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

Fantasy/Steampunk/Science Fiction

From Goodreads:

  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.

I really loved the beginning of The Aeronaut’s Windlass.  I though it had it all.  The world building was interesting and different.  It was blended into the story and did not interfere with the action.  The same with the back-story.  Everything started with a bang and it just kept going non-stop.  

As I met each character their actions showed their personality.  As the story progressed they became more complex and better 
developed. 

I started reading and did not want to put the book down.

That is how I felt about the story for the first ¾ of the book.  I wish that feeling had stayed through out the book but it did not.  The last 100 or so pages were something of a let down.  There was still action, tension and adventure.  The characters were still interesting but something just seemed off and I was left at the end of the book feeling a bit disappointed.  The last few pages left a really grim feeling.   

While I would give The Aeronaut's Windlass 5 stars for the first part of the book the last part would only get 3 stars.  So 4 stars not 5.

That will not stop me from continuing the series.   I do want to know what happens to b the world and characters.  I just wish that the feeling I got as I read the first ¾ of the book had continued with the last ¼.

Roc published TheAeronaut’s Windless by Jim Butcher in 2015.