The Powder Mage trilogy
| |
| Author | Brian McClellan |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Gene Mollica |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Orbit Books (USA) |
| Published | 2013–2015 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book |
| No. of books | 3 |
| Followed by | Gods of Blood and Powder |
The Powder Mage trilogy is a series of epic flintlock fantasy novels written by American author Brian McClellan. It consists of the novels Promise of Blood (2013), The Crimson Campaign (2014) and The Autumn Republic (2015).[1] In 2014, Promise of Blood received the Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer.[2] Several short stories and novellas set in the world of The Powder Mage trilogy have been published.[3]
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 resolve 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
Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review[4] stating: "A thoroughly satisfying yarn that should keep readers waiting impatiently for further installments." [5] Publishers Weekly, in reviewing the book, stated "McClellan neatly mixes intrigue and action..." and gave the book a generally positive review.[6]
In 2014, Promise of Blood won the Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer.[2] The book's cover, by Gene Mollica and Michael Frost, was also nominated for the Ravenheart Award for Best Fantasy Book Jacket/Artist.[7]
The Crimson Campaign
Publishers Weekly referred to the book as a "swirling sequel"[8] and Staffer’s Book Review stated it was "just great fun."[9] Kirkus Reviews gave a more reserved appraisal stating the "book is less relentlessly inventive than the inaugural volume but still impressively distinctive and pungent…".[10]
Richard Bray of Fantasy-Faction wrote in his review, "In all, The Crimson Campaign is the rare middle book of a trilogy that actually kicks its pace up a notch. It’s an amazing work, and has the series well-situated for an outstanding finale in The Autumn Republic due out next year.[11]
Books in the series
- Promise of Blood (2013)
- The Crimson Campaign (2014)
- The Autumn Republic (2015)
Eight novellas and short stories set in the world of The Powder Mage Trilogy were released:
- Hope's End (2013)
- The Girl of Hrusch Avenue (2013)
- Forsworn (2014)
- The Face in the Window (2014)
- Servant of the Crown (2014)
- Murder at the Kinnen Hotel (2014)
- Return to Honor (2015)
- The Siege of Tilpur (2015)
Sequel
In May, 2016, McClellan revealed a sequel to the Powder Mage series, entitled Gods of Blood and Powder. The first book, Sins of Empire, was released March 7, 2017.[12]
External links
References
- ^ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autumn-Republic-Powder-Mage-Trilogy/dp/0316219126/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406456193&sr=8-1&keywords=the+autumn+republic
- ^ a b David Gemmell Legend Awards, 13 June 2014, retrieved 13 June 2014. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.brianmcclellan.com/all-books
- ^ https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/brian-mcclellan/promise-of-blood/
- ^ Kirkus Reviews, 15 March 2013, retrieved 4 February 2014. [1]
- ^ Publishers Weekly, 18 March 2013, retrieved 4 February 2014. [2]
- ^ David Gemmell Legend Awards, 19 April 2014, retrieved 20 May 2014. [3]
- ^ "The Crimson Campaign". Publishers Weekly. December 16, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ Landon, Justin (April 29, 2014). "Sworn in Steel by Douglas Hulick and The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan". Staffer’s Book Review. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ "The Crimson Campaign". Kirkus Reviews. January 9, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ http://fantasy-faction.com/2014/the-crimson-campaign-by-brian-mcclellan
- ^ http://www.brianmcclellan.com/blog/release-day