Promise of Blood

By: Brian McClellan

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

Length: 19 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

"Just plain awesome" (Brandon Sanderson)

Civil unrest cripples the citizens of Adro in the aftermath of the revolution that obliterated the monarchy. Now, Field Marshal Tamas and his lieutenants must confront the true cost of freedom in book one of the Powder Mage Trilogy.

It's a bloody business overthrowing a king...Field Marshal Tamas' coup against his king sent corrupt aristocrats to the guillotine and brought bread to the starving. But it also provoked war with the Nine Nations, internal attacks by royalist fanatics, and the greedy to scramble for money and power by Tamas's supposed allies: the Church, workers unions, and mercenary forces. It's up to a few...Stretched to his limit, Tamas is relying heavily on his few remaining powder mages, including the embittered Taniel, a brilliant marksman who also happens to be his estranged son, and Adamat, a retired police inspector whose loyalty is being tested by blackmail.

But when gods are involved...Now, as attacks batter them from within and without, the credulous are whispering about omens of death and destruction. Just old peasant legends about the gods waking to walk the earth. No modern educated man believes that sort of thing. But they should....

Winner of the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut Fantasy.

©2013 Brian McClellan (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

2013, RT Best SciFi & Fantasy Novel, Nominated

2014, David Gemmell Morningstar Award, Best Debut Novel, Winner

"Promise of Blood is a hugely promising debut. Guns, swords, and magic together? What more could you want? How about tense action, memorable characters, rising stakes, and cool, cool magic? Not only the finest flintlock fantasy I've read, but also the most fun. Brian McClellan is the real thing."—New York Times bestseller Brent Weeks

"This book is just plain awesome. I found myself enjoying every moment of it. Innovative magic, quick-paced plot, interesting world. I had a blast."—New York Times bestselling author, Brandon Sanderson"

"The world of the privileged sorcerers and the strange abilities of the powder mages who can manipulate gunpowder are just as well drawn in this captivating universe."—RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars)

loved it

the book was exciting throughout. I enjoyed the readers tone. overall a good book that is worth reading.

great original story

This was a great story and very well performed. It was original and compelling with a great mix of characters. It was like a mix of fantasy, mystery, and war genres. The magic mechanic was diverse and fresh compared to other similar books. I highly recommend this book.

Fantastic!

it takes a bit of time to get moving, but once events start going, they just don't stop.

Pretty damn good book

My only real complaint is that the narrator messed up some words which tripped me up a bit.

Very Tempted to Continue Series

It was slightly clunky introducing the world's parameters, but came through with some fascinating characters.

Some of the best dynamic storytelling ever

It's rare that I'm waiting on a book like I have done with this series. I tried to make them last longer but it was like having some of the best food in your life in front of you after not eating for weeks. I got the first one on a credit and then had to bit the bullet to get the next.
The writer moves the story along without any slow exposition. You find things out along with the characters naturally and in conversation. There are some really good books out there that I've enjoyed but have fallen into the trap of having everyone gather around to learn about some legend or history.
The story has enough twists in it to keep things interesting without wearing you out with ups and downs. This is one of the few books that I've recommended to other people. I've all but shoved this into the hands of some people to get them to read it.

Blah

Book was somewhat interesting but I never got into the characters or story too much. It maintained my interest but I didn't feel / cared about the characters

I really enjoyed this book

this was my first experience with this author and narrator.. I absolutely loved them both. the narrator just reeled me in and the author set the hook.

Wasn't Sure Going In

I avoided this one for a while, but eventually have in after trying four or five other series that ended up being garbage.The idea that the weakest person in the world can pull a trigger and kill the strongest person without ever being in danger is a big turn off. However, in this case the story and narration were enough to offset the use of guns.

Creative take on the fantasy settting

First off I love the Napoleonic Era in European history.

So to have a fantasy book set during a similar time, with gun powder, political intrigue, revolution, and the death of kings got me really excited. The world feels a little generic European, and a lot of the actually world building doesn't really begin to happen until a third of the way through the book.

The book throws a lot at you in the beginning of the book, names place and people, part of the magic system, who is part of the elite of society, religion. Which is fine, but the book at the beginning doesn't explain as it goes. It left me confused and curious about things that were going on or implied. It was only later that the book starts to go back over some of these concepts, and flesh out the world around them. It can be very frustrating at first.

With the negatives out of the way, the book was fantastic. As things were explained and the world was built out I really began to enjoy the book. Its take on the magic users (while maybe not original) was interesting, especially with their relationship to the powder mages.

Lots of potential here, I will be coming back