Promise of Blood

In the tumultuous aftermath of revolution, Adro finds itself on the brink of chaos. "Promise of Blood," the gripping first installment of the Powder Mage Trilogy by Brian McClellan, plunges readers into a world where freedom's price is steep and bloody. Field Marshal Tamas has toppled a king, sending corrupt aristocrats to the guillotine and feeding the starving masses. Yet, this coup has ignited a war with the Nine Nations and unleashed internal strife as royalist zealots and opportunistic allies—the Church, labor unions, and mercenaries—vie for control. Amidst the turmoil, Tamas leans on a select few: his estranged son Taniel, a gifted powder mage and marksman, and Adamat, a retired inspector ensnared by blackmail. As threats loom from every direction, whispers of ancient gods awakening circulate, dismissed by the educated as mere superstition. But in a world where the lines between myth and reality blur, ignoring such omens could be deadly. Winner of the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut Fantasy, "Promise of Blood" weaves a tale of magic, betrayal, and resilience. Dive into a realm where power is tangible, and the fate of nations hangs by a thread.