Nial Sarnin is twenty-one—far too young to have lost her beloved husband, Jika. One year after his death, Nial prepares to fly a kite sewn from his wedding shirt, believing it will carry Jika’s spirit to the stars.
But instead of drifting gently skyward, the spirit kite moves under Nial’s direct control, revealing her as a Kitemaster—a rare gift in a world forever ruled by winds and magic.
Her newfound powers attract Captain Wolf of the kiteship Midnight Rain. With runaway Prince Vikaan, Wolf seeks to thwart Queen Kavaya’s ruthless ambition to dominate the skies and conquer all neighboring kingdoms.
Nial may hold the key to stopping Kavaya’s brutal reign and saving countless lives—including those she loves most—but only if she learns to master her extraordinary gift in time.
Every gust of wind promises hope, renewal, and a chance to reshape a world teetering on the brink in this inspiring tale of loss, resilience, and transformation.

‘Kitemaster‘ was my seventh book by Jim C. Hines, and it is by far my favourite. For me, it sets the bar for what a Fantasy novel can be. 

It’s an exciting adventure with an against-the-odds struggle by an underdog locked in a righteous struggle with a powerful, ruthless enemy. It has a unique, well-thought-through magic system, flying ships, great battle scenes, wonderful air serpents and enormous dragons. 

What impressed me most was that it never followed the obvious path. Nial did what needed to be done, but she always sought the route of least harm to others. Her enemy was ruthless, cruel, but not evil. She was broken and her actions were monstrous but her failings were very human.

I found myself absorbed in the world that Jim Hines had created: its religion, its people, its use of magic as a technology and its endless cycle of war over territory. I loved how what I at first thought to be myth turned out to be history, and how history started its journey towards becoming myth.

I liked that Nial’s journey wasn’t powered by a hero’s zeal for an epic quest but by her need to protect her family and the other people she cares about. She never falls into a righteous anger that allows her to take any action necessary to achieve her goals. She always takes responsiblity for what she does and is more comfortable with sacrificing herself than with harming others. 

For me, the most powerful aspect of the novel was its deep understanding of grief and loss. If you’ve lived through grief, you’ll recognise the emotions being described here. There is no attempt to say that grief is something that you’ll get over. Grief and loss change you. You are never again the person you were before they touched you. This story shows how, if grief turns to rage, it can consume a person. It also shows that you can’t ‘move on’ from grief; you can only become reconciled to the life that now sits before you. 

Jim Hines captures that sense of isolation and dislocation that comes when your life is derailed by loss. Nail’s life stops for a while. She withdraws from the people around her, no matter how well-meaning, knowing that she causes them discomfort and they can offer her little to fill the void. 

I loved the spirit kite funeral rites of Nial’s people. Even without the magical aspects, it seems to me that this is a practice that honours the dead and helps the living.