Have you read The Aeronaut's Windlass, by Jim Butcher? I'd ignored it, despite being a fan of Butcher's Harry Dresden series, until it was highly recommended by a friend.

Talking cats (which talk Cat), airships, magic, Victoriana, nautical battles... I liked it a lot.

It comes on as YA, but darkens as it goes. Highly recommended, and I devoured it in one night and was really disappointed that there are no more books in the series yet.