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The Crimson Campaign

(Powder Mage #2)

Brian McClellan (Goodreads Author)

4.36 · Rating details · 32,649 ratings · 1,569 reviews

The hounds at our heels will soon know we are lions

Tamas's invasion of Kez ends in disaster when a Kez counter-offensive leaves him cut off behind enemy lines with only a fraction of his army, no supplies, and no hope of reinforcements. 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 ...more

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Hardcover, UK edition, 596 pages

Published May 6th 2014 by Orbit

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May 07, 2017 Petrik rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Flintlock fantasy fans

Recommended to Petrik by: Lema

4.5/5 Stars

Two days. That’s the actual amount of time it took for me to finish this 600 pages book, that’s how fast paced this book is.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that The Crimson Campaign is a marvelous sequel that’s better than the first book in every aspect. The revolution that Tamas started in Promise of Blood has turned into an all-out war with the Kez and with it, the plot became so much more engaging than before. Still told from the same four main POV, Tamas & Taniel are right in the ...more

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Mar 21, 2018 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, fantasy-all

Faye adjusted her dress and took a deep breath. Her eyes traveled around the room. A mix of emotions ranged across her face: anger, panic, dear. For a moment Nila thought she might snatch up a frying pan and kill her.

Nila wondered who she was. Why was she here? Obviously another prisoner. Another player in Veta's schemes. Could Nila trust her?

"I'm Nila," she said. "And this is Jackob."

Fayes eyes settled on Nila and she nodded with a frown.

"I'm Faye. And I'm going to kill the bastard."

I'm ...more

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May 06, 2017 Luna. ✨ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: great-books, favorites, badassery, flintlock-fantasy

1001/5

THIS.WAS.INCREDIBLE
I'm convinced this series was written for me. I'm also DOOMED to shamelessly love it. I feel like I'm in a powder trance after this book, HOLY SHIT. I once again dropped all other priorities to read this and ended up devouring it in two days. Definitely my favourite read of 2017.

"Every night he's looking for the eye behind the flintlock."

So I thought book one was incredible, somehow this book was better. I just need to scream *screams* *screams some more* *lo ...more

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Jun 12, 2017 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bb-b-2017, fantastic-fantasy, 4-5-stars, 2017-reads, awesome-audio, buddy-read

I probably should have written a review for this before plunging into the last book of the trilogy, but it could not be helped I had to know how it would all work out.

description

Definitely better than Promise of Blood and a great action packed free-for-all.

“One man always makes a difference. Sometimes it’s a small one. Other times, he tips a war.”

I’m not huge on loving military campaigns and since this had 2 character PoVs with military type campaigns I should have been totally bored with thi ...more

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Aug 01, 2013 Dan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014

Tamas is lost behind enemy lines and presumed dead. Taniel Two-Shot is wasting his life away in mala dens. And Adamat is hunting for his missing wife. Not only that, Kresimir lives and is looking for the man who shot him in the eye...

So yeah. This was pretty great. As much as I loved the first volume, Promise of Blood, this book slightly surpassed it.

The Crimson Campaign is everything the second book in a trilogy should be. The danger is ramped up to 11 and beyond, the characters continue to evo Tamas is lost behind enemy lines and presumed dead. Taniel Two-Shot is wasting his life away in mala dens. And Adamat is hunting for his missing wife. Not only that, Kresimir lives and is looking for the man who shot him in the eye...

So yeah. This was pretty great. As much as I loved the first volume, Promise of Blood, this book slightly surpassed it.

The Crimson Campaign is everything the second book in a trilogy should be. The danger is ramped up to 11 and beyond, the characters continue to evolve, and the principles find themselves in even greater danger by the end of the book.

From the early goings, The Crimson Campaign grabs the reader by the short and curlies and won't let go. Tamas soon finds himself on the run from the Kez army with a comparatively small force. Taniel, once he emerges from his mala haze, finds himself opposed by his own army. Adamat takes a tremendous beating in the course of finding his missing family.

Brian McClellan is a cheeky little hamster. The shifts in viewpoint come at the perfect dramatic times, forcing me to read well past my bedtime and compelling me to forego housework as well. Hell, it Tamas showed up on my doorstep, I'd leave my white collar life behind and ride with him to hell and back.

For me, one of the measures of a good writer is to make me care about something I previously considered mind-meltingly boring. P.G. Wodehouse did it with golf and Brian McClellan did it here with military tactics. While we're told Tamas is a military genius, this book and the previous one do a phenomenal job showing him in action.

I know I've been gushing but I still don't feel like I've done this book justice. It deliviers the goods on all levels: action, intrigue, character development, even a bit of humor. Not only that, the books are coming out in timely fashion. In these days, it's rare to wrap up a fantasy trilogy in a decade and it looks like McClellan is going to do three books in three years.

The Crimson Campaign. Go buy it! Five out of five stars. ...more

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May 22, 2017 Twila rated it really liked it

Shelves: buddy-read, audiobook, great-characters, nail-biter, gorgeous-cover, fantastic-narration, mystery

4.5 stars

“The hounds at our heels will soon know we are lions.”

The Crimson Campaign was better in almost every way compared to its predecessor. All those problems I had with the character development? That’s gone. Those problems with the pace? That’s totally gone. I wasn't bored and remained almost 100% locked in throughout this entire book, which is absolutely incredible because I have the attention span of a goldfish, so I am amazed.

One of the most important parts of a book to me are the ...more

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Feb 18, 2017 Samir rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I enjoyed the first book of this series very much and it got me interested in further exploring of the flintlock fantasy so I was eager to continue with this series and to find out was my infatuation with Promise of Blood a one time thing and after reading this I must say that it grew into something more; it grew into affection.

I could ramble on about this book but that would be hard to do without giving away important parts of the story so I’ll refrain from rambling and I'll keep it simple.

Read ...more

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Oct 21, 2018 Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller rated it it was amazing

[4.5/5 stars] This book didn't let up!! RTC ...more

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Feb 09, 2017 TS Chan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars.

The 5-star rating is just within grasp based on the promising enfolding of events in this worthy sequel to The Promise of Blood. This is a good example of how a sequel leading into the final book of a series should be written. There was no unnecessary padding, plodding or diversion from pre-established plots from the previous book. It did not suffer from what is termed as middle-book syndrome; even though it did feel like a middle-book albeit one that dexterously bridges the beginning 4.5 stars.

The 5-star rating is just within grasp based on the promising enfolding of events in this worthy sequel to The Promise of Blood. This is a good example of how a sequel leading into the final book of a series should be written. There was no unnecessary padding, plodding or diversion from pre-established plots from the previous book. It did not suffer from what is termed as middle-book syndrome; even though it did feel like a middle-book albeit one that dexterously bridges the beginning of the story to its denouement, setting the scenes to a potentially awesome climax in the finale.

The solid development of both the characters and plot from the perspective of the same 4 main characters from the first book enables the reader to further their investment in their individual storyline as well as greater appreciate the bigger picture. I continued to enjoy both Tamas’ and Taniel’s POVs significantly. Although the latter gave me a headache with his wallowing in self-pity in the earlier chapters, his relationship with Ka-poel was intriguing and touching. The political / investigative spin of the story via Adamat did not engage me as much initially but eventually captured my attention as it grew in intensity. That leaves the sole female POV in this series so far and although Nila does not appear very often, her parts provide some perspective of the consequences of the major events on the common folk. (view spoiler)

I need to make special mention of a couple of non-POV characters, namely Mihali and Olem, both whom I rank as amongst my favourite characters of this series. Olem, a bodyguard of Tamas, has some of the best, though laconic, lines in this book.

Tamas looked back out across the city. “Sometimes I feel like pestilence.”
“That argument,” Olem said after a moment’s consideration, “could be made.”
“You make me feel so much better.”
“I try, sir.”

As for dear Mihali, let’s just say I wish I have one of him in my life. He is a gem and that’s all I can say about him.

Recommended, and not just for fans of epic or high fantasy as there is a good military story being told here. ...more

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Jun 23, 2017 Chris rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-aficionados

I'm loving this series. This one was even better than the first, and definitely sets up the third really well. I was a little skeptical about this new "Flintlock Fantasy" trend, but if this is typical of the subgenre, I'm sold. ...more

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Feb 27, 2017 Bookwraiths rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, fantasy

Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths

Fantasy lovers! Flintlock aficionados–
And everybody else here who just loves great books:
Today, today, you find yourself equals.
For you are all equally blessed.
For I have the pride, the privilege, nay, the pleasure
Of introducing to you a middle book of a series which does not suck,
A tale which can proclaim that it is better than its predecessor in every way.

description

When I first picked up The Crimson Campaign from atop my huge t-b-r pile,
It instantly dazzled me with its ...more

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Jun 13, 2014 Conor rated it really liked it

Shelves: the-powder-mage, fantasy

4.5 Stars

The Crimson Campaign is a brilliant follow-up to Brian McClellan's promising debut Promise of Blood. In only his second full-length novel (having also released a number of cool short stories set in this universe) McClellan produces another fast paced story with a complex plot, deep, sympathetic characters and the same intriguing magic system. He also improves on many of the features of his previous book while managing to avoid ‘middle book syndrome’ where the second book in a trilogy i 4.5 Stars

The Crimson Campaign is a brilliant follow-up to Brian McClellan's promising debut Promise of Blood. In only his second full-length novel (having also released a number of cool short stories set in this universe) McClellan produces another fast paced story with a complex plot, deep, sympathetic characters and the same intriguing magic system. He also improves on many of the features of his previous book while managing to avoid ‘middle book syndrome’ where the second book in a trilogy is a weak link.

The plot of this book again follows (and is greatly influenced and often driven by) the characters introduced in PoB: Field Marshal Tamas, the brilliant commander who masterminded the bloody coup that removed the corrupt nobility from power and who is now fighting for his nation's very survival. Taniel 'Two-shot', the deadly sniper and war hero and Tamas' estranged son. Adamat, the honourable detective pushed to the brink in his desperation to rescue his kidnapped family. And Nila, the former laundress who needs to harness all of her courage and guile to protect the little boy who could be heir to the throne. With an original and interesting magic system already established in PoB this book spends less time examining it and doesn't expand on it in any major ways. The weak world-building of the first book (that was improved somewhat by the novellas) was also less in-focus here and was thus less of an impediment to enjoying the story.

After struggling with the Adamat sections in PoB I was surprised at how compelling and intense his parts were here from the very start. In the previous book I found him to be a boring and predictable 'inspector' character and thought that the kidnapping of his family was a clichéd plot point (I was half expecting them to be tied to some train tracks in this one). While a principled detective becoming more and more ruthless in his desperation to find his family is a frequently used plot-point it was executed brilliantly here. From the first scene Adamat's story was fast-paced and compelling with several complex schemes interweaving throughout his arc and a great cast of supporting characters (Bo, SouSmith, Faye). My only complaint was that after a climactic denouement halfway through the book his arc became less complex and the pace slowed somewhat. That being said it was still compelling; more so than any part of his arc in the first book.

Taniel's storyline started out weakly with several sections of Taniel wallowing in introspective self pity for no apparent reason. However once he got back in the action it immediately became engaging again. Taniel provided the most intense action scenes of the book and his interactions with Ka-Poel were awesome, in turns funny and touching. However his on-going conflict with the Adran generals was frustrating, with a great deal of stupidity and stubbornness on both sides. I also really enjoyed the exploration of how his perceptions of Tamas differed from the man himself. Taniel frequently refers to his father as cold and unloving towards him and yet in Tamas’ sections we see how untrue that is. Hopefully this intriguing dynamic between two of the series' most important characters will be explored more in the next book.

Tamas' storyline was a gripping account of a desperate military campaign deep behind enemy lines. This storyline has been compared frequently to the 'Chain of Dogs' in Deadhouse Gates, however I didn't find it to be too similar. While this storyline didn't examine the human tragedy of war as painstakingly or have as much gut-wrenching emotional impact it provided a more focused account of a military campaign filled with engaging and believable insights into the struggles of commanding such a massive operation. In this storyline I especially loved the examination of the impact logistics had on the campaign. While often ignored in fantasy (and 'pop history' books) in favour of more 'epic' accounts of battles, logistics were the most important factor in determining the success of any army throughout the ages. While it would have been easy to dismiss logistics as a boring side-note McCellan manages to make it one of the most integral and interesting parts of the storyline. Tamas’ struggles with logistics were especially effective as a subtle reminder of how desperate and perilous the campaign was and it was especially cool to see how logistics was so crucial in deciding when and where a battle took place. (view spoiler)

Probably my biggest complaint about this book was the absence of strong, important female characters. Nila was the only female POV and her sections were much less frequent and less important than the 3 male POV's. Vlora. Ugh, Vlora. Grinds teeth in frustration*. I had high hopes that Vlora would step up in this one, having been an intriguing presence in the background of PoB. However I ultimately found her to be an extremely frustrating character. Her explanation for why she cheated on Taniel, her fiancée and best friend since childhood, was moronic and her repeated displays of disrespect for Tamas (her commanding officer on an incredibly dangerous and tense military operation) were immature and childish. (view spoiler) While Ka-Poel was awesome (obvs) we still didn't get any new insight into her background or motivations and her role in the story was still limited to being Taniel's 'savage' sidekick and possible love interest.

Overall this was a really enjoyable read with a fast-paced, complex plot and sympathetic characters with a lot of depth. Following up an extremely promising debut and skilfully avoided falling into 'second book syndrome', McClellan is obviously a great young author and I'm definitely psyched to read The Autumn Republic.
...more

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Dec 22, 2017 Phee 💗💜💙 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2017

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.
This is one of the best if not THE best second book in a trilogy I have ever read. Second book syndrome is not a problem here let me tell you.
I loved Promise of Blood and thought it was a cracking 5 star read. It’s sequel The Crimson Campaign absolutely blew book one out of the water. This was outstanding!!! It out did book one in almost every single way and did it so well. I’m actually enthralled.

I don’t want to dig into the plot too much as this is a sequel a Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.
This is one of the best if not THE best second book in a trilogy I have ever read. Second book syndrome is not a problem here let me tell you.
I loved Promise of Blood and thought it was a cracking 5 star read. It’s sequel The Crimson Campaign absolutely blew book one out of the water. This was outstanding!!! It out did book one in almost every single way and did it so well. I’m actually enthralled.

I don’t want to dig into the plot too much as this is a sequel and all so I’ll keep it brief. The coup that Tamas started at the beginning of book one is now a war. We follow about 4 different POV’s which all bring a different element to the story. This book is about loyalty, family, war, religion and power. The magic systems continue to impress me in there complexities. My only gripe in terms of the magic systems (mainly the privileged type) is the lack of limitations. The characters can pull off some ridiculous feats with their magic.
Tamas and Taniel’s POV offers us the military and warfare based plot lines. Both are fighting the war but in completely different ways.
Adamat’s POV offers the family oriented man who will go to any lengths to protect his family. I had reservations about him in book one, but his characterisation in this book showed me the strength of his morals and his dedication to his family.
The forth POV is Nila, we don’t actually get many chapters from her perspective but I’m looking forward to seeing her grow, especially with the developments towards the end of this novel. Very interesting indeed.

The battles and war scenes completely captured my imagination. The author clearly know his shit. The battle plans, formations and strategy were all so well described and easy for the reader to understand whilst maintaining a complexity. They were so tense, my heart was literally pounding whilst reading those scenes. I felt in the midst of the battle, as if the fighting was going on all around me. The stakes are very high in this book. As soon as our characters rest to catch their breath another challenge comes from behind. It was exhausting in a way. You feel as much strain as the characters which I think just goes to show the quality of the writing.

Speaking of quality. These damn characters!!! I love them. I freaking love them. I feel like I gushed about them in my review for book one. Honestly my feelings have only gotten stronger. I really felt for Tamas in this one. He really goes through a lot in this book. Not just physically but emotionally too. He is losing everything slowly and is realising that he is getting old. He’s facing each of his battles with a soldiers view of going out in the glory of a battle. He is getting reckless in some regard and let’s his anger get the better of him on a few occasions. You can see where Taniel gets it from.
Ahh Taniel. His POV is my favourite and I adore him. Ka-poel is absolutely outstanding in this book. Her character is so interesting and has such depth. Especially considering she is mute. I swear if Taniel doesn’t marry her then I will.
Another absolute gem of a character in this book was Bo. Be still my heart. I didn’t think much of him in book one but now... he is phenomenal. Seriously, his flirting and power is great and made this book even better.

I can’t believe that the final book is upon me. I know I’ve been reading this series for like a week, but I’m so attached to these characters and so invested in this world. I’m absolutely terrified at the thought of what is to come. I have no clue as to how it’s going to end and I feel like shrouding my heart in armor. But somehow I don’t think that will be enough. ...more

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May 26, 2017 Choko rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

*** 4.75 ***

A buddy read with my friends @ BB&B! Because we love Flintlock Fantasy!!!

I wish I had the time and was not on my phone app, so I could write a review worthy of the story of those very human and very compelling, imperfect Powder Mages! I wish I had the skill to write it in a way which would express the beauty and power of the simplicity of the prose the author employees to deliver the gritty details of a world in the flames of war. I wish I had slept since the moment I started this bo *** 4.75 ***

A buddy read with my friends @ BB&B! Because we love Flintlock Fantasy!!!

I wish I had the time and was not on my phone app, so I could write a review worthy of the story of those very human and very compelling, imperfect Powder Mages! I wish I had the skill to write it in a way which would express the beauty and power of the simplicity of the prose the author employees to deliver the gritty details of a world in the flames of war. I wish I had slept since the moment I started this book and the short stories surrounding it, instead of staying up every minute I am not busy with work and trying to engulf as much of the action as possible! But alas, not everything we wish can come true, so I am left with the meager ability to write couple of sentences in the middle of a lunch break on my smartphone while trying to ignore all the commotion that surrounds me...

This is the second major book in a three books ark with several shorts thrown in for some spice:-) The firs book was obviously a learning experience for the author, who even then did a pretty decent job with it. After all, if you have a good idea and have a good plan of how to structure it, pace it , and deliver it to your readers, you are almost set. The writing style and ornamentation was an afterthought... Here, the construct is still very strong and powerful in its own right, but the author has grown tremendously in the packaging and the way he communicated it with us.!!! I am very pleased that he stuck with the simplistic approach, despite his newly acquired ability to use as much ornaments as he would like - in moderation is the real talent!!!

The characters grew, became real Infront of our eyes and their motivations and formative thought processes were unraveled as we spend more time with them. The inspector, the Field Marshall, the brave soldier, the lone wizard surviver, the laundress, the families cought in the middle of other people's wars and machinations, the players who pull the strings, they all create a world of extremes, textures and visceral experiences which deliver a true punch to the gut! I was rivited to the pages and was left hungering for more! My favorite character is Ka-poel, but I have to admit that Tamas's larger than life personality, with all of his major faults, steals the show hands down. No wonder Taniel is so tortured by trying to not just compete, but from the effort to break even with his father... Living under his shadow must be a killer on his self esteem and need to find his own place in life...

Overall, this book was much better than the previous and I hope the next one is even better! I want to recommend it to everyone, although I think not every very young person would be able to appreciate all the implications and true motives. There is violence - it is war time after all. So maybe PG 13... But do give it a try!!!

Now I wish you all Happy Reading and many more wonderful books to come!!! ...more

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Feb 03, 2017 Scott Hitchcock rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: flintlock-fantasy, 5-stars, library-ebook

That was a fun read with nonstop action from start to finish. Better than book one which was very good in it's own right. I look forward to book three which has a lot to live up to. There's still so many story lines and people in flux. Abilities not yet completely defined.

McCellan has a very fluid writing style. Not fancy or poetic but the flow is terrific. ...more

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Feb 07, 2016 Petros Triantafyllou rated it really liked it

I had a hard time deciding if i liked this or not.
This book have 4 different POVs. Tamas, Taniel, Adamat & Nila.
Both Tamas' and Taniel's POVs were great. Action packed, full of mystery & intrigue, and a great storytelling for some well built characters (Including sidekicks as Ka-Poel, Olem & Mihali).
Adamat's and Nila's POVs in the other hand, were quite boring. I, not once, found myself interested in Adamat's family, the young Eldaminse, or even Lord Veta's fortune.
I was torn between 3 & 4 star ...more

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Jul 18, 2016 Solseit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It took me a while to publish it but here is the full review on the book!

https://todaysdecameron.wordpress.com...

I immensely enjoyed the first book of the series Promise of Blood; and I was fearing to be disappointed. Silly me! This book was sublime, action, fast pace in the development (better, right pace for the development of the situations because it never felt like I needed more information), drama, magic, powder (duh!) and grief. (view spoiler) ...more

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Jun 04, 2017 Michael Britt rated it really liked it

Actual rating: 4.75/5

This book was soooooo close to becoming a 5 star book for me. There were just a few minor problems I had with it. Things that could be explained in the third novel, so I decided to give McClellan the benefit of the doubt. But I'll get to that later.

I think I've said this a few times, during my updates, but I can't believe this is the same writer from Promise of Blood. I felt very "meh" about it and was nervous to continue it. But PoB showed so much potential that I had a ha Actual rating: 4.75/5

This book was soooooo close to becoming a 5 star book for me. There were just a few minor problems I had with it. Things that could be explained in the third novel, so I decided to give McClellan the benefit of the doubt. But I'll get to that later.

I think I've said this a few times, during my updates, but I can't believe this is the same writer from Promise of Blood. I felt very "meh" about it and was nervous to continue it. But PoB showed so much potential that I had a hard time justifying not going on. And boy am I glad I gave this one a chance. He fixed one of the biggest issues I had from Promise of Blood: I just didn't care about any of the characters. Ok, that's not completely true. I cared about Tamas and Ka-Poel, but I couldn't have cared less about Adamat or Taniel. Adamat felt very flat, and Taniel felt too angsty. Adamat had some great character development here. I felt like he actually cares about his family in this one. Taniel I was nervous about, in the beginning. He started out more angsty that before, but quickly became the awesome character that I wanted him to be in the first book. He gets pretty savage quite a few times and I loved every minute of it. Ka-Poel, once again, was a bad ass. She's probably my favorite character in the series. He intensity and being mute just give her such a strong feeling of mystery and I can't help but love her. Tamas was also a really great character, once again, to follow. We got to see more of him in battle and it was everything I could've hoped for. I also loved what he did with Vlora. She was a character I disliked in the first book and didn't really care about her. But McClellan put in a really great scene with her and I felt a twang of pity for her. I can see myself rooting for her depending on what he does with her in the next book. We also got a whole slew of fun side characters.

The plot was also way more interesting this go round. I really didn't care much about what was happening during the last book, but I was so enthralled in everything that was happening that I had a hard time putting this book down to eat. And believe me, this book will make you hungry.

Now, onto what I disliked about this book. It's actually a problem I had with the last book, too. I love the magic system (makes me want to eat gunpowder) but I don't like how there doesn't seem to be any kind of repercussions to the people who use the magic. Sure, if a Priveledged touched the Else without gloves on, bad things happen and I like that touch. But there doesn't seem to be any consequences for Powder Mages using their magic. There is something called going "Powder Blind" (I think that's the term) but Taniel seems to use so much powder without any consequences. Like I said in the beginning, there might be a reason for that, and it's kind of hinted at, but it still bugs me a bit. Other than that, I really don't have any other problems with this book.

I actually would recommend this series, even though I didnt enjoy the first book, based solely on this book alone. If the third, and final, book is anywhere between Promise of Blood and Crimson Campaign, in terms of quality, then this will turn out to be an awesome trilogy. ...more

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Mar 14, 2020 Deborah Obida rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favorite-books, adult

Reading this book was epic, I hate that it ended with a cliffhanger though. Its a good thing all the books have already been published, I can't imagine what waiting would have felt. Gladly this book didn't suffer from middle book syndrome, the plot here is even better than the first book. I'm getting used to the characters and I love them. The battle scenes were still awesome, I really enjoyed reading them. I love the way the author depicted the character relationship, it was realistic, Adamat's ...more

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Jun 26, 2018 Matthew rated it really liked it

Shelves: series, 2018, library, fantasy

Book 2 of this series down! While I am enjoying it, each of the first two books took me forever to get through. I am not sure what it is, but it just felt like I was never making any progress. Usually it only feels that way when I don’t like a book.

Also, I am amazed when I look at the giant brick of a book sitting on my desk and think, “Hmmmm, not much happened in that book for that many pages.” Again, not a bad thing, it just seems like there would have been much more story progress than there ...more

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Sep 24, 2017 Bradley rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, 2017-shelf

For all you fans of the grimdark fantasy epics, this one shines bright. Blindingly so.

I particularly like the fact that we stick with the same three PoV's as the first book, namely Inspector Adamat with his quest back at home, Taniel with his self-destructive god-killing front-line support, and Tamas far into enemy territory fighting the war against Kez while the rest of the army assumes that he's long-dead.

There's a lot of war and interesting developments, here, but primarily it's all about the ...more

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May 03, 2017 Haïfa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

Actual rating : 4.25 blowing stars
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The Crimson Campaign is the second book of the Powder Mage trilogy and it picks up a few days after the last events of Promise of Blood. The story is still told from 3 main male POVs and a smaller female POV (that is gaining in importance).

The Crimson Campaign was really, really good. Brian McClellan showed in it some of the great potential Promise of Blood hinted at!

So why not a 5 stars rating, one would ask ?

Because, while addressing ...more

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May 09, 2016 Mayim de Vries rated it it was ok

It appears I am the disgruntled minority. Beware! This review is sponsored by letter B. Actually, B&B.

No, not like in Bed & Breakfast. It's not a one-nighter novel. And assuming I'd take it to bed with me, I would not like to spend the morning with it.

B&B as in brutishly boring. Crimson Campaign is a book of skimming quality. That's right, you can read every third page and still follow the plot without any problems. In fact, you wouldn't even miss crucial details. Worse, if you read Promise of ...more

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Feb 09, 2017 Jody rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, flintlock-fantasy

Well! It's been a few days since I finished The Crimson Campaign and my opinion hasn't changed. This was definitely better than the first book. More action, more magic, and above all else more gritty determination by our lead characters. Brian McClellan is putting the flintlock fantasy genre on the map.

The multiple POV's are done extremely well. Taniel and Ka-poel are by far my favorites. Adamant came in second, with Tamas following in third.

Adro's war with the Kez is in full swing, but the ...more

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Sep 02, 2013 seak rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-review, 2014

The Crimson Campaign picks up right where Promise of Blood left off in Adro. The Kez are at the Adran's doorstep and Tamas' plan to get behind them has back-fired, Taniel is drugged out and not looking to improve, and Adamat is still searching for his kidnapped family.

It used to be, a sequel was just a bridge to the exciting events of the final volume of the trilogy. Not so here and with a lot of trilogies I've been reading lately. Crimson Campaign belongs to a new breed of sequels. Where the s ...more

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Jul 18, 2017 Terry rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fantasy Lovers

Shelves: fantasy, 2017-book-challenge

"The Hounds at our Heels...Will Soon Know we are Lions."

What a terrific quote from the cover! This book was an excellent follow-up to the first book in the Powder Mage series. Equally as good for me. The characters I liked in the first book grew on me more. The themes of love of country, indomitable spirit, perseverance, loyalty and especially love of friends and family run strong in this one.

I'm totally hooked to finish this series.

4.5/5.0 stars. ...more

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May 11, 2014 Terence rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars

Tamas's defense strategy on the Kez Adro border fails because of treachery. Even worse Tamas, the majority of the Powder Mages, and a large portion of the army is trapped behind enemy lines. There is no easy way for the Adran army to return to Adro and now they must travel a large mountainous stretch of Kez with no supplies to safely return. Meanwhile Taniel miraculously lived through the destruction of a mountain and he's the last Powder Mage remaining to defend Adro from impossible numbers and ...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy, arcs-and-galleys, netgalley, epic, fantasy, magic

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

I find myself thoroughly enjoying the Powder Mage series. Brian McClellan’s star continues to rise, following up last year’s debut Promise of Blood with a strong sequel. While there were some parts I thought he did better in the first book, others that were better in the second, overall I can’t be happier with the direction this trilogy is taking.

The book starts out by easing readers back into the setting. With the help o 4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

I find myself thoroughly enjoying the Powder Mage series. Brian McClellan’s star continues to rise, following up last year’s debut Promise of Blood with a strong sequel. While there were some parts I thought he did better in the first book, others that were better in the second, overall I can’t be happier with the direction this trilogy is taking.

The book starts out by easing readers back into the setting. With the help of an angry god, the Kez invasion into Adran territory is in full swing, after crushing Tamas’ ambitious strike. Stranded behind enemy lines with only a small remnant of his army left to aid him, the indomitable field marshal begins to lead his soldiers back across the mountains to warn and defend his country. Meanwhile back in Adro, Inspector Adamat is frantic with desperation and fear for the fate of his wife and son, held captive by the depraved Lord Vetas.

In yet another part of the world, Tamas’ son Taniel recovers from his injuries sustained in the pitched battle at the end of book one. While both Tamas and Adamat’s plot lines are marked by their very clear and concise goals, Taniel’s journey is a bit more complicated – but this also makes his character and story the most compelling, and more on that later.

But first, this “catch up” period at the beginning of the novel admittedly made for a slightly disjointed and slower start. However, I don’t think The Crimson Campaign is alone when it comes to this; I find many sequels – and especially middle books of a trilogy – have to manage this balancing act of setting up the stage for the next phase of the story while still trying to hold the reader’s attention and keep the momentum going. McClellan established a particular wide scope to begin with, following multiple characters all in separate parts of the world, so he had his work cut out for him. Considering everything that was happening, I think he did an impressive job. And once the story found its stride around the halfway point, I have to say there were no more issues with pacing.

Like I’d mentioned earlier, Taniel was the one who really shone in this one (and I find this interesting, since Adamat was my favorite in the first book, and I have to wonder if the third will be Tamas’ turn). Both Tamas and Adamat had story lines that followed a logical progression – the former had to make his way back to Adro, while the latter needed to rescue his family – and while they were engaging in their own way, neither had the ups and downs that made Taniel’s chapters so unpredictable and gripping.

The young powder mage first had to deal with the shock of awakening from a coma. Then struggle through a drug addiction that was the result of emotional trauma. Then come to terms with the news that his father might be dead. Then he had to go and get tangled up in the politics and infighting of the army. It was one big roller coaster ride with Taniel, and every turn had me wondering what would happen next. I loved everything about his story, which includes a deepening relationship between him and the mysterious woman Ka-poel, his ever loyal companion. I’m also intrigued by the changes in Taniel as a result of what happened to him at the end of Promise of Blood. This books hints at much greater and more intense developments to come on that front.

Another thing I would expect from a sequel is more world-building, and character development. In this, The Crimson Campaign did not disappoint. I’m still blown away by the hierarchy of magic users in his Powder Mage universe, and McClellan made sure to expand our knowledge of Marked, Privileged, and Knacked powers alike. I also noticed much more “screen time” in here for the female characters. Vlora, Nila and Ka-poel were all characters I wanted to learn more about, and I got my wish here. I was especially thrilled about Nila, who didn’t get much attention in Promise of Blood, but a huge bombshell dropped about her at the end of this book has me very excited about the future of her role.

What more can I say but, bring on The Autumn Republic! Something tells me that the third and final book of the trilogy will have just as much energy and impact, if not more. It’s so great to see this series going strong, and the way things are going I can only see things ending with a bang.
...more

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Dec 25, 2019 Andreas rated it it was amazing

Such an incredible world this is. I can't get enough of it. Also I need more Ka-poel in my life. ...more

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Jan 29, 2014 Mike (the Paladin) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: action, fantasy, military-fantasy, epic-fantasy

Have I mentioned how much I hate cliffhangers????

Well let me repeat...I HATE CLIFFHANGERS. I mean, I'm really, really not fond of them...really, I'm not.

I waited a year for this book....

And it's a great book. Everything the first had going for it this one has going for it. There's only one thing in the actual book I find a flaw and no where near a deal breaker.

But now I'm waiting....again...and I'm past 60. Come on Mr. McClellan, I don't have as many years left as I used to!

This opens where we ...more

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Fantasy Book Club...: * The Crimson Campaign-Powder Mage #2 Finished! Spoilers ahead	5	34	May 21, 2015 06:59AM
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About Brian McClellan

Brian McClellan

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Brian McClellan is an American epic fantasy author from Cleveland, Ohio. He is known for his acclaimed Powder Mage Universe and essays on the life and business of being a writer.

Brian now lives on the side of a mountain in Utah with his wife, Michele, where he writes books and nurses a crippling video game addiction.

Brian's novels include the Powder Mage Trilogy (Promise of Blood, The Crimson Camp ...more

Other books in the series

Powder Mage (3 books)

Books by Brian McClellan

Sins of Empire (Gods of Blood and Powder, #1)

Wrath of Empire (Gods of Blood and Powder, #2)

Blood of Empire (Gods of Blood and Powder, #3)

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Quotes from The Crimson Campaign

“You missed the morning’s festivities,” Bo said to Adamat. “You call torturing a man ‘festivities’?” Adamat asked. “I’m not a good person,” Bo said.” — 21 likes

“Even if you are a pompous ass with no respect for authority, you're worth fifty men, and I mean to see you in my army."

"That was an incredibly backhanded compliment."

"I meant every word.” — 17 likes

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