Fantastic story. Good development of the overarching world plot while also giving a large cast of characters meaningful goals and strong development opportunities. I especially enjoyed Grimm's inventive approach to duelling.

Of all the characters, Abigail Hinton was the most interesting to find out more about and her larger role in this book worked very well.

The story felt a lot like chess pieces being moved into place for future gambits and I look forward to the saga's continued development.

We've waited a long time for this book and to be honest I really struggled at the beginning of the book as I was trying to remember what had happened previously and just wasn't connecting with the characters. That's not a criticism just my personal thoughts. However once the book got going again and I started to remember everything and when the cats came back in I was hooked and started to really enjoy it. I did find some of the descriptions at the beginning a little laborious but again I think this was in part the author jogging our memories. Overall I enjoyed it and thought it was a great read, it got a lot more fast paced especially once I started connecting everyone up and the ending was spectacular and sets it up nicely for book three. Please Mr Butcher don't keep us waiting so long for book three

Book 2 in the Cinder Spires series brings you to a world where the surface of the world is deadly to humans.
The spires rise above the surface. They are controlled by ruling houses and use great airships to control the skies.
War is coming along with control of an unimaginable weapon.
Captain Grimm of the airship Predator is one of the linchpins of this story. You follow him and other wonderful characters through a brilliant, bright shining world building story.
You will be entertained and enthralled throughout. You will not be able to put this book down.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the Author's Cinders Spires series and in my opinion reading the first book is essential to set the characters and worldbuilding in place .... an Urban Fantasy series with elements of Steam Punk

The Spires are hovering on the brink of war , alliances are going to be needed - a trading summit on Spire Olympia provides Spire Albion's Lord with such an opportunity . He tasks privateer , Captain Francis Grimm, and his crew to travel with his diplomats to provide support ............ for without alliances they stand no chance against Spire Aurora's armada and it's new weapon , a weapon that can destroy entire Spire populations

All the characters from book one are back , especially the cats - and we meet more who will have an effect on the upcoming battles .......

This is a wonderfully written series full of characters ( especially the temperamental cats ) you can invest in, great unique worldbuilding ........ fast paced and full of twists and turns

I look forward to the next book - but please let it be sooner than the eight years this second book took

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own