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)

One of the best.

this trilogy is simply one of the best in the fantasy genre, narrated excellently. if you like 'muskets and magic' you will love it.

great fantasy with a rooted magic system.

a fantasy novel on a very underused time period. great characters and story. 10/10 would read again

Original and Engaging

I bought the first book in print on a whim some months prior to release of the third, read both it and the Crimson Campaign back to back, forgoing other activities. Both the setting and story are unique and engaging, and the reading of Promise of Blood done by Christian is no less so, not merely reading but performing, being loud where characters are yelling, quiet when scared and so on and so forth.

Refreshing change from common fantasy settings

This is a suspense action pack thrilling page turner. Political intrigue, coups, danger, assassinations, mystery, uncommon but familiar setting, clever & unique magic system. What more could you want?
Setting is familiar but uncommon in the fantasy genre, inspired by the French revolution. A coup overthrows the wealthy and magical elite but the civil unrest must be quenched before foreign powers take advantage. old debts and promises repaid, backroom deals and alliances must be struct and traitors must be sniffed out. All the while the mysterious last words regarding the return of a god must be investigated.
The story is engaging often taking twists and turns. Think the story is going one way but then it changes and once you think it going to change it brings it back. There three kinds of magic systems and two of them follow rules at make sense. The most interesting revolves around gun powder.
The book has many ideas but not enough time to see them all develop. Some of the character consequences were not fully realized or undid after a few chapters. But it does not go easy on the characters.
A refreshing read if your getting tired of common fantasy settings.

Pleasantly surprised.

I can get kind of picky when it comes to audiobooks. At first I wasn't too sure I would like this story but it grew on me. The author did a good job.

great story

I keep my reviews short. that being said the story is great, the action is almost constant and characters are personable. I hope in the next book the author adds more background to some of the non main characters. the narrator did a great job, near the start I didn't think I was going to like his narration, but he surprised me and delivered a great story. 4 out of 5 because I wanted a little more depth to the book but all in all I think this will be a great trilogy.

AWESOME!!

I love the world that Brian McClellan has built here. I’ve read the entire series twice and all of the novellas at least once. I recently started listening to Audible on my commute and when I came across Promise of Blood I knew I would listen to it. I’m glad I did! Hearing to story narrated with different voices and emotion was wonderful and fit really well with the way I imagined it in my head. On to Crimson Campaign!!

Delivered

I picked this one up because I heard it had an interesting magic system and it delivered. The magic mixed with muskets is very interesting and a not so used world building thing.(Or that I've come across). The story is solid and left me with questions that I'd be happy to dive into the next book to find the answers to. The story follows multiple characters that do mesh together when they interact. In the sense of the point of view seems blurry. I found myself enjoying the story rather than following the character that was the focus. Overall though I really liked the book and will continue into the next.

Promise of Blood

This is a very engaging, well written book. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.

Truly excellent

Would you listen to Promise of Blood again? Why?

Without a doubt. Strong characters, awesome magic system, and just plain awesome.

Any additional comments?

If you're a fan of Sanderson's work, you'll like this book. The magic system is new and fresh but it still has those element slinging loons in it too. Great characters as well. Guns & Magic = WIN.