Jim Butcher did it again. He has another series that I'm not a huge fan of. Codex Alera? Great. Dresden Files? Fire. The Cinder Spires series? His best yet.

I'll be honest, I wish Butcher had added a brief recap of the first book. Especially since it's been 8 years since the first book. But the book did an okay job reminding me of the important parts of what happened. That aside, this is a fantastic follow-up to The Aeronaut's Windlass. It's even more exciting than the first and it sets the stage for a grand adventure in the next book.

The Olympian Affair had about 3 storylines in it and Butcher did a good job making them easy to follow. I could easily jump between stories without missing a beat and that isn't always easy for authors to do. The only downside I could see in this book is that one of the storylines was quite easy to predict. I won't say why it was easy to predict because I think any competent reader could figure out what I mean and thus it'd be a spoiler, but lets just say it was very easy to see where one story was going to end.

Though this book is part two of an ongoing series, this does get a satisfactory end and has the promise of more excitement to come. I can't wait for book 3.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

Like its predecessor, the best and worse aspects of this sequel just might be the fact that it's too self-contained for its own good. Although we do discover a bit more, especially toward the end of the book, I would have loved to learn more about the world's ancient history, the Spires themselves, the etherealists and their powers, and that bygone Enemy. Still, anyone who enjoyed The Aeronaut's Windlass will likely enjoy The Olympian Affair. The cats notwithstanding, Butcher elevates his game in the last third of the novel and closes the show with a bang.

There are pacing issues plaguing this novel, especially early on and up until about the middle portion. These have everything to do with the cats and the subsequent trip to the surface. I mean, there's a weapon of mass destruction that can wipe out an entire Spire and its population, a looming war that could have major repercussions on all Spires, so it felt a bit pointless to follow that plot thread just so the cats could reveal what they saw. Once this storyline is done with, Butcher gets back on track and doesn't look back. From that point on, The Olympian Affair becomes a veritable page-turner. I loved how the author played with our expectations and pulled the rug from under our feet with the duels, and there's no denying that the endgame made for another gripping finale. And of course, the cliffhanger ending means that I'll have to read the third volume ASAP.

Regardless of its shortcomings, The Olympian Affair is another swashbuckling steampunk fantasy adventure featuring a cast of unforgettable characters.

When I requested this I somehow missed that it's a sequel. Once I started reading I realized I was missing some info since it didn't feel like the beginning of a story. Some readers are able to jump into a series without starting at the beginning, but I'm not one of them. I enjoyed what I read, so I plan to go back and start the first novel of The Cinder Spires series.

it took me a minute to get reintegrated in the world of the Spires and airships and talking, smarter than us cats but once I did... what a wonderful, wild world it is.
The stakes are even higher, as a new weapon is being unleashed on the spires, and the only surviving witnesses, a tribe of young cats, halflings, requires some bribes to be coerced into spilling what they know (That's it's one delightful adventure!)
And there is a lot going on here- spire killing monsters, betrayal, duels, delightful cats, a little bit of love.... the world building is intense and amazing
And the hints in the epilogue of what more to come? Sign me up for book three please!

As someone who rarely reads fantasy, Jim Butcher's "The Olympian Affair" was a surprisingly captivating adventure. Set in the steampunk world of the Cinder Spires, the story follows Captain Grimm and his crew through political intrigue and high-flying escapades. Butcher's imaginative blend of technology and old-world charm quickly drew me in.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to get invested in their journey. The plot is filled with twists and turns, balanced by moments of humor and emotional depth. Despite not being a typical fantasy reader, I found myself thoroughly entertained by the sharp dialogue and vibrant world-building.

"The Olympian Affair" is a perfect entry point for those new to the genre, offering a thrilling and immersive experience. Jim Butcher has crafted a compelling tale that even fantasy novices will enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-ARC! I do my reviews on my social media platforms. I am currently working on getting through my reviews so stay tuned! Leaving a rating as a placeholder for me and to not effect the books rating in order to post this. Thanks again!

Squee, the second book!!! We finally got it. and talking cats!!

However, it was overall just kind of meh. Jim Butcher is iconic and he deserves all the praise.

Even though this was a bit of a letdown I will continue to pick up EVERYTHING he gives us!

Thank you to the Berkley team for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

A GREAT FANTASY AND A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN RIDE. YOU CAN TELL THE AUTHOR PUT HIS HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS

Simply excellent. I was hooked after the first book but I almost think this one was better somehow! Adventure, romance, monsters - you name it and it's in this book. I like to say is steampunk meets scifi meets fantasy meets Jim Butcher, which is all you could ever ask for.

The depiction of cats always makes me laugh (in the best way) and could only be written by someone who is owned by a cat themselves ;)

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves steampunk but I honestly think any fantasy lover (or scifi lover too) would enjoy this.

Note: Some language and adult situations in this one.

My rating 5*
--
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I was excited when I saw this book pop up, as it's been a long wait for the sequel in this book! And, while there were things I did struggle with, overall, it was a satisfying read.

The struggles did start in the very beginning, as I think the primary issues I had with this book was the slow pacing of the first half of the book. It took quite a while for any action to actually start taking place, with instead a lot of focus being placed on moving certain pieces into place to eventually drive the plot forward later in the story. However, the last 20% of the book really took off, and I was glad to finish the book on a high note.

The characters were all pretty good as well. In some ways, however, I was hoping for a bit more from many of them. It felt like many of them didn't really have anywhere to go as far as their own arcs. They largely were as they were before and simply moved through the action of this book with very little internal conflict.

That said, I was satisfied with the general story direction. There were some exciting action sequences, especially towards the end of the book, and I was happy to return to this world and explore a new story alongside these characters. More could have been done, but it also could have been much worse. I think fans of the first book will likely be pleased with this one.

Jim, 8 years is TOO long. But it made me go back to read the first one, and TALKING CATS?!?!?!?!?

Slow to start, but .... I'm hanging in there. I love anything Jim.

I have loved his Dresden Files books and was so excited to see the continuation of The Cinder Spires AFTER EIGHT YEARS!?!?!? Ahhhhhhh! The Olympian Affair is such an immersive read! The world building was outstanding and is full of fun characters. What I love is that there is never a dull moment, especially as the second half was madness (in the best way possible) and had me reeling.

We've finally got the second book (third book?) in Jim Butcher's The Cinder Spires series. I wasn't particularly impressed with the first book, but this is Jim Butcher - author of one of the most popular urban fantasy series ever with The Dresden Files! Surely he can recapture some of that magic (pun intended).

The surface is a deadly place for humans and for centuries the Cinder Spires has protected people from the dangers below. The aristocrats of the spires have seen to great scientific marvels, including air ships for trading among and protection from other spires.

But the end of individualism and freedom is looming as Spire Aurora, with a massive armada, is on the move to take control of all the skies. It is reported that they have a new weapon - one which could eliminate everyone in all the spires. Only Spire Albion is willing (or foolish enough) to stand up against Aurora and its fleet. A showdown will take place at Spire Olympia and it may be the only opportunity to convince the other spires to stand up to Aurora.

I like the world that this is set in. There's a lot going on here with questions about the surface and about some of the other life forms with the humans (there's at least one talking cat) and while this provides ample opportunity for future volumes (I am REALLY curious for the next book, given what happens to at least one major character here) it also means that this story doesn't touch on a lot.

The summary of the story above is the grand overview, but the book is much more specific, following people (Captain Grimm, Lord Albion, Rafe Valesco, Gwen Lancaster, etc) who are pawns in the bigger event. This would be great if we actually got to know any of these people, but our familiarity with them, now through two books, is still mostly superficial. This book does do a better job of letting us in on who these people are than the first book, but I still don't know what drives Grimm. And this is surprising to me, given that Butcher's popular Dresden Files series is primarily character-driven.

The book starts quite slowly and picks up with action and energy and characters who are finally driven to DO something about half way through the novel. That second half is action-packed, thrill-a-minute story, the way we expect a Jim Butcher novel to be, and there are shades of the 'reluctant' hero in Grimm (I say 'reluctant' because he IS a Captain and set up to be hero material). But the surprise hero is Gwen and I really wish we'd gotten to know her better earlier in the book.

I can't really say what happened in the first half of the book. It's a lot of set-up and a lot of people talking about being worried about what's to come. If you've read the description on the back of the book, you can probably skip the first 250-300 pages.

But ... talking cats. For some, that alone will be a huge draw. (John Scalzi's making bank on that right now.) For others, like myself, it's a tired trope.

Looking for a good book? The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher is the long-awaited next book in his Cinder Spires series. There's more book than we need, but not enough story. But we're getting closer.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I read The Aeronaut's Windlass not long after its release nearly a decade ago. As such I was a little hesitant about returning to this series after such a long hiatus between installments, but the accessibility of Butcher's prose and the briskly-paced action of this steampunk adventure made the return seamless.

This time the military action takes a backseat to political intrigue and duels, which dovetail nicely with the quasi-Victorian tone of the setting. The multiple POVs are balanced well; each of the protagonists feel distinct from one another, and the tantalizing hints Butcher drops about the backstory of this setting near the end of the book left me wanting to know more.

Oh, and the talking cats remain the highlight of the series. It's worth reading for them alone.

note: this review appears in several daily newspapapers and magazines Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, et al
23 for the end of ’23 (with a nip at ’24)

By Tom Mayer

By the end of 2023 there will have been about 1 million new books published this year alone, the vast majority by authors we’ve never heard of and never will. The big names — King, Grisham, Hoover, even Pilkey with “Dog Man’s” loyal legion — grab the bulk of the attention … and why not? Dependable storylines, top-notch editing and deep discounts make for predictably good-reading weekends.

But what about the others similarly worthy of recognition and, more importantly, a place in your online cart? While I can’t diligently discuss the other 999,997 books that could paper your winter evenings, I can offer 23 for ’23 … with a bit of a cheat. First, this isn’t a “best-of 2023,” and the books I’ve reviewed throughout the year won’t be found here. Second, there are a couple of headline-catching names in the list because of their late publication date. And third, since it’s the end of the year, I’m going to reveal a few titles that you’ll want to mull over now, but won’t be available until the turn of the new year. Oh, and fourth, I’m going to end with a few older titles by a couple of literary giants that one praiseworthy publishing house, Blackstone Publishing, has seen fit to resurrect.

But that’s it for the caveats. Your 23 for ’23, picked, plucked and promoted by our editors follows, and in no particular order, though that in itself does seem to be a bit of a caveat. The list …

In review (books available now)

1. “The Sandbox” (The Sandbox Series Book 1) (Blackstone Publishing) by Brian Andrews and Jeff Wilson originally debuted on July 25 as a techno-thriller that “redefines the meaning of murder in the 21st century” which, of course, is code for a story delving deep into the world of artificial intelligence. Because it’s from Andrews and Wilson, we’ll throw in the Pentagon, a Green Beret, a female protagonist homicide detective with a gift for reading people and a story that’ll have you reading into the night. Watch a video from the Navy vet-authors on the publisher’s website at https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/the-sandbox-ebvs.html#541=1900683.

2. “The Caretaker” (Doubleday) by Ron Rash. Simply, North Carolina Ron Rash’s work is not only worthy of a Pulitzer Prize, it would be a miscarriage of literary justice were he not to obtain that distinction before he puts down his pen for good. Case in point, 2023’s “The Caretaker,” a deceptively simple story set in 1951 Blowing Rock about a 16-year-old outcast, among others, who people this amazingly accurate, if fictional, place in the mountains of the Old North State.

3. “The Life and Times of Hanna Crafts” (Ecco) by Gregg Hemcimvich. There’s a reason this story was named a “most anticipated title” by myriad news outlets, the Associated Press, Lost Angeles Times and Washington Post among those. Like Rash’s novel, “The Life and Times of Hannah Crafts” is set in North Carolina, but here in 1857 and about a woman who escapes from a plantation. “The Bondwoman’s Narrative” was a success when published in 2002 by an unknown author. Professor Hemcimvich unravels the secret of that author’s identity more than a decade later.

4. “American Girl” (Blackstone Publishing) by Wendy Walker. In this well-drawn thriller, an autistic 17-year-old is involved in murder and small-town secrets that lead to a complexity of suspects and a dangerous denouement.

5. “Let Us Descend” (Scirbner) by Jesmyn Ward. An Oprah’s Book Club pick for 2023, the two-time National Book Winner Ward gifts us with a reimagining tale about American slavery and a journey from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the heart of a Louisiana sugar plantation.

6. “The Last Applicant” (Lake Union Publishing) by Rebecca Hanover. Hanover has won her own share of literary prizes and this contemporary novel about an admissions director of an exclusive Manhattan private school whose every boundary is tested by a woman determined to get her son into the city’s most prestigious class of … kindergarteners. Secrets not only abound, they unravel in this tautly told story.

7, 8. “The Aeronaut’s Windlass (The Cinder Spires) (Ace) by Jim Butcher is not a new book, but available again now in paperback to complement the next chapter of this steam-powered series with “The Olympian Affair (The Cinder Spires) (Ace). Excellent and magical world building is on display from this veteran author.

9. “Resurrection Walk” (Little, Brown and Company) by Michael Connelly. The author’s seventh Mickey Haller novel begins with Haller’s half-brother, Harry Bosch — himself the central character in a separate but connected Connelly series — acting as driver for The Lincoln Lawyer. Those who know both characters will not only find this … unusual … but downright disturbing. The surprises keep coming as Haller and Bosch take on the case of a woman on death row who was convicted of killing her husband, but just might be innocent.

10. “Good Girls Don’t Die” (Berkley) by Christina Henry. While I have a rule against reviewing dystopian literature, it was bent here because, one, Henry lulled me into the story that is only part dystopia and two, I really, really wanted to know how this story of total misdirection — where nothing is as it seems — would come out. Well done, Ms. Henry.

11. “Silent Calvary” (Crown) by Howell Raines. As if the pedigree of the author — Raines is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist — wasn’t enough, the subtitle would have brought me to this compellingly told, “submerged historical” tome: “How Union Soldiers from Alabama Helped Sherman Burn Atlanta — And Then Got Written Out of History.” A riveting tale about an unsung regiment of 2,066 Alabamian yeoman farmers includes one of those men from Raines’ own lineage.

To Reveal (books to consider now with selected reviews to come in 2024)

12. “Unbound” (Blackstone Publishing) by Christy Healy. A gender-bent reimagining of Beauty and the Beast with a double dose of Irish mythology and folklore. Destined to be a new classic.

13. “The Devil’s Daughter” (Blackstone Publishing) by Gordon Greisman. The author writes with screenwriter credentials in a tale that roams from vice-riddled Manhattan to tonier climes where lies and secrets cloud every aspect of a murder.

14. “Almost Surely Dead” (Mindy’s Book Studio) by Amina Akhtar. Part stalker, part ghost story, this fresh psychological thriller comes from the author of “Kismet” in a story about an extraordinarily ordinary life that turns from everyday life to a true crime podcast.

15. “The Chaos Agent” (Berkley) by Mark Greaney. Testing the Gray Man in this 13th installment of the series is the possibility of a tech company using artificial intelligence with real-world ambitions. Start here, or quickly tear through the first 12 books, because you’ve got a few weeks. “The Chaos Agent” (Gray Man 13) publishes in late February.

16. “The Lady in Glass and Other Stories” (Ace) by Anne Bishop. If you know anything at all about this master of fantasy, you know how privileged I was to get a glimpse of this collection of Bishop’s shorter works long before its Feb. 27, 2024, debut. Including two new stories written for the volume, and one with ties to earlier work, this book spans the author’s most cherished, fantastical worlds.

Vintage books with a fresh look

17-23. You might have noticed that several of the reviews in 1-16 skew heavily in favor of Blackstone Publishing. That’s for a good reason. Not only is Blackstone extremely selective in its literary repertoire, it produces extremely well-crafted hardcover books. Indeed, though I prefer e-books for reading, it is with this and a few other publishing houses (Lividian Publications is another example) that I suggest purchasing only the hard cover. To wit: the selected back works of two authors that Blackstone has given the royal treatment. All of the following books are beautifully bound with textured and foiled hard covers, homage jacket art and superior sewing. True treasures. Oh, and then there are the stories. …

… Including Don Winslow’s Neal Carey Mysteries. Blackstone began rolling out in August, books 1-5 of Winslow’s early works portraying a private eye filled with contradictions. Neal Carey hones his street smarts and owes his education to the Bank, an institution with a reputation for keeping its wealthy clients out of the messes they manage to work themselves into. A glimpse into this master writer’s early work is a perfect setup for what he has loudly hinted may be his last novel, and one set to publish in April. But more on that later in another review. All five of the Neal Carey books are available: “A Cool Breeze on the Underground,” “The Trail to Buddha’s Mirror,” “Way Down on the High Lonely,” “A Long Walk Up the Waterslide” and “While Drowning in the Desert.”

… Also including several stories from the late Michael Crichton (2008) writing as John Lange. Similarly and superiorly produced, Blackstone can claim the credit for reissuing these classic tales from the creator of “Jurassic Park” and “ER.” Beginning in July and running through early December, the publishing house released “Zero Cool,” “Easy Go,” “The Venom Business,” “Drug of Choice,” “Odds On” and “Scratch One” in a timely tribute to the author. A new introduction by Sherri Crichton enhances the offerings.

And for those of you keeping score, yes, with Crichton’s listings, my tally actually reaches 27, not 23. But since I was only able to get my hands on the five Winslow, but only two of the Crichton-Lange novels by press time, I’m sticking with 23. I told you I was going to cheat.

It takes a bit to really get into this story, but if you give it time... it does get more entertaining. The writing is great, with a few lulls that could be trimmed down to keep from having to skim some parts. Overall, a decent story, but could definitely benefit with a little bit less. I will be reading book two, however.

Thank you #NetGalley for #The OlympainAffiar

Jim Butcher's THE OLYMPIAN AFFAIR, the long-awaited second book in his Cinder Spires series, delivers more of the fantastic action, worldbuilding, and humor that keeps his devoted readers coming back for more.

Jim Butcher finally returns to his world of giant spires rising from a ground filled with monsters. The Olympian Affair (hard from Ace) takes Captain Grimm, Commodore Alex Bayard, duelist and Matt’s best friend, Sir Benedict Lancaster, Sergeant Bridget Tagwynn who knows how to talk to cats, and masterspy and Duchess Abigail Hinton to a trading summit at Spire Olympia. Spire Aurora has a new weapon that is wiping out small colonies. At the same time there are plans to use a duel to lower Spire Albion’s prestige, There is nasty magic afoot and only our heroes and a few flying ships have a chance of stopping them. With talking cats, monsters of the deep, and, of course, love the melodrama glows with excitement. Lots of fun.

The saga of Captain Grimm continues...after a loooong delay from Book 1, but I for on am happy to for this to drop.

Grimm & Co gets dispatched to Spire Olympia as Spire Albion seeks allies in their cold (and soon to become hot) war against Spire Aurora. Lots of intrigue and action follow as this set's up a brilliant sequel to Aeronaut's Windlass. And Cat's! The Cat Army is so much fun to read that I'll stan for them!

One of the best steampunk series of all time!