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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
It’s hard for me to be objective about this book. Nicholas and Olivia are dear friends of mine, and I was present for the very inception of this book, when it was a fun lunchtime writing project for Nicholas on the days he was bored at work. I spent many afternoons having tea with him as we brainstormed upcoming chapters. I alpha read and even edited several of the early drafts, though I stepped away from the project a few years ago. I am beyond thrilled that they’ve finally brought the book to the hands of so many new readers – it’s very well deserved! Given all of that, though, it’s very hard for me to judge this book on its own merits, based only on the final version and not the earlier drafts I also read. Here’s my best stab at it: I adore all the characters on the Rose. I couldn’t even pick my favourite. Nicholas does a great job of presenting flawed, lovable characters that you desperately want to root for. The worldbuilding is also great, full of hinted-at places that make you wish for more. (Fun fact: I actually wrote some Iron Rose fanfiction based on earlier drafts of the book, which will no longer work given the final version, but that I was tickled to write anyway.) I love the banter, and Nicholas is particularly good at it. While there is plenty of swashbuckling adventure, you do need to go into this book prepared to face some fairly heavy themes and emotional conflict, and some deeper questions about whether ends justify means. I’m so very pleased with the final version, and wish Nicholas and Olivia the best of luck with book 2!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I knew after reading the prequel novella A Matter of Execution that this was a series that had my preferences written all over it and it's nice to be absolutely correct. I had never seen a swashbuckling steampunk that so effectively combined airships and a bit of magic with traditional fae elements. Echoes of the Imperium takes the delightful goblin captain, William Blair, who is introduced in the novella and sets him and his ragtag crew into the path of some very dangerous people who are doing their best to bring back the oppressive empire that Blair and his crew are sworn against.
First off, I'll say that this is the kind of high action swashbuckling adventure that I grew up absolutely loving and I think folks who love a lot of action with loveable characters will get along best with it. The authors certainly don't give the crew a lot of downtime to breathe as they get dragged from one scrape into the next, which made it very difficult to put this book down once I started it.
It also strongly wears its influences on its sleeve and I loved that about it. Echoes gave me the anti-imperial notes I love about the Stars Wars' New Republic era where the oppressive empire has been defeated but certainly hasn't disappeared as various factions fight for control of areas, leaving room for smugglers, pirates and those just trying to get by. Several of the crew (including Blair) are in fact former Imperials trying to make up for their past and seeing them really struggle with that guilt and the strong thematic tones about grief and governance was so deeply compelling to me. You also get a bit of a Firefly vibe, particularly with the humor and Wil being a flawed but heroic captain who is frequently underestimated outside of his crew but never within it.
And the fae element was so well done! It's very much the older style of capricious, heartless fae that don't care about individual mortal lives but only about their own conflicts and interests. And the magic is deeply connected to them and the weapons that they have granted to various mortals. I haven't seen other steampunk weave in this type of worldbuilding and it was so fascinating to see it unveiled.
This may lean a little tropey for some folks but it's so strong on the characters, themes and the social commentary that I found myself alternating between nodding along and laughing out loud at the loving bickering between crew members. The authors mention in the afterword that they wanted to turn some fantasy stereotypes on their heads and they did a spectacular job of it. If you want a high action adventure with loveable characters reckoning with their actions and some great social commentary, I really cannot recommend this highly enough. It's absolutely a new favorite for me!
Thanks to the authors and NetGalley for early access to the book in return for an honest review!
First off, I'll say that this is the kind of high action swashbuckling adventure that I grew up absolutely loving and I think folks who love a lot of action with loveable characters will get along best with it. The authors certainly don't give the crew a lot of downtime to breathe as they get dragged from one scrape into the next, which made it very difficult to put this book down once I started it.
It also strongly wears its influences on its sleeve and I loved that about it. Echoes gave me the anti-imperial notes I love about the Stars Wars' New Republic era where the oppressive empire has been defeated but certainly hasn't disappeared as various factions fight for control of areas, leaving room for smugglers, pirates and those just trying to get by. Several of the crew (including Blair) are in fact former Imperials trying to make up for their past and seeing them really struggle with that guilt and the strong thematic tones about grief and governance was so deeply compelling to me. You also get a bit of a Firefly vibe, particularly with the humor and Wil being a flawed but heroic captain who is frequently underestimated outside of his crew but never within it.
And the fae element was so well done! It's very much the older style of capricious, heartless fae that don't care about individual mortal lives but only about their own conflicts and interests. And the magic is deeply connected to them and the weapons that they have granted to various mortals. I haven't seen other steampunk weave in this type of worldbuilding and it was so fascinating to see it unveiled.
This may lean a little tropey for some folks but it's so strong on the characters, themes and the social commentary that I found myself alternating between nodding along and laughing out loud at the loving bickering between crew members. The authors mention in the afterword that they wanted to turn some fantasy stereotypes on their heads and they did a spectacular job of it. If you want a high action adventure with loveable characters reckoning with their actions and some great social commentary, I really cannot recommend this highly enough. It's absolutely a new favorite for me!
Thanks to the authors and NetGalley for early access to the book in return for an honest review!
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ECHOES OF THE IMPERIUM - NICHOLAS & OLIVIA ATWATER
This book blew me away. The writing, the worldbuilding, the characters - it's honestly one of the best high fantasy books I've ever read. Here's a quick synopsis:
A fallen empire. A goblin airship captain. One big, blasphemous problem. Captain William Blair has taken shady jobs before - what goblin hasn’t? But this shady job has pirates off the port bow and legendary aethermancers knocking at his cabin door. Unfortunately, Wil has sworn an Oath to escort his newest dubious passenger wherever she wants to go… and a goblin must be worth his word.
This barely touches the surface of how wonderful Echoes of the Imperium is. Wil and his ragtag crew survived the fall of an empire and, having fought for different sides during the war, have come together as a crew to survive in their new world and to somehow come to terms with the past.
This barely touches the surface of how wonderful Echoes of the Imperium is. Wil and his ragtag crew survived the fall of an empire and, having fought for different sides during the war, have come together as a crew to survive in their new world and to somehow come to terms with the past.
The storytelling is impeccable, where each chapter brings more knowledge about the past but also about the characters' current whereabouts and activities. The characters are complex and endearing, and I loved being taken to the different destinations within Wil's world.
The steampunk vibes and airships are two of the best elements, but this book also happens to be really witty, with great banter and unexpected moments that I don't think I'll ever forget, like a scene straight out of Dragon's Den and a comical moment with Wil's hat.
Yes, this book is on the long side as all high fantasies tend to be, but if you love this subgenre, you have to read Echoes of the Imperium. In Wil's world, 'echoes' also refers to ghosts, and - at its core - this is a heartfelt story about learning to accept yourself for who you are in the present, and choosing to relegate ghosts back to the past.
Release date: 29 October 2024
Review score: 5/5
TWs: Violence, injury detail, d*ath
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a great airships-and-aether-and-faeries-oh-my time. Blair is a crunchy, gold-hearted captain-rogue, and his crew of misfits are all faceted and intriguing. The blend of faerie and steampunk is equally full of familiar delights and surprising new twists. And amidst all the derring-do and big explosions, there's also a lot of rumination on empire, religion, and what we're responsible for.
Whether you're here for madcap airship battles and swashbuckling steampunk knights, or the hard and beautiful truths about redemption and second chances, this is a rollicking adventure that satisfies on every level!
Whether you're here for madcap airship battles and swashbuckling steampunk knights, or the hard and beautiful truths about redemption and second chances, this is a rollicking adventure that satisfies on every level!