Drastically outnumbered and pursued by the enemy's best, he must lead his men on a reckless march through northern Kez to safety, and back over the mountains so that he can defend his country from an angry god, Kresimir. Cut off behind enemy lines with only a fraction of his army, he must lead his men through northern Kez to safety, meanwhile defending his country against the angry god Kresimir, who wants the head of the man who shot him in the eye. He has questions for Vetas concerning his enigmatic master, but the answers will lead Adamat on a darker journey. In return, Deliv offers supplies and fifty-thousand troops to fight the Kez back. In The Crimson Campaign, I had the feeling that McClellan obliged by shoving countless women in our faces. Taniel struggles with the idea of trusting Ricard and running for politics. A Union counselor ? The Crimson Campaign is the second installment of Brian McClellans Powder Mage Trilogy and as excellent a debut as was A Promise in Blood, he elevated his game with this second novel. Some of the dire situations were solved with sheer luck, especially in Adamats POV. Adamats POV on the other hand, well, lets just say it stayed true to itself. . Adamat is tied up in a basement. Powder Mage Wiki is a FANDOM Books Community. Adamat returns to his safe house and plans with SouSmith to blackmail the Proprietor. One of the bosses, Ket, is a well-defined character with a prominent role in the story though she is primarily a foil for Taniel even if she was extremely well-respected by her subordinates. Ricard asks Adamat to locate Taniel. Adamat comes to in a carriage, and is roughly dropped off around Elections Square. Orbit, May 2014 Hardcover, 608 Pages / ISBN: 978-0-316- 2190-8-2 http://www.brianmcclellan.com / https://www.facebook.com/ThePowderMageTrilogy Review copy courtesy of the publisher, Orbit Books, Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on LinkedIn, Since I am reading this nowI probably should not have read this review. After interviewing Bo about his compulsion to kill Tamas, Adamat offers a bribe to Verundish. Tamas tries to confront Olem and Vlora about their involvement. Adamat tracks down last listed owner of the warehouse, a tailor named Haime. Promise of Blood was released in 2013, followed by The Crimson Campaign in 2014, and finally The Autumn Republic in 2015. After talking with Haime, Adamat believes that Lord Claremonte purchased the property privately using Haime as a middleman. Abilities not yet completely defined. Unfortunately for him, Olem smirks off the reprimands and Vlora snaps and tells Tamas her side of her relationsihp with Taniel. Brian McClellan is an American epic fantasy author from Cleveland, Ohio. Brian McClellan is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing. War is still raging between the Adro and Kez, caught in the middle are Tamas, Admat, Taniel Two-Shot and one-time seamstress Nila, among others. They realize that they are on the same side, and Adamat is sent up to meet the Proprietor. As such, one can consider The Crimson Campaign a slide from Epic Fantasy along lines of his mentor Brandon Sanderson and into a story more grounded as a Military Fantasy, with a stronger resonance to Glen Cooks landmark Black Company novels as the story has progressed through two volumes and theres still a vibe of Abercrombie in the feel of the story at times. If there is a child of destiny to be found, the child is thus is barely more than a plot point (the young heir Nila is sheltering) and there isnt a sense that hes a savoir. But I am fuzzy on the details. As Ka-poel advances on the guards below, Taniel shimmies down towards them. Language: English. RTC. There's still so many story lines and people in flux. Although the gods are a part of the story, these gods are backdrop and merely a part of the story rather than the complete focus. It was fun, his pacing was even better in The Crimson Campaign than it was in Promise of Blood. They head to the address Margy gave Adamat to meet Ondraus the Reeve, who is actually the Proprietor, to blackmail Ondraus into giving Adamat the money to free Bo. Well! Vlora . Vetas tells Adamat that they only have a little bit of time, since they will kill Faye if he doesn't return. equal footing with men in the military. to read read. Tamas decides to head into the city to find Gavril. Brian McClellan. currently reading . Demasolin proposes a plan to distract the Kez while they free the prisoners the Kez are holding (including Gavril), but Tamas argues that there is a leak in Demasolin's camp. They summon Hilanska, a traitor, to identify Taniel. With Tamas and his powder cabal presumed dead, Taniel Two-shot finds himself as the last line of defense against Kresimir's advancing army. Taniel's court-marshaling begins with a quick death sentence for treason. After his attempted invasion of Kez fails, Tamas must retreat to defend his country from the angry god, Kresimir, while Inspector Adamat tries to rescue his wife from the evil Lord Vetas in this sequel to Promise of Blood. But despite the amazing improvement, here are some details that made the book definitely less enjoyable than Id have expected: I already pointed out in my review of Promise of Blood that I missed interesting and influential female characters in the book. I am not sure what it is, but it just felt like I was never making any progress. Ricard comes back and requests to see him. On top of that, several secondary characters abruptly and unexpectedly got bumped from the ugh why do I care to the now thats interesting category. Several novellas and short stories published between 2013 and 2015 also take place in the Powder Mage universe. Olem reports that a Deliv army is about a day away from the city, and Tamas worries that if they get there before Tamas' army attacks the imposter Kez army, the Deliv will attack them all. While being arrested by provosts, Taniel calls the officers in the mess hall to stay and fight, accusing the General Staff of misleading the army. Very good continuation of the story with mostly the same characters. Adamat gets stood up by the slaver, and decides to go to Norport himself in search of Josep. Fell is highly skilled, and if Vetas is from this same training institute, he is more dangerous than they knew. GUNPOWDER AND BULLETS WILL DETERMINE THE VICTOR. As the Kez cavalry advance, Tamas' powder mages take some shots. He flees with Ka-poel to the Wings of Adom camp for safety. THE CRIMSON CAMPAIGN is the epic sequel to Brian McClellan's Promise of Blood. Format: Digital. Mihali convinces Taniel and Ka-poel to go to Kresimir. Cut off behind enemy lines with only a fraction of his army, he must lead his men through northern Kez to safety, meanwhile defending his country against the angry god Kresimir, who wants the head of the man who shot him in the eye. Faye and Nile talk about being patient and waiting to make a move on Vetas. Tamas' troops make for the cover of the forest as the Kez van guard reach them. Review of The Crimson Campaign were generally favorable. Brian McClellan. [6], Richard Bray of Fantasy-Faction wrote in his review, "In all, The Crimson Campaign is the rare middle book of a trilogy that actually kicks its pace up a notch. The Crimson Campaign continues the most acclaimed and action-packed new epic fantasy series in years, following on from Promise of Blood - an adrenaline-fuelled debut of flintlock mages, civil war, and cold-blooded murder in a world where gods walk the earth. I'm getting used to the characters and I love them. A lot of characters transcended the potential McClellan already gave them in book 1.There was a meticulous development for both Tamas and Taniel (2 of the main POVs) that made these two great characters so real, so human, so relatable at some levels. Genre: Fantasy, Flintlock Fantasy, Military fiction. The Crimson Campaign Powder Mage #2. How did Ka-Poel learn that much potent sorcery? This subreddit is for news and discussion about the Powder Mage universe created by Brian McClellan. Vlora finds him later, horseless, forty miles ahead of camp. Borbador I really enjoyed the read, especially Taniel and Tamas arcs. They hurry to set up an attack on the house. I'm loving this series. The Crimson Campaign continues the most acclaimed and action-packed new epic fantasy series in years, following on from Promise of Blood - an adrenaline-fuelled debut of flintlock mages, civil war, and cold-blooded murder in a world where gods walk the earth. Ka-poel's dolls give them the opportunity to fake an artillery attack by having Taniel shoot the dolls in the air. Nila finds Jakob and rushes away. Taniel, Fell, and Ka-poel are attacked by two Wardens. The Crimson Campaign was really, really good. Tamas finds Hailona and asks her for help. Taniel finds out that he is apparently the last remaining Marked in the military, as all others were with Tamas and are presumed dead. Ka-poel shows Taniel her wax doll of Kresimir, urging him to finally kill the god. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Crimson Campaign Powder Mage #2. This subreddit is for news and discussion about the Powder Mage universe created by Brian McClellan. Nothing actually gets resolved, everyone is more or less right where they were at the start. "Sworn in Steel by Douglas Hulick and The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan", "The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan Fantasy-Faction", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Crimson_Campaign&oldid=1115473220, This page was last edited on 11 October 2022, at 17:02. A bodyguard? After a quick round of musket-fire, 3 of Vetas' men are dead and one, a boxer named Roja the Fox, is injured. The Kez cavalry charge Tamas' men, but a fog covers their trap. I read the second book of the Powdermage series several years ago and want to read the 3rd book now. Taniel, after an all-night beating, is dumped outside in the dirt. Adamat goes to visit Ricard Tumblar to ask for a favor. References to this work on external resources. In Adro, Inspector Adamat wants only to rescue his wife. For all you fans of the grimdark fantasy epics, this one shines bright. Drastically outnumbered and pursued, I started off this book expecting a continuation of my passive appreciation but general lack of love for this series. Pace. Tamas is lost behind enemy lines and presumed dead. Tamas, Vlora, and Olem scout out Alvation with the rest of the powder mages. [2] The audiobook was narrated by Christian Rodska.[3]. While running downstairs, they run into Bo, who kills Vetas' Privileged. Nila tries to protect Jakob from Vetas' influence without overstepping. While there, he notices a similarity in Fell's mannerisms to Vetas. Conclusion After Vetas leaves, Nila frees herself and heads to find Jakob. Mihali believes that if able to think clearly, Kresimir will leave Adopest be. The third and last book, titled The Autumn Republic, was released on February 10, 2015. He tells them that he plans on donating weapons and supplies to the war effort, and that the nine-thousand Brudanian soldiers that he brought will join the Adran army in fighting the Kez. I look forward to book three which has a lot to live up to. Format: Hardcover. Tamas leaves his hiding place to confront Hailona. Language: Indonesian. Format: Paperback. Nikslaus gets away, and Tamas is bound to follow him. They suspect someone is hiding, and Vlora escapes, drawing the Deliv to chase her. What are the specifics of her magic? Seeing this demonstration of power, Taniel sets himself to get some of Kresimir's blood to allow Ka-poel to work her sorcery. I have high hopes for the next final book which I about to start. Your email address will not be published. Mihali visits Taniel with a letter from Etan describing the discrepancies between the Adran army's orders and uses of black powder. Tamas takes stock of the battle and goes to see Beon. You can read this before The Crimson Campaign (Powder Mage, #2) PDF EPUB full Download at the bottom. Taniel is told to apologize publicly to Doravir. -Performed as a high-level leader on large-scale project management in order to maximize profitability and drive operations. I'd appreciate it a lot! Fell returns and finds Riplas, the eunuch's second-in-command. It appears they are poised to level-up once again. Tamas finds out that Gavril was taken back to Alvation, but also that Duke Nikslaus is there as well. He finds him being guarded by Colonel Verundish. Field Marshal Tamas's invasion of Kez has ended in disaster. After Nila interferes, Vetas promises to hurt her of Jakob, whoever is there tonight. Adamat goes to Tumblar to ask for more money for the bribe. Taniel and Ka-poel fight off the guards only to find more Kez soldiers coming on. During the bloody fight, Taniel realizes that the Wardens are powder mages. He denounces the gods. Woman. Its not perfect; the characters still frustrate me often, and multiple-POV storytelling has never been my preferred style to read. Gladly this book didn't suffer from middle book syndrome, the plot here is even better than the first book. In Budweil, Tamas and Hilanska observe the large Kez camp across the border. The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan (Powder Mage Trilogy #2), https://www.facebook.com/ThePowderMageTrilogy, For the First Time, Again by Sylvain Neuvel, EMPEROR of RUIN by Django Wexler (Burningblade & Silvereye #3), THE FOXGLOVE KING by Hannah Whitten (The Nightshade Crown #1). A rebel leader? The series concerns the overthrow of a monarchic regime in a military coup . Bo dispatches him using his powerful sorcery. Every primary character was pushed into uniquely challenging circumstances that served for their own development as well as realistic plot movement. The battle scenes were still awesome, I really enjoyed reading them. When he is finally dragged off, Kresimir decides to hand him high with Julene and burn the whole Adran army. Tamas is not quite the central character he was in A Promise of Blood, as his son Taniel and Adamat take more of a central role. But I am fuzzy on the details. Tamas with his complicated and tortured past, his stubborn and unyielding will and audacious military genius. "You call torturing a man 'festivities'?" Adamat asked. After negotiating, Tamas shoots the Warden holding her captive through a wall. Who will lead the charge? Adamat finds out that his wife and oldest son, Josep, are not there. Field Marshal Tamas has committed a brutal coup against Adro's monarchy and is now in open war with the Kez. He . With a little bit of raised morale, they plan to fight past the call for retreat. He is jumped by five members of Doravir's Third Brigade. But, first things first, lets start with the positive things. Taniel deals with the memories of shooting Kresimir as he runs out of money to support his need for mala. The epic battles, the heroic acts and a lot of emotional moments finally got me more invested in the story. When Taniel first appears in the novel, he is barely alive, spending most of his time and all of his money in a drug den after waking from a coma. The Crimson Campaign Powder Mage #2 Brian McClellan 640 pages first pub 2014 ( editions) fiction fantasy adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced Description "Just plain awesome" -- Brandon SandersonA staggering defeat on the border of Adro and Kez leaves Tamas and his powder mages in grave danger and cut off from all aid. However, Kets role in the military (coupled with Vloras role as one of Tamass soldiers) is more important than the character herself. After a mandatory order to Tamas' soldiers to bathe regularly, Tamas finds Olem and Vlora together bathing. Woman. I would still like to see more of the ladies at the forefront of the story, to have perhaps Nila take a more active role rather than a reactionary role. The Kez begin to attack, using inhumanly fast Wardens. One of the things I appreciate most about what Brian is doing in these novels, in their Epic Fantasy trappings, is focusing the story on characters with life experience. Thanks! Hits: 0. Its an amazing work, and has the series well-situated for an outstanding finale in The Autumn Republic due out next year.[7]. When they find her house, they make their way in, and are forced to hide when Deliv fighters enter with Hailona. Submitted by users as part of their reviews. Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page. Taniel Two-shot finds himself as the last line of defense against Kresimir's advancing army. To do so he must track down and confront the evil Lord Vetas. Questo secondo romanzo della trilogia del "Mago della Polvere" o "Powder Mage" non mi ha convinto e alla lunga mi ha annoiato pur avendo una forte componente dinamica. Ricard and Adamat take Adamat's family up to see the grand opening of the Pan-Deliv Canal. They fight about the different ways they mourned their loss, and Tamas tells Gavril that he decided to kill Manhouch and start the war with the Kez to finally have his vengeance. It's better in almost every way. When he finally enters the house, Tamas downs an entire powder charge and takes off to find Nikslaus, yelling his name. but bo could see in their eyes that he had them. The Crimson Campaign. Because, while addressing some of the issues of Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign still had some flaws (for me) and Ill explain the ones that bothered me. He tries to figure out how to best ransom some prisoners back who will not take up arms against him immediately. Bo knocks a wall out, and they rush in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. . Adamat finds out that Vetas sold his son Josep to the Kez as a powder mage slave. Tamas is slowly losing some of his recollection of events, and Vlora, concerned, forces him to eat something. In a rich, distinctive world that mixes magic with technology, who could stand against mages that control gunpowder and bullets? Publisher: Orbit. Taniel is disciplined by Ket and her provosts privately. Reading this book was epic, I hate that it ended with a cliffhanger though. There's some nice discussion in the comment sections of some of those sections, so if you're looking for more discussion on a certain chapter or section, check there. Promise of Blood was released in 2013, followed by The Crimson Campaign in 2014, and finally The Autumn Republic in 2015. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY DEC 16, 2013. Often the first book of a trilogy is awesome introducing the world and characters and the second book not as interesting with the novelty of the new world wearing off, then the with a satisfying concluding book. You really believe it, dont you? Adamat pleads with the slaver, and they end up settling on a price of 300,000 krana for Josep back. Tamas has his men dig trenches around their camp to add some security from Kez soldiers dressed in Adran uniform. Maps. Taniel suspects corruption. After all the building tension and the impossible odds, the ending was so underwhelming and disappointing. After getting Ka-poel treated, Doravir shows up to the camp insisting that they release Taniel to into their custody. Copyright LibraryThing and/or members of LibraryThing, authors, publishers, libraries, cover designers, Amazon, Bol, Bruna, etc. Ricard and Fell tell Adamat about a relatively secretive training institute that they both attended. He finds he upstairs with Jakob. Adamat is informed of Tamas' death and is told that he will be paid to not help Ricard campaign, but then the job offer is rescinded. Publisher: Orbit. With the Kez army in disarray, they escape. While I am enjoying it, each of the first two books took me forever to get through. Tamas is entrenched in the land of Kez, behind enemy lines where many people believe him to be dead, especially those who now lead the Adro military, which is, at best, a fractured organization. The Shady Bunch (a d&d campaign book) Liamsen_mika. Tamas is not quite the central character he was in A Promise of Blood, as his son Taniel and Adamat take more of a central role. Fantasy, military, politics, religions and mythology, mystery and detective arc Its brilliant, truly, to juggle so many elements in the same story. Bo murders the executioner on a hunch, avenging the beheaded king and releasing Bo from the gaes. I wanted believable, strong but most importantly well developed female characters, not countless minor, forgettable or teeth-grinding ones. Adamat wonders about Claremonte's intentions in Adro and also about how to keep his family same. After a quick round of musket-fire, 3 of Vetas' men are dead and one, a boxer named Roja the Fox, is injured. To do so he must track down and confront the evil Lord Vetas. Adamat and the others ambush Vetas as he leaves his house with Nila. Adamat receives the address of the buyer he asked for from Margy. Adamat also talks with Ricard about his plans to run for the First Minister of Adro. Kale, one of Vetas' men, attacks him there and attempts to bring him to Vetas. to read read. The Crimson Campaign steps everything good up a notch, and takes the issues down a notch. The third and last book, titled The Autumn Republic, was released on February 10, 2015. Blossoming Under the Crimson Sky x1: 400,000: Idol Spiritron Dress Ticket x1 . Over lunch, Ricard tells Taniel about his plans for the new government, and his plans to be First Minister, and how he wants Taniel for his Second Minister. Nila watches as Vetas kills the soldiers watching them and Fell and frees himself. Tamas rounds up the powder mages and tells them to keep the Kez scouts away so that they can't find out what Tamas is up to. Adamat and Sergeant Oldrich talk through Tamas' presumed death, hiring Bo to help with the attack on Vetas, and how to best guard Adamat's children. complaints, The Crimson Campaign was a very engaging and original book. As he passes, he has doubts on whether it could be Vetas' house or not.