Nicholas and Olivia Atwater combine ghosts, goblins, and dreadful faeries in a “swashbuckling steampunk adventure that delivers” (Caitlin Rozakis). Pick up Echoes of the Imperium and dive into a daring, madcap adventure that dashes from start to finish.
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.
The ragtag crew of the Iron Rose once survived the fall of an empire—but none of them are interested in revisiting the experience. As the dregs of the Imperium rise again to claw at their heels, Wil and his crew must face the literal ghosts of their past… or else history may well repeat itself.
I’d previously flown with goblin captain Wil Blair and his airship crew in A Matter of Execution, a prequel novel to this very book. You don’t need to begin there, though it’s a highly recommended introduction to the world and adventures of the Iron Rose, but I digress. This is the story of a job that not only goes wrong, but naturally blows up to be bigger than our good captain could have ever expected. What begins as a simple smuggling operation of some aether-based goods leads into a haunting exploration of the past and the looming shadow of a dead empire that’ll force Wil and his crew to make some tough choices.
As you’d expect from a swashbuckling steampunk adventure, there’s plenty of action, sky pirate battles, and banter ahoy that will surely delight fans of Treasure Planet. The Iron Rose boasts a lovable and diverse crew, each with their own ghosts from the past and reasons for being aboard. Each also get their moment to shine, from the gunnery ladies who go from manning the guns to forming a knitting circle, to the mysterious Miss Hawkins and her talent for athermancy, and to the gruff bosun with his Fae friend who may be more than they seem. Our captain, being the wonderful disaster he is, depends on his crew as much as they depend on his leadership, and it’s a wonderful found family dynamic that made me feel at home in the Iron Rose.
What I didn’t expect was the thoughtful exploration of Wil and his crew’s past with imperialism, and the scars left by the empire, both physical and emotional, to these characters and the larger world itself. It’s an emotionally fraught journey at times, and I’m glad that the story decided to face the realities of the empire’s war crimes rather than brush them aside with a quip. This isn’t just a story about pirate shenanigans, but also about confronting the past and standing by one’s morals, no matter the danger.
Echoes of the Imperium is a story full of charm and heart, as well as magic and mayhem. I honestly can’t wait join to the Iron Rose for more adventures in the skies!
Final Words:
A swashbuckling steampunk adventure with hidden depths and plenty of heart.
Find Echoes of the Imperium on Amazon and Goodreads
A deluxe collectors edition of Echoes of the Imperium is now seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter. If you love shiny books with all the bells and whistles, then check out the Kickstarter before the funding period is over. You don’t want to miss this very special edition!
