A Book Review: The Bone Labyrinth by James Rollins (Sigma Force #11)

A new Sigma Force novel recently arrived at my doorstep, and it has found a home on my bookshelf. The name of this book is called The Bone Labyrinth.

What is Sigma Force? This is a series of techno thriller novels written by best-selling author James Rollins, who blends science fiction and history/archeology together to create stories that will suck you in. If a Sigma Force novel is like a banquet, then this banquet serves the best of Isaac Asimov and Dan Brown for the main course, with Mission Impossible and Indiana Jones as appetizers and deserts.

If you have never read a Sigma Force novel but my descriptions interest you, then I recommend start reading the series from its beginning, a book titled Sandstorm. Meanwhile, today on Daniels' Corner Unlimitied, I wish to share my opinions about The Bone Labyrinth, which is the 11^th installment in this series.

Synopsis:

The remote mountain of Croatia hides a key to unlock the secret buried in our DNA. This key surfaced into the daylight, when a team of archeologists uncovered a subterranean Catholic chapel. Sealed for centuries, this chapel provided a resting place for the bones of a neanderthal woman. Along her mortal remains sits elaborate cave paintings, depicting neanderthal tribes waging an epic battle against a group of unknown, monstrous creatures.

At the hour of the chapel's discovery, while the archeologists beheld the mysterious sight in the chapel, they were suddenly attacked by a group of shadowy assailants. At the same time, a primate research centre in Atlanta was also attacked. Could these attacks be mere coincidence?

Sigma Force was charged with the mission to investigate these attacks. This time, Sigma Force's search for the truth will unveil a forgotten history 50000 years in the making, tracing the evolution of human intelligence to its immemorial origin. In turn, Sigma Force finds themselves plunging heads first, into a violent, global struggle for humankind's future.

My thoughts about this book:

I like Sigma Force novels. I like these books very much. The day when I opened my first Sigma Force novel, it broadened and expanded the horizon of my reading world forever. It suffices to say, Sigma Force is the culprit for making me a fan of the thriller genre. This is why I always anticipate, eagerly, to read the latest installment in this series. One year ago, I heard about the news of the upcoming The Bone Labyrinth. When this book finally arrived at my home last week, I devoured the book in the short space of one weekend. The result? The Bone Labyrinth tells a story that reminds me why I like reading thrillers so much.

James Rollins writes compelling, fast-paced stories. His fascinating stories are fictional, constructed on hypothetical extensions from historical and scientific observations. The charm of Sigma Force novels, however, do not end here. These books often go beyond the territory of “entertaining thrillers”, and reaching into questions about ethics and morality. Indeed, Sigma Force novels has a quality not found in most thriller novels, where its stories are often thought-provoking and therefore moving tales.

The Bone Labyrinth is a classic Sigma Force novel, the kind of novel that fans of the series will appreciate. I would describe The Bone Labyrinth as Planet of the Apes meets The Da Vinci Code. This book tells a fast-paced story packed with actions, suspense and mystery. When I was reading this book, the story kept me at the edge of my seat. I had great difficulties at putting the book down because it was a page turner.

This book entertained me, but that was not all of it. The Bone Labyrinth also explores ethical and moral questions surrounding topics such as trans-humanism, eugenics, and animal experiments. As our technology and knowledge in genetic, and biomedical engineering continue to advance at a fast rate, these topics are gradually gaining relevance in our world, inviting discussions in the public square.

Should we, as a society, collectively decide to fundamentally alter and enhance who we are with our technology, invoking the next step of human evolution to create smarter, stronger, and faster descendants? What are the ethical and moral implications involved? Should such a day arrive, how will it impact humanity?

The Bone Labyrinth does not answer these question, but it invites its readers to think about these questions by journeying alongside the characters in this book. Speaking of characters, the characterization in this novel is superbly done. Our favorite characters from previous Sigma Force novels; commander Gray Pierce, Seichan, Monk, and Kowalski returned to play vital roles in the story. The story has two plot lines. The first plot follows the adventure of Gray Pierce and Seichan as they uncover the hidden evolutionary history behind human intelligence. I do not wish to say too much about the second plot. Let's just say it mostly follows the adventures of Kowalski as he struggled to protect his new friends from dire predicaments. Both plots are equally compelling, but I was especially fond of Kowalski's storyline, because it explored his character in details. In this book, Kowalski is no longer just the “tank” in Sigma Force team. This time, the story explored his inner thoughts and emotions, in turn flashing out his character.

The true star in this book, however, is a baby gorilla called Baako. Once again, I do not want to spoil the story so let me just say, Baako is the best, and the most memorable character in this book. He (if I may call Baako a he instead of it), is a very likable character who really grew on me. Baako's character compounded to the story's emotional impact, making The Bone Labyrinth a moving tale.

James Rollins gave The Bone Labyrinth a fitting conclusion. But it was a conclusion that hints of things to come. I cannot wait for the next Sigma Force novel to finally hit the bookstores so I can discover what the future holds for these characters. I felt a great sense of satisfaction when I returned this novel to the bookshelf. The Bone Labyrinth has everything I came to love about the thriller genre. It is an exciting and compelling story starring likable characters. The story is entertaining but also thought-provoking. I highly recommend The Bone Labyrinth to veterans of Sigma Force series. As for the newcomers to Sigma Force series, I recommend starting this series from its beginning, and I envy you because you are about to step into a world of exhilarating adventure for the first time.

A Book Review: The Secret Crown by Chris Kuzneski (Jonathan Payne and David Jones #6)

When it comes to reading fictions, some people like their fictional novels based on facts, while some people like fictions based on imaginative worlds.

I think there is value in both types of fictions and I enjoy reading both of them. This is why I try to mix my literary diet with books from a spectrum of genres, all the way from fantasy to thrillers. For me, reading fictions occupies a large chunk of my spare time and I find it an enjoyable hobby. I do it mostly for pleasure, but I also welcome the added bonus should I learn something new while reading a book.

Three years ago, I became enamored in thriller fictions. Over the years, thriller novels have provided me with plenty of enjoyment, as well as inspiring me to read up on the historical and scientific facts mentioned in these books. This is definitely the case for The Secret Crown, a treasure-hunt thriller novel written by best-selling author Chris Kuzneski.

The Secret Crown is based on the life of King Ludwig II, a 19^th century Bavarian monarch who led a very interesting life. Through this book, I learned the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland is actually inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. The construction for this stunning castle was commissioned by none other than King Ludwig II. I think The Secret Crown is a fun and interesting book. I would describe this book as a tasteful blend combining together Indiana Jones, James Bond, and The Da Vinci Code.

If any of this interests you, then please feel free to continue reading my book review.

Synopsis:

Upon the lofty mountain of Bavaria sleeps a hidden bunker, its existence was brought to light when a hunter, who, by accident, stumbled upon its unseen entrance.

The bunker's discovery attracted retired MANIAC operatives, Jonathan Payne and David Jones, to the scene for investigation. The bunker, dated to an era before WWII, concealed caches of gold, jewels and document marked with the stamp of black swan, the insignia of King Ludwig II. The discovery pulled Payne and Jones into a deathly struggle to uncover the truth behind the death of Ludwig II and his fabled treasure.

My thoughts on this book:

Chris Kuzneski writes good thrillers. He is most famous for a series of treasure-hunt thrillers featuring his characters Jonathan Payne and David Jones, who are retired operatives belonging to a fictional military organization called MANIAC.

I have read four of Kuzneski's novels from this series and I enjoyed all of them. Especially Sign of the Cross, a religious conspiracy thriller bearing resemblance to The Da Vinci Code. Up to now, most novels in this series are centred on religious conspiracies. In The Secret Crown, Kuzneski changed the formula, shifting the theme away from religious conspiracy to a genuine treasure hunt story. Personally, I like this change because The Secret Crown injects refreshment into the series.

In terms of its writings, The Secret Crown, like most Kuzneski's novels, moved at a lightning fast pace. This book is a page-turner. Kuzneksi strung his story up with suspense and tension. The crux of the story is solving a riddle of the treasure's whereabouts. And this is where I think The Secret Crown succeeds at being a good thriller novel. This book managed to shroud the riddle in mystery, where the suspense is kept, unspoiled and unrevealed, until the very end of the book. Action scenes, from gun fights, car chase, to fist fights, do fill the pages in this book. However, Kuzneski deployed actions scenes fitfully in this book, where the actions serve to spice up the story rather than devices or fillers that drove the plot. In other words, while The Secret Crown is an action-oriented thriller novel, but it is not an action-driven thriller novel. The story in this book appeals to readers with an interesting mystery, one that will keep you guessing at the answer of the riddle from the first page to the last. Without spoiling the story, let me just say The Secret Crown is one of very few thriller novels that broke the genre's formula and its story didn't end with a big fight, and I appreciate this new approach.

Jonathan Payne and David Jones return in The Secret Crown as protagonists. The story follows their exploration and struggles to uncover Ludwig's hidden treasure. These two characters are likable, and they displayed good sense of humor in their dialogues. In this book, Payne and Jones' constantly bickered against and teaseed each other. Their dialogues not only brought comic reliefs to a tense story, but it also carved features on their characters. While it is true that character development is minimal in this book, but these two characters do possess enough star power to carry the story through, making The Secret Crown a memorable adventure.

With a sense of satisfaction, I returned The Secret Crown to my local library. This book tells a thrilling story and it has interesting history about King Ludwig II. The author did good research and weaved historical facts, masterfully, into the fabrics of the story. I enjoyed reading this book, and I think Kuzneski's thriller novels are some of the better novels in this genre. I recommend The Secret Crown to fans of treasure-hunt thriller books.

A Book Review: The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan (The Powder Mage #3)

Flintlock Fantasy is the most exciting discovery in my reading life. This fantasy sub-genre intrigues me with a refreshing concept; the story takes place in a world resembling The French Revolution, where flintlock fire-arm ignition technologies mixes with magic!

How did I discover the new world of Flintlock fantasy? The Powder Mage trilogy initiated me into this genre. This trilogy is the debut for Brian McClellan, who is a student of Brandon Sanderson, a prolific author in the fantasy genre. I read and enjoyed the first two novels in The Powder Mage trilogy. The first novel, Promise of Blood, kickstarted the trilogy with a dark story full of memorable characters. The second novel, The Crimson Campaign, expanded the adventure into a war story, its last page left its readers hanging on a cliff. This is why I felt the burning desire to read The Autumn Republic, where Brian McClellan will finally conclude the story of this highly appraised trilogy.

Synopsis:

Field Marshal Tamas killed the age of kings to end the corrupt, aristocratic regime in Adro. Tamas' action, however, gave Adro's neighboring kingdom, Kez, an excuse to invade Adro, leading to an all out war.

Tamas' war against Kez turned into a crimson campaign, when he was betrayed at every turn. Against all odds, Tamas prevailed against the torrent of treacheries, and led his army back to the capital of their beloved country, only to discover the capital city besieged in the hand of a cunning, ambitious foreign invader.

Meanwhile, Kez continues her invasion of Adro, waging wars at the frontline. The rumor of Tamas' death spreads high and wide in the Adro camp, leaving the army without a clear leadership. Dissensions, fueled by a mutiny, broke out among the staff generals, tearing the Adro army apart. Inspector Adamat must expose the root of this mutiny, lest the Adro forces collapse before the Kez army mounts a final assault at the border.

Adro's future appears to be shrouded in a veil of Stygian darkness. The last flame of hope rests in the hand of Taniel Two Shots. He must safeguard Adro's last chance of survival or everything Tamas worked for will lie in tatters.

The autumn approaches, will this season witness the blossoming of the Adro Republic, or see it snuffed out as a brief candle light in the wind?

My thoughts on this books:

Many trilogies (or series) suffer from the “middle book syndrome”. This is when the middle book slumps in its quality or pace, but returns to excellence in the final book.

In my opinion, The Powder Mage trilogy does not suffer from “the middle book syndrome”. In this trilogy's second installment, The Crimson Campaign, Brian McClellan crank the pace of the story up a notch, and it moved at a relentless pace. The second installment in this trilogy was a gripping novel, and I was expecting The Autumn Republic to end this trilogy with the same fast-paced storytelling found in its predecessor. Strangely, this is not the case here. I think while The Autumn Republic is an excellent book, but its pace is slightly uneven.

The Autumn Republic can be roughly divided into 3 acts. This book follows immediately from the ending in The Crimson Campaign. The storytelling in the first act moved at a very fast pace. The pace in the second act, however, moved relatively slow when compared to its first act. I do not know if this slowing of pace is intentional. However, I did not like the slowing of pace in the 2^nd act and it put me off this book a little bit. Fortunately, the book resumed its fast-paced storytelling in its 3^rd act, various plots converged, reaching a crescendo where a mind-blowing conclusion came crashing down on the story's characters, bringing this adventure to a fitting conclusion.

The Autumn Republic may have a slight problem with its pacing, but this problem does not detract or ruin this trilogy’s charm, which lies in its characters. In this book, Tamas, Adamat, and Taniel returned once again to play the roles of protagonists. Throughout the trilogy, Brian McClellan developed Tamas' character by gradually revealing Tamas' inner emotions and personal qualities. Suffice to say, I did not like Tamas in the first book. However, as the story went on, Tamas gradually became a very likable character and I was rooting for him in this trilogy. Having said this, my favorite character in this book is Inspector Adamat. His part of the story provides this trilogy with a twist of detective fictions, and I enjoyed reading Adamat's story the most. Finally, Taniel is an equally thrilling character as Tamas. Taniel's story is closely knitted into Tamas' characterization, it explores an interesting story of a relationship between a father and his estranged son. All 3 protagonists in this book are likable and somewhat relatable. Brian McClellan portrayed them vividly. Furthermore, I think The Autumn Republic succeeded at telling a moving story because Brian McClellan created three likable protagonists.

The supporting characters in this book are interesting, but their characterizations and sub-plots left me slightly unsatisfied. I do not want to spoil the story. Let me just say, while one of the supporting characters played an integral role in the plot, but the author did not properly explain this character's origin. This means, when the time came for this character to take on an integral role in the plot, it came across as deus ex machina than a satisfying plot device. However, despite my minor complaint about the supporting characters, I still found all supporting characters likable and memorable. Should Brian McClellan write more books featuring these supporting characters I will definitely read them.

The Autumn Republic tells an entrancing story, it provided The Powder Mage trilogy with a fitting conclusion. I like this book, and I deeply enjoyed this trilogy. The concept behind this trilogy is refreshing, and my first adventure in the world of Flintlock fantasy turned out to be a fun and unforgettable experience. I highly recommend The Powder Mage trilogy to lovers of fantasy fictions, especially those readers who are looking for a break from the genre's convention of medieval European settings.

A Book Review: The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan (The Powder Mage trilogy #2)

For decades, fantasy fictions has stuck to a formula, where the stories are often set in medieval, pseudo-European worlds. In the recent era, some authors in the genre are beginning to create new ideas. They are moving away from the “medieval Europe” formula, giving birth to sub-genres such as urban fantasy, and a newly born genre called flintlock fantasy.

I am an avid reader of fantasy fictions. While I do enjoy reading fantasy novels crafted by the “medieval Europe” formula, but I also love new ideas. This is why, the idea of flintlock fantasy intrigued me upon my discovery of its existence.

Brian McClellan's The Powder Mage trilogy received many positive reviews from critics and readers alike. This trilogy currently stands, as one of the reputed works in the genre of flintlock fantasy. The Powder Mage trilogy began with a first book called Promise of Blood. I read this book during the holiday season and decided it was a very enjoyable novel. In great anticipations, I turned to the first page in The Crimson Campaign, the second installment in The Powder Mage trilogy. This book counts to 600 pages and I read it in the space of 4 days. Before I delve further into my book review, I will say up front, The Crimson Campaign is both a worthy sequel and an improvement over Promise of Blood.

Synopsis:

Adro and Kez are in open war.

Despite Kez army outnumbering Adran army five to one, Field Marshall Tamas is still determined to send Kez army packing and running for their lives. Tamas wished to score a decisive victory against his Kez nemesis by using a strategic move: A surprise invasion, striking at the heart of Kez. Unfortunately, Kez foiled Tamas' strategy by a counter offensive maneuver.

This time, Tamas has landed his loyal followers in a dire predicament. He only led a fraction of his army, and they are cut off from the main Adran forces. Deep in Kez territory, Tamas and his men are devoid of supplies, leagues after leagues fill the distance between Kez and Adro, vaporizing every hope of reinforcement. Tamas hatched a desperate plan, where he and his men would attempt a headlong march across Northern Kez back to Adro, so they can rejoin the main Adran army and continue warding off Kez invasions on Adran soil.

Meanwhile, Taniel Two Shots, the son of Tamas, rushed to the frontline to help the war effort at thwarting Kez invasions. With Tamas' absence, Taniel found his only ally in the army is a mad chef, who claimed to be a god reborn.

Finally, back in the capital city of Adro, Inspector Adamat's heart and soul burn, white-hot, with the urgency to rescue his family from the claws of Lord Vetas, a deeply cunning and ruthless spy serving an ambitious master.

These three men, each facing great obstacles and dangers on his path. Can they prevail? Thus begins the fabled story of the crimson campaign.

My thoughts about this book:

Many trilogies suffer from the so-called “the middle book syndrome”. Being the second book in The Powder Mage trilogy, I was half expecting The Crimson Campaign to exhibit some characteristics and traits of the middle book syndrome. To my surprise, I discovered The Crimson Campaign is one of those rarities, where the author pitched his story, as well as the writings, up a notch to create a sequel that is, in every aspect, better than its predecessor.

The Crimson Campaign continued, as well as expanded, the story that began in Promise of Blood. Tamas, Adamat, and Taniel, are still playing the role of protagonists and POV characters in this book. Meanwhile, the supporting characters from the first book returned in this novel, some of them playing pivotal roles in this expansive story. Mr. McClellan introduced very few new characters in The Crimson Campaign, and I think this is a good thing. This is because the story of The Powder Mage trilogy is already intricate and complex. Restraints from adding new characters in the story prevented it from becoming overly complicated. This also means, while The Crimson Campaign tells a very eventful story, but readers can still track the plot developments with great ease.

This book follows the storylines of 3 POV characters; Tamas' perilous march across Kez and returning to Adran, Adamat's struggle to free his family from Lord Vetas, and Taniel's isolating experience in the Adran army. Surprisingly, these 3 storylines didn't converge in this book and they remain separated throughout the novel. To Mr. McClellan's credit, he crafted this book with the skills of a master storyteller, providing seamless transitions from one POV character's storyline to the next. At no point did this book ever become confusing or boring. Instead, the story in this book moved at a lightning fast, and smooth pace, a pace that is much faster and smoother than in Promise of Blood.

Story-wise, like its predecessor, The Crimson Campaign arrives packed with loads of twists and turns. The story in this book remains unpredictable from the very first page until its last. Mr. McClellan also strung up a dynamic web of suspense and tension in the story. Tensions accumulate as the chapters rolled on, and the story hit readers with mind-bending surprises. This book is a page-turner, but I took my time reading it, because I needed to let my brain absorb the intricate sub-plots in this book. Had I devoured this book in a gusto as I would in other page-turner books, I would have missed out the numerous build-ups layered in the story. Therefore, if you read this book, I would recommend taking your time to read it, take pauses and breaks, give your brain the time to absorb the information.

In my opinion, The Crimson Campaign improved over its predecessor. Mr. McClellan smoothed out the chapter/POV character transitions in this book, eliminating the slight issue of uneven pacing in Promise of Blood. As a result, The Crimson Campaign tells its story smoothly, at a neck-breaking pace. The characters are vividly portrayed, while the writings are descriptive but never over-burdened by too much details. I believe this book is a worthy sequel to Promise of Blood. When I closed The Crimson Campaign, I wanted to know what fate awaits the characters in this book, and I cannot wait to begin reading The Autumn Republic, the third and the concluding chapter to The Powder Mage trilogy.

A Book Review: Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan (The Powder Mage trilogy #1)

Drawing on inspirations from the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars, Promise of Blood opened The Powder Mage trilogy, an epic fantasy story of three parts, with a stunning and gripping story. This trilogy's author, Brian McClellan, is a student of Brandon Sanderson, a prolific fantasy novelist. Mr. McClellan debuted in the world of fantasy literature with Promise of Blood, and this book marched under the flag of a new sub-genre in fantasy fictions, known as “flintlock fantasy”.

Do not confuse Flintlock fantasy with Steampunk, a genre inclining strongly to the side of science fictions. Unlike Steampunk (sci-fi with 19th century steam engines), a flintlock fantasy novel is usually set in a fantasy world resembling the 17^th century, a world where advancing technology is on the rise, with deep magic flowing in its veins.

Promise of Blood was my first adventure in flintlock fantasy, and this book captivated me from the very moment I opened it. Without further delay, let me continue my book review with a synopsis for it.

Synopsis:

Field Marshall Tamas killed The Age of Kings. His coup overthrew the corrupt aristocrat government in Adro, sending the king, the queen, as well as nobility galore to the guillotine. As many heads went rolling into the baskets under the crimson edge of the guillotine, Tamas hoped to build a new nation where bread could finally reach the tables of his starving countrymen.

The kings of the Nine Nations, however, were not impressed by Tamas' coup. As a result, Tamas escalated political tensions between Adro and the Nine Nations, pushing his country and its neighbor, Kez, to the brink of an open war.

To make Tamas' life worse, following the coup's aftermath, internal conflicts plagued Adro's society; from attacks of royalist fanatics, to the power struggles between workers unions, mercenary forces and the church. These conflicts threatened to tear Adro apart from the inside.

These circumstances forced Tamas into relying on his loyal regiment of Powder Mages, whose prominent members included his estranged son, Taniel, who was an excellent marksman but embittered by the souring father-son relationship. At this desperate time, Tamas also employed Adamat, a retired police inspector, to find the traitor among his allies.

Tamas is a brilliant, and resilient man, reputed to be the best Field Marshall to have ever lived in the history of the Nine Nations, but can he prevail against the onslaughts of external, as well as internal threats?

My thoughts about this book:

Promise of Blood is both an excellent debut novel as well as a good initiation into the genre of flintlock fantasy. Brian McClellan wrote wonderfully in this book. He has a knack for narrating a complex story and presenting it in a way that can be easily followed by his readers. I do not want to spoil the story here, so let me just say the story in this book comes with an abundance of twists and turns, and they will hit you in the face when least expected.

Another notable quality in Promise of Blood is its world building, it is masterfully done. When I was reading Mr. McClellan's story, I felt as if I could almost feel the cobbled street of Adro under my foot, touching the brick-walled buildings, seeing the buzzing activities in the city square, as well as smelling the aroma of food escaping from the taverns and cafes. Yet, the most intriguing aspect of world building in this book, is its magic system. After all, Promise of Blood is a flintlock fantasy novel. A fantasy novel cannot be divorced of magic. In Promise of Blood, Mr. McClellan presented to his readers a most fascinating magic system in the genre of fantasy fictions, where magically talented individuals could control gun powders (hence the trilogy's name, Powder Mage). In other words, in the world of Powder Mage trilogy, you have these superhumans who possess the special power to manipulate gun powders, giving them a spectrum of super powers such as; directing bullets, igniting gun powders from distance, ingesting gun powders to achieve superhuman strength, speed and stamina etc.. I thought Brian McClellan created a very unique fantasy world, and the world building is indeed one of the best features in this book.

In terms of characterizations, Mr. McClellan depicted the characters in this novel vividly and colorfully. There are three protagonists in Promise of Blood; Field Marshall Tamas, Inspector Adamat, and Taniel Two Shots (Tamas' son).

Reckless, determined and courageous, Tamas is a multifaceted character owning an interesting past. However, while I thought Tamas was a memorable character, but I was not overly fond of him due to certain qualities of his personage. On the other hand, I found Inspector Adamat a very likable character. Adamat's storyline spelled mystery and suspense akin to the styles of detective thrillers, and in this book, I liked Adamat's storyline the most. Finally, Taniel played the role as the third protagonist in the novel. Taniel's storyline supplied plentiful of actions to the story, and I found the depictions for Taniel's estranged relationship with Tamas particularly well written and captivating.

Promise of Blood deserves many praises. However, I do not think this book is flawless. If I have to pick a minor flaw in this book, then I would say there are some rough edges around the story's pace. Allow me to explain. Earlier on, I mentioned this book has 3 protagonists. This means Promise of Blood uses 3 POV characters to tell a story. In my opinion, the transitions from one POV to the next were not altogether smooth. As a result, at times, the POV transitions disrupted the flow of the story and rendering the book with uneven pacing. Having said this, by large, the book still moved at a very fast pace and the uneven pacing issue only crept up occasionally, so it is only a minor flaw.

In the sea of fantasy literature, Promise of Blood succeeded in bringing something new and refreshing to readers' bookshelf. This book is set in a wonderfully imagined world. It tells a gripping story, a story alive with memorable and vividly portrayed characters. I think lovers of fantasy fictions will enjoy reading this book. For me, this book opened my eyes and showed me the unlimited potentials for the fantasy genre to evolve and re-invent itself. Promise of Blood is my first outing in flintlock fantasy, and it was a memorable adventure. I look forward to reading the next installment in The Powder Mage trilogy, titled The Crimson Campaign.

Until the next time, happy reading!