Apr. 29th, 2016

jacey: (blue eyes)
Aeronaut's WindlassWow! What a ride! Jim Butcher kicks off his new Cinder Spires series in fine style with The Aeronaut's Windlass, a steampunky tale of action and intrigue set in Spire Albion. The humans (and not quite humans) live vertically in the spires, huge monoliths two miles in diameter and monstrously tall. Whatever is on the ground is no longer friendly to their kind. Transport is by 'airships' but not as we know them. They are powered by enormously valuable crystals for lift and power, harnessing the ether.
There's a cold war brewing, about to turn hot. Captain Grimm of the privateer vessel Predator has been a thorn in the side of Spire Aurora for some time and finally the Auroran navy sends a warship after him that almost finishes Predator completely. With his crystals cracked and his ship in a bad way Grimm is offered a way of earning his repairs - a mission to the lower levels of the spire, crowded and dangerous, with an oddly assorted bunch of spies.

Gwen, from the powerful House Lancaster (Albion's crystal growers) and Bridget of House Tagwyn are new recruits to the Spirearch's guard. Together with Gwen's cousin, the warrior-born Benedict and Bridget's friend, Rowl, a cat, and two etherealists, they make up the somewhat oddly composed spy-party, but each one has a part to play after the Auroran's mount an attack on Albion. It's not simply an attack for its own sake, there's a purpose, but what is it? Grimm and his crew together with the 'spies' are despatched to find out.

Mayhem ensues.

The worldbuilding is fascinating and the characters, human and otherwise, complex and interesting. It's an ensemble piece told from various viewpoints. There's a lot of action and violence including hand to hand and pitched air battles. Butcher carries it off with ease. I liked Grimm a lot, while Bridget, Benedict and Gwen were interesting and sympathetic characters. I was less fond of Rowl, the talking cat. (All cats talk it's just that not all humans can speak cat like Bridget can.) I'm pretty sure if you're a cat person you find Rowl both amusing and characterful. I found him slightly annoying and could have done with a little less cat in the book. That apart it was a good set-up for a new series and I'll be watching out for the next one.

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