The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher

The Aeronaut's Windlass (Cinder Spires, #1)

by Jim Butcher

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.

Reviewed by Beth C. on

5 of 5 stars

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I've been a Jim Butcher fan for years, particularly with The Dresden Files series. Sadly, the last few books of that series have felt - to me, anyway - like it was time to be drawing to a close. With The Aeronaut's Windlass, however, Butcher is back in prime form with a story that sings, characters that are - at times - laugh-out-loud funny (including/especially the cat) and always fully developed, and action that lays in thick and heavy and hard.

I have no problem calling this book one of my top 5 books of the year, and I can't wait for the next book to this truly invigorating story!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 27 December, 2015: Finished reading
  • 27 December, 2015: Reviewed