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The Aeronaut's Windlass
- The Cinder Spires, Book One
- Narrated by: Euan Morton
- Series: The Cinder Spires, Book 1
- Length: 21 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
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Critic reviews
"The characters are well developed, Harry's trademark motormouth is still intact and the pop culture references keep flying. It's at times funny, thrilling, disturbing and sad - but you can never say it's dull." ( The Bookbag on Ghost Story)
"Butcher's storytelling is satisfying on a level that's bone deep; from his knack for crafting suspense, to the multiple reversals of the final confrontation, to the surprisingly heart-rending dénouement." (io9.com on Ghost Story)
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What listeners say about The Aeronaut's Windlass
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Robyn
- 08-06-16
Fun
Yay - a bit of swashbuckling fun. (I seem to have listened to a few heavy tales of late, and this was a bit of light relief).
Well crafted, with top narration. Great new world. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Couldn't fault it. Jim Butcher at his best.
(and the Cat completely stole the show for me).
16 people found this helpful
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- Ian
- 09-10-15
Brilliant Epic Fantasy with a dollop of Sci-Fi.
Where does The Aeronaut's Windlass rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I can't in good conscience claim that it is the best book I've ever read but it's refreshingly different to most 'epic fantasy' novels. A fantastical yet somehow believable world combined with some likeable characters makes for an extremely satisfying read.
Who was your favorite character and why?
I don't want to give away anything about the story or the characters although since reading it I have found a new appreciation for cats.
Any additional comments?
I particularly enjoyed the little nods to the Wheel of Time series. One could almost believe that this book is set several millennia after Robert Jordan's series finishes.
9 people found this helpful
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- Jonathan
- 09-12-17
Stick with it past the confusion of the first hour
This is complex new world building and absolutely no time is spent explaining the world's 'rules' or background, the reader is just thrown in the deep end. For the first hour I was just listening to random elements that I struggled to fit into a bigger picture. But once the story gets rolling it's a surprisingly simple one, dramatically told and easy to follow. It's just that the author doesn't want to spend time explaining the world to the reader, he wants you to get to know it through the events that take place. It's an enjoyable 'pirate romp', and I'll happily read the second one when it comes out. But there is a surprisingly unquestioning quality to the loyalty to the leader, and rigidity to the 'born into power, or born into service' philosophy that is increasingly uncomfortable to go along with from American writers in a Trumpian world. It's a militaristic society where the young from the well off families join the 'guard' and are trained to kill, and we're supposed to see them as heroic. We need to believe that our protagonists are the 'good guys' and although the story is clear in its black and white morality we surprisingly begin to doubt whether we are following the right people, and I really don't think that the author wanted that doubt. Looking for a bit more grey between the black and white next time. Listened at 1:20 speed which sounded right.
3 people found this helpful
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- alejandra
- 17-01-19
Not quite steampunk (aetherpunk maybe?) but great!
Absolutely enjoyed it. Fun action scenes, great female characters and cats. Never knew I needed talking card in my life, but there you go. Can't wait for the 2nd book in the series.
2 people found this helpful
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- CF
- 20-07-16
Excellent performance, but poorly written.
What disappointed you about The Aeronaut's Windlass?
The writing was very average compared to Butcher's other series, and I was not completely absorbed by the story. Suitable for a background distraction, but nothing more.
2 people found this helpful
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- Mr
- 20-11-15
Disappoimting
First of all I normally like Jim Butcher's books: in fact there is only one of his I have not managed to get through (Proven Guilty).
So why did I not like this book, it lacked a certain amount of originality a lot of the story has been done before in different books. For example the cowardly arrogant Commander plus the war (honor Harrington), the weavers ( the film tremors ). Even the attraction between two of the characters was similar to the Codex Alera books.
It was also very long winded and it took a great deal of effort to listen to it all the way through.
I would say I liked certain of the characters, especially Folly.
But I would only recommend die hard fans of Jim Butcher read/listen to it.
If you have not tried his books before start with the Dresden files and the far Superior Codex Alera Books
6 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-12-20
More Stars Please!
Utterly fantastic! I feel completely refreshed by the original, yet comfortingly old fashioned style of this book! Everything about it I have loved! I didn't want it to end. I put off listening to the last hour and a half until I knew no one would disturb me and because i didn't want it to be over! next book needed... not wanted.... No, NEEDED! Fantastic! I'm so excited for what will happen next ! if I start to talk about Rowell I might never stop! spectacular.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 person found this helpful
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- Jessica Olofsson
- 13-12-18
Absolutely brilliant!
Jim Butcher has once again kicked off a brilliant, action packed series that has you hanging on to the edge of you seat. The world and characters he has created are a fresh new take on steam punk, can't wait for more!!
1 person found this helpful
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- Phil
- 01-10-18
One of my top audible books.
Bit to much details at times. But it was worth it. What a great book.
When my cat looks at me now I am thinking "What is he thinking"
1 person found this helpful
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- N1
- 02-08-21
Very good
Narration was excellent.
Story was excellent.
I can't fault this.
Waiting impatiently for the next one!
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- Mim
- 05-11-15
Steampunk Butcher - another voice
Loved the narrator, had just the right tone for this style of story. Clear articulation, perfect accent and dulcet on the ear. I have had to listen twice to get the world, the characters and the story straight in my minds eye. Fresh from Harry Dresden this is different all round. The world building is great and yes, the cats are spot on.
3 people found this helpful
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- luke
- 09-09-16
Careful if you are a dresden fan...
What would have made The Aeronaut's Windlass better?
Characters I could care about.
What could Jim Butcher have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Not my job to worry about.
Did Euan Morton do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?
He did a reasonable job.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Aeronaut's Windlass?
The whole book...?
2 people found this helpful