The Aeronaut's Windlass

Butcher world building again. What I enjoy is his slow unveiling of the stage upon which his characters act. A world [not Earth it can be assumed ...perhaps?] on which humanity lives in gigantic towers miles high called Spires. Descriptive facts of this world are “dropped” into the text where appropriate. He used the same style in his Codex Alera series. I like this because it sets up in my mind a growing list of facts I want to know regarding this world which may or may not be referenced or developed as the plot develops.
And the plot... well its clear in the first chapter where Lady Lancaster states there are signs, things are changing and she unleashes her daughter [a force to be reckoned with] into the wider world, to be where she, as a Lancaster, needs to be. Page by page we are introduced to a group of comrades who are going to be set a quest, a standard trope, but which, other than the backdrop of a war with another Spire, we as reader will have to learn of as we turn the page.
The Aeronaught's Windlass is a page turner, well paced, well written, with characterisations even of the opposing forces that allows a degree of empathisation running just short of wanting them to emerge victorious. Again something I liked about the Codex series and which holds promise for this series. Jim Butcher writes a good story. I want Spires 2 now!
Oh and whilst other authors have transmogrified their cats into telepathic dragons Butcher marks his Map of this world with “Here be Cats”.

A more detailed review [with of course spoilers] I will put up on my review site.