The Olympian Affair by
Jim Butcher
My rating:
3 of 5 stars
I enjoyed it, but it didn't seem as good as the first. Maybe because there was such a long time between books I had forgotten some parts of
The Aeronaut's Windlass. But I still love Rowl and Grimm and Fenli is a hoot, he is a brilliant addition to the series. The book jumped around a lot (one of the things I disliked about it) so I am just going to discuss the characters.
Colonel Renaldo Espira joins Captain Calliope Ransom(Grimm's wife) in mutinying against Madame Cavendish when he discovers Cavendish is controlling the mistmaw that is attacking poorly defended spires full of civilians. True to her nature Calliope betrays Espira and he and his surviving men are imprisoned including his warriorborn sergeant Ciriaco (really like him and hope we see more of him in futurebooks) But Cavendish doesn't trust Calliope and infects her with crystals in order to control her. Even then Calliope manages to get the keys to free Ciriaco from his chains to Espira. When Grimm attacks Calliope's ship Mistshark Espira and his men are able to break free and aid Grim, but the battle would have been lost if the crew of Stormmaiden (a Piker ship) hadn't come to the rescue led by their warriorborn captain Ravenna (Grimm's girlfriend).
Ferus gives his life to gain control of the mistmaw that is attacking Olympia and turn it against the Auroran Amada that has come to finish Spire Olympia off. (I will miss him). with his dying breath he entrust Folly to Grimm's care.
When Predator can not be separated from Mistshark Gwen chooses to stay on the ship in hopes of landing it on the surface in salvageable condition. Unable to walk she is forced to join forces with Cavendish who can not see to survive on the surface until they can be rescued.
Count Alexander Bayard (Grimm's friend) is forced into dueling the warriorborn Valesco when he slaps Abigal (Duchesses Hinton) in public. Bayard chooses Francis Madison Grimm (Grimm Ship-Trees) to be his second. Realizing that Bayard is unlikely to survive the duel and with no way to dispatch Valesco herself Abigal poisons Bayard in order to prevent him from dueling Valesco. As Bayard's second Grimm must duel Valesco in Bayard's place. Grimm knows he can't beat Valesco dueling but he determines to survive. He allows Valesco to grow overconfident and when Valesco goes to deliver the killing blow Grimm uses the opportunity to sever Valesco's head from his body. But his leg is severely injured in the duel and receives more injuries in the battle to protect Spire Olympia, Grimm may never walk again without a cane. When Bayard realizes what Abigal did he breaks up with her. Abigal chooses not to reveal to Bayard that she is pregnant.
Benedict (warriorborn) rescues a tribe of small cats from Spire Dependence after it is destroyed by a mistmaw and is named Tribesaver by the cats. Fenli is one of the cats that is rescued. Rowl deems Benedict worthy to mate with Bridget (Littlemouse) which is good since they get engaged on Spire Olympia during the mistmaw attack.
Big reveal Madame Cavendish was working for the Tyranima (the ancient enemy of the builders) Lord Albion (Longthinker) has been promised help by an Archangel.
Prince Rowl refers to Fenli and his tribe as halflings and they bicker through most of the book. But they do work together to save Bridget and seem to become fond of one another by the end of the book. Fenli seems to be a very wise cat and is adapt and managing Rowl.
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Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
