When Dresden Files author Jim Butcher released The Aeronaut’s Windlass in 2015 it felt like the start of something exciting. Swashbuckling, snarky steampunk with airships, political intrigue, sentient cats and plenty of action. But time passed and the so-called first volume of The Cinder Spires faded into memory. There are reasons for this, apparently, but whatever they were, Butcher was convinced by fans to pick up the pen again and return to this world. And so, after a gap of almost 10 years, picking up the story two years after the action in the first book, we have The Olympian Affair.
There is no precis of The Aeronaut’s Windlass (readers can probably) find one online if they need it but it is not necessary Butcher has a gentle way of bringing readers back up to speed. Reintroducing the politics of this world and the main characters after a dark cold-open. In this world, the bulk of humanity lives in spires as the surface is too dangerous. They travel between these spires in magically-powered airships. Two years after the attack on Spire Albion by Spire Aurora the Aurorans are still spoiling for war and are gathering allies.
The book opens with a devastating new weapon created by Spire Aurora. It then focuses on the series’ heroes – Madison Grimm, captain of the airship the Predator and his crew and their companions (human and feline) – who are unaware of the new threat. All they know if that they have to go to peace talks at Spire Olympia where they are fairly sure the representatives of Albion will be out to cause trouble.
Despite it being nearly a decade since The Aeronaut’s Windlass, Butcher’s vivid world building and engaging characters (particularly the cats) make it a joy coming back up to speed. The Olympian Affair has everything readers might remember for that first book – great characters, swashbuckling action, plenty of cliffhangers and huge multi-faceted action set pieces. Butcher promises in his Afterword that readers will not have to wait as long for book 3. Given all of the unresolved mysteries he has left hanging, let us hope that we don’t.

This is book 2 in the series.
The Cinder Spires have always looked after humanity but now there is a chance of war.
Lord Albion is trying to make allies hoping a trading summit will help.
This is a Steampunk adventure with airships.
This is a departure from Harry Dresden who takes a lot of beating.
Jim's characters and world building are always really interesting
However this is the sequel to the Aeronauts Windlass and it was a bit slower than the first book. But still interesting Captain Grimm and his crew are still great although there are some changes Mr Creely seems to have disappeared.
I do like the talking cats and they do have a definite role.
I did enjoy this book but preferred the first one.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

What can I say about this book? Despite it feeling like a million years since I read the first Cinder Spires book, and only a novella in between to tide me over, I was instantly sucked back into this gritty, Steampunk meets Urban Fantasy world. I loved this return to the Spires, and although it took me a little while to get my bearings again, this book was another strong instalment in the series.

The incredibly intelligent talking cats were always one of my highlights in the Aeronaut's Windlass, and that rang true again in this book.

As with any Jim Butcher book, there is a host of engaging characters, who are often put in situations where they have to make morally grey decisions, and that was just as true for this book.

Another great instalment in the series - please can we have book three slightly sooner?!

Snarky cats and duelling what more do you need?

Well worth the wait, this second entry in the Cinder Spires series is pure fun. The talking cats, with their clever banter and mischievous personalities, steal the show, but Captain Grimm, calm and competent in any and every situation, comes in a close second. He's the kind of leader even I would die for and I'd read a hundred more books with him as the main character. There's high action and bloody violence, sly machinations and creepy creatures, enough to keep a reader engaged from the first page to the last.

Finger's crossed we get more!

ARC via Netgalley

So, it's been a hot minute since the first Cinder Spires novel, so I have to admit, I had to look up a summary online before diving into this sequel! But after a brief skim over the main beats and world building of the first book, I was able to settle back in comfortably.

The premise of this book is relatively simple, but that works in it's favour when there are so many different and wonderful POVs to play with. I was never frustrated or exasperated when the POV changed - I enjoyed all of them.

Bridget's POV could have been a bit dry, but Prince Rowl saves it. Butcher writes the cats so, so well, and it is a joy whenever they are on the page.

Since I last read a Jim Butcher book, I have fallen down the rabbit hole of romantasy. Thus, I found some of the female characters a bit jarring at first. However, Captain Grimm - well, I'm a woman who loves calm competence, and Grimm exudes it. The insight you get into his calculating, tactical mind in one of the first few scenes is glorious.

Butcher is an absolute master of fight scenes. Be it duels or massive-scale aeronaught ship battles, he can immerse you in it so spectacularly you might as well be watching it unfold before your eyes. He showcased this in the latest Dresden book, but to manage it here with such a fantastical setting really is a wonder.

Overall, this was a great read. Full of intrigue, suspense and betrayals. With a cast of wonderful characters who you can't help but root for.

Thank you so much Little, Brown Book Group, NetGalley, and the author, Jim Butcher, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review. All opinions are my own.

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