Book Review: "Promise of Blood" by Brian McClellan

The Age of Kings is dead . . . and I have killed it.

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... - from Amazon.com

I found this book on several lists of Fantasy books due out this year that were well expected. Needless to say, it did not fail! McClellan has taken the black-powder weapon era, added a few touches of magic, to create a world of Powder Mages, that use their magical ability with the use of black powder. Add into the mix some Knacked (similar to a hedge-witch) a few Privileged (regular wizards), the Predeii (powerful sorcerers), and a God or few, you have a wonderful story revolving around a coup, some romance, and a lot of revenge.

Trying to find a particular part of the story, or writing style, to expand upon, nothing jumps out at me, to use as an example. I got swept into the story line from the first page, and the following pages did not leave me feeling like it slowed down at all. There are at least four (all intertwined somewhat) that McClellan uses to move the story along, with some nice twists I did not expect. Character development was on-going throughout the story, leaving me hoping for maybe some additional background or future short story (or stories) of certain characters history of previous years.

Having heard nothing but good things about this book, I started with a bit of trepidation as to whether I would agree or not. Many books that have good reviews don't always satisfy my guidelines, but not 'Promise of Blood'. Of course, one of my regrets in reading this, is that there are to be at least two additional novels, which at this time have no expected release date. Brian McClellan is definitely an author I will be watching for not just only the additional books to this series, but hopefully, other future works as well.

Update: Actually the next book is slated for February 2014 called 'The Crimson Campaign'.