The Powdermage Series - The Best Flintlock Fantasy???

[@gizmit01]

"Yes! A whole video on just one book. It's that good." And that big.

[@theblackberseker1978]

Im so glad you made this video. I read the first book a few months ago and I thought it was alright but this convinced me to read on

[@cronkthebookguy]

Wonderful! Yes please absolutely do read on! 😆 Crimson Campaign is my personal favourite of the six.

[@noneofyourbusiness3288]

I personally think the "pike and shot" era of warfare was the most interesting from a tactical, strategical, and political perspective. We need more renaissance fantasy! The perfect blend of early firearms and highly sophisticated armor. (Powdermage is significantly later than that, but still gets to the point of people hating firearms in fantasy for some reason...).

[@Avid_Reader]

I've been looking forward to this video ever since you announced it. I was fortunate enough to meet Brian at Dragonsteel 2024, and purchased the Powder Mage trilogy directly from him. He was kind enough to personalize all 3 books for me. I recently started reading book one, and yes, it is amazing!

[@cronkthebookguy]

WOW!!! You just became even cooler, somehow! Super jealous of you meeting Brian AND doing Dragonsteel. Australia has precious little in the way of conventions. Hope you enjoy reading this one!

[@Avid_Reader]

@@cronkthebookguy Thank you. The book is really good so far. If it's the "worst" in the series, I'm in for a treat.

[@Paulovlyra]

2:10 Damnn I need a book bag

[@maybelore]

Hay, I know the author's cousin, haven't read the books though. your point on monarchies is really good and it's making me rethink a lot of the books I want to write because most of them are about kings and queens (I even have one about the king's second best knight's esquire's son)

[@cronkthebookguy]

Haha it pleases me to know I made one person rethink monarchies. 😂 Yeah evil kings are a major feature of my writing. Good luck with your writing! I'm intrigued by the king's second best knight's esquire's son. That's a lot of degrees of separation!

[@Alkemisti]

For flintlock lovers, I recommend _The Shadow Campaigns_ by Django Wexler. I read the first book a year ago, and while it was a bit slow at times and I considered DNFing, it left me wanting to know what happens next. I have now been reading the second volume, and I knew after less than a quarter that it is going to be one of the best books I have ever read. I am now halfway through, and I still think so. It feels like a mix of _Powder Mage_ and _Gentleman Bastards._ PS. My books are also flintlock fantasy. They are also agentless-and-unpublished fantasy which is my least favourite genre.

[@cronkthebookguy]

I hadn't heard of The Shadow Campaigns, but I've now added it to my reading list! Thank you!

[@haydndavis7154]

@Alkemisti was coming to comment the same thing, the series has been a favorite of mine every since reading the second book, and now Richard Poe's narration has gotten me through all 5 audiobooks twice over, would love to hear your thoughts on the series since this comment

[@MrScrawnjuan]

I'm on book 2 and loving it so far

[@jenniferlummis8196]

I definitely hope to get around to the first book this year.

[@acepc2]

I love the powder mage trilogy! It's my first ever flintlock book and I love it. I need more books like this

[@diannthus]

I need you to take a break from your regularly scheduled book videos to give us a haircare routine.

[@cronkthebookguy]

Looooots of brushing. Ever watched Tangled? It's basically that. 😄😉

[@hartmut30plus]

Finally, the Powder Mage video! For how popular the series seems to be, there isn't a lot of content about it online. I feel like Promise of Blood made a big splash in the Fantasy space because its genre and concept felt so fresh, but only the minority of readers committed to the rest of the material across both trilogies. Even though i'm not the most experienced reader in the world, even I thought the spike in quality from book 1 to book 2 was very noticeable. Everything felt tighter and more thought out. In my opinion, McClellan reached his peak in Sins of Empire (my favourite of the books) and then stayed at that level for the rest of trilogy 2. I was somewhat disappointed though by the endings to both trilogies, even though I think both of them are very good! Perhaps McClellan is just at his strongest in the middle act of a story? He is extremely good at throwing cool shit a you, and the way he makes four different magic systems clash against each other is unmatched. There are also a bunch of short stories and novellas (mostly following the same characters from the novels) that are of similar quality. Definitely recommend those (Servant of the Crown is the best one)! Spoiler: Small correction to the summary of the second trilogy: Fatrasta has already risen up against the Kez and Adran colonial rule and established itself as an independent country in the time between the two trilogies. The tensions are mainly between the indigenous Palo people and the New Fatrastans, most of which originally come from the countries of the Nine, commonly called Kressians (though that is a totally understandable mistake to make). On a side note, which ones are the LGBT characters? I can't remember anybody besides maybe Ichtracia. I apologise for the very long comment, but this is one of my favourite series, and I have very few outlets to talk about it. Thanks for the video, it was great!

[@cronkthebookguy]

Wow! You were absolutely right to correct me. I had forgotten that detail. Yikes, that's an important distinction too. 🤦‍♂ I'm so glad to hear from a true fan of Powdermage. So many people only read the first book. That's why I wanted to make the video, cause you're right! Sins of Empire is amazing! I'd love for more people to get the full picture. Also, I can't remember which character was LGBT. See, I got that information from a Christian website that was condemning the book for having gay people. 🤣 It didn't list names. But I figured they would know! 🤣

[@BoboftheOldeWays]

Late to this party, but I really loved your video, and your overall format and presentation style. I also love the Powder Mage world, and flintlock fantasy in general. I've been meaning to revisit this book series along with Django Wexler's Shadow Campaigns (which I never finished). These two were my intro to the genre. The TV rights to the Powder Mage series were purchased back in 2021, and it was one of the best pieces of entertainment news I'd ever heard. But the project is apparently dead, as nothing else was ever reported about it. But can you imagine a prestige-TV adaptation of this world? It would blow people's minds if done right. Anyway, you've earned yourself a new subscriber!

[@cronkthebookguy]

Thanks buddy! Yeah a TV show of powdermage would go hard! Though there's an excellent adaption of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell that has a decent amount of flintlock and magic. It might scratch that itch? You're the latest person to recommend Shadow Campaigns. I've officially added it to my reading list, thank you sir!

[@Paulovlyra]

Omg, I need to read this. I loved this concept

[@mavalle89]

Gotta tell you bud just discovered your channel and I'm hooked. Keep up the great work.

[@antwon3803]

I can't wait to watch this when I get home

[@BlueberrySmith]

Great video, although I am a bit confused, why no mention of Nila? She was one my favourite characters when I read the book, and she is well a female pov character, even though her screen time was definetely the smallest. P.s.: really hoping for your take on the locked tomb series, it seems to be right your alley

[@AmandaInEly]

Mr 'Norrll', not 'No -elle'. I checked with Susanna Clarke when she came to our local bookshop just after it came out. Looking forward to this, one of my very favourie books.

[@cronkthebookguy]

Ah! I am ashamed.🤦‍♂ I just listened to the audio book and heard it pronounced 'Norrll' about two thousand times. I should have known! Good tip though, thank you! Also I cannot believe you met Susanna Clarke! That is amazing! I hear she's practically a recluse. I'm very jealous!

[@burnsteinz6]

I've never read Flintlock, I have the first book of the Powdermage on my shelf, probably reading it somewhere in the second quarter?

[@debangan]

Hey Book Guy, I just wanted to say I really enjoyed your videos! I stumbled upon them today and haven't been able to stop watching for the past couple of hours. They're really engaging! I actually have a recommendation for you: "Lord of the Mysteries" by Cuttlefish That Loves Diving. It's a webnovel by a Chinese author, but it has a victorian gaslamp fantasy setting. There's an excellent English translation available too (that's what I read, since I don't know Chinese myself). It recently won a bunch of literary awards, so I think it's definitely worth checking out. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!

[@cronkthebookguy]

Wow...it has 1452 chapters???? I'm speechless. Buddy thanks for enjoying my work! I love to hear it. Thank you so much.

[@debangan]

@@cronkthebookguy Though, it has 1.4k chapters, the length of individual chapters is less is 2k words, since it is an Webnovel. In total, it has 2,711,747 English words (source: the lady who did the English translation)

[@cronkthebookguy]

@debangan wow, 2.7 million?! Pretty sure that's close to the size of Malazan, Book of the Fallen. 🤯 I'll check it out, but still! 🤣

[@debangan]

​@@cronkthebookguy Thanks! Once again, just wanted to mention - great book reviews.

[@squidinc4376]

Why am I watching your videos.. I've barely cracked into Dust of Dreams and haven't even scratched the Esslemont books.. You're just adding to my reading backlog with these excellent videos

[@cronkthebookguy]

Thanks buddy! :) And don't stress, you have a lifetime of reading ahead of you. You'll get through all the books you want to, in time.

[@tannersturgeon2448]

So excited for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell!!

[@jiminyhickerbottoms1846]

Please tell me you're gonna review Monarchies of God by Paul Kearney for Flintlock February!

[@nazimelmardi]

This was an excellent video. It would be nice to see Banks - Culture in this type of intro video. And I think if you didn’t read it yet, it’s a book series that would be a great one for you in the sci-fi genre.

[@seamusb9012]

The first trilogy is in my top 5 favourite series. Amazing action, politics, and magic! I do like the first book more than you, but I get your points.

[@binglamb2176]

Would you recommend reading the novellas spaced among the trilogies? I have the first trilogy (not yet read) but I see there are so many installments to this world.

[@hartmut30plus]

You can really read them whenever, with the only exception that you should read Return to Honor after book 1, Promise of Blood. I'd also recommend reading Ghosts of the Tristan Basin after book 1 of trilogy 2, Sins of Empire, but that's not a must

[@binglamb2176]

@@hartmut30plus Thank you. Very much appreciated!

[@cronkthebookguy]

Yes sadly I haven't read the novellas, which I regret now. But @hartmut30plus has got your back.

[@AshleyRebecca]

I didn’t enjoy book 1 even though I thought the magic system was undeniably amazing. I didn’t continue this series. Maybe I will reconsider picking up book 2. I can see how people enjoy his books and writing; just not sure it’s for me.

[@dylanbeazer2506]

Powder Mage is one of my all time favorites. I love the allusions to Napoleonic France and how the 3 types of magic represent the 3 estates. I also enjoyed that the powder mage magic is a new thing and how it has changed the world, leading to the conquest and making Adro even more powerful in the lead up to the book. It is however, unfortunate about the lack of diversity in gender. McClellan said if he could go back and change one major thing it would be to make Adamat a woman. Can't wait to see the other flintlock books, it is a favorite subgenre of mine.

[@ViperRT99]

I believe the swears are using Kresimir's name.

[@meris8486]

"Privileged are rare" I swear some thousand die in this series haha

[@cronkthebookguy]

Right?! There was a lot of 'Privileged never die!' Followed by a lot of them dying. The term 'super easy barely am inconvenience' comes to mind.

[@cronkthebookguy]

Right?! There was a lot of 'Privileged never die!' Followed by a lot of them dying. The term 'super easy barely am inconvenience' comes to mind.

[@meris8486]

@@cronkthebookguy Yeah Taniel may as well be the Achilles of this universe

[@mandicruz912]

First viewer and commenter! 🎉 Got so excited to see this pop up!

[@IDontCare2DoYou]

I think I’m the only person who doesn’t enjoy Sanderson.

[@BlueberrySmith]

Nah you are not, I really dont like his books for a lot of personal and general reasons, still think he is a great author, just not for me

[@xintrosi6829]

I think there are lots of you but it's really hard for you to speak up because...when is it relevant? You either shout into the maelstrom of adoring fans "harshing their buzz" or have a dedicated negative topic "echo chamber of negativity". So I think most people keep their mouth shut when something popular isn't to their tastes.

[@dragoaus]

I find funny how you put picture of Neuschwanstein Castle, build by Gay King with 0 actual power and no interest in ruling. While somehow dont mention British monarchy, especially you being Australian and since British Monarchy still acutaly claim to have divine right to rule.

[@csd8204]

Prefer McClelland to Sanderson any day. Great series!

[@AnyaBlackk]

I feel like I keep seeing so many reviews on this book and series that are so positive, which is what led me to try it out. I cannot explain why, but the beginning was so mind numbingly tedious to me, I did not feel any attachment nor interest in the characters and their stories, and the fact that women seem to be almost completely sidelined (as mentioned in some of the reviews) made me realize this book simply isn't for me. I love the concepts so much, but these books just feel very male and I do not feel welcome to them, nor do they pull me in as they should. The repeated speaking of Ka-Poel as if she were a child/stupid/not present just rubbed me the wrong way. All respect to Mr. Mcclellan, but I could not even push past the first few chapters.

[@zerojanvier79]

#AKAB ;-)