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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Very entertaining if a bit generic. The guns and powder mages are the most unique and interesting part
A fantasy world set in the Napoleonic era of technology? An original and awesome magic system that involves guns? An imaginative world that has everything fantasy world needs? Brilliant characters? Steady pacing and an awesome plot?
All of this screams Yes for someone like me who absolutely loves fantasy and has been away from an actually proper good fantasy series for too long. Recently, I have read a fair share of dystopia’s after loving [b: Legend|9275658|Legend (Legend, #1)|Marie Lu|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501368160s/9275658.jpg|14157512], including more of Aveyard(which was a disaster and Patrick Ness’s awesome Chaos Walking series. The last time that I read proper fantasy was Brett’s Demon Cycle and I only thoroughly liked his first book, so I guess I can pray that book 2, [b: The Crimson Campaign|17608111|The Crimson Campaign (Powder Mage, #2)|Brian McClellan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1363102695s/17608111.jpg|24566794] will be equally as good or even better than this book was.
This awesome piece of fantasy was actually on my did not finish shelf and it has been pretty much exactly one year since I dropped this book. Frankly I don’t even remember why, but I think that I was more eager to read other things and it was around that time that I did get into Erikson’s Malazan series, so… blame that.
The Napoleonic Era is one of my favourite periods in history and having a entire fantasy series based on that time frame is just freaking fantastic. Also, to be fair, I have been reading too much YA where all the characters are in their early/late teens which often brings a fair bit of immaturity that sometimes might not feel right in the situation. This book does not have any of that. In fact, many of the main characters are leaning towards old age, but that does not make them any less energetic, but rather means that they understand how to go about things through this thing called experience, which I often find YA characters lacking. Look at Mare or Ruby for crying out loud. Right of the bat, we have an execution that resembles the French Revolution that leads to a full blown war with Adro’s powerful neighbour, the Kez which has an army that outnumbers them, I kidd you not, outnumbers them five to one. This led me to search up a world map to find that Adro is in fact the smallest country in all of the Nine(the main countries in this world that is largely based of Europe) while Kez looks like it would be able to steam through it.
This books has tons of plotting, political intrigue and there is no one that is necessarily good or bad, people who do things for their gain perhaps, or bad leaders, but not people who want to destroy the world. This only makes me like the book more as there is no one specific ‘bad’ guy but a number of people plotting and trying to seek the advantage.
If the rest of this trilogy is as good as this book was, as I literally can not find anything wrong with the characters, world or pacing in this book, then this will be sure to be a new favourite of mine. 10/10
All of this screams Yes for someone like me who absolutely loves fantasy and has been away from an actually proper good fantasy series for too long. Recently, I have read a fair share of dystopia’s after loving [b: Legend|9275658|Legend (Legend, #1)|Marie Lu|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501368160s/9275658.jpg|14157512], including more of Aveyard(which was a disaster and Patrick Ness’s awesome Chaos Walking series. The last time that I read proper fantasy was Brett’s Demon Cycle and I only thoroughly liked his first book, so I guess I can pray that book 2, [b: The Crimson Campaign|17608111|The Crimson Campaign (Powder Mage, #2)|Brian McClellan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1363102695s/17608111.jpg|24566794] will be equally as good or even better than this book was.
This awesome piece of fantasy was actually on my did not finish shelf and it has been pretty much exactly one year since I dropped this book. Frankly I don’t even remember why, but I think that I was more eager to read other things and it was around that time that I did get into Erikson’s Malazan series, so… blame that.
The Napoleonic Era is one of my favourite periods in history and having a entire fantasy series based on that time frame is just freaking fantastic. Also, to be fair, I have been reading too much YA where all the characters are in their early/late teens which often brings a fair bit of immaturity that sometimes might not feel right in the situation. This book does not have any of that. In fact, many of the main characters are leaning towards old age, but that does not make them any less energetic, but rather means that they understand how to go about things through this thing called experience, which I often find YA characters lacking. Look at Mare or Ruby for crying out loud. Right of the bat, we have an execution that resembles the French Revolution that leads to a full blown war with Adro’s powerful neighbour, the Kez which has an army that outnumbers them, I kidd you not, outnumbers them five to one. This led me to search up a world map to find that Adro is in fact the smallest country in all of the Nine(the main countries in this world that is largely based of Europe) while Kez looks like it would be able to steam through it.
This books has tons of plotting, political intrigue and there is no one that is necessarily good or bad, people who do things for their gain perhaps, or bad leaders, but not people who want to destroy the world. This only makes me like the book more as there is no one specific ‘bad’ guy but a number of people plotting and trying to seek the advantage.
If the rest of this trilogy is as good as this book was, as I literally can not find anything wrong with the characters, world or pacing in this book, then this will be sure to be a new favourite of mine. 10/10
A very good story. There were a couple of predictable moments but the story and the characters kept me very highly invested. The magic system is very strong and it's nice to see characters that have flaws. There were some frustrating moments when characters seemed to act out of character just so they could be where they needed to be, but again, the story worked for me.
That was a solid book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series (except the final book hasn't even been published yet).
It starts with a military coup. It's set in a world with black powder rifles and some early steam power engines. There's also a very interesting magical system. Privileged, the typical sorcerers, use special rune covered white gloves to touch the "Ether" and channel their power. There are also Magebreakers, who have the ability to touch the ether but have consciously pushed it away, making them immune to magic. Then there are the Powder Mages, who can use gunpowder to sharpen their senses, guide bullets perfectly, etc. The Powder Mages are in some ways the only non-Privileged able to defeat a Privileged. The Knacked are another interesting concept - they don't have access to power like the Privileged or Powder Mages, but have a special talent (perfect memory, no need to sleep, etc.)
There are nine kingdoms. All have a cabal of Privileged to protect the kings. Not all allow Powder Mages to live. We only really learn about two of these kingdoms. We do learn that they were all created by the god Kresimir, and 9 of his siblings. Only Kresimir is considered to be a god.
The coup, and the death of king of Adro, sets off a series of events. The book follows several POVs, including the leader of the coup, Field Marshall Tamas; his son Taniel; Adamat, an investigator hired by Tamas; Nila, a laundress to one of the noble families that are executed during the coup. Nila's storyline is the weakest of these, but I'm assuming she'll come into play more in the next books.
This is a very promising series, and I'm hoping that McClellan just gets better and better with every new book he publishes.
It starts with a military coup.
Spoiler
It ends with the return of a god.There are nine kingdoms. All have a cabal of Privileged to protect the kings. Not all allow Powder Mages to live. We only really learn about two of these kingdoms. We do learn that they were all created by the god Kresimir, and 9 of his siblings. Only Kresimir is considered to be a god.
The coup, and the death of king of Adro, sets off a series of events. The book follows several POVs, including the leader of the coup, Field Marshall Tamas; his son Taniel; Adamat, an investigator hired by Tamas; Nila, a laundress to one of the noble families that are executed during the coup. Nila's storyline is the weakest of these, but I'm assuming she'll come into play more in the next books.
This is a very promising series, and I'm hoping that McClellan just gets better and better with every new book he publishes.
The story is okay.
However it is much like reading much of history or mythology (standard versions). You know women are there, and statistically speaking, there must have been strong women too, but apparently, the POV of a woman is either irrelevant, invisible, off screen or beneath notice.
I don't see why I should continue reading for that. I have enough of internalised misogyny as it is.
However it is much like reading much of history or mythology (standard versions). You know women are there, and statistically speaking, there must have been strong women too, but apparently, the POV of a woman is either irrelevant, invisible, off screen or beneath notice.
I don't see why I should continue reading for that. I have enough of internalised misogyny as it is.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Excellent start to an imaginative series, and maybe I focused over-much on where I would take the story rather than on where the story actually goes. The series his well worth reading for fans of military fantasy as well as those seeking more political (Game of Thrones) type fantasy.
This was a good plot concept but the characters were poorly drawn, not much depth to any of them
For whatever reason, this book didn't grab me. I had to struggle to get through it a bit.
Still, interesting world building, and I'll probably read sequels.
Still, interesting world building, and I'll probably read sequels.
Very good looking forward to the next book. Very original!!
First impression after just finshing this novel by Brian McClellan was "what a fun read". Anyone who is a fan of epic fantasy needs to pick this one up.
For those who enjoy this genre, you pretty much know what to expect when you start reading a new epic fantasy series, action, intrigue and lots of battles in a good vs. evil type of story. Brian McClellan has included all of that in the Powder Mage series but he doesn't stop there, powerful sorcerers (Privileged), Powder Mages with power over (and from) gunpowder (Marked) and others with many different individual powers (Knacked). Throw in rifles, pistols and the odd assorted God and you have the beginning of a new type of epic fantasy that I might call "weapons and wizardy". Great world building and interesting characters that will keep you entralled all the way through and wanting more.
5 stars for one of the best original stories I have read in some time. All fantasy fans are going to want to read this one.
For those who enjoy this genre, you pretty much know what to expect when you start reading a new epic fantasy series, action, intrigue and lots of battles in a good vs. evil type of story. Brian McClellan has included all of that in the Powder Mage series but he doesn't stop there, powerful sorcerers (Privileged), Powder Mages with power over (and from) gunpowder (Marked) and others with many different individual powers (Knacked). Throw in rifles, pistols and the odd assorted God and you have the beginning of a new type of epic fantasy that I might call "weapons and wizardy". Great world building and interesting characters that will keep you entralled all the way through and wanting more.
5 stars for one of the best original stories I have read in some time. All fantasy fans are going to want to read this one.