The Cinder Spires: the Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher

How do you fight an unknown enemy who can use others to come after you?  All you can do is try to survive!

Penguin Group allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be September 29th, so you can grab a copy then.

I have never read anything by Mr. Butcher before.  You may be assured I will now.  I intend to look for his previous books and fill in some gaps in my education of great sci fi authors.

Grimm is the captain of the Predator.  He's proud of his ship and what she can do.  He's more of a pirate than anything.  But when his ship gets battered, he has to go to port and work on getting her back in the air.  While he's there, he gets dragged into another adventure...

Two young women are there training to be guards.  When trouble comes to town, they end up in the middle of it.  Their facility is being penetrated by opposing forces.  They have to fight even when they really don't know how yet.  Good thing Benedict is there, too.  He's been there longer and is a warrior class.  Even better is Rowl; a cat guarding his person.

You have magic, extreme danger, silkweavers, mad people who see visions, and more in this story.  It's all action, very busy and keeps you glued to the pages.  Mr. Butcher knows how to write a tale and he keeps the odds going back and forth between the two forces fighting for power.  He even adds in Grimm's ex-wife.  There's trauma, tension, war and love, and a cat force to help things along.  Trust me, it's not boring.