Synopsis:
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…
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Review:
Very few authors can create an original concept for the
fantasy genre, for almost all avenues had been exploited. Of course, it only
takes tying up different concepts together to create a great working story, but
this tends to be very hard to do because you have to make sure to balance every
element you've put and remember all of them.
Jim Butcher’s Aeronaut's
Windlass is a combination of steam-punk tech setting set on an almost
apocalyptic end, where humans live on Spires way above ground. The surface is
said to be riddled with monstrous creatures since the beginning so only the
unlucky and the stupidly reckless go there.
I love the Aeronaut's Windlass pirate-y feeling—with
captains and airships set in a steam-punk setting. The world is designed like
those old pirate stories set in old England but with sailing through the skies
instead of the sea.
Intriguing is the best word to describe this start of a new
series. A captain with dark history, a noblewoman set on making her mark on the
world on her own, a caste of warriors with unbelievable physical prowess and crazy
old men with strange powers. All these elements promise one strong series that
a fantasy fan like me will enjoy.
The part I enjoyed the most was how Jim Butcher gave cats a completely
different role, not as pets but an equal to humans, with their own language and
tradition. Though I am not a cat person, the way Jim Butcher tried to show us a
bit of insight on how cats think is very accurate. I also feel that in the coming
parts, the cats’ and humans’ tolerance for each other will be tested at some
point as we go along.
The technological aspect of the story confused me a bit. My
mind is not wired for that stuff so I tend to gloss over them. Though, I'm
fascinated by it, it's sometimes hard for me to keep track when they started
talking about trim crystals, webs and the like.
I expect more on adventures aboard the Predator going to
distant places and sky battles plus more privateering on Grimms ship and crew.
This was one heck of ride to read.
~ Djan
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