Brian McClellan: Promise of Blood

Hi everyone

Promis of Blood is the first book in The Powder Mage series by Brian McClellan. This series is set before the Gods of Blood and Powder series, which I read (and loved) first. So if you have yet to start Brian McClellan's writing, I suggest you start here. And I suggest starting now because his books are amazing.
I bought this book from Bol.com.

"The Age of Kings is dead . . . and I have killed it.
It's a bloody business overthrowing a king...
Field Marshal Tamas' coup against his king sent corrupt aristocrats to the guillotine and brought bread to the starving. But it also provoked war with the Nine Nations, internal attacks by royalist fanatics, and the greedy to scramble for money and power by Tamas's supposed allies: the Church, workers unions, and mercenary forces.
Stretched to his limit, Tamas is relying heavily on his few remaining powder mages, including the embittered Taniel, a brilliant marksman who also happens to be his estranged son, and Adamat, a retired police inspector whose loyalty is being tested by blackmail.
But when gods are involved...
Now, as attacks batter them from within and without, the credulous are whispering about omens of death and destruction. Just old peasant legends about the gods waking to walk the earth. No modern educated man believes that sort of thing. But they should...
In a rich, distinctive world that mixes magic with technology, who could stand against mages that control gunpowder and bullets?"

Promise of Blood is not a little book (it's not really big either) but it read like one. I was never bored, constantly on the edge of my seat, constantly wanting more, there are no infodumps but you do learn enough about the world, the magicsystems and the characters.
I loved every moment. It's great to get to know the old characters anew (because I read the second series first I mean). We learn about more about Ka-Poel, we see through Tamas' eyes and we get to know him better. Honestly, I enjoyed every character and every storyarc. There weren't too many so you can easily keep them all separatly and because we have multiple POV's you care about them all.
The story is great, there's a lot going on but it's never overwhelming and it stays interesting.

I loved it and I have already ordered the second and third part in the series. 

Happy reading!
Helena