All in all, an enjoyable second instalment. There's plenty of new world building, a new clan of cats , and battles and duels galore! I think a re-read of The Cinder Spires is useful but not compulsory before diving in. I've had some issues with the pacing and with a certain "male gaze" quality of the writing which I was not used to from the author's previous works.

This was a fun read, full of action, intrigue and cat humor (yes, cat humor). I loved The Aeronaut’s Windlass when it came out in 2015, so I was very happy to finally see a sequel, and it didn’t disappoint. I did think it started out slowly, with a lot of different characters to follow and political intrigue to make sense of. Also since it had been years between books, I definitely would have benefitted from a summary of the first book and an explanation of the world. But that’s also on me for not taking the time to refresh my memory.

In the book, the various Spires are all meeting at Olympia to negotiate alliances. It looks like two of the stronger Spires might be teaming up and that means war against the weaker Spires, so Spire Albion is anxious to enter into alliances that will prevent a war. But the warring entities have a lot of weapons, including the world’s strongest dueler who is just itching to insult the other Spires’ warriors. And the only witness to the complete destruction of another Spire is a band of kittens, who won’t talk until a new home can be found for them.

This isn’t anything high level, nor does it break any new ground in steampunk fantasy. But it has it all: duels, flying ships, swordplay, strange worlds and creatures, magic, sex, poison, and a pirate queen. You name it. It’s simply a fun world to immerse yourself in for a while, and I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships. And the cats. If you don’t love cats, I think I’d skip this book. But for the rest of it, the cats are fantastic and Butcher’s descriptions of cat interactions had me laughing out loud.

“Chief Saza, I am Vincent, the Spirearch’s valet. If you and your people would accompany me, I will see to it that food is made available.” Saza chirped to the other small cats, and they promptly gathered around Vincent. He departed from the room haltingly. Cats being cats, there were at least two or three in the immediate path of Vincent’s feet at any given time. He managed to leave after a long-suffering glance at the Spirearch.

Jim Butcher, The Olympian Affair

The pacing of this book needed some work; the first half felt bogged down in details and the second half was action-packed. I do wish there had been fewer characters and storylines, but I enjoyed the way it all came together. There are also some really painful-sounding fights in this book, but that just goes to Butcher’s ability to write so descriptively.

For readers who are fans of Butcher – and cats – I certainly recommend this book, but if it’s been a while since you read Aeronaut’s Windlass, I’d familiarize yourself with that book first (and if you haven’t read it, I’d start there). And if all the politicking and strategizing in the first half feels slow, hang on.

I will also add that I find the cover incredibly ugly, and I don’t usually care much if I don’t like a cover, but there’s something about the cover that I’m afraid will repel readers rather than attract them. It certainly has nothing to do with the actual story.

Note: I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley and publisher Berkley Publishing Group/Ace. The book was published November 7, 2023.

The Olympian Affair is the second offering in Butcher’s fabulous Cinder Spires series and picks up two years after the conclusion of the battle between the Albions and Aurorans depicted in The Aeronaut's Windlass. This series is complex and must be read in order, and with there being eight years since the first book, I also recommend a re-read of The Aeronaut's Windlass (which I did).

The series is set on a world where the surface of the planet is inhospitable and has been all but abandoned. Most humans and cats live in large towers called spires that are miles tall and endlessly large. We aren’t given many details on how they were built or why the planet has deteriorated. The protagonists live on Spire Albion, and their primary enemy is Spire Aurora, which continues to aggressively plan war using never-seen-before weapons of mass destruction.

This time around, our original gang of youthful soldiers, unbalanced etherealists, and experienced privateers is augmented with high ranking Albions and a new cat clan. I like that the book is primarily set away from Albion and readers get to see additional cultures from this world. There is a summit of the most powerful spires taking place at the commerce hub of Spire Olympia, and Albion hopes to sway them away from its neutral stance in the conflict with Aurora. We also meet the sly Atlanteans and additional Aurorans. Finally, there is a side story involving the cats that takes two of the primary characters to the surface, where readers witness some of the deadly creatures lurking.

Similar to the first book, The Olympian Affair is shared via the POVs of a number of key characters, primarily the protagonists, but some from the antagonists. We heard from nearly all of the narrating characters in the first book, making this one a bit easier to follow. With that said, I kept a running list of the key players in order to retain their names and key attributes. And while the primary plot is based on political machinations and conflict, it’s the characters that drive the series. The various relationships are ever shifting and engrossing to follow. My heart and mind are heavily invested.

The Olympian Affair is large and fantastic. It’s long but never boring. The character-building is elaborate: some utterly evil, others gloriously good, but many fall within shades of gray. I love the uniqueness and complexity of each, and we witness several struggle with conflicts between duty and personal code. Seeing some characters go against the grain to do what’s right-witness them change and grow-is delightful. Even cat prince Rowl and newcomer Finley mature as the book goes on. The story is rich in detail and fulfilling emotions. They are gruesome moments, bright moments, frightful moments, quiet moments, and heroically triumphant moments. I cried tears of sadness and joy.

On the surface, The Olympian Affair is a story of political maneuvering. However, this time around we learn more about the powerful player who is manipulating and using the Aurorans to achieve an unknown endgame. I look forward to finding out more about everything this world has in store. It is so good!

My Rating: A

As someone who eagerly devours Jim Butcher's work, getting my hands on an ARC of "Olympian Affair" via Netgalley was a delightful experience.

Butcher's knack for world-building shines through, drawing me into a captivating realm. However, I found myself at times grappling with characters that seemed a bit interchangeable. Despite this, the richness of the setting kept me thoroughly engaged.

My primary critique revolves around the pacing of the narrative. Despite my anticipation, the book felt somewhat rushed. Discovering uncharacteristic editing mistakes was unexpected, and a handful of characters felt somewhat shoehorned into the storyline.

Nevertheless, the narrative is exceptionally well-written, and the story itself is genuinely intriguing. For me, this warrants a solid 4 stars. If you were a fan of the first in the series, I'm confident you'll enjoyment enjoyment from this installment as well.

The Olympian Affaire by Jim Butcher is the 2nd book in his The Cinder Spires series. Refresher: This series has a steam punk background in a different fantasy world, with aristocrats, magic, technology, ships and people who have some powers. For centuries the Cinder Spires have safeguarded humanity, rising far above the deadly surface world, with a war on the horizon.

The first half of the book was a slow burn, especially being 650 pages, with the story dragging early on. The story starts off with a villain from the previous book (Cavendish), who has become very powerful, ready to destroy humanity. Tuscarora, Spire Aurora is using Cavendish’s secret weapon to destroy the populations of the entire Spires.

With the possibility of war, Lord Abion (Spirearch) calls Captain Grimm and his crew to bring the AMS Predator to help stop the expected attacks from Aurora. It was great to get to see all of our heroes from the first book; Grimm, Gwen, Bridget, Benedict, Rowl (prince cat), Master Ferus, Miss Folly, as well as Bayard and Abigail and our adorable Fenli (kitten).

In the second half of the story, things change drastically. What follows is a wild adventure that will put each of our heroes in dangerous death-defying situations, with the evil Cavendish able to control a creature (mistmaw) to destroy humans & ships. There was so much action throughout, holding our breaths if they will survive. Captain Grim, Gwen and crew were willing to put their lives on the line to find a way to stop Cavendish in her evil destructions. Grimm also had to step up to save Bayard (his boss and friend) in a duel.

Once again, I really enjoyed seeing the Predator ship, always coming through, and loved how all the crew members were always on the side of their captain. Most of all, I loved both Rowl and Fenli who added so much humor and fun: with them always being spunky and sure of themselves. I did love Rowl’s arrogance, though he loved Bridget and swore to always protect her: and Fenli, though a kitten, was equally wonderful, with him eventually bonding with Benedict. Both are marvelous additions to this series.

The Olympian Affaire was another very good fantasy steampunk adventure. After the slow start, the last half of the book was wild and very exciting, with most of our heroes in danger till the end. Though Captain Grimm is the lead character, the major secondary characters were all great; and the villains were evil. With the war still on the horizon, there is a slight cliff-hanger at the end. The Olympian Affaire was very well written by Jim Butcher, and I look forward to the next book in this series.

TL;DR

The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher is a wonderful second book in the Cinder Spires series. It has epic sword fights, intrigue, and cats. It’s full of politics, airships, and cats. Did I mention cats? Highly recommended.

First Book Spoiler Warning: This is the second book in the Cinder Spire series. As such, spoilers for the first book may be present in the review. If you haven’t read the first book, you should. Then come read this review.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.

Review: The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher

When I read the opening to The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher, I was intrigued. I kept reading, and I found it to be a perfectly serviceable swashbuckling adventure story. Then I met Rowl, and I was hooked. So, of course, I was going to read The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher, which is the second book in the Cinder Spires series. This book continues with the wonderful world and story from the first book, and it gives readers plenty more Rowl.

Madison Grimm, captain of the AMS Predator, waits aboard his ship above a colony spire. A group of warriorborn have been sent to gather information. The crew is getting antsy and wants to leave. When only one of the warriorborn team returns, Grimm and the Predator must evade a warship from Spire Aurora to return to Spire Albion with vital information. At the same time, outright war with Spire Aurora looms on the horizon, and Spire Atlantea looks to be siding with Spire Aurora. Grimm and Albion are under threat. Grimm returns with intelligence and with a cat clan holding information on Spire Aurora’s secret weapon. Bridget Tagwynn of the Spirearch’s Guard, better known as Rowl’s human, is tasked with securing a place within this spire for the newest cat clan. To do this, she travels to the surface and the dangers that exist there. Abigail Meredith Heloise Hinton, Duchess of Hinton, has been tasked with going to a trading summit at Spire Olympia to secure allies and protect Spire Albion’s interests. She has a more personal mission as well; she wants to protect her love, Alexander Bayard, Spire Albion’s best duelist. Rumors abound that Spire Aurora’s best and potentially the world’s best duelist will be present at the trading summit, looking for a fight, and looking to humiliate Spire Albion. Circumstances are shaping up and not in Spire Albion’s favor.

The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher is a third person maritime fantasy, though with airships instead. It’s the second in a series that very much echoes the novels of Patrick O’Brian. The novel has a slow build up until about the halfway point, and then things pick up. There are four main viewpoint characters, and each is distinct and wonderful in their own way. The various storylines didn’t hold my interest equally, but the overall plot was entertaining. There’s dueling and political intrigue. There’s cats, and there’s more world-building to flesh out an already interesting setting. This book secures the Cinder Spires as a must read series for me.

Not the Dresden Files

I am a huge fan of the Dresden Files. Each book in that series since number six has been an instant purchase on release day for me. I’ve read all the books, sought out the short stories, and listened to all the audiobooks. So, I’m a fan. The Cinder Spires is not the Dresden Files, and that’s a great thing. The Aeronaut’s Windlass and The Olympian Affair are great books in their own right. They’re different; they’re wonderful. If you’re coming to this series looking for another Dresden Files, I think you’ll be disappointed, and you’ll miss something that’s wonderful all its own.
Pacing

The Cinder Spires pacing is slower than Butcher’s other books. At the same time, the pacing fits this style of story. This book approximates a story that could be in the Aubrey–Maturin series; though, The Olympian Affair’s pacing aligns with fantasy type action. The details, the dialogue, and the writing itself is more inline with swashbuckling stories. There is a lot of setup at the beginning of the story that pays off as the action builds. The political intrigue, character work, and setting drag the beginning a bit, and the formalized nature of their society makes it feel slower than it really is. Butcher really knows how to write uptight characters in this book. But I read chapter after chapter, thinking just one more. Just one more.

Neurodiversity

Part of being a magic user in this series is that the brain is altered in ways that result in characters that aren’t neurotypical. Folly is my favorite of the etherealists, and she could be considered on the autistic spectrum. She is vital to the story in some places, and the other characters accept that she’s different . Other etherealists are neurodivergent in unique ways. Not all are like Folly, and I enjoyed this aspect of the world. Butcher writes neurodivergent characters as simply characters, and they fit into his world as humans, not as spectacle.

I could be wrong, of course, but I wonder if the magic use makes the character neurodivergent. Or are neurodivergent characters simply better able to use the magic?

As much as I like Folly, I dislike that the characters refer to her communication style as quirks. Quirky is a word that just doesn’t sit right when I read it. She’s not quirky, just different. I’m not the best judge for these things; so, once again, I could be wrong.

Cats! Cat Politics! But Mainly Cats!

All the cat portions of this series are my favorite. I love that the cats are so integral to the plots and the world itself. Rowl is a great character, and Butcher writes the cat’s behaviors accurately. The mixing of human and cat politics is wonderful. It feels natural, and though Butcher earns laughs out of it, their political interactions are not solely comedic. Their contributions are just as vital to the story as the other characters. And they do feel like characters, not animal props. They’re not part of the scenery; they’re part of the story. I love it.

Conclusion

Jim Butcher’s The Olympian Affair is a wonderful second book in the Cinder Spires series. It showcases Butcher’s talent as an author while stepping up the tension in the war among the Spires. The Olympian Affair cements the Cinder Spires as a must read series for me.

Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, this is my honest review.

I haven't been reading many straight books lately but Jim Butcher will always be an exception. The way he develops worlds, the characters, and storylines always feel very epic. (Even if he often has the "I'm a guy and have to do everything alone" trope.) The cinder spires series have been pretty good so far. It still feels very Cis white dude but the fantasy is very good.

The cats are a tremendous plus. How can you not want cats in a fantasy book series?

I still like his dresden files series better but I will keep reading this one because I like his writing style.

6.75 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/11/11/the-olympian-affair-by-jim-butcher-review/

<b>Out with the old, in with the new.</b>

After returning from his hiatus, this seems to be the direction Jim Butcher is taking. All in all, it’s a bit of a mix, this book. And I get it, man. He went through a nasty divorce. Depression. A midlife crisis, second marriage, and a point where he considered ditching the Cinder Spires once and for all. After all, the Dresden Files is a well-established series at over fifteen volumes. The Spires however, boasts just the one. But he’s back to it, and changing things up.

Enter a new love interest. Captain Ransom returns, but there’s another, more salacious aeronaut to cope with now. In addition, two years have passed, making the first adventure essentially a precursor to the main event. I reread Book #1 to avoid being left behind, but now I’m wondering whether I should’ve even bothered at all. Yes, the Aeronaut’s Windlass is a good read, regardless of present events, but it’s little more than ancient history to the Olympian Affair. History which is occasionally referenced, but otherwise forgotten. The invasion didn’t start a war, somehow. Other than additional set-dressing, it really doesn’t matter to the events of Affair.

Now, for the main event itself, boy, oh boy was it a slog. The first half, at least. The second half, on the other hand—taking off just before the 50% mark—was its polar opposite. It’s like we spent the first half walking circles around a powder keg only to go outside and find the world engulfed in fire, while subsequently being invaded by demons to the tune of a power-metal ballad. So, to recap: first half is basically Bleak House, and second, the reboot of Doom. Quite a contrast.

I was forewarned about this, so it didn’t completely put me off. Came close, though. I skimmed through a lot of it, in the end—even completely skipping some cat sections (which I found contributed nothing to the story at all)—before settling down for part two with some high expectations. And even still, even after all the disappointment that was the first half, the second still blew them out of the water. Hear me: once the dueling starts, the story kicks off in earnest. Yes, they spend the entire book <i>talking</i> about dueling, not dueling, blah blah blah. But when we actually get serious about it—oh man.

But, as incredible as the second half was, I found that it could NOT make up for the ridiculous slog of the first. It’s a 600+ page book, after all. 300 pages of slog gets you to the action, but 300 pages is nothing to laugh at. I was reading a 1000 page, slow-build space opera at the same time, and more and more I found myself favoring that over Affair. Also, even after the 50% mark passed, I still found myself skipping the cat sections. I just found them annoying, rather than the cute, funny bits featured in the first book.

I’m legitimately torn on the rating, something that it waaay more frustrating than it has any right to be. I loved the second half; I mean, it wasn’t perfect, bu night-and-day when compared to the first. That said, the first was a SLOG. I cannot even tell you. And as amazing as the second half was, it wasn’t perfect. And it CANNOT completely make up for the first. It just can’t. Hence the kinda odd rating.

TL;DR

All in all, the Olympian Affair is a decent read, but becomes something so much more upon reaching the halfway-point. Yet that fails to make up for the painful slog that is the first 300+ pages. But if you can navigate those, just kick back and let the plot take over. Returning to the series after a eight-year absence, this followup to Aeronaut’s Windlass basically relegates its predecessor to an optional prequel. Two years have passed, but it might as well have been ten. I’m still not sure how I feel about it on the whole. It scratches an itch, but also was disappointing in the worst way. (Hence the less than stellar rating.) Part of me would still like to know where the story goes from here, but another, not insignificant part of me wouldn’t mind if he binned it to start on something new. It’s a bit of a mix, is the Olympian Affair.

Jim Butcher never misses! The Olympian Affair, 2nd installment of the Cinder Spires series, is jam-packed with action, adventure, and heroes in unlikely places. Butcher delivers everything you could ask for with nuanced, witty characters, serpentine politics, and of course, talking cats. Few steampunk fantasies come close to the Cinder Spires series, I'm already anticipating the next book!

Familiar faces return in The Olympian Affair, this time to save a different spire! It's been two years since their last adventure, but Captain Grimm, Colonel Espira, Bridget, Gwen, Benedict, and Rowl are no less compelling with their distinct voices and motivations. The colorful characters and action-packed chapters will keep readers going long past their bedtimes (but trust me, sleep can wait)! Butcher excels at worldbuilding, and readers will be in for a treat as he expands on the various spires' cultures and peoples. Our villainous Madame Cavendish is once again sowing chaos, and it will be up to our heroes to thwart her murderous plans! Duels will be fought, airships destroyed, and gauntlets fired in this wonderful addition to the Cinder Spires series. The combination of steampunk, fantasy, court intrigue, and hint of dystopia will please a wide range of readers. Jim Butcher knows what readers want, and he delivers! Pro tip: start with The Aeronaut's Windlass since it sets up much of what transpires in The Olympian Affair.

Thanks again to Berkeley Publishing Group and Ace for providing me an advance reading copy of The Olympian Affair. My review is, as always, truthful and unbiased, and I hope it helps introduce readers to new books they will love!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4,5 hearts

The Olympian Affair is the second book in the Cinder Spires series. It is eight years since we got The Aeronaut's Windlass so I reread it in September to prepare for this release. I did the reread on audio, where my initial read was in paperback. Based on the reread, I decided to read the ebook rather than the audio here to help me capture more details. The setting is two years after the previous book.

I love a complex and layered story with a well developed world and characters. There are many aspects here to draw my emotions. I felt angry that the Aurora military was killing people and destroying homes for power. I felt the romance in some developing relationships. There was suspense in learning how the battles and attacks would happen and their results.

The military and battle strategies and missions were exciting and fun to read. The capabilities of the different soldiers and warriorborn, along with the complex magic was more to learn. The etherealists and their talents and oddities are something I expect we will never completely understand.

The politics of the duels and the frightening life or death realities added another layer of suspense. I felt Lady Hinton's worry and angst and desire to protect. She was so talented in her own battle; it was thrilling. The rift in her relationship was heartbreaking. The characters here are easy to love, and hate. They are divided up more into at least two groups, tackling different missions; previously they were together as a team. Gwen in on the Predator with Captain Grimm. Benedict and Bridget are sent on different missions.

I admit I was bored by the cats. I guess they added some humor and they do have capabilities which are often helpful but their arrogance was tiring. For me, there was more humor in the first book; here things felt more dire.

What will happen now? War is definitely still coming. It was fascinating to see the players on different sides, some respecting and even working with the others, whereas others were intensely hateful without regard for anything but their goals. The ending happened at a reasonable point, not really a cliffhanger, but there are many loose ends and possibilities for the next story.

Fast paced and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where Butcher and fantasy in general is popular.

It's been a long haul waiting for book two, and one that I didn't think was going to end. In 2016, I described book one as an "air-ship filled rollicking adventure that brings to mind a mash-up of Shakespeare and The Princess Bride. We have heroics, tempers, swashbuckling, dastardly villains, battles of wits, revenge, and maybe a little true love on the side. This tome drops you into the story from page one and seems much shorter than its 750 pages."

So where are we in 2023?

Before reading this, I strongly advise you reread book one. The cast is large, the book thick, and the two main warring governments are Spire Albion and Spire Aurora, so if you're like me and names blend together, remind yourself of who everyone is and the stage that has been set.

The Olympian Affair is a story of the maneuvering and politics after the war has started but before it has become an Official Political Fact, there's still a chance of heading things off or of making such a strong show that it stops in it's tracks, but the wheels are spinning. The stakes are high and the outlook grim.

Many of things The Aeronaut's Windlass did well, The Olympian Affair continued. The world building in particular stands out. Details are revealed and expanded through the journey, shown through the experiences of the characters be it the familiar or the unusual. Additionally, the world building directly supports and influences the narrative to good end.

The story solidly delivers intrigue, ship battles, and drama.

Where things fell short for me was the characters themselves. I found most of them nearly interchangeable, the main characters are nearly all tall, well muscled, and exceptionally competent or noticeably short, well muscled, and exceptionally competent. If female, prodigious curves are often mentioned. If you want to read a story for strongly muscular women specifically, you should find this of interest. Except for the Etherealists who dramatically stand out due to their various quirks, I had an easier time tracking secondary characters for their more distinctive details.

Here's where I also have to walk back part of my love for book one. I delighted in Rowl in The Aeronaut's Windlass. Unfortunately, and this might be too much of a good thing, we get a lot of Rowl... and a lot of Rowl bouncing off a younger version of himself in the form of a kitten who joins the party. One cat that is being politely humored lends itself to some fun comedy, two cats with the same level of ego actively trying to undercut/show up the other while also needing to be politely humored is a lot.

Frustrations with characters aside, the story delivers on adventure and peril, and I cannot stress my appreciation for the world building in service of the story itself. There is clearly another book coming, and there are far deeper mysteries to be uncovered in the lead up to the conclusion.

Advance Reader Copy courtesy of Ace (Penguin RandomHouse) in exchange for an honest review; changes may exist between galley and the final edition.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for gifting me an advanced copy. Below you'll find my honest review.

I'm really torn on this one. The parts I loved were definitely worthy of 5 stars - mostly Abigail's storyline, the interactions with Folly, and everything involving Bridget/Benedict/Rowl/Fenli. I also liked the redemption ARC of a certain character, and the masterful development of some of the characters.

But there were a lot of places that felt like they needed more editing. There were sections that felt very repetitive, storylines that built and then were dismissed with no payoff, and lots of scenes that just weren't necessary to really push the story forward. This book could have lost probably 50-100 pages and been better off for it. So for those sections, which I still enjoyed for the most part, I'd have to give t3 stars.

That averages out to 4 stars. I really like the world, and absolutely adore some of the characters - the cats especially.

Recommended for those who enjoyed the first one and can deal with a little rambling.

In the second book of “The Cinder Spires” series by Jim Butcher, he has continued the story of Albion and the Spires in a complex and amazing fashion. “The Olympian Affair” has intriguing heroes, added characters, and complex political maneuvering that will be all for nothing if Grimm and his crew aren’t too late. I love those additional voices and the complexity of war that Butcher depicts in this second novel. 

One of the elements that I love about Jim Butcher is that he is able to capture multiple voices and weave together a nuanced and complex plot in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you’re reading. I found the cats simply a delight and a wonderful infusion of humor in an otherwise tension infused novel. He also manages to weave together the dynamics of war, both emotional and powerful as survival and war crashes on Olympia. He especially does a great job of giving both sides of the war in the characters that he depicts. The ending of the book will leave you wanting more, however. There are several questions left unanswered and in this, it felt very much like the second book in a series. I truly hope we get the next book soon.

If you love Jim Butcher’s writing and haven’t read the first book in the Cinder Spires, I truly recommend you read it soon. You do need to read the first book to truly enjoy the second novel but there is enough detail to allow you to understand the world without it. The emotional ending and the powerful relationships will keep you engaged. This is a complex and amazing story. I can’t wait for more.

I've been waiting for years for this book to come out since I first read 'The Aeronaunt's Windlass'. I was worried my expectations would be too high and that if I read this book I would be so disappointed. Spoiler alert, I was not. I welcomed the book's protagonist Captain Grimm with open arms as I dived head-first into 'The Olympian Affair'.

There is plenty of action to be had and I love the plot with Rowl, Bridget, and Benedict. The first half was more humorous than I would have thought and I did miss the politics and intrigue the first book had, but then we got to the second half of the book and I was hooked. Butcher has always done an amazing job with his worldbuilding and action scenes so he didn't disappoint in that aspect. I was most surprised at how attached to the characters I am after only two books. I do have my favorites that I will absolutely need to be okay! I cannot wait for the next book, especially after we were left with a bit of a cliffhanger on a certain individual.

Just a side note, I am not a big fan of the cover for this second book. I think they should have stayed with the same theme as the first book.

Overall, a great sequel and I can't wait for more.

A little slow to start. This is a doorstop of a book. I’d just reread book 1 this summer when I heard that book two was coming out so I was caught up on the story but there’s a lot of story to catch up on in the first part of this book! I love a character driven story and the characters are fun. The cats of course are the best characters and they will tell you this themselves. Also, I was pretty sure in book one that it might be a fallen colony world but now I wonder if it might also be a fallen far future as well,

Jim Butcher is one of my favorite authors. I first met Harry Dresden 20+ years ago and we've been close friends ever since. The Cinder Spires remind me of Dresden, with a few twists. As the Spires come together for a trading summit, the bargaining will begin in earnest to form an alliance with as many Spires as possible in hopes this will draw conflict to an end. The characters and the world they live in are changing and war will not help anyone. This is the 2nd book in the Cinder Spires series and it's a big book. You'll need to get comfortable and tune out the rest of the world as you join Lord Albion as he works alliances to stop Spire Aurora before life as we know it is damaged further.

Swashbuckling fantasy with politics, battles, cats, and a monster that may destroy everything. The second book in the Spire series is set, I think, two years after the terrifying adventures in book one with those large silk weavers. We have some sweet romance in this second book, and the proposal as death is looming is quite poetic. My favorite part, of course, is the cats and the political maneuvering they are involved in while they secure a new place to live. Bridget has some serious strength to be so beaten up, and still, she goes and tries to warn people of the monster on their doorstep. I’m eager for the next one. Hopefully, we won’t be waiting as long.

Swashbuckling fantasy with politics, battles and more.
Hold on to your seat this slow build gets moving rapidly in the second half and the ending will leave you panting for the next book. Slow, yes the first half was a slow build, and long, but if you know Jim Butcher you know there is something coming. It does come after 50% the world speeds up, at 75% it catches on fire.
The characters were so well developed. The villains were so easy to despise, and yet they had moments were they weren't. I love that, evil is not completely evil or is it ? Same with the good guys, not perfect. The cats, they are as complicated as they are in real life, difficult beasties and I loved them. The brilliant play with the politics was fantastic !
This was the first time reading and Butcher book that I struggled to stay with it in the beginning. Was it because I have waiting 8 years for this book and was desperate for my Jim Butcher fix ? Maybe. I also can't wait to get it on audio, this will be such a great read/listen on audio, like all his other books ! He always has the best narrators that make his books come alive ! I recommend rereading book 1 if you can.

4.5 stars
Spectacular follow-up to The Aeronaut's Windlass and Warriorborn! The battles were fantastic, the duels were thrilling, and the cats were without flaw (as they would tell you themselves). It was wonderful to spend time with the beloved characters from the first book, as well as getting to know a few of the side characters--like Espira, Ciriaco, and Abigail --a bit more. I love Abigail so much--such a great combo of class act and bad-ass.
My only complaint is with Madame Cavendish and how powerful she is and how many steps ahead of everyone she constantly is. It's so infuriatingly unbalanced. I have a feeling that tide is going to turn in the next book, and I truly hope so, as I'm getting tired of her villainous speeches. After reading Butcher's acknowledgments, I also feel hopeful the wait for the next book won't be as long as this one was.
I recommend reading the novella Warriorborn before you read this one, but it won't hurt anything if you don't. The same time period is covered in the novel, just from different characters' points of view.
Great stuff and well worth the wait!