The Crimson Campaign (Powder Mage #2) by Brian McClellan
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: January 20, 2015 (first published: May 6. 2014)
Format: Paperback, 640 pages
Genre: Fantasy – Epic/Flintlock
POV Style: Multi – 3rd Person
Map Included: Yes – Essential
🚑 Fantasy Triage Score
Score: 4.5 — 🚑 Immediate Admission
Everything that was great and what I loved about The Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign took all of that, and made it better!
🧾 Patient Intake Summary (Spoiler-Free)
When invasion looms… 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 over the mountains so that he can defend his country from an angry god, Kresimir.
But the threats are closer to home…
In Adro, Inspector Adamat only wants to rescue his wife. To do so he must track down and confront the evil Lord Vetas. He has questions for Vetas concerning his enigmatic master, but the answers will lead Adamat on a darker journey.Who will lead the charge?
Tamas’s generals bicker among themselves, the brigades lose ground every day beneath the Kez onslaught, and Kresimir wants the head of the man who shot him in the eye. With Tamas and his powder cabal presumed dead, Taniel Two-shot finds himself as the last line of defense against Kresimir’s advancing army.In a rich, distinctive world that mixes magic with technology, who could stand against mages that control gunpowder and bullets?
🦴 Musculoskeletal System — Worldbuilding Skeleton
- Diagnosis: 4 — Reinforced Structure
Clinical Notes:
Think French Revolution time period, with the muskets and bayonets. Adro is a nation that has been ruled by Kings since the time of Kesemir, who was the first God to visit. Adro’s relationship with it rival neighbor country, Kez, only grows on in importance as the story progress. The lore of the Gods and their history if something that is explored and made a major part of the story and world too. Magic is an everyday occurrence, with Powder Mages and Privileged, and the rivalry between two.
🫀 Cardiac System — Character Pulse
- Diagnosis: 5 — Heroic Vitality
Clinical Notes:
Extremely impressed with part of the book. I already loved reading Tamas and Taniel, but they hit on a different level this time. Talk about feeling pain and frustration for characters. What Taniel went through this time… dare say borderline grimdark. Hands down, the growth these two went was what made the book for me. But of course, cannot talk about trauma building a character without Adamat either… and well, his whole family.
⚡ Nervous System – Adventure Adrenaline
- Diagnosis: 5 — Maximum Strain
Clinical Notes:
I’m only putting the start of each plot line, but boy-oh-boy, does a lot happened!
Tamas: going down to south the prevent the Kez from invading, and his plan should work well… as long as no one backstabs him.
Taniel and Ka-Poel: Taniel is what is essentially and opium den after killing (?) Kresmir, but the Kez are still attacking and he is needed on the front lines, and once he gets there, people do not respond or respect him the the way people normally did
Adamat: Forever in search of Lord Vetas and his family
Nila: Good news: she has been reunited with Jacob! Bad news: they are both being held hostage by Lord Vetas.
🩸 Circulatory System — Political Blood Pressure
- Diagnosis: 4 — Hypertensive
Clinical Notes:
Much more moving pieces here than first book. The amount of politics and moving pieces was actually a pleasant surprise! I was not expecting this to major factor in the story.
🧬 Genetics — Magic System DNA
- Diagnosis: 4 — Well Sequenced
Clinical Notes:
We still have the Powder Mages, Privileged, Predeii, Knacked, and Wardens, but now we have something new… Black Wardens! Just like regular Wardens that are now stronger, faster, can climb walls, and any injury short of cutting their head off, they can still probably keep at full strength. But, where do they come from?
🔥 Trauma Response — Climactic Trauma
- Diagnosis: 5 — Catastrophic
Clinical Notes:
Somehow, I don’t know how, but I managed to read this one even faster. Withe everything each character was going through, twists in story, subplots, and overall increase in complexity I was not expecting, I could not put this down.
💊 Prescription Tropes
Recommended For:
- Fans of Brandon Sanderson
- Flintlock lock fantasy / a magic-system most people are probably not too familiar with
- Revolution/musket time period
- Fast-paced, high tension story telling
- Character’s who develop through trauma
⚠️ Known Side Effects:
- No character appendix! (This will always be my biggest peeve in fantasy/sci-fi)
📝 Long-Term Prognosis
Closing thoughts:
Everything that was great and what I loved about The Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign took all of that, and made it better! I do not think there was a single page or even a paragraph I skimmed over.
The two aspects that brought this to next level were the character development, and then the plot twists.
I cannot emphasize enough how much Brain made all of his characters change: Tamas, Taniel, Ka-Poel, Adamat, and Nila; including those who may be considered the side character too: Ricard, Olem, Vlora, and Gavril. There is a full on war going on, and when war is going on, its not just the battle itself where battle’s are occurring, and I think Brian did a incredible job at showing how far war spreads to all aspects of life.
The first book, yes there coupe, and some back stabbing political moves, but overall, it was fairly straight forward military fantasy story, that shinned in its magic system and badass characters. Fun and fast fantasy. Politics now, not straight forward anymore, multilevel maneuverer by various people and groups; conflicts on the battlefield, in the camp, and all the people and locations that Adamat finds himself in.
Normally, after I finish a book, I take time to write a review before starting a new one, but not this time. I opened up The Autumn Republic later that day.
📊 Fantasy / Science Fiction Lab Results
| System | Diagnosis |
|---|---|
| 🦴 Worldbuilding Skeleton | 4 — Reinforced Structure |
| 🫀 Character Pulse | 5 — Heroic Vitality |
| ⚡ Adventure Adrenaline | 5 — Maximum Strain |
| 🩸 Political Blood Pressure | 4 — Hypertensive |
| 🧬 Magic System DNA | 4 — Well Sequenced |
| 🔥 Climactic Trauma | 5 — Catastrophic |
Reading Difficulty Diagnosis: 3 — Moderate Cognitive Load
Map Dependence: Essential
Commitment Level: 🧾 Trilogy PLUS (3 books and several novellas)
Treatment Plan: Continue Immediately
Final Diagnosis: 4.5 – Near Immortal
– DJ, Bookworm MD
Bookworm M.D. 