Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Promise of Blood cover art

Promise of Blood

By: Brian McClellan
Narrated by: Christian Rodska
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Forsworn: A Powder Mage Novella cover art
Of Blood and Fire cover art
The Shadow of What Was Lost cover art
New Spring cover art
The Mad Lancers cover art
Montego cover art
Heroes Die cover art
The Will of the Many cover art
A Perfect Shadow [Dramatized Adaptation] cover art
Dead Irish cover art
The Malevolent Seven cover art
The Ninth Rain cover art
Child of a Mad God cover art
The Black Company cover art
The Emperor's Blades cover art
The Captain cover art

Summary

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

What listeners say about Promise of Blood

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    591
  • 4 Stars
    291
  • 3 Stars
    79
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    7
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    632
  • 4 Stars
    206
  • 3 Stars
    44
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    506
  • 4 Stars
    273
  • 3 Stars
    83
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    10

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A great mix of fantasy with gunpowder

I read a number of Brian McClellan's short stories before I committed to his main work. I really enjoyed them and had good expectations for this book. I was not let down.

The book is a mix of Napoleonic era war with fantasy magic. The mix worked fairly well, but there was always that nagging feeling if some of these magic users were that powerful, why hadn't they dominated.

The story itself has a little bit of historical warfare, investigation and betrayal, and epic magic battles. There are three main point of view characters, and while these are interesting characters - some of the better ones were the supporting ones (reading the shorts expands on these a little).

One of the short stories focused on Vlora, and I was expecting a lot more of her in this book - she hardly appeared. I felt that this part of the story was weak, and hopefully it will be expanded in the next book.

Sometime I felt a little lost as the book would sometimes jump a little to get to the next portion of the story. Nothing major, just took a couple of chapters for me to work this out.

I listened to the Audiobook. The production was excellent, as I would expect from new releases now. I did feel that some of the characters seemed a little out of place - but that could just be me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fast paced and full of action - a great debut


A great debut from Brandon Sanderson’s pupil, but it still has some areas for improvement.

Story – 4/5

As far as debuts go, this is excellent. The entire story is told smoothly, and there is never any confusion as to what is happening. Considering the story is action packed and full of plot and intrigue, this is quite an achievement.

As Brandon Sanderson’s pupil, it is easy to see some minor influences, especially around the magic system. It is still excellent and unique, but you can tell that BM followed the same set of rules.

The story appears to have been influenced by the French Revolution (late 18th/early 19th centuries), with single shot, gunpowder weaponry, a coup to overthrow the monarchy due to corruption and poverty, and public guillotine executions. It is a shame that this was only really prominent in the opening sequence though.

The largest area for improvement In BM’s writing is in the characterisation. Although the well told epic action more than made up for this element; death, sadness and fear just didn’t have the same devastating impact as it could have.


Performance – 4/5

Christian Rodska is an excellent narrator. His ability to convey the mood of the scenes and voice acting are flawless. Each character had a distinctly recognisable voice, and the female voice acting wasn’t overdone at all.

There were occasions in the production where the chapters and paragraphs didn’t run smoothly into each other. It was only occasionally, and didn’t detract too much, but towards the end when the scenes were switching back and forth, it meant I needed to concentrate a little more.

Overall – 4/5

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • El
  • 26-06-14

A slow burning fuse that explodes to life

What made the experience of listening to Promise of Blood the most enjoyable?

I was apprehensive about a fantasy with magic and gunpowder.
But was pleasantly surprised by this book.
The book has comedy, battles, relationship troubles, and even a dollop of detective work going on. A mixture of all of these is what I like about this book.

What did you like best about this story?

Isn't this the same question as above
Oh well
I'd say the magic system is very well thought out and it's nice to see that more authors are trying to explain how the magic works in a more scientific way.

What does Christian Rodska bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I feel he does a great job with the characters voices.
And it would have taken me longer to read it myself as I listen on the way to work.
I do admit I have read some of the novella and now hear mr rodska's voices for the characters.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No I'm not one to cry at books
But laugh? Oh yes
Don't get me wrong this isn't a comedy like something by Pratchett.
But the humour is there in a more realistic tone

Any additional comments?

This book get compared to sanderson's mistborn trilogy
Well it's not as polished not is it as intricately written,
bit that's not to say it isn't a great read.
The characters are strong and most are the type you care enough if they die.
Even though some seem to have a substance abuse problem (ie the gun powder)
I think the series will only get stronger and recommend that you give it a fair crack.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing story. Good narrator

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

a better story and better writing.

What was most disappointing about Brian McClellan’s story?

The writing is poor, characters dull and uninteresting. People are heard to grind their teeth on several occasions- seriously?
As the plot developed I was left thinking that almost anything could happen to help the good guys out of trouble- and it often did.
I'm glad many people have liked it - judging some other reviews here but I honestly cannot understand why some are so positive.

What about Christian Rodska’s performance did you like?

Great variety and characterisation in his voices

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Promise of Blood?

I think it beyond repair.

Any additional comments?

Strange mix of detective story, swords and sorcery(ish) and political intrigue- but unfortunately not well handled.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Slow start - engaging toward the end

Struggled with the characters at first - seemed like a lot with very similar names. However, as the book went on I engaged with the characters more and the development of the "magical" powers meant that everything started to make more sense.

Humourous at points with some great lead characters. Mixed with a good dash of action, magic and gore, a book that has drawn me in to listening to the rest of the trilogy

Narration is good with consistent accents but the narrator has too much of mature voice for some of the younger characters in the book. That being said, the mix of accents and "classes" was very good and I would be happy to listen Christian Rodska again

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, stellar narration!

The author has a fine skill in painting different characters, from the war-like Powder Mages, the devious Privileged, the cerebral Investigator, to the timid Laundress. As the story continues, you see new sides of each of these, all played out in an outstanding adventure tale. The use of magic is secondary to the story line, this is mostly character and action-driven. I really enjoyed the adventures, the plot turns, and I look forward with great anticipation to reading the next in the series.

The narration in this book is amazing. All the different voices, both men and women, are voiced in their own distinct tones and accents. Especially fine are the timid laundress Nyla, and the general's down-to-earth bodyguard Ollem. The quality of narration takes this book from a great tale to an outstanding one!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Sorry, the wrong mixture fails to ignite for me.

After a great streak of Audible listens (Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, Luke Scull) this one just flopped for me. In fact I've just given it up, about 60% through.
It has all the indregients expected but I'm afraid the powder just didn't spark for me. I found myself not caring in the least for any of the characters, not due to them being "ambiguous", as is the norm these days, but just because I found them uninteresting. I could not imagine that I'd want to read (or listen) to the next 2 parts of the trilogy. I'd rather read a Sharpe novel....
No problem with the production or narration, both first-class.
Mabe it's just me - I haven't continued with Pat Rothfuss' series either which everybody seems to love, though I'll happily reread Abercrombie, Scott Lynch and of course GRRM (which almost goes without saying) again & again.
I'd advise you to pickup one of the afore-mentioned authors' books instead.
Sorry Brian....

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Totally different.

What made the experience of listening to Promise of Blood the most enjoyable?

The rich characters, such as Adamat and Tomas.

What did you like best about this story?

It's almost a french revolutionary fantasy. I liked the sub plots with the investigator Adamat, working in the background and there always seemed to be some threat around the next corner.

What does Christian Rodska bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He reads this well and puts colour into the characters, especially Tomas.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

None

Any additional comments?

A different kind of fantasy, better than i expected, will read the next one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Promise of blood

Starts off a little confusing, the setting is obviously well thought out but it took a while to have everything explained (where Adro is, what is the nine, who are the cabals etc.) as if the listener should already know about the world and characters, but after a couple of chapters all these questions are answered. The characters are well written and the story was absolutely gripping and builds up to a massive finish. Can't wait to start the next book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Napoleon+Abercrombie+Gemmell = Promise of Blood

What did you like most about Promise of Blood?

Plenty of action. It dives straight into the action and introduces two main characters within the first few chapters. Like Abercrombie it deals with political and trade events as well as magical and military. Unlike Abercrombie it as a few sympathetic characters that the reader roots for. Like David Gemmell the participants have their flaws and weaknesses but they struggle to overcome their hamartia for the greater good.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Adamat the dogged ex policeman. Skillful, dogged and principled. With the loyal sidekick pugilist SouSmith by his side he seeks to uncover a series of mysteries whilst protecting his family from the uncertainties of blackmailers and life after a revolution.

What does Christian Rodska bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

A great reading. This series as a huge sprawling cast and Rodska (as ever)imbues each one with an easily recognisable voice. Awesome narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

At 20 hours you'd need insomnia or a lot of coffee!

Any additional comments?

The first book of the Powder Mages whilst not being a game changing fantasy gives the reader/listener more than enough hooks to keep the reader interested. I bought the whole trilogy to see how things pan out for Tamis, Taniel and Adamat.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful