Promise of Blood

By: Brian McClellan

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

In this thrilling first book of the Powder Mage Trilogy, civil unrest has crippled 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.

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.

Critic reviews

"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

"Brian McClellan is an explosive powder keg of imagination with an expertly-plotted fuse. The stories he tells are the stories we'll be reading for years to come."—Sam Sykes on Promise of Blood

"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)

"McClellan's debut packs some serious heat...A thoroughly satisfying yarn that should keep readers waiting impatiently for further installments."—Kirkus (Starred Review)

"McClellan's debut is a lot of fun --- a historically influenced fantastical romp filled with machismo, intrigue and magic."—SciFi Now (UK)

"McClellan neatly mixes intrigue and action...in a society where new forces like labor unions, gunpowder-armed soldiers, and explosion-causing 'powder mages' clash with traditional magics, more, and beliefs."—Publishers Weekly

"Gunpowder and magic. An explosive combination. Promise of Blood is the best debut I've read in ages."—Peter V. Brett

"I love the world Brian McClellan builds, Powder Mages with flintlock pistols against white-gloved Privileged for the fate of a nation and more. Promise of Blood feels like the start of something amazing."—Django Wexler

A Three-Star Book Bumped Up by a Compelling Finish

There are some interesting worldbuilding aspects in this book, alongside a compelling character or two, but I thought the vast majority of it was rather "meh." I had a hard time caring about the characters, and most of them were not particularly nuanced in any way that made them interesting. That being said, the book ends with a devil of a cliffhanger that promises some fun stuff in the future, so I'll probably go for book two.

Interesting world, good characters, engaging

An immersive world with engaging characters. Interesting conflict and told from compelling character perspectives.

I enjoyed it and will look for the next book.

could have been better.

the plot is good but the focus of the story is not so good. there is no explanation about the powder magery. no explanation how the villains are working. no explanation what or how the savage girl is doing. All the focus is on protagonist Thomas who is a weak character, and other than just worrying, he is not doing anything the entire time. a leader without resolve. freed a country but not doing anything to run it. neither fortifies the defense of the country even after hearing the warning that the neighboring country is planning to attack, nor tries to increase security inside the country. dismisses everything he hears about the villain outright as superstition in an era of magic. in theory he is very powerful but in reality he gets captured again and again, ambushed again and again. what i mean is, he didn't have any characteristics of a good leader. Not sure how he became the commander of the military. also 80 percent of the book, he is battling his own dilemma. if someone is this conflicted before starting a coup that makes sense but after starting a coup should have had more foresight and resolve to see things thru. while the protagonist is battling his dilemma and worrying how he can be betrayed or taken down, by that time all the important events are happening without any focus on it from the writer.
All in all I like the plot, gives an idea how the society would have been when monarchy was going out of business. How desperate the lords were to cling to power etc. but the writing is not so great. Other than the detailed account of the worrying of the protagonist, nothing else was explained. Could have been a lot better.
The narrator is good. not a lot of range like the number one narrators but still good.

Awesome new series!

I knew when my friend said this was a new fantasy series that I would enjoy, that I wouldn’t be disappointed. Great story, character development, and the narrator was amazing.

I'm caught.

If you could sum up Promise of Blood in three words, what would they be?

gunpowder magic awesome

Which character – as performed by Christian Rodska – was your favorite?

Taniel

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

Got me hooked early on, kept me hooked, and finally reeled me in. Can't get enough of this series/universe.