When you reach for fantasy novels today, you get the impression that every story is almost the same. It is very difficult to create a new, fascinating world that will not be associated with a whole range of previously published titles. Brian McClellan has made it - he has already given audiences gunpowder mages and is now returning to their universe in his latest novel.
Return to the known universe
The Sins of the Empire action takes place after the end of the war in Adro and this time it moves to Fatrasta. At the very beginning, the reader observes the excavations carried out and learns that a strange artifact has been found. It is not known for a long time what exactly an obelisk is and what role it is supposed to play in the whole story. However, I will not reveal much when I say that its importance will turn out to be colossal.
In Sins of the Empire, McClellan brings back several characters well known to the reader. So we will find there, among others Vlora or the war hero Ben Styke. The former leads a group of mercenaries and suppresses revolts of local tribes. However, it soon turns out that the situation in Fatrast is much more complicated, and the mysterious artifact will divide the nations.
Perfectly created characters
McClellan might appear to be serving readers something akin to reheated chops. He returns to the familiar universe and characters, does not make any effort to create something completely new. But are you sure? The familiar does not always have to be boring. With the literary skill of this author, you can be sure that Sins of the Empire will turn out to be a hit. McClellan perfectly shows the changes that have occurred in individual characters, which will be appreciated by fans of his previous novels. The author shows strong characters striving to set goals, but does not forget about their moments of weakness and dilemmas. He can create such protagonists that you cannot help but feel that you are watching the fate of people from flesh and blood. He does not idealize them, thanks to which the reader gets real pleasure in learning about their stories.
Unforgettable universe
When writing about McClellan’s novels, one cannot ignore the magic he created. In fact, not even one, but several kinds of it. The reader will again meet the well-known powder mages and the Privileged, but this time the author will reveal the secret about the power of Bone Eyes. For my part, I can assure you that it is impressive. It seems that this kind of magic comes from somewhere long forgotten and truly captivates with its reach and brutality. By reading McClellan’s previous trilogy and a collection of short stories, I was hoping it would eventually expand a little on the subject of Bone Eyes, which the reader has not known much about so far. Perhaps it was a deliberate action by the author who was already reflecting on the content of subsequent stories. It is certainly a tribute to the fans of his work,
The sins of the Empire , at first glance, can scare you. The bloated volume is likely to arouse fear of too many pages filled with descriptions of nature and weather. Don’t be scared away! This novel is read very quickly and breathlessly. I couldn’t even tear myself away from her. McClellan is a master of the action, introduces a lot of conflicts and obstacles that the heroes have to overcome. It does not make unnecessary downtime and does not artificially lengthen threads. It has it all figured out, and its battle scenes are worked out down to the last detail. Watching the same skirmish from the perspective of different heroes is a really rewarding experience.
Summary
McClellan ranks among my top three favorite authors. His novels are well thought out, the protagonists are diverse, the action is fast, and his approach to magic is fresh. I will recommend it to anyone who has doubts about the fantasy genre, is looking for something that will be remembered for a long time or counts on a lot of battle scenes and bloody skirmishes. I do not know if this author’s works may not be liked. McClellan is a master of the word, and I will certainly read every novel he writes.
