While it was slow in the beginning, by about chapter five or six the story really started to thrum. In this alternate history set in the 1930's, prohibition is in full swing in America, dirigibles rule the skies, the Great War has ended as have the Roaring 20's, all the while mankind is struggling to cope with magical abilities which manifested in humans around 1850. Mr. Correia has created an alternative world with powerful yet limiting magics. People who are connected to "the power" and use their power are called "actives." There are several different stories of actives interwoven into a great fabric of a tale. Ultimately, it is the struggle between the Grimnoir Society, a secret society of Knights with active powers sworn to protect all actives from oppression, against Imperial Japan (the Imperium). Full of action and some humor, I can recommend this book to readers interested in fantasy or steampunk.