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Promise of Blood
- Narrated by: Christian Rodska
- Length: 19 hrs and 1 min
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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.
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)
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He's not just any thief. He’s the greatest thief of the age - and he’s also a wizard. And with the help of his partners - a swordsman with the most powerful magic sword in the world but no magical ability of his own, and a demonseed who can step through shadows and punch through walls - he’s going to put his plan into effect. The first step is to increase the size of the bounty on his head, so he’ll need to steal some big things. But he’ll start with somethingsmall. Something like a king....
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Entertaining light fantasy
- By Kindle Customer on 02-16-12
By: Rachel Aaron
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The Silvered
- By: Tanya Huff
- Narrated by: Dee Macaluso
- Length: 20 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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The Empire has declared war on the small, were-ruled kingdom of Aydori, capturing five women of the Mage-Pack, including the wife of the were Pack-leader. With the Pack off defending the border, it falls to Mirian Maylin and Tomas Hagen - she a low-level mage, he younger brother to the Pack-leader - to save them. Together the two set out on the kidnappers’ trail, racing into the heart of enemy territory. But with every step the odds against their survival, let alone their success, grow steeper....
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Persevere-- The sample doesn't do it justice!
- By Mindy on 07-31-16
By: Tanya Huff
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Ink and Bone
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- By: Rachel Caine
- Narrated by: Julian Elfer
- Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
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Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly - but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden. Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market.
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don't give up too soon.
- By Janel on 09-11-15
By: Rachel Caine
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The Mirror Empire
- Worldbreaker Saga, Book 1
- By: Kameron Hurley
- Narrated by: Liza Ross
- Length: 17 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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On the eve of a recurring catastrophic event known to extinguish nations and reshape continents, a troubled orphan evades death and slavery to uncover her own bloody past - while a world goes to war with itself. In the frozen kingdom of Saiduan, invaders from another realm are decimating whole cities, leaving behind nothing but ash and ruin.
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Captivating & thrilling
- By Sean Higgins on 09-19-15
By: Kameron Hurley
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The Queen of the Tearling
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- By: Erika Johansen
- Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
- Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Magic, adventure, mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother’s throne, learn to be a ruler - and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress determined to destroy her. On her 19th birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa.
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Volume changed a lot
- By Nik on 12-20-14
By: Erika Johansen
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The Oversight
- By: Charlie Fletcher
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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Once there were hundreds of members of the Oversight, the brave souls who guard the borders between the mundane and the magic. Now there are only five. When a vagabond brings a screaming girl to the Oversight's London headquarters, she could answer their hopes for new recruit, or she could be the instrument of their downfall.
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Fantastic start to a fantasy series
- By jessica on 06-01-14
By: Charlie Fletcher
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Forsworn: A Powder Mage Novella
- By: Brian McClellan
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Erika ja Leora is a powder mage in northern Kez, a place where that particular sorcery is punishable by death. She is only protected by her family name and her position as heir to a duchy. When she decides to help a young commoner-a powder mage marked for death, fugitive from the law-she puts her life and family reputation at risk and sets off to deliver her new ward to the safety of Adro while playing cat and mouse with the king's own mage hunters and their captain, Duke Nikslaus.
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Good short story, subpar narration
- By Derpentine on 04-27-15
By: Brian McClellan
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Night of Knives
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The small island of Malaz and its city gave the great empire its name, but now it is little more than a sleepy, backwater port. Tonight, however, things are different. Tonight the city is on edge, a hive of hurried, sometimes violent activity; its citizens bustle about, barring doors, shuttering windows, avoiding any stranger's stare. Because tonight there is to be a convergence, the once-in-a-generation appearance of a Shadow Moon - an occasion that threatens the good people of Malaz with demon hounds and other, darker things....
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Worth the wait
- By Aran on 06-20-16
By: Ian C. Esslemont
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The Runner
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Story
Drake Sharazi, disgraced former captain of the Royal Guard, has spent the past seven years chasing fugitives as a hawker. He has never failed to complete an assignment, and this new runner will not be an exception. But being able to do a thing does not mean you should. Now he is forced to question the world around him as never before.
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City of Stairs
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Overall
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Story
The city of Bulikov once wielded the powers of the gods to conquer the world, enslaving and brutalizing millions - until its divine protectors were killed. Now Bulikov has become just another colonial outpost of the world's new geopolitical power, but the surreal landscape of the city itself - first shaped, now shattered, by the thousands of miracles its guardians once worked upon it - stands as a constant, haunting reminder of its former supremacy. Into this broken city steps Shara Thivani.
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Something Different
- By Scott S. on 10-17-14
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Among Thieves
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Performance
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Drothe has been a member of the Kin for years, rubbing elbows with thieves and murderers while smuggling relics on the side. But when an ancient book falls into his hands, Drothe finds himself in possession of a relic capable of bringing down emperors - a relic everyone in the underworld would kill to obtain.
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Interesting, different.
- By Chris on 12-13-13
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The Demon King
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The first of a new young adult trilogy, The Demon King features a former thief, Han, who’s trying to provide for his mother and sister. One day Han, who sports mysterious (and certainly magical) silver cuffs on his wrists, confronts wizards setting fire to a sacred mountain. Now possessing one ofthe wizards’ amulets, Han faces more trouble than he ever could have imagined.
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Sooooooo Good!!!!!
- By Sharon on 06-15-13
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Dragonvein, Book One
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Carentan, France, 1944 - Ethan Martin, a soldier in the 101st Airborne, is fighting for his life. But soon he will learn what peril truly is when he is ripped from his world and transported to a land of magic, swords, and dragons. And though the Nazis are now far, far away, danger is closer than ever.
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Interesting Story but very light on in details.
- By Kindle Customer on 07-16-15
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Has a great first half then slowly goes downhill
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Characters drive the story. The Narrator rocks!
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Fonda Lee returns to the acclaimed Green Bone Saga with four prequel short stories that delve into the personal histories of the Kaul and Ayt families.
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Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the South squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North. In the remote villages of Southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving - a test of courage and skill that not all survive. But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war.
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Didn’t expect a “grow up power fantasy”
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What listeners say about Promise of Blood
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- Colleen
- 03-07-19
The misogyny made it hard for me to finish this
I really liked the setting and the story premise. That is why I kept up with it so long. The narration was pretty good, definitely not terrible or annoying but not stunning either.
I found the main characters somewhat flat and often obnoxious.
I got really burnt out on the male POV characters sexualizing every female that crossed their paths, including ones of inappropriate age or relationship, or in otherwise very non-sexual situations. I got tired of the one female POV character's obstacles always being "how do I get out of this without getting raped?" I got annoyed with powerful female characters suddenly becoming incapable when a male character needed to either save them or show he was better than them. I got tired of every random minion threatening to rape the loved ones of the male POV characters.
I should not have finished this book, but I did, and I moved onto the next one, which I quit when a scene started with a male POV character saving a female character that is supposedly one of the most powerful sorcerers in the WORLD from being raped by 5 regular guys.
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- Book Gobbler
- 05-06-15
I LOVED THIS TRILOGY!!!
These books were really up my alley. They were fast paced with a variety of characters that were decent, not so decent and questionable. There was intrigue, betrayal, backstabbing, glory, and loss. Hell, even the battle scenes were good. It was full of action and kept me highly entertained, so much so that I read one book after the other. Usually when I come across such a find I like to savor it, but with these books the desire to know what happened next won out.
The narrator was good for the most part, except some of the younger characters sounded like they were in their sixties. There were some minor issues, but they didn't take away from the story as a whole.
This author is impressive and has an extraordinary imagination. This is a really enjoyable worthwhile series that I highly recommend. I can't wait to read more from him!!!
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- Lore
- 07-10-15
Flintlock fantasy with a solid story arc.
Promise of Blood is "Flintlock Fantasy" and introduces the concept of Powder Mages who are gun using sorcerers that rely on gunpowder to fuel their abilities. Powder Mages can enter a powder trance by ingesting gun powder and then manipulate bullets as they fly or explode any gun powder being carried by enemies. It is a unique magic system and executed pretty well by Brian McClellan. That concept combined with an interesting story arc carry the book and make up for the characters which I found to be a little uninteresting as a whole.
The book starts at the end of a coup led by Field Marshall Tamas, who with his cabal of Powder Mages, has just ousted the King and killed off his cabal of Privileged Sorcerers. A mystery unfolds when each member of the royal cabal utters the same words as they die: "You can't break Kresimir's promise." Tamas calls on Inspector Adamat to help sort out what those words mean and this leads to a story that unfolds over 3 books involving multiple nations, armies, and even gods.
The three main characters are Field Marshall Tamas, Inspector Adamat, and the Field Marshall's son, Taniel Two-Shot. Taniel earned his nickname because as a Powder Mage he is able to shoot two bullets at once to kill two different people. In what is perhaps the most interesting story line in book 1, Taniel is sent off by Tamas to kill the one remaining member of the Royal Cabal who survived the coup. That person is Privileged Borbador, who was raised by Tamas and happens to be Taniel's best friend.
Christian Rodska does a decent job at the narration and seems to be a good fit for the content.
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-08-13
A Promise of Awesome!
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A review of A Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
I enjoyed Brian McClellan's A Promise of Blood. It was a fun read from start to finish. It also perfectly meets the need I've been feeling for a while now. I love epic fantasy, but I feel the swords and sorcery trope is a bit tired. Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty of room for awesome in medieval-based fantasy, but we've been stuck in the dark ages for quite some time. I want to see how wizards deal with the industrial revolution, which is exactly what McClellan does in this book.
What's great about A Promise of Blood, is that most of the bread and butter fantasy tropes are still there, they just have to deal with the upstart middle-class powder mages who have decided that the oligarchic sorcerers have had their turn. In fact if you took, say, the Wheel of Time, and revisited fifty or a hundred years after the events in A Memory of Light, you'd basically have A Promise of Blood. It basically has the same back story - way back when the sorcerers did stuff that makes today's elite look like children; the sorcerers can manipulate the classical elements; the sorcerers and kings have all the power and most of the wealth. There's even the threat of gods returning to wreak havoc on mere mortals' best laid plans.
But the times, they are a changing, thanks to Field Marshal Tamas and his cabal of powder mages, who ingest gunpowder and can manipulate bullets, whether that be bouncing them around corners or sniping someone from several miles away. And McClellan definitely delivers on his promise. Overthrowing the King and all the nobility can be a messy affair, and you can bet that the neighboring monarchs aren't thrilled that Tamas killed god's chosen king. Their own subjects might get ideas, after all.
I thought McClellan did a good job choosing his viewpoint characters. The story is told through the eyes of the General and interim dictator, his son, the common soldier, a middle-class investigator, and a laundress of one of the erstwhile noble families. I'm not giving names because I listened to the Audiobook and don't know how to spell anyone's name. I felt that giving us these different viewpoints lets us really feel the impact of all these social changes. Plus, the legion of secondary characters are also well-rounded and add to the depth.
As a note on the Audiobook, Christian Rodska does an excellent job narrating. He really gets into almost acting out the dialog instead of merely reading it.
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- Krista
- 09-17-17
Needs Some Polishing, But Has Great Potential
Honestly, it was really hard for me to get into this book. I wouldn't have finished it if the reviewers here hadn't have said it gets good about 2/3 into the story. They were right! The last third is quite exciting and worth the read. There's a fun story here. There's just a few issues that prevented me from fully enjoying it.
My first complaint is the writing style. It lacks polish. The pacing is all over the place. The chapters felt disjointed. Some parts were so rushed I was confused as to what happened. Other parts were so slow I was bored to tears.
The magic system is creative, but never explained very well. I often struggled to understand what was going on. I felt the collection of the three kinds of magic (Powder Mages, Knacked, Privileged) was very random. With so much variety, it felt like pretty much any kind of magic can happen in this world.
Adding to the confusion, there's a lot of side characters to keep track of. I honestly didn't know who was who until the end of the book.
The character development isn't particularly strong. The characters lack depth and I struggled to connect with them. Adamat is pretty boring. Taniel is a generic hero with a touch of daddy issues. Tamas is so grouchy that I didn't like him at first. As I got to know him better though, he really grew on me. He is perhaps the most complex character in the book. Ka-Poel really intrigued me and I hope to see more of her.
Okay, complaints aside, everything starts to come together in the final third of the book. This is when I felt like I was finally understanding all the different characters and events and how they were adding to the larger story. The pacing smooths out for an enjoyable ride building up to an exciting climax (albeit with an slightly abrupt ending). I enjoyed the last third so much it nearly made up for the slog of the first two thirds.
I guess overall I thought this book was flawed, but with great potential. I hear the next book improves a lot on this one, so I am excited to continue.
Christian Rodska did a poor job as narrator. He made several of the characters sound like grouchy old men. This made it hard to like the characters and distinguish them from one another. I nearly returned the book because this was so obnoxious. Also, his heavy accent made it hard to understand some words.
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- Allens
- 05-05-14
Wonderful Fantasy set in Napoleonic-Era style tecn
I'm sick and tired of nobles, kings, emperors, dukes, lords, and knights. It looks like Brian McClellan feels the same way.
The narration was fantastic. Christian Rodska usually does great and this is no exception.
Main components are as follows:
* Oliver Cromwell style protagonist. "The age of kings is dead" indeed.
* Magic Musketeers, or "Powder Mages." They're super interesting and fun.
* Old Magic/Feudalism vs. New Magic/New Technology
* Frontiersman + Native Tribeswoman ala French/Indian war style groups.
* Old Gods and Ancient wizard creatures.
The Characters feel real and realized, the plot is interesting and fun, and the ending is satisfying and a good setup for the next book in the series.
Give it a try! :)
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- Michael
- 04-13-14
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Here in New Orleans, one of the most passionate pursuits of its citizens is cuisine, and that's no surprise. In this wonderful city of diverse cultures and rich history, that's a given. Some of the very best dining in the world is served up right here, day in and day out. From the very first glass of wine, to the final napkin to the lips, the meal's presentation and it combination of flavors and aromas ARE the event, and set the evening's pace for conversation, enjoyment and celebration. And all of this begins with the preparation of the ingredients. Whether it's a fried shrimp po-boy with a col-drink down in da "Ninet Ward", to a five-star evening of fine dining at Commander's Palace, it's all the same: Preparation and presentation.
You know where I'm headed with this, don't you?
A great story, like any good meal, takes detailed preparation and solid presentation for a memorable experience. The table must be set, and the greater the destination, the bigger the table, the better prepared. Otherwise, the evening is ruined.
And in "Promise of Blood,", McClellan has all the makings of a experienced chef. Think alternate colonial historical fantasy - Sort of a musket, pike and magical story that might have been. One that can be a bit overwhelming at first. You'll need to listen very closely to this audiobook, because you're thrust into the story immediately - A royal coup by the military, right in the first few minutes. Done. Over. And the military is mopping up. So you don't have a lot of time to acclimate.
And it's a well-thought, rich world, full of deeply defined characters, diverse story lines worth your pursuit, a magic system both smart and sensical, and a helping of political/historical machiavellian mayhem that sweetens the meal. The dialogue is believable and doesn't meander. McClellan also does a fabulous job of suspending disbelief, which is so essential for an author to accomplish within the journey, In such an ambitious undertaking, all these positives come together for a very, very good listen.
The narrator is solid, but I want more from Rodska in the second novel, to step up his game, if you will. He can add much more to an already good effort, and I'm expecting improvement the next time around.
If you read my reviews, you'll note that I do NOT give spoilers or plot lines - There are countless other reviewers that will do that for you. This is a fantastic meal that doesn't need anyone to throw leftovers at you to get your attention.
This meal has been well-prepared and the presentation is excellent.
Please step up - Your meal is prepared. Your table awaits.
Bon Appétit!
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- Marlene
- 04-22-13
Best debut novel in many years!
Do not miss out on this book! It is a fantasy book about believable people, idealism warring with necessities. The magical system is fresh and inventive. And to top it off you get to laugh out loud now and then. One of the best books (if not the best) I have listened to.
Christian Rodska is awesome as a narrator. He is one of the best!
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- chris
- 08-27-16
great book
I appologize in advance for not leaving a more detailed review. I appreciate the more thorough reviewers when i try to decide to buy a book, but thats not what you're going to get here.
Bottom line, it's a great read and I was downloading the sequel as soon as the narrator said the word Epilogue.
The main advice I have is not to let the civil war/gunpowder era setting discourage you like it did me. I had to remember how much I loved Sandersons Alloy of Law etc to realize that i could appreciate a somewhat more modernized application of a magic system if it is done well. And this story certainly delivers.
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- Phil Thorn
- 07-24-15
Just couldn't get past the narration
I've never read Brian McClellan previously and purchased this on a friend's suggestion. They obviously read the paper version so were able to get into the story. I on the other hand grabbed the audio version and after suffering a mere 5 chapters had to quit.
The narrator, while eloquent, was a one trick pony that only had one character trait - "crotchety old man"
Every character sounded to similar and equally angry to the point of not giving me a chance to get attached to any of them.
Given time I may give McClellan a second chance and buy the physical book but for now I'll pass.
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