Don't know what Flintlock Fantasy is? Read Promise of Blood.
I’ve had Brian McClellan’s Promise of Blood (Book 1 of the Powder Mage Trilogy) on my list for years. Magic mystery, kings and revolutions, war and prophecy? What’s not to love? And flintlock fantasy adds a unique twist to the mix, intertwining gunpowder weapons with magic (when epic fantasy usually trends toward medieval technology).
I’m also reading the Powder Mage books in part for research into the genre of flintlock fantasy. It’s no secret I’m writing an epic fantasy series which I’ve identified as a “flintlock climate fantasy.” If I’m to write a good book, though, I need to learn from the greats. I’ve read Sanderson. I’ve read Jemisin. I’ve not yet read McClellan.
And now, I’m quite glad I’ve read McClellan.
Promise of Blood begins with an incredible opening scene the Field Marshal, Tamas, overthrowing the government in Adopest, the capital of of Adro. The scene feels straight out of the French Revolution, and throughout the novel, the parallels to the Enlightenment thinking of France and the liberty (and tyranny) of that Revolution ring true.
Within the first few chapters, we see characters performing incredible feats of magic and sorcery. At first, I was unsure if I would enjoy the world McClellan was building, but by the time I was through the first half of the book, everything began to click.
And then, a character named Mihali enters the scene. I don’t want to spoil much of his story, but let’s just say he can create food out of thin air. And he becomes almost a “Tom Bombadil” type figure in the story, mysterious and wonderful and magnificent in the narrative. It’s not clear at first, but his nature becomes quite pivotal to the overarching plot of the story, and the narrative twists and turns in directions not obvious at first.
When the story begins, you expect a military-war narrative. And it’s there. But the story becomes quite a bit more, with a focus on human nature, lust for power, and the nature of the divine.
If you’re looking for an epic flintlock fantasy and a story quite different from your typical “fantasy” novel, I highly recommend Promise of Blood. It will not disappoint.
Five Stars.