The Powder Mage trilogy

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The Powder Mage trilogy
Author Brian McClellan
Cover artistGene Mollica
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Fantasy
Publisher Orbit Books (USA)
Published2013–2015
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book
No. of books3
Followed byGods of Blood and Powder

The Powder Magetrilogy is a series of epic 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, as well as an additional trilogy called Gods of Blood and Powder. [3]

Contents

In January 2021, Joseph Mallozzi announced that he would be writing and producing a television series based on the books with No Equal Entertainment and Frantic Films. [4]

Plot and setting

The trilogy primarily takes place in the fictional kingdom of Adro, one of the Nine Kingdoms founded by Kresimir, a semi-mythical figure now worshiped as a deity. At the beginning of Promise of Blood, Field Marshal Tamas has just committed a coup d'etat against Adro's corrupt and ineffective monarchy. The novel then focuses on the efforts of three men and one woman – Tamas, his son Taniel, a soldier, and former police inspector Adamat, as well as the laundress Nila – in the aftermath of the coup, dealing with conspiracies by royalist supporters, war with Adro's neighbors, and an emerging scheme to "summon" Kresimir.

The technology level of the Nine Kingdoms is roughly on par with that of Europe during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods; flintlock firearms are the prevalent weaponry. However, magic is present and its users are usually divided into three classes:

Reception

Promise of Blood

Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review [5] stating: "A thoroughly satisfying yarn that should keep readers waiting impatiently for further installments." [6] Publishers Weekly , in reviewing the book, stated "McClellan neatly mixes intrigue and action..." and gave the book a generally positive review. [7]

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. [8]

The Crimson Campaign

Publishers Weekly referred to the book as a "swirling sequel" [9] and Staffer’s Book Review stated it was "just great fun." [10] Kirkus Reviews gave a more reserved appraisal stating the "book is less relentlessly inventive than the inaugural volume but still impressively distinctive and pungent…". [11]

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. [12]

Books in the series

Eleven novellas and short stories set in the world of The Powder Mage Trilogy were released: [13]

A new trilogy in the series, "Gods of Blood and Powder", was released.

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References

  1. ↑ McClellan, Brian (10 February 2015). The Autumn Republic. ISBN   978-0316219129.
  2. 1 2 David Gemmell Legend Awards, 13 June 2014, retrieved 13 June 2014. "Gemmell Awards 2014 - THE WINNERS! - the David Gemmell Legend Awards". Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
  3. ↑ "All Books".
  4. ↑ White, Peter (January 14, 2021). "'Utopia Falls' Showrunner Joseph Mallozzi To Adapt Fantasy Novels 'Powder Mage' As TV Series With No Equal Entertainment & Frantic Films". Deadline . Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  5. ↑ "PROMISE OF BLOOD | Kirkus Reviews".
  6. ↑ Kirkus Reviews, 15 March 2013, retrieved 4 February 2014.
  7. ↑ Publishers Weekly, 18 March 2013, retrieved 4 February 2014.
  8. ↑ David Gemmell Legend Awards, 19 April 2014, retrieved 20 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Crimson Campaign". Publishers Weekly. December 16, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ "The Crimson Campaign". Kirkus Reviews. January 9, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan « Fantasy-Faction".
  13. ↑ "Powder Mage Series" . Retrieved November 7, 2020.
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