Promise of Blood

Promise of Blood

Cover of first edition (hardcover)
Author Brian McClellan
Cover artist Gene Mollica and Michael Frost
Country United States
Language English
Series The Powder Mage trilogy
Genre fantasy
Publisher Orbit Books
Publication date
 16 April 2013
Media type Print (hardcover & paperback)
Pages 545 pp
ISBN 978-0-316-21903-7
Followed by The Crimson Campaign

Promise of Blood is the first book[1] in The Powder Mage trilogy written by American author Brian McClellan. It was first published by Orbit Books in 2013.[2] A sequel titled The Crimson Campaign was released on May 6, 2014.[3] It won the 2014 Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer.[4]

Plot

At the beginning of Promise of Blood, Field Marshal Tamas has just committed a brutal coup against Adro's monarchy. When he kills every single member of the Royal Cabal, they all utter the same mysterious phrase: "You can't break Kresimir's Promise".

Adamat, a former police inspector who is now a private investigator, is asked by Tamas to help solve the mystery. Meanwhile, Tamas is busy with purging the country's nobility and struggling to maintain peace during the inevitable civil war.

Taniel, Tamas's son and a talented powder mage who is able to consume gunpowder to give himself supernatural powers, is given the task to hunt down an uncommonly powerful member of the Royal Cabal who managed to escape during the coup. Soon it becomes clear that overthrowing the monarchy was just the beginning.

Reception

Promise of Blood was well received by reviewers, one commenting, "With strong characters, a unique magic system, and a compelling story that looks to just be getting started, Promise of Blood is, hands down, my favourite read of the year. Brian McClellan has written an instant classic and will be hard pressed to top what he has already written.

Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review[5] stating: "A thoroughly satisfying yarn that should keep readers waiting impatiently for further installments." [6] Publishers Weekly, in reviewing the book, stated "McClellan neatly mixes intrigue and action..." and gave the book a generally positive review.[7]

In 2014, Promise of Blood won the Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer.[8] The book's cover, by Gene Mollica and Michael Frost, was also nominated for the Ravenheart Award for Best Fantasy Book Jacket/Artist.[9]

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.brianmcclellan.com/books/promiseofblood/
  2. ↑ http://www.orbitbooks.net/2013/04/16/powder-mage-trilogy-begins/
  3. ↑ http://www.brianmcclellan.com/books-2/the-crimson-campaign/
  4. ↑ David Gemmell Legend Awards, 13 June 2014, retrieved 13 June 2014.
  5. ↑ https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/brian-mcclellan/promise-of-blood/
  6. ↑ Kirkus Reviews, 15 March 2013, retrieved 4 February 2014.
  7. ↑ Publishers Weekly, 18 March 2013, retrieved 4 February 2014.
  8. ↑ David Gemmell Legend Awards, 13 June 2014, retrieved 13 June 2014.
  9. ↑ David Gemmell Legend Awards, 19 April 2014, retrieved 20 May 2014.
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