Promise of Blood (Powder Mage, #1) in Fantasy-Faction.com

May 03, 2015 Julia Sarene rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1-fantasy-flintlock, 1-fantasy-epic-or-high, 1-fantasy-all-subgenres, favorites

It took me a while to get into this story. But that might be because I usually like medieval fantasy, or urban fantasy. Usually i don't like any mixture of "technology" and "historical fantasy" like you get in Flintlock. So I really had to get over my dislike of the guns in the story.
Once I was past that - I absolutely adored the story - great characters, a really interesting plot, that didn't feel like the tenth repeat of other books, intriguing worldbuilding - and have I mentioned the great c ...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Liviu rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read_2013, t_notable_books_2013, 2013_release_read

Promise of Blood is an excellent debut that mixes and matches stuff - magic and technology, intrigue and action, individual fights and battles, worker unions and ancient nobility, gods, sorcerers, magicians, well sketched world building with promise of expansion, memorable characters - most notable Tamas who is the main driver of the action - but the rest too, all in a fast moving, occasionally over the top package that one cannot put down.

While not quite yet at Brent Weeks level of "compelling Promise of Blood is an excellent debut that mixes and matches stuff - magic and technology, intrigue and action, individual fights and battles, worker unions and ancient nobility, gods, sorcerers, magicians, well sketched world building with promise of expansion, memorable characters - most notable Tamas who is the main driver of the action - but the rest too, all in a fast moving, occasionally over the top package that one cannot put down.

While not quite yet at Brent Weeks level of "compelling" the novel has some similarities in "feel", but it has much more magic overall.

Starting with the actual coup of Tamas against the king and nobility, the action continues fast and furious on a few fronts. Tamas has to consolidate his and his 6 very disparate but powerful allies rule, while dealing with an unexpected royalist counter-attack, grasping neighbors that covet Adro's wealth and potential and powerful magicians with varied interests; and not to speak of a famous curse/prophecy that has the god Kresimir who created the Nine kingdoms come and smite anyone who would overthrow one of the kings - as in a way the people of Adro do that since most follow Tamas as they show in the famous "elections" day - what the "elections" mean will let you discover - this means that the angry Kresimir - if he exists of course - will destroy the whole country... Of course it then helps to have a god of your own, even though he may be quite mad...

In the other two main strands, Inspector Adamat investigates stuff for Tamas, this essentially being a vehicle to show life in Adro and its capital as well as the various factions and power players, from another "street" angle as well as delve into the world building from a historical point of view, while Taniel "Two Shot", Tamas' son and second most powerful "powder mage" after the marshal himself, has to contend with the sorcerous threats to his father's rule, while dealing with personal problems, un-trustful allies and the like

A great ending at a good stopping point though of course the story just gets started.

Overall a winning debut who will make my top 25 and a series I expect will get only better as it progresses.

FBC review (polished version of the above):

http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com... ...more

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Jun 16, 2013 Blodeuedd Finland rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Re-read:
Just as good as the first time around!!

I can never do good fantasy justice. You know how I ramble on. The book was good, the book was excellent. What more is there truly to say? If you like fantasy I will definitely recommend it.

But I will try.

Fantasy and guns. I have come across it before and thought it was cool, and yes it was still cool cos it is different. On top of that we have an interesting magic system where some snort in gun powder and get more powerful. Gotta love that idea. B ...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Doug rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2013

Update: My full review is now live, here: http://wildersbookreview.com/2013/09/...

I feel like I'm supposed to have certain...issues with this book, going by comments I've heard from a few quarters, but I just honestly can't get past the fact I loved it from start to finish. Some of the problems I've heard others had are perfectly valid but this really just struck the right chord with me and I'm *eagerly* awaiting The Crimson Campaign. ...more

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Aug 02, 2014 Bernie Charbonneau rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, fantasy, ff-challenge

What a great adventure! Started reading this book as it was a book club monthly read. This is the first novel of a supposed trilogy and it was superb! Mr. McClellan is a new writer in the fantasy genre and I believe after reading this fantastic page turner of a book, he is here to stay. I have read a few novels and series that combine fantasy with a historical theme that seems to feel that the world which the author is developing really happened in years past and Mr. McClellan has done a fabulou ...more

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May 22, 2013 Patrick rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, low-fantasy, gunpowder-fantasy

Holy. That was awesome. Great start to a career, interesting characters, interesting places, and a mystery that seems to have started to come together. I need the next volume soon please.

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