Published September 29, 2015
ROC
This is not my typical reading material but I have heard so much good about Butcher over the years that when I saw this galley come available I took the opportunity to give him a try.
Kicking off a new steampunk series, Butcher has written a rousing adventure with elements of scifi, fantasy, and the old-fashioned naval warfare novel. It was slow-going getting into the story – a reason I don’t read much fantasy is I don’t always have patience for world-building. I’m still not entirely sure what a “Habble” is and while I could picture the carefully-detailed airships, the Spires and surrounding atmosphere they inhabit are murkier. Perhaps later books in this planned series will flesh the world out more. All that aside, once I sorted the players (Rowl being a favorite), learned a little unique vocabulary, and the action began it was easy to stay interested to the end, 600-plus pages notwithstanding. I am glad I went out of my comfort zone for this tale of old family lines and loyalties, etherealists, pirates, and monsters.
An advance galley of this book was kindly provided by the publisher with no expectations other than an honest opinion.
