Blood of Empire Review

Title: Blood of Empire
Author: Brian McClellan
Date Purchased: 10/8/2020
Price Paid: $5.29
Date Finished: 4/26/2021
Rating: 4/5

One of the most interesting developments from this project is that I’m starting to dive more into why I like the books that I do. I’m relatively easy to entertain, so it’s not like there’s a high bar to surpass, but it’s been interesting to really think about what sets something I like apart from something I don’t. I’ve read a good number of books in my lifetime – why do I rank some above others?

Now this isn’t something where I can say “a book has to include a, b, and c while also avoiding x”, or even that it has to make me think in a certain way for it to be enjoyable. I’ve given high marks to some books that were masterfully crafted and really made me think…but I’ve also given high marks to books that just aim for one thing and do it well. But at the end of the day I know what I like, and I’m getting better about knowing “why”.

With The Gods of Blood and Powder trilogy the answer of why I like these books comes down to the characters. Brian McClellan does such a great job developing characters that are flawed and believable, yet are still able to show growth and change for the better. He uses the plot not as a vehicle to drive the story, but as a means to give the characters something to grow alongside…or against, in some cases.

The previous book ended much as you would expect the second book of a trilogy to end – things aren’t looking up for anyone involved, there’s a ton of uncertainty surrounding everything, and it looks like the bad guys are going to win. Based on my age and my personal history with entertainment, I would refer to this as the “Empire” effect…referencing The Empire Strikes Back.

I’ll try to dance around spoilers as much as possible, but I’m also suggesting that maybe reading this review prior to reading the book isn’t the best plan.

Each of the main characters is fighting for something in Blood of Empire – Vlora is fighting to either regain what she’s lost or learn how to live without it, Styke is fighting to figure out what life could be like if he takes the harder path, and Michel is fighting to get justice for the Palo people. That adds up to a whole lot of conflict of one sort or another…some of it is external, but a good chunk of it is internal.

I really enjoyed the struggles each character had in this book (that sounds grim) because we don’t just see trivial and superficial challenges. These are often massive obstacles that can change the definition of who the character is and what they stand for. Vlora having to fight down a murderous streak that makes her think of Tamas. Styke fighting against every fiber of his being telling him to just cut and run. And poor Michel gets torn in more directions than anyone would be comfortable with between the Palo, the Dynize, and trying to help Vlora out.

One thing that I picked on throughout the series, and this was probably present in The Powder Mage trilogy as well, is that McClellan doesn’t always feel the need to go into details about battle scenes. Not that I mind them in general, but I find that battle scenes are often overly drawn out and most authors can’t really do them justice. And unless something majorly of note happens to a protagonist in that battle? It’s usually just a chapter that’s driven by the plot.

What we see here is a fresh take on this problem. You read through a chapter about Vlora preparing for a major battle, see her going over plans, and feel her worries and reservations…then the chapter ends. The next Vlora chapter starts with the aftermath of the battle, and shows her coping with the fallout. That’s not to say that he never shows us battles, because he does…but it’s often when something memorable happens to a primary character.

As the series wound to a close, I found myself revisiting my review of the first book, and my assertion that the character driven nature of this story was what made it stand apart. I’m fully convinced that my love for McClellan’s work is due to his focus on characters over plot, and it held true throughout this trilogy. By the end you wind up caring less about the Godstones as a plot device, and more about the characters and how the events end up affecting them.

The story concludes in a very satisfying way – most questions are answered, the characters continue on their paths of growth, and the door is certainly open for some follow-up works. All in all this was an enjoyable return to the world that McClellan has created.

Final Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this entire trilogy, and would highly recommend it to any fan of character driven work. You know, once they’ve read The Powder Mage trilogy.