I have always been more of a Sci-Fi reader than a Fantasy person, but I am unequivocally a fan of Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage Trilogy.
As befits the name of “The Powder Mage Trilogy," there are magic users with the ability to manipulate gun powder and bullets. If you’ve ever seen the movie Wanted with Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy where they learn to curve bullets around stuff and assassinate people, it’s like that, only much better because there are other kinds of magic, a well fleshed-out fantasy world, and a full-blown revolution going on.
The first book, Promise of Blood, follows multiple protagonists: Tamas, the Field Marshal that launched a bloody coup. Taniel, his estranged son and tremendously powerful powder mage. And Adamat, a retired police detective.
When authors talk about starting a work in media res (in the middle of things), this is the kind of book you expect to get. I don’t want to spoil the story’s opening, but it’s a good one. You instantly empathize with Adamat, the first POV character we meet. From there, we jump into the in-progress coup and all of its disastrous consequences. It turns out that when you murder the royal family all the other royals from nearby countries get really mad and invade you.
Chaos ensues, throwing the main characters into a desperate war against their neighbors.
The Powder Mage trilogy includes the three core books plus a few novellas and short stories. There is also a second trilogy set later in the timeline, but I have yet to read those. If you’re interested in hard-hitting, fast-paced fantasy like Larry Corriea’s Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, then you’ll love this series.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time!