Book Release: The Aeronaut’s Windlass

The Aeronaut’s Windlass.  The Aeronaut’s Windlass is the first book in Jim Butcher's upcoming Steampunk series, The Cinder Spires.

To be released September 29, 2015.

Sample Chapters:

Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two

Chapter Three
Chapter Four

I received an early uncorrected proofs copy of this book from the GoodReads First Reads Program.


I was thrilled to get the chance to read a new Butcher series!

The ever wonderful, Butcher wit and dialogue, add to that ... Magic, steampunk, privateers, talking cats and airships!!!

With a touch of swashbuckling, The Aeronaut's Windlass is a bit magical, a bit off worldly, and all action.  It reminds me of the old high seas movies (or in this case high skies) with the ship to ship battles.

I will be re-reading this when it is released with the audiobook version.

Details:
Published September 29th 2015 by Roc

Jim Butcher’s The Aeronaut’s Windlass debuts at number 5. on the New York Times Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List for  Oct 11, 2015 - Oct 25, 2015.

Links:
Jim Butcher

Book Review: New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear

New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Reminiscent of the shorter stories of Sherlock Holmes, each chapter is a separate mystery. Unfortunately the book misses the mark.

Elizabeth Bear has mixed and crossed many genre lines in this book. Including: Detective Mystery, Romance, Paranormal, Alternate Histry, fantasy, and Steampunk, but does not invoke any of them enough to have the world building add to the stories.

The main characters, a poly-amorous 1000 + year old vampire detective, Sebastien de Ulloa, and forensic sorceress Lady Abigail Irene Garrett; are interesting concepts, and could heave been great, but the format of the book limits the depth that may have been possible in a cohesive story-line. We are told too much of them and not actually shown any of the traits that would make the protagonists real or truly interesting.
As for the mysteries and antagonists, we have nothing that makes us care about them or want to know bad enough to keep turning pages.

One of the few series I have started and have no real desire to read the next book. I do not think this review has any bearing on any of Bear's other series or works, there are many others that I have loved, this one just did not appeal to me.