I loved Miller's first book - The Philosopher's Flight. The Philosopher's War picks up where Flight ended.

"Robert Weekes is now a flier for the US Sigilry Corps’s Rescue and Evacuation service, an elite, all-woman team of flying medics - the first male allowed to join. He ships to France to serve in the final days of WW I. But he'll have to make decisions about loyalty and love to help end the war."

I would consider this a historical fiction/magical realism. The world of empirical philosophy created by Miller is remarkable. Smokecarvers, transporters and fliers - cornmeal and sand - 12 lb bags - 40 lb bags - Lewis guns
And through it all Robert must navigate as the only male in an army of women, and being held to a higher standard. It is interesting to see how he handles some situations.
This is WW I so there is loss and death and Miller doesn't sugarcoat it. Robert must deal with the loss of squad mates and still find the will to fly.

This book is full of wonderful characters and the writing is fast-paced. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one. A must-read for your summer reading list!

This series is just fun. If you liked the first one, the second is equally entertaining, well-written, and well paced.

A new book in The Philosophers Series by Tom Miller?! Yes, please!

I was so impressed with Miller's <em>The Philosopher's Flight</em> that I immediately requested the follow-up volume and sat down and read it through, putting all my other books aside.  And it was worth it!

The story so far...

Robert Weekes, who we last saw defending his gender at Radcliffe College, as the only known male philosopher (i.e. 'magician') who could hover/fly, has successfully been accepted into the corps of Sigilwomen during the Great War (WWI).  It's been his life-long ambition (now at the very mature age of 18) to serve his country as his mother did, flying soldiers out of the line of fire to where they can be patched up. But as a male in a completely female dominated profession, Robert is trying to keep a low profile and is even registered as Robert A. Canderelli - using his father's last name.

Robert needs to earn the trust of his fellow Sigilwomen, which will only come with time.  Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be) the war continues to be brutal and there is no lack of need for the corps of sigilwomen to rescue and evacuate soldiers - to the point of constant exhaustion for the beleaguered, <em>all volunteer</em>, corps. Robert is assigned to work with a unit in France that is grossly understaffed.

But an end may be in sight. Weeks/Canderelli is brought in to a plan to end the war, quickly and with relatively few deaths. The plan is hatched by a general who enlisted Robert, despite his being a man and she confides that he, very specifically, is needed for this plan.  The only problem ... the plan is not condoned by the American politicians or military which means by participating, he'd be committing an act of treason. His girlfriend, working in politics back in Washington, relentlessly asks Robert to leave the corps and return to live with her.

Author Tom Miller draws the reader in with very real characters that we might love, or hate, or both.  There are no minor characters in the book - there are only those who may not appear as much as others.  Miller has a way of introducing characters and we realize that these are people, with a past, loves, and flaws.

But there's so much more than just great characters!  Miller gives us a fully realized world that is familiar and yet different from our own past. This world of empirical philosophy and philosophers - those who can manipulate things around them with a blend of science and magic - is awesome. There are transporters, smokecarvers, hovers, and who knows what other philosophical specialties might still appear.  If the CTPP (Cool Things Per Page) quotient was a determining factor in a books success, then this book would be right up at the top. But this has so much more than just CTPP ... it has a well-thought-through story, relationships between people that are incredibly real, and action that is so consistent it will have the reader nearly as exhausted as Canderelli at the war's front.

This is a tremendous read, sure to go on to your own favorite's list.

Looking for a good book? If you grew up reading the popular boy wizard books but now want something for your adult tastes, or if you just enjoy a really great book with a touch of fantasy, Tom Miller's <em>The Philosopher's War</em> is a must read.

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in this series is just as incredible as the first. When The Philosopher's Flight came out a couple of years ago, I gobbled up the story about a pilot in an all-female led service. The main character, Robert, is treated like how many women are treated today in all-male fields. I think the author did a great job of representing judgment place on women, and especially the extra hoops they have to jump thru just to be on the same level as a man.

I loved this book just as much as I loved the first one. It's a compelling read. Not short, but fun, and at times, seemingly dangerous. I wanted to know what Robert's next flight was going to be and would he survive this "war" unscathed.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did

Tom Miller's The Philosopher's War is continuation of his first novel, The Philosopher's Flight. Since I loved the first novel so much I had high expectations for this one and it did not disappoint!

This novel continues shortly after the first novel left off with the story of Robert Weeks, a male trying to make it in Rescue and Evacuation Corps, which is all women, during the Great War. This fantasy/alternative history novel grips the reader right from the start. It is action packed and a good balance of characters from the first novel to make it feel familiar and new characters to make it fresh.

This was a great book and I cannot wait to see what Tom Miller comes out with next!

I received a free ARC of The Philosopher’s War from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is just as well written as the first book in the series, perhaps even more exciting, but I'd still rate it slightly lower due to my aversion to stories dealing with the insanity of war.

This was an excellent sequel to the already good alternate history/fantasy The Philosopher’s Flight. The Philosopher’s War raised the stakes and did a wonderful job with the characterization of not only Robert but all the sigilwomen in his squad. Everyone felt real, and that made the toll the war took on them even more heart-wrenching to watch unfold. At times keeping the generals straight could get confusing and the wrap-up at the end seemed a bit abrupt, but overall this was a good read, and I even liked it better than the first book.

This is a sequel to the excellent book The Philosopher's Flight which introduced us to Robert Weekes, who is the first male to be allowed to join the all-female branch of the Rescue & Evacuation division of the military. In this alternate history world, women can use magic for teleportation, flying and shaping clouds into objects. We catch up with Robert as he is about to be shipped out to France for R&E duty during World War I.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and the sequel is just as good. Robert is a great character to get to know further--how he deals with the stress of war, his relationship with the other women in his team, death (of his team members and soldiers that he is trying to rescue), and his coming of age (he is only 19 when the book opens). It is interesting to see him wrestle with his commitment to his girlfriend/lover and his commitment to "stand with your girls" in his squad, his duty to the Corps and a covert plan to commit mutiny but possibly end the war.

This was a fascinating alternate history take on World War I and flipping the gender stereotypes makes for some interesting dynamics. I loved getting to know the women in Robert's squad better and enjoyed some old friends from Radcliffe College in book 1. The book does have a clear ending but there are some little quotes from the beginnings of the chapters that gives some hints on where things go for Robert and some of the other characters. I am hoping that we hear more from Robert Weekes in the future.

In this episode, I was captivated and heartbroken by an alternate reality that was shockingly plausible...

Friends, friends, friends.

Welcome back to Teatime Reading where there are books in progress. When I stumbled across Tom Miller’s The Philosopher’s Flight late last year, I was struck by the world that Miller was able to create. I thought that it was a compelling world where feminism and sexism clashed in a historically realistic world where most details where familiar and some were not. It quickly became one of my most beloved books of 2018. When I learned that a sequel was coming, I couldn’t wait.

The Philosopher’s War was that sequel and I had no clue that I would be approved for an early copy from NetGalley. When I started reading, I couldn’t stop.

If The Philosopher’s Flight created the world that Protagonist Robert Canderelli Weekes inhabited, The Philosopher’s War raised the stakes. The Philosopher’s War is a book that, in my opinion, really is a sequel in its truest sense. It requires the reader to have already experienced The Philosopher’s Flight, and the author rewards the returning reader. I would have enjoyed it if some of the secondary characters from the first book had more to do in this book, but I understood the logic. I loved meeting the new characters in this book. They were endearing and vibrant, providing a real family for Robert and each other through the horrors of war.

If the first book was a coming of age book, The Philosopher’s War was a book that exposed the gruesome tragedy of war. Robert Canderelli (as he went by after the events of book 1) was thrown into the violent, tragic world of World War I. I was shocked by the way that this book affected me. I shed tears of joy, rage, and sadness at various times during this experience.

Ultimately, I thought that The Philosopher’s War is a sequel that affected me in a far deeper way than I expected. Some of the narrative techniques that intrigued me so much in the first book became clarified in this book, and the same techniques returned in The Philosopher’s War to hopefully set up the third book.

Let me be as clear as possible. The Philosopher’s War is a book that is a masterpiece in my eyes. I felt as if I was living alongside Robert and the rest of the 5th Divison and it wasn’t easy at times. At the end of the day, this book gave me a visceral experience and that is something that doesn’t happen all that often.

Thank You, Tom Miller.

With that, I need to make myself a cup of tea after this one. This book has forced me to take a few hours to think and that’s a huge accomplishment.

I’ll be back with more great books because I do this for the love.

See you soon everyone.

Peace, Love, Pages.

The Philosopher’s Flight was brilliant. One of the most interesting and original novels I’ve read in a good long while. It followed Robert Weekes as he enters Radcliffe College with the goal of being the first male to ever join the R&E Service as a flying medic rescuing wounded soldiers in France. The Philosopher’s Flight ended with him graduating and being accepted into R&E.
The Philosopher’s War begins with him landing in France and joining the 5th Division, a motley group of misfits and malcontents, overworked and undermanned. As he starts rescuing soldiers from the front lines his comrades slowly warm to him and finally accept him. But he is much more than just an R&E flyer. He’s the lynch pin in an audacious plan to force Germany to surrender. A plan which if it fails could see him executed for treason.

That’s if he even survives.

The Philosophers War is so different to book one that it wasn’t easy to get into. Pretty much everything from The Philosopher’s Flight was tossed into the fire and I had to start again. Robert even lost his name, going from Weekes to Candarelli.
But honestly this book is brilliant. It’s just so imaginative and original that you can’t help but love it.

The second book in this excellent series and it was just as good as the first.

Robert leaves his education behind and heads off to take his part in this author's wonderfully imagined alternative World War One. Wanting to save people rather than kill them Robert joins Rescue and Evacuation where he uses his flying skills to bring injured soldiers out of the fighting zones. Note that his flying skills are magical. No plane is required.

I love Tom Miller's imagination and his expertly created steam punk world which includes drawings and descriptions of the equipment used in flying and fighting. The capture of Berlin is just perfect in its conception and in the way the team carry it out.

Robert himself has developed into an intriguing and oh so likeable character and this is not spoiling anything by saying that the best woman won! This pleased me enormously! I am not sure if the author is planning to write more about Robert but if you read the quotes at the start of each chapter and check the speaker and date carefully one of them gives a huge hint as to the direction future history will take, at least for our hero.

If you enjoy alternative history with a bit of magic on the side then you will enjoy The Philosopher's War but make sure to read The Philosopher's Flight first.

There are two things I hate in fantasy: endless battles and sea quests. I have to admit that I had a bad impression of the book from the start, knowing that the main character would be actively involved in battles (I knew it was coming, it's central to the plot and the first book was pointing this way)... at least there weren't any sea quests ;).

This book is an exception though. "The Philosopher's War" continues Robert's saga as he achieves his dream of fighting in the war as part of the rescue and evacuation team. He is the only male flier in a female-only profession, and his relationships with other females are the bulk of interactions in this book. He is actively involved with what would be considered the 'turning points' of the war, which is written in an engaging way- more than just pages filled with war terminology that I often see in other fantasy novels. I really enjoyed reading Robert's missions and in general loved so much about this book. The writing is superb- as expected since the first was also well-written. If you enjoyed "The Philosopher's Flight," you will likely enjoy this one too.

On a different note, I am insanely jealous of Tom Miller. Just based on his short biography: Harvard graduate, MFA in creative writing, MD, EMT... the list goes on. What an incredible life. I am highly anticipating the conclusion of this series and am recommending it to all my friends until they get sick of hearing about it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of this book. It was amazing.

The Philosopher's Flight was one of my favorite books of 2018. Unfortunately, I was less than enamored with this sequel. Miller's writing is still solid, but jumping from a book about a magic school to a war narrative was not going to be a recipe for success (for my tastes, at least). I hope that Miller pens a follow up that returns the series to its roots, perhaps as Robert returns to teach at his former school.

Tom Miller follows-up The Philosopher's Flight with this excellent sequel. Now that Robert Weekes has graduated from Radcliffe and been accepted into the Rescue & Evacuation service of the US Sigilry Corps, he's off the Great War. There is general amusement against Weekes, a man, trying to do a woman's job, which is something that could have been really tedious. Instead, Miller does a good job not belaboring the issue, it's usually related in snide remarks or through the surprise of other characters, and by making Weekes continue to work for his acceptance. It helps that while he is really good at what he does, it's clear that he's really good as a man and most women are easily able to outstrip him.
Miller continues to weave his unique magic system into the alternate history of the United States and aptly shows the various tensions and conflicts that would form. He also does not shy away from the absolute brutality and senseless violence of World War I, even introducing some awful new weapons existing because of sigilry magic.
Duty is a major theme in the novel, and Weekes struggles to reconcile his duty towards his country, the Sigilry Corps, and with the women he is serving next to. It's clear, early on, that Weekes has been selected for a special mission, but the reason why is kept secret for most of the book, and I found the secrecy to be a little disappointing when revealed.
One of my favorite parts of the book were the various chapter lead-ins consisting of reports, recollections, and writings of various characters which were not limited to the time frame of the novel. They work to enhance the already good world-building as well as set up hooks for following novels.
Overall, this was a thrilling read and an excellent sequel. It was responsible for me staying up too late on several nights - always a compliment for a book. Weekes is a really great character and I enjoyed traveling the story in his head.

What they don’t tell you about working as an E.M.T.: Sometimes people die. Through no fault of your own.

They were dead before that 911 call.

And you’re just transporting an almost-dead body to the hospital, knowing nothing will save them and that it’s already too late.

You can’t bring somebody back from the dead. No matter how much or how loud loved ones curse at you.

Sometimes people make stupid calls about non-life-threatening situations, wasting your time and possibly endangering the lives of others who needed you more.

Sometimes people make calls too late or under-report the severity of the situation, so when you do finally arrive, you’re underprepared and understaffed.

Most of the time, you’re over-worked and underpaid in a thankless job where you’re allowed to work 16-plus-hour shifts. And when people ask when’s the last time you slept, it’s easier to answer yes or no to if you had slept in the last 24 hours rather than count back the days where you last rested your head for minutes while still on call.

Or at least that’s how Tom Miller tells it, drawing from four years of experience while working as an E.M.T. to write “The Philosopher’s War,” the gripping sequel in a fantasy series set during World War I where E.M.T.’s are badass women who can literally fly in the air (with the proper equipment).

“The Philospher’s War,” as you may have guessed from its title, is much darker than its predecessor, “The Philosopher’s Flight”.

Whereas “The Philosopher’s Flight” emphasized a sense a triumph and adventure, “The Philosopher’s War” places you and 19-year-old Robert Canderelli Weekes in the middle of battlefields in France during World World I, stationed in the U.S. Sigilry Corps’ Rescue and Evacuation program where he and a team of female fliers transport dying soldiers to the nearest hospitals.

It’s a grim and impossible job that grinds at your bones and spirit, questioning your values and who you stand for. Who do you save between your girlfriend and your co-worker? Your boss or your loved one? There are no right answers. But you’re forced to choose in a war you cannot win.

Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of “The Philosopher’s War” from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

I loved the first book in this series. This is the second book and I enjoyed it just as much. I liked that it is an alternate history filled with magic. I can't wait to read the next book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I'm not one for reading trilogies or any kind of series, but Tom Miller's Philosopher's series is engaging, fun, adventurous, and more! Flying, sigilry, heroism, feminism, war...they're all wonderfully combined into this story of Robert A. Canderelli, a boy who was set on becoming a sigilwoman in the Rescue and Evacuation division of the military. Book one, the Philosopher's War, follows Robert's coming-of-age and decision to apply to Radcliffe for sigilry. In book two, the Philosopher's War, we follow Robert has he finally gets to practice everything he's learned.

SO GOOD! I loved this book, however, I wouldn't say I loved it more than the first. It was still exciting and a great read. Miller definitely kept expanding the world of Empirical Philosophy, and it didn't feel diluted at all. I'm so excited for the third book in this series... I'm mad I finished this book already because now I have to wait longer than I would like for the next one!

We return to the world of philosophy and World War II in the sequel to The Philosopher's Flight. The sequel is even better than the first. The Philosopher's War follows our hero Robert Weekes as he embarks on his journey into Rescue and Evacuation. The writing isn't perfect, but there are no problems that distract from the story. This book is exciting and emotional, and the plot moves quickly, which creates an even greater sense of urgency. The characters are fantastic, and it is easy to become invested in their story. I felt genuine sympathy while reading, and I couldn't wait to see what happened to each character. This series is unique with an interesting magic system, and it also has great commentary on gender.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh Tom Miller, you did it again. This is the sequel to Philosopher's Flight, which I (Surprisingly) really enjoyed. Robert is once again a main character and is prepared to go to war.

The book is beautifully written and kept my attention. It was not as good as Philospher's Flight, but it was still entertaining to read!