Promise of Blood cover art

Promise of Blood

The Powder Mage Trilogy, Book 1

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Promise of Blood

By: Brian McClellan
Narrated by: Christian Rodska
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About this listen

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

Field Marshal Tamas' coup against his king sends corrupt aristocrats to the guillotine and brings bread to the starving. But it also provokes war in the Nine Nations, internal attacks by royalist fanatics and greedy scrambling for money and power by Tamas' supposed allies: the Church, workers' unions, and mercenary forces. Stretched to his limit, Tamas relies heavily on his few remaining powder mages, including the embittered Taniel, a brilliant marksman who also happens to be Tamas' estranged son, and Adamat, a retired police inspector whose loyalty will be tested to its limit.

Now, amid the chaos, a whispered rumour is spreading. A rumour about omens of death and destruction. Just old peasant legends about the gods returning to walk the Earth. No modern educated man believes that sort of thing.… But perhaps they should.

©2013 Brian McClellan (P)2013 Hachette Digital Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Magic Wizardry Magic Users Royalty War
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Good Story brought to life by excellent narration! Loved it. I prefer the audible version to book.

Excellent Narration!

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This book was epic. The story had plenty of magic woven through it but it felt like it was realistically used. The narration was superb. Can’t rate it highly enough. It has a fair amount of violence but I didn’t find it over the top. Probably because it flowed with the story so well.

Bloody brilliant

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I enjoyed it, for a first novel, Brian is going to be awesome. I liked the different ideas and politics and all the hidden plot points going on.

Great, looking forward to the next

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The work of a master storyteller; the large cast is expertly juggled in a way that keeps the audience engaged and enthralled.

Well read to a satisfying conclusion, the actor's performance helps keep track of the cast and moves the story to its gripping climax. I can't wait for the next book of the series.

An engaging world and a compelling cast.

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I have read other books from this Author before and was amazed how I could still be brought into the world of Adro and the 9. Can’t wait to listen to the next one!!!

Really Enjoyable

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Great story, great presentation. So glad book 2 is available. Can't wait to get into it! Christian Rodska gives a masterful reading. Highly recommended.

Bring it on!

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This book has been immensely enjoyable! I really liked that it didn't take too long for action to occur, and the pace just went up and up. At first I thought it might have been a bit overcomplex with the different sorcerer types but it was very well executed. I also don't love stories which mix guns with magic (honestly I'm not sure why) so at first I was a bit hesitant but they're like musket type guns and not the overpowered types which we see today so mixing magic in with it actually worked really well.

The performance was impeccable, seriously! I think this orator is just as good as Steven Pacey.

immersive world and really bloody.

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Unlike a lot of other modern fantasy authors, Brian McClellan isn’t afraid to resolve a situation. This leads to a fast paced read where characters actually accomplish things in the first half of the book, rather than just set things up.

Keep up the good work Brian!

A master class in pacing

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the story is absolutely riveting, right from the first chapter to the last line.
voice acting is on par with the best.
highly recommend

the story is absolutely riveting,

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I loved this book. Action packed from the start to the end with very interesting characters. Loved the magic systems too.
Going to start book 2 now.
Christian Rodska is an excellent narrator too. Great with all the different characters voices.
Highly recommended!

Outstanding story!

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