Dave Wagner’s Reviews > Promise of Blood > Status Update

I seem to have read this one before, but I'm a third of the way through this second read-through, and I literally have ZERO memory of anything about it. I mean, it's like I'm reading a brand new book. Nothing is even triggering slight recollections. Weird. That means it's thoroughly forgettable, or I have mental issues, lol...

I recently bought the whole series, so I wanted to start from Book 1. Good thing.

I really want to like this story, but the events feel more forced than natural. Hard to explain. There are some cool characters (Mihali for the win!), but it's like the story is struggling against itself to be told... not sure how to better express it. It's worth reading, but honestly, it will really have to end well for me to consider continuing the story...

Getting clunky. Middle section could have used a little more polishing time. The presentation of Adamat's investigation is pretty pedestrian. Big battle is beginning now, so hopefully it will kick it up a notch or two.

Cool gunpowder-based magic system. Instead of "swords and sorcery" it's "muskets and sorcery", lol...

Still strong. Some tropes evident, but they're being handled very well. Strong writer so far.

Solid start.