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rpmcgill's review against another edition
2.0
The magic makes no sense. Also it’s written for dudes.
orypcixelsyd's review against another edition
DNF @ 55%. I didn't particularly care for any of the main POV characters. The plot was interesting but the pacing felt a bit off. The magic system did interest me but it wasn't enough to keep me interested despite everything else. Might need to give this a shot later.
momotaa's review against another edition
4.0
3.5-4 stars
Man, there were some things I absolutely adored about this, and some things that didn't work for me
Biggest issue...not a single worthy female character except for Ka-poel, the mute, who was one of the characters I was most interested in knowing. We got...nothing really. A small recollection from Taniel when he discovered her. She is so incredibly powerful. She has some kind of background that no one really addresses. The most feared, fear her. She is called "savage" repeatedly. We learn nothing of her people or her past or the moments between her and Taniel that would solidify their relationship to make it what it was. She saved his life, but there had to be more, and we didn't get it.
I did love Adamat. Was I pissed that he didn't just tell Tamas the things I think he should have? yeah, but I could mostly understand that dumbass decision.
Nila was another wasted female.
Olem is my hero. God, please don't let anything happen or him end up being a betraying bastard--my heart won't be able to take it.
I did like Taniel. His relationship with his father was interesting and provided some depth. He definitely has a problem, I don't know if we will get more of that later or not. The thing with Vlora...could have been further explored. I'm honestly not bothered that it wasn't though. Another shitty female, right?
Bo was cool. That whole thing did not go how I thought. I worry for SouSmith for multiple reasons. Mihali....wowza.
I will continue the series, I think. Though I don't feel like I have to run out right this second and get the next, but I am interested to see how this story develops.
Man, there were some things I absolutely adored about this, and some things that didn't work for me
Biggest issue...not a single worthy female character except for Ka-poel, the mute, who was one of the characters I was most interested in knowing. We got...nothing really. A small recollection from Taniel when he discovered her. She is so incredibly powerful. She has some kind of background that no one really addresses. The most feared, fear her. She is called "savage" repeatedly. We learn nothing of her people or her past or the moments between her and Taniel that would solidify their relationship to make it what it was. She saved his life, but there had to be more, and we didn't get it.
I did love Adamat. Was I pissed that he didn't just tell Tamas the things I think he should have? yeah, but I could mostly understand that dumbass decision.
Nila was another wasted female.
Olem is my hero. God, please don't let anything happen or him end up being a betraying bastard--my heart won't be able to take it.
I did like Taniel. His relationship with his father was interesting and provided some depth. He definitely has a problem, I don't know if we will get more of that later or not. The thing with Vlora...could have been further explored. I'm honestly not bothered that it wasn't though. Another shitty female, right?
Bo was cool. That whole thing did not go how I thought. I worry for SouSmith for multiple reasons. Mihali....wowza.
I will continue the series, I think. Though I don't feel like I have to run out right this second and get the next, but I am interested to see how this story develops.
prairiephlox's review against another edition
3.0
A spoiler laden review- so at your own risk.
This was an incredibly strong opening to a series by a freshman author and I have every intention of continuing on and finishing the gunpowder trilogy. That said, I waffle between giving this book a 3 or a 4 star review. There are some things that I found refreshing and that I really enjoyed- like the idea that as technology progresses new magics also appear, in this case the gunpowder mages. I also really enjoyed the idea of gods becoming actively involved in politics because of ye olde promises they had made in folklore/religious doctrine despite the fact that most people consider themselves “modern” and don’t put much stock in the actual stories of their religion. I love the idea that you enter the story after a coup has happened, and you are watching everyone as they try and put the pieces of their country back together again. These were interesting perspectives and advantages that the story had, and I love a good “patriotism to the people” story.
But there were times that I felt the story was cliché or slow. A lot of Adamat’s background story seemed superfluous. I felt that we watched families be abducted to cause betrayals in a very repetitive (though admittedly effective) fashion. Something about the mute savage seems so *done* to me. Many of the “plot twists” I also saw coming from about a mile away. This didn’t lessen my interest, but did allow me to slacken my pace in reading. Then there was the magic system. It very much felt like the author began writing the story and did not have the magic system in place. The way in which he described the third eye opening went from casual sentences to grand descriptions by the end of the book. The same sort of goes for the way in which the powder mages powers work, it seemed very ill-defined at the beginning, and only began to take shape in the latter half. I felt like I just wanted a more discrete description of what was going on. I hope that in the next two books it’s something that the author defines more.
So I continue to feel myself waffle on the rating. I think I will go with 3 out of 5. I liked it, I’m excited to see this author grow. I just felt that this book had more potential than what it eventually gave me in actuality. I would recommend it, but probably only to true fantasy genre lovers.
Best character: obviously Mihali.
This was an incredibly strong opening to a series by a freshman author and I have every intention of continuing on and finishing the gunpowder trilogy. That said, I waffle between giving this book a 3 or a 4 star review. There are some things that I found refreshing and that I really enjoyed- like the idea that as technology progresses new magics also appear, in this case the gunpowder mages. I also really enjoyed the idea of gods becoming actively involved in politics because of ye olde promises they had made in folklore/religious doctrine despite the fact that most people consider themselves “modern” and don’t put much stock in the actual stories of their religion. I love the idea that you enter the story after a coup has happened, and you are watching everyone as they try and put the pieces of their country back together again. These were interesting perspectives and advantages that the story had, and I love a good “patriotism to the people” story.
But there were times that I felt the story was cliché or slow. A lot of Adamat’s background story seemed superfluous. I felt that we watched families be abducted to cause betrayals in a very repetitive (though admittedly effective) fashion. Something about the mute savage seems so *done* to me. Many of the “plot twists” I also saw coming from about a mile away. This didn’t lessen my interest, but did allow me to slacken my pace in reading. Then there was the magic system. It very much felt like the author began writing the story and did not have the magic system in place. The way in which he described the third eye opening went from casual sentences to grand descriptions by the end of the book. The same sort of goes for the way in which the powder mages powers work, it seemed very ill-defined at the beginning, and only began to take shape in the latter half. I felt like I just wanted a more discrete description of what was going on. I hope that in the next two books it’s something that the author defines more.
So I continue to feel myself waffle on the rating. I think I will go with 3 out of 5. I liked it, I’m excited to see this author grow. I just felt that this book had more potential than what it eventually gave me in actuality. I would recommend it, but probably only to true fantasy genre lovers.
Best character: obviously Mihali.
spicybowtie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
solseit's review against another edition
4.0
Extended review on my blog and I am looking forward to reading your thoughts about it!
https://todaysdecameron.wordpress.com/2017/02/07/promise-of-blood-powder-mage-book-1-gush-review/
- -
First and foremost, this book reminded me that I am a book addict. I was not able to stop thinking about it when I was not reading it. Sleep was secondary to reading.
So I need to find a AA meeting for book readers.
Now, let's talk about the book though because this is what this media is dedicated to. 4.5 stars well deserved!
The story is told with majestic skill. It starts with a bang and it continues to deliver to extremely high standards. The story is never overextended and it just keeps developing and intriguing more!
The setting is just a bit refreshing. I liked the fantasy 1600/1800 hundred setting. Carriages, rifles are different than what I traditionally read in a fantasy story and I loved the delivery!
I loved the characters. And here is where I have my only minor complaint: Female characters are not really present in this book. And if they are, they are mute (albeit I want to get to know Ka'Poel!) and speak through other's interpretation of their hand gesture.
But I want to express also a companion thought: Developing a poor female character would have hurt the book more, so I am just a tad disappointed by the choice but it is just a minor criticism!
As for the rest of the characters, I just loved them. Tamas, Taniel, Olem, Adamat, Mihali, Ka'Poel, Bo! There is dialogue, the dialogue (including use of sarcasm!) and the description of body language is so entertaining and realistic I had a blast.
Finally, let me point out another stunning element of this book: The magic system(s). There are several abilities, several specialties and intensity of abilities that you might think it would be a mess. Instead the powers and abilities are described slowly, in connection with description of a character's abilities, with skill and clarity! I have to admit I was not expecting to understand any of it yet the unveiling of abilities and skills is done in an uncanny way!
Who would like this book? Anyone who loves fantasy really would enjoy it.
https://todaysdecameron.wordpress.com/2017/02/07/promise-of-blood-powder-mage-book-1-gush-review/
- -
First and foremost, this book reminded me that I am a book addict. I was not able to stop thinking about it when I was not reading it. Sleep was secondary to reading.
So I need to find a AA meeting for book readers.
Now, let's talk about the book though because this is what this media is dedicated to. 4.5 stars well deserved!
The story is told with majestic skill. It starts with a bang
Spoiler
a coup d'etat since the first pageThe setting is just a bit refreshing.
Spoiler
French revolution inspired I would thinkSpoiler
guillotinesSpoiler
There is also a spectacular conversation between a noble and Tamas about monarchy vs democracy. It sounded like an Enlighted like Voltaire talking to King Luis XVI about what a democracy is and how the government should be there to serve the people, not the other way around! I loved this dialogue!I loved the characters. And here is where I have my only minor complaint: Female characters are not really present in this book. And if they are, they are mute (albeit I want to get to know
Spoiler
the savage, who reminded me of Brave visuallyBut I want to express also a companion thought: Developing a poor female character would have hurt the book more, so I am just a tad disappointed by the choice but it is just a minor criticism!
As for the rest of the characters, I just loved them. Tamas, Taniel, Olem, Adamat, Mihali, Ka'Poel, Bo! There is dialogue, the dialogue (including use of sarcasm!) and the description of body language is so entertaining and realistic I had a blast.
Finally, let me point out another stunning element of this book: The magic system(s). There are several abilities, several specialties and intensity of abilities that you might think it would be a mess. Instead the powers and abilities are described slowly, in connection with description of a character's abilities, with skill and clarity! I have to admit I was not expecting to understand any of it yet the unveiling of abilities and skills is done in an uncanny way!
Who would like this book? Anyone who loves fantasy really would enjoy it.
gwynn_sky's review against another edition
5.0
This book is fascinating! I love all of the characters and their world. It has its own unique magic and the steampunk style... it is amazing! I am waiting for to read the second book...
witchfynder_finder's review against another edition
I've been wanting to read this one for ages and I don't know if I just built it up too much in my mind or if it's actually that bland and disappointing but for the life of me I could not get into this book at all. The prose was weak, the plot was meandering, the characters were all pretty awful, and I couldn't tell if the weird racism was the author trying to illustrate how things are in the setting or how he actually felt, which is not a place you want to be messy. There's like multiple different kinds of magic users and I have no idea what any of them do or how they are different, I could barely keep characters straight with how similar a lot of their names are, the whole thing was just a mess top to bottom.
bobbytherobber's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chrisscorkscrew's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0