of the Cinder Spires series. They are able to manipulate etheric energies, but are steadily growing mad by their exposure to it.

I love all of these characters, and even during the slow points of the books, I was happy to follow them around. I particularly enjoyed the pair Bridget and Rowl, and pretty much everything with the cats of Spire Albion. Their thinking and mannerisms and culture are so well portrayed. I want to know more about everyone and everything. There is a novella called Warriorborn that I am eager to read along with the next novel in the series that came out last month. I am very curious to see what this series as a whole is about. By the end of this first book, there are so many avenues Jim Butcher can take us down, I just hope he doesn't get lost in them à la GRRM. Butcher has a few series under his belt by now, though, including the long-running Dresen Files, so I have trust in him and can't wait to read more.

I finally picked up a Dresden Files book when Skin Game was nominated for a Hugo Award last year and wound up greatly enjoying it—putting it #2 on my ballot behind The Three-Body Problem. Butcher is back with another Hugo Awards finalist, but this year, instead of a Dresden Files book, the finalist is The Aeronaut’s Windlass, the first book in Butcher’s new The Cinder Spires steampunk series. Unfortunately, while Butcher’s skill as a writer still shows, I didn’t like it nearly as much.

One of my primary complaints with steampunk is the worldbuilding—but why are there airships and such? Butcher provides an inventive backdrop leading ineluctably to a steampunk world. A hostile, mist-covered surface lead humanity to escape to massive spires long ago. Magic crystals power everything from massive airships to Iron Man-esque gauntlets. Giant centipede-esque Silkweavers, well, weave silk, which protects against gauntlet blasts. Ethereal currents help drive airships (but must be protected against with goggles) and can also be tapped by magic users called Etherealists (driving them mad, but nothing comes free). Along with that are a number of smaller touches, from talking cats to steel that rusts away in days absent a copper coating to “Warriorborn” humans with catlike abilities to “vats” used to make everything from the crystals to food (limited square footage for crops on a spire).

Aeronaut’s Windlass is a departure from the more Harry Dresden-centric Dresden Files, and Butcher takes advantage with a large cast of characters: Grimm, privateer and airship captain; Gwendolyn, scion of a major aristocratic house and newly minted member of the Spirearch’s Guard; Benedict, a member of Gwen’s house, a Warriorborn, and a member of the Guard; Rowl the cat; Bridget, another new member of the Guard and Rowl’s pet; Ferus, master Etherealist; and Folly, another Etherealist and Ferus’ apprentice. The Relationships are a highlight. The budding romance between Bridget and Benedict. The curious relationship between Bridget and that damn cat. The familial relationship between Benedict and Gwen. The relationship between Captain Grimm and anyone, really (Captain Grimm is great). The relationship between Folly and Ferus. Or the relationship between Folly and anyone, really (Folly is great).

So there is a well rounded, diverse cast of characters. And there are inventive monsters, setting, and magic. So why aren’t I raving about The Aeronaut’s Windlass? It does have flaws. That damn cat got old in a hurry. Butcher’s inexperience with sprawling, multiple-POVs shows and the story drags in the middle with too much exposition and setup interspersed with too little action. But really it boils down to a technically proficient book that nonetheless lacks that unexplainable spark of vitality that marks all of my favorite books. The sort of thing that makes me want to squee more than to write long posts extolling a book’s virtue in minute detail.

But what does have a spark? The airship battles. They are breathtaking. Literally holding-my-breath-like-I’m-cresting-a-hill-on-a-rollercoaster while I read breathtaking. There is a Master and Commander element with a naval command structure and rows of cannons that operate like much large versions of the gauntlets, but Butcher also makes full use of the extra dimension. Much of aerial combat in the world of The Cinder Spires consists of sneaking up on your enemy and plummeting past him in a surprise sneak attack from above. Every fight is superbly choreographed, paced, and written. Starship-esque trouble in the “engine” (crystal) room adds to the drama. The dog fights get The Aeronaut’s Windlass another star on their own. But there are just too damn few of them!

The Aeronaut’s Windlass works as a standalone while setting up a longer series. I really want to visit the surface (from the safety of my bedroom) and see many more airship battles. I want to see a mistmaw eat a ship, damn it. Book 1 is driven by an inter-Spire conflict, but it also suggests a world-threatening Enemy (another complaint about Book 1 is that it doesn’t get far enough into either conflict).

There is obviously something to it, because even very successful authors fail when they introduce new characters in a new world, but it didn’t grab me.

Bottom Line Up-Front (BLUF) : Read this book.

I should start this off by saying that I am a huge fan of Jim Butcher’s Dresden series, so much so that I am always quite vexed when he takes time away from writing the next Dresden (which should be his main fixation) book to do a side project like this. As with the last side project (Codex Aleria ) I started reading this book as a way to pass time and feed an addiction while waiting for the next Dresden story, and much like with the last side project, I was pleasantly surprised. Actually more than pleasantly surprised-I really really really like this book.

Butcher has eschewed (thank God) the seemingly de rigueur Steampunk requirement that the story be set in some alternative Victorian London and instead placed the story altogether on a different world or at least a different time. He has created a very real world with a mix of customs, science and morays from seemingly different times. There is high society with formal rules and ranks, science is used to grow food and the crystals utilized to power the fleet (more on that later) yet, but the level of technology is the mixture of 1800s and 2200s you would expect of the genre.

This book begins in the opening days of a war between two spires. The spires are the nations of this world, miles wide and impossibly tall structures housing thousands of inhabitants and towns (habbles) within them, as the spires are the only habitable areas on a planet whose surface is deadly. Trade and war between the spires is accomplished via the airships, and this I believe is my most favorite aspect of the book. The airships are much like the tall ships of the 1700s, wooden vessels crewed by iron men. Rather than sail on the seas, they ply the stratosphere through the use of a complicated system of lift and power crystals. While the idea is fantastical, Butcher’s storytelling makes it seem very probable and real. The manner in which Butcher relates the intricacies of ship handling and battle seem to channel the spirit of Patrick O’Brian.

The tale focuses on several key characters: a spoiled heir to a royal house who while well intentioned is not as worldly as she would believe she is; her cousin, also of the upper ranks of society, but possessing a genetic anomaly referred to as “Warrior Born” which makes him a fierce and effective fighter but also somewhat of a tolerated “outcast” of high society; a young heir to a once great house who has no desire to play the politics of society and would rather stay with her family’s small business, a master “etherialist” and his apprentice, two beings who are more sensitive than most to the ethereal energies which drive the land, they can manipulate these energies to a great degree, but the price has been their sanity, a battletested captain of an airship with a mysterious and dark past, and a cat. Butcher manages to weave the characters’ story together as part of a cohesive whole, each characters different perspective and interpretation of events lending a greater understanding of the tail and the world to the read the further along you move.

I found this book to be a fantastic read, one I could not put down, and one that I did not want to end.

Hopefully you've already read the story synopsis. That out of the way...

This is one of my favorite books ever. I love the writing which is clear, complete, witty, and well thought out.

I love the characters. One of my favorite is Rowl*. I've read very few characterizations of cats as spot on and that exemplify cats as we think about them as there is with Rowl's character. His narcissistic and inflated sense of his own importance is as endearing and annoying to us as it is to his human, Bridget. His perceptions of humans is also amusing, insightful, and often annoying. Rowl's human, Bridget, provides an excellent every man's commentary on Cinder Spire society also with wit and occasionally sword sharp accuracy. The other 'feline' in the group, Benedict, also an outsider in his own way, gets in a few wry observations as well. All our hero characters are as much fun and interesting and notable as these three. Rather than set you up with expectations though, it's best fun to meet and learn about them as you read.

I love the story, setting, plot progression, and how Mr. Butcher keeps the action overlapping and compelling with only an occasional breather during which I still didn't breath anticipating the next catastrophe or twist.

As with all good sci-fi, fantasy, or in this case, more like steam punk, there is some metaphoric commentary and similarity to the real world and some honest soul searching. Great character and world building requires this. Cinder Spires is a very intriguing world with many tantalizing mysteries including a few that aren't revealed by the very complete but still-leaves-you-wanting-more ending of this installment. I'm excited for more stories from this world.

*A note about Rowl and character development...I read the book AFTER I listened to it as an audio book. As I read it, I could hear the narrator's inflections and expressions in my head. If you can get this book as an audio book, the characters are even more rich and compelling, and often the added depth of listening reveals some subtle and very funny subtext not as easily noticed while reading. The audible narrator is gifted. Check it out.

One of my favourite reads, which I have just re-read in anticipation of book 2.

Great story and the cats, so good!!!!

Refreshing and new world to get lost into. Characters are written well with flaws and growth.

I've read most of the Dresden file books so wanted to try this from the same author. Very impressive new world and characters. Plenty of funny parts along with a real sense of drama and threat. Excellent overall. Some slightly slow parts but very well paced. I'll be reading the next book for sure.

Great action scenes (especially the airship battles) great characters and great setting! Can't wait to read how the storyline unfolds!

Pour c3ux qui ne liront pas tout, voici en bref : c'est un chef d'œuvre !

Acheté en papier et en ebook. Il est tellement bien écrit que je suis ravi de l'avoir dans les deux formats. Même s'il est bien plus agréable de lire sur du papier (en tout cas pour moi) la dure réalité de la vie fait que le format électronique permet de lire malgré la course folle de la vie de tous les jours. Je trouve qu'on profite bien mieux de l'univers du livre lors de la lecture papier (cartes schémas et références sont tout de suite accessibles dans les premières pages, littéralement d'un coup de pouce) mais entre les enfants, le ménage, le travail etc... le kindle c'est bien pratique pour lire par tous petits bouts de dix minutes. Avis aux amateurs d'univers original, c'est un chef d'œuvre ! (Personnellement je trouve que c'est un niveau au dessus de David Gemmel)