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)

Plunge through first chapters and it'll reward you

As others have stated, the names and milieu and challenging to follow at first. I think a print or ereader version would be easier at first. But after relistening to the first few chapters, it was hard to put down.

Reminds me of a Brandon Sanderson series.

Worth the listen.

What great storytelling skills

Loved the story. Got involved in the characters. Pleasantly surprised by the author's description skills.

I want to go eat squash soup :-)

Excellent

This wasn't easy listen the narrator brought to life the story. I can't wait to listen to the next book in the series.

well written and we'll preformed

It is book about a world with a lot of different magic systems and a group of people that use gun powder to fuel their abilities along with others attempt to hold the world together. It tackles world in peril plot with well developed characters and interesting side plots. Minor swearing but avoids erotica despite chances to throw it in.

good not great

One of the main characters voice is so gravelly its difficult to understand him. There are cool and interesting things going on in the world, but they are almost entirely background events that are not dealt with until the end

Rarely does a book grip me from the beginning

This series had me intrigued from the first few minutes, I am loving it and can't wait for more.

Worth the Effort

This book is long, by at least a third. That said, I enjoyed it.
I agree with several other reviews that the narrator Christian Rodska leaves something to be desired when compared against some of the powerhouse narrators of today. He really did only have a couple of different sounding characters and most do sound like angry old men! Still, give it some time and you get into his rhythm.

I thought the story was very engaging and most of the characters are compelling... I simply think it felt slow and dragged out. I am glad I stuck with it because in the end I completely enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book.

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.

Political Intrigue Meets Bizarre Fantasy

This book delivers on the promise of blood, and if I could have been a character in the book, it would have been as the owner of a funeral home. After the government is overthrown, all former officials and civic leaders had their heads lopped off (Cha-Ching). Next, a civil war breaks out which leads to more burials (as in more Cha-Ching). Then a neighboring country declares war and the bodies pile up (Cha-Ching Cha-Ching).

But, the book is at its best when describing the unusual powers in this fantasy world. Some people sniff gun powder which gives them the power to guide bullets while in flight to hit their target while others use magical gloves to smash buildings. Most unusual was a deity who uses his cooking skills to bend others to his will.

This series got me back into reading

great series. great narrating. great experience. swords, guns, magic system, gods, love, family, politics, drama, mystery.