Promise of Blood, Brian McClellan
Promise of Blood, Brian McClellan
20 Rating(s)
List: $38.99 | Sale: $27.30
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Promise of Blood

Author: Brian McClellan

Narrator: Christian Rodska

Unabridged: 19 hr 1 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Orbit

Published: 04/16/2013


Synopsis

"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.

About Brian McClellan

Brian McClellan is an American epic fantasy author from Cleveland, Ohio. He is known for his acclaimed Powder Mage Universe and essays on the life and business of being a writer. Brian now lives on the side of a mountain in Utah with his wife, Michele, where he writes books and nurses a crippling video game addiction.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mark on October 06, 2024

This book took me a while to read - so you might take that to mean it's easily put down. Actually it wasn't really, the main trouble for me was that when I did put it down the bugger vanished. EVERY. TIME. I've never had a book that's such an escape artist. I half-thought the cover might have an ada......more

Goodreads review by Robin on July 31, 2021

First, the caveat: Brian McClellan is a friend. I do not think that affects my review of this book. And as always, I will strive to avoid all spoilers. On my Kindle, this book is 545 pages long and the first book in a trilogy. Although there is obviously more story to come, this volume is a satisfyi......more

Goodreads review by Petrik on May 05, 2017

Buddy read with these Powder Mages: Sarah, Mary & Haifa lurking Promise of Blood, the first book in The Powder Mage trilogy and the debut work of Brian McClellan, Brandon Sanderson’s apprentice is indeed imbued with great promises and it didn’t disappoint. It’s not uncommon for a high fantasy book to......more

Goodreads review by Niki Hawkes on August 10, 2018

There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about Promise of Blood. The best components were the characters. It struck me as profound in several places of the book how damn good McClellan was as creating deep connections between his characters to the point where it felt like reading about real people (......more

Goodreads review by Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews on July 10, 2024

Enjoyable first book in a series that feels like a slightly worse version of "The First Law" by Joe Abercrombie.......more


Quotes

"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


Awards

  • RT Best SciFi & Fantasy Novel
  • David Gemmell Morningstar Award, Best Debut Novel