Title: The Aeronaut’s Windlass (The Cinder Spires #1)

Author: Jim Butcher

Published: 2015

Read in: May 2016

How do I even review this? Jim Butcher books for me are like a roller coaster of ups and downs. But a week later you could ask me what it’s about and I’m like, um….

So it’s been a week since I finished this one, which I almost didn’t read based on the book synopsis. Wasn’t sure if I was a steampunk kind of person, but my work spouse gave it the thumbs up so I dived in.

Two sentence summary: Former military, now a captain of a merchant (air)ship finds himself on another mission to save a city from war. Oh, and cats are smarter than humans and it’s hilarious.

Why did I even doubt whether I should read this? I’ve read all of the Jim Butcher / Dresden Files series and while in that series Dresden has a crew of rag tag friends that will help him anywhere anytime, ultimately the story starts and ends with Dresden. So seeing Butcher create a different environment, where everyone in this crew, young guards, merchant captains, and, yes, a smartass cat, all have their pivotal roles is refreshing. The witty dialogue, well-crafted fight scenes, fast-paced action that I know and love in Dresden is quite present here. It’s a very fun world, once I understood it (and it took me a while to get into it). I’m planning to read this one again soon now that I know where I’m going, and I also plan to keep up with this series.

Recommended for: Dresden fans (of course); Steampunk fans, and dare I say, fans of the television series “Firefly.” The merchant captain sorta reminds me of Captain Reynolds.