Ep068 Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan Promise of Blood is the first book of the Powder Mage Trilogy, a work of Gunpowder fantasy where guns coexist with magic. The story follows the events which occur immediately after a successful coup by the military leader Tamas. The book is an amalgam of mystery, adventure, and political … Continue reading Ep068 Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan →

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan

Promise of Blood is the first book of the Powder Mage Trilogy, a work of Gunpowder fantasy where guns coexist with magic. The story follows the events which occur immediately after a successful coup by the military leader Tamas. The book is an amalgam of mystery, adventure, and political fantasy to deliver an enjoyable

Variety of Character and Story Arcs

Tomas and the political drama following the aftermath of the coup: reactionary factions, assassination attempts, disagreeable council members and foreign influences.
Adamat and the mystery story of a secret prophecy.
Taniel and the invading war army.

Narrative Progression

The change of a single setting. Tomas and Adamat spend the story within the capital city, but the setting is not stale. As the story progresses the setting changes: reactionary factions bar off city blocks, an earthquake shakes the city, a strange cook feeds the populace.
The change of setting. Taniel adventures to the border and then to a the temple of the past god.

Character Traits. Utilizing the common character model (possibly defined by Brandon Sanderson) of how a character must not have all three: Capability, Agency, and Likability.

Tomas: high capability, high agency, not very likable.
Adamat: high capability, low agency, high likable.
Taniel: high capability (specifically with war and battle), medium agency (story growth from low to higher), and high likable.

Upcoming Episodes

7/19: Izzy Wasserstein Short Stories:

Pattern Recognition, on Daily Science Fiction
Like Birdsong, the Memory of Your Touch, on Fantasy Magazine
Dead at the Feet of a God, on Beneath Ceaseless Skies

8/2: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
8/16: The Hugo Award Finalists for Short Story