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

February 5, 2024 by Paige Leave a Comment

Rating: 9/10

Synopsis:

Jim Butcher, the number one bestselling author of The Dresden Files, begins a new series set in a gloriously imagined world of noble families, marvellous artificers and magic-wielding warriors.

Since time immemorial humanity has lived inside the Spires, habitats towering for miles over the dangerous, monster-inhabited surface of the world.

Captain Grimm of the merchant airship, Predator, was dismissed from Spire Albion’s military in disgrace – now his ship and crew are all he has, and he’s fiercely loyal to both. When the Predator is severely damaged in combat Grimm has only one choice – take on a clandestine mission for Albion’s leaders, or stay grounded for good.

And even as Grimm undertakes this perilous 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:

Thank you Orbit for sending me a review copy.

I LOVED this book. I have to admit I was slightly afraid of it when I saw that it was 600+ pages but I shouldn’t have worried because they fly by. I flew through The Aeronaut’s Windlass and it kept me engaged and enthralled the entire time.

The whole premise of humanity living in giant Spires with monsters living on the ground of the world just hooked me. The tiny tidbits you get about the ground were fascinating and I’m really hoping that at some point we get to visit the ground (sorry characters but I want to know what’s there). While the vast majority of the book follows an attack by another Spire to Albion (home of our MCs) at no point did it feel like a book about war or politics. Instead you follow a ragtag group of misfits who are fighting for their Spire and to just survive.

There’s such an incredible range of characters in The Aeronaut’s Windlass. From a disgraced Airship Captain, to young men & women training to join the Guard and even a talking cat (Rowl speaks cat & some humans can converse in his language). There’s even cat PoV chapters and they’re so, so well done that I probably could read a whole book based on the cats of the Spire and be very happy about it. Our characters are all fighting for the same cause and I loved seeing their dynamic come together, with characters finding their places within the team and unveiling new skills along the way.

Jim Butcher starts the book in an explosive way and the pace never lets up. He quickly proves that he can write action scenes that have you racing to see where things end up. With the occasional introduction of monsters to really get your heart rate going.

I cannot wait to dive into the next book in this series. I’m officially hooked. Start this when you have time to binge read as you’ll find yourself staying up all night without even realising it.

Filed Under: Fantasy, Reviews, Steampunk Tagged With: Jim Butcher, Orbit, The Aeronaut’s Windlass, The Cinder Spires

About Paige

Paige started book blogging 7 years ago and never looked back. She started out in YA and has since moved on to Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror, although it’s rare for her to read something she doesn’t enjoy! Paige is chronically out of shelf-space but that doesn’t stop her buying books. She is an avid gamer when she isn’t reading.

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