Forsworn: A Powder Mage Novella

So, I started reading Promise of Blood and found it as advertised: “Just Plain Awesome.” It’s pretty grand in scope, however, and I felt a little unsettled with all the characters.  Who are the good guys?  Who should I be rooting for?  Who’s on whose side?  About 150 pages in I discovered that there were 6 short, novella-sized prequels to Promise of Blood.  I’ve had good experience with prequels adding value to the story in the past, so I went ahead and downloaded all 6 of them. Pat my myself on the back.  I was a great decision.These 6 prequels give backstory and understanding to each of the key players I’ve run into so far in Promise of Blood.  All six are well written, entertaining stories by themselves.  Of course, you’ll be able to follow the story in Promise of Blood—and enjoy it—just fine without reading the prequels.  But, man, they sure did add a lot of color to the picture I was trying to form.  The characters weren’t characters anymore—they became people.  Now that I’ve finished prequels and I’m back into Promise of Blood, I’m emotionally invested in this story that seems to be pushing past awesome to all the way to completely amazing. They aren’t numbered, so you’ll need to know what order to read them to have the most effect.1. Foresworn2. Servant of the Crown3. Murder at the Kinnen Hotel4. Hope’s End5. The Girl of Hrusch Avenue6. The Face in the WindowMy recommendation?  Don’t read Promise of Blood without reading the prequels first.

Of all the Powder Mage short stories/novellas, Forsword, I think, had the most potential. Repeating the pattern of focusing on female characters (contrary to Promise of Blood), Forsworn features Erika, the heir to a Kez duchy and a powder mage. Being a powder mage is usually the sort of thing that gets you executed in Kez, but there are benefits to being rich and powerful. Erika is instead only required to forswear the use of powder and prohibited from handling firearms. It has still earned her the enmity of Duke Nikslaus and means she's willing to put it all on the line when she discovers a child powder mage in the woods.Like, I said, Forsworn has a lot of potential. It's really our first look at Kez, and the stakes are high. Unfortunately, we don't learn a whole lot about Kez, and the climax doesn't quite work (because, I think, it was a novella and not a longer book).

Excellent character development in such a small package. This is only the second installment I have read as I started at the chronological beginning and not the published beginning. I very much look forwarded to reading the next novella.

Brian continues to expand on the Powder Mage saga. This is a rip roaring fun adventure. There is a sense of Fun that I think is becoming his trademark.The only quibble I woud have with Forsworn is how easy the choices are for the main characters. I didn't feel a lot of weight to the massive issues they were encountering. This is minor though, I had a great time reading Forsworn.If you haven't read anything Brian yet I am jealous. Buy this and everything else he has written. Get in on the ground floor.

Forsworn is considerably longer than the other two Powder Mage shorts, but really deserved to be about 40% longer. The pacing was more suited to a full length novel, and the plot seemed to jump forward over-hurriedly at times. I teetered between giving this a 3 or 4 star rating, and only gave it a 4 since it is otherwise well written, and because I love this universe so much. Overall it was an enjoyable read, and the backstory served to further whet my appetite for the forthcoming Crimson Campaign.

I just finished reading "Promise of blood" and thought it was great read. Unique, it took a few chapters to adapt, but then I was hooked. This novella was a good taste of the same world as I wait for the next book. It was a Good look at Tamas`s young wife. My only a remark would be that it was short(which I knew going in) and ended a bit rushed. I would recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed Brian McClellan's powder mage universe thus far

As a big fan of McClellan's Powder Mage tales, I was pleased to see this new novella. Basically, the story is a chase, an effort to deliver a young girl across a country border to protect her from being killed for the crime of being a powder mage. There are plenty of thrills, some cool battle scenes, and enough details about the setting to intrigue a reader. As I await the next novel, The Crimson Campaign (due out in May), this is an excellent appetizer.

Great short story feeding us more background to the Powder Mage universe. If you enjoyed the first trilogy, you will enjoy this as well.

Wow, what another fantastic short story in the world of The Powder Mage Series, I know I'm going to love these books from only reading two short stories already. So fast paced and the characters are excellent. While out on a routine practice hunt, Erika the future duchess of Leora and a powder mage her tutor Santiole come across a twelve year old girl Norrine also a powder mage, bloodied and on the run from mage hunters. Being mage kin, Erika must help save her and get her to Adro, where its legal to be a mage, but in doing so she may risk her family and her future for one girl. Let the hunt begin, absolutley brilliant, for anyone who hasn't read these books yet, I have feeling there going to be very special, highly recommend...🖤💥🗡

A good read, if a little predictable. But then again the reason I believe most people would buy this book is because they've read the original trilogy. I have, so it felt numb in places, telling us stuff we kind of already know and missing opportunities to talk more about the Kez. In the end though I think this was a nice read and a good first book to add to my Kindle, because the rich world of the Powder Mage trilogy is here...there is just less of it.

A story about Tamas wife (or Wife to be - its her early years). It also provides some insight into the mindsets and world of the Kez. Its a slow pace book, but benefits greatly by giving the extra information about the world.There is certainly scope for another novella.

Really good series enjoyed this second series

Another clever piece of writing by someone who is fast becoming my favourite author. Keep up te great work!