Promise of Blood (Powder Mage Trilogy, #1)

by Brian McClellan

'Just plain awesome' Brandon Sanderson

**Winner of the David Gemmell Morningstar Award**

It's a bloody business, overthrowing a king. Now, amid the chaos, a whispered rumour is spreading. A rumour about a broken promise, omens of death and the gods returning to walk the earth.

No one really believes these whispers.

Perhaps they should.

Winner of the David Gemmell Morningstar Award, Promise of Blood is the explosive first novel in the most action-packed and acclaimed new fantasy series in years.

'Gunpowder and magic. An explosive combination' Peter Brett

'Brings a welcome breath of gunpowder-tinged air to epic fantasy' Anthony Ryan

'Tense action, memorable characters, rising stakes . . . Brian McClellan is the real thing' Brent Weeks

The Powder Mage trilogy:
Promise of Blood
The Crimson Campaign
The Autumn Republic

The Gods of Blood and Powder series:
Sins of Empire
Wrath of Empire

• ISBN10: 0316219045
• ISBN13: 9780316219044
• Publish Date: 8 April 2014 (first published 1 January 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Orbit
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 608
• Language: English

Reviews

[moraa]

“I’ve never resorted to assassination before. Not in twenty-five years of command.”
“I can remember a few times you should have,” Sabon said.

What in the pit?!!

I can’t believe this is over! I know there’s two more books (thank Adom for completed series) but I didn’t want it to end!

(also, meet my new favourite expletive: pit, no more ‘hell’ or ‘fuck’ or ‘heck’ etc)

STRENGTHS:
1. Characterisation (stellar work)
2. Magic system (powder mages, Privilegeds, predii – love the concepts)
3. World-building (I only know two gods so far and not much about other lands except Kez but it was enough whet my appetite)
4. Plotting
5. Writing
6. Themes (won’t say much for now because I feel like I need a wider scope)
7. That cover

WEAKNESSES:
1. That one character who died - you'll know which one - shouldn't have died (won't name them because of spoilers)

[ross91]

This series has a lot of potential. The characters and the setting are great. I especially enjoyed Taniel's storyline. The ending felt rushed though, so that's why I decided to give this book 4*
Very entertaining reading, I'm definitely want to continue with this series! (And I wanna know more about Ka-pole and Olem... the side characters are super cool!)

[Rinn]

I don't know if my enjoyment of this was hampered by the fact that I read it very slowly, often only small amounts at a time. I think I'll try and re-read it next year or something, because I was expecting to love it.

[vagasker]

I absolutely love this book! The magic system is awesome and the characters are amazing (well not all of them, but they are supposed to be not likeable). I especially love Taniel and Ka-poel, so I hope to read a lot about them in the next book.