SciFi/Fantasy Book Review: Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan

SciFi/Fantasy Book Review: Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan https://t.co/EfoFqbTTVB Short Review: 7 out of 10 (1/3)

— garik16 (@garik16) May 21, 2018

Short Review (cont): The first in a new flintlock fantasy trilogy w/ interesting characters - a spy, a gunpowder using mage, and a berserker - and decent plot but one that never gets above "solid." Prior knowledge of McClellan's earlier trilogy may help but isnt needed. (2/3)

— garik16 (@garik16) May 21, 2018

Sins of Empire is the first in a new flintlock fantasy* trilogy by Brian McClellan.  It's actually set in the same world as McClellan's prior trilogy, The Powder Mage Trilogy, and features some of the same characters seemingly, based upon the synopses of those novels I see on Amazon - I haven't read the earlier trilogy, so this is my first McClellan book.  And therefore I can truthfully say that no prior knowledge of this universe is needed to enjoy Sins of Empire (except for one minor point) , though prior knowledge will very likely increase your enjoyment as old characters and plots are referenced.

*"Flintlock fantasy" is a name sometimes given for magic-filled fantasy series that involve guns - usually muskets - as much if not more than swords.  For other examples of the genre, see Stina Leicht's "Cold Iron" and "Blackthorne"*

As for this novel, Sins of Empire is a solid start to a trilogy, and one that ends on a satisfying note while setting up hooks for the inevitable sequel. All of its main characters are interesting, and the plot frequently surprises without being unfair.  Still, it never really transcends to a level above "solid" - so if you're looking for the start of a new epic fantasy trilogy, particularly a flintlock fantasy trilogy, this is a fairly fine book to read, but if you're not looking for this specific genre, it might not be that appealing to you.


----------------------------------------------Plot Summary----------------------------------------------
The nation of Fatrasta, particularly its capital Landfall, is ruled with an ironfist by the legendary Lady Chancellor Lindet, who keeps the native Palo people oppressed via the use of her secret police, the Blackhats.  Rebellion is rising in the nation, with the tools of Blackhats being used to print seditious materials, the pamphlet "Sins of Empire."

Caught in the middle are several individuals each with their own agendas:
Vlora Flint, a Powder Mage (who has magical power over and from ingesting gunpowder), employed by Lindet to capture the rebel Palo leader;
Ben Styke, a former leader of the Mad Lancer corps of warriors imprisoned for war crimes, who is seemingly able to fight through all injuries as a berserker and wants revenge on the leader of the secret police
Michel Bravis, a half-Palo Blackhat spy who wants to obtain the highest rank among the Blackhats, the gold rose, and takes on a special assignment to achieve it.

But ancient power has been rediscovered in the nation, and forces both internal and external are arising to claim it.  And mysterious legendary warriors from another nation are also suddenly showing up in the area, to the confusion of both sides.  Each of these three characters will have to choose where they stand in this conflict and take a stand...or else such power will wind up in the truly worst hands....
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Sins of Empire works generally due to the fact that each of its three main point of view characters are interesting and - unlike most epic fantasy books that feature chapters dedicated to various points of view, the characters interact with each other relatively early and often.  It doesn't take long for Ben to be "employed" by Vlora or for Michel to act as her liaison, and while each of the three are really pursuing different agendas, usually unknown to the others, it never feels like we're leaving an interesting plot point to follow a less interesting one somewhere else.  Of course all three of our main characters being interesting in their own rights helps.

In particular, I really enjoyed Michel Bravis, the spy, which is helped by him being the only of the three main POV characters not to have a plotline dealing with responding to the past - Vlora is apparently from the prior trilogy, although not as a major character, while Ben's past is I think all new, it makes him more of a mystery than I liked (the book never quite explains how Ben is able to do the fighting he does, and while maybe that's something for a sequel, it's kind of weird). Bravis on the other hand is always moving forward toward his agendas, and his actions were always interesting.  Again, this isn't to say Ben or Vlora are bad characters and well, there's always going to be one character the reader enjoys more than the others.

The plot moves relatively briskly, with various plot twists occurring throughout.  The major plot twist midway through took me by surprise, though the other two big plot twists (although not quite as big) were fairly predictable.  Still it didn't matter too much, it worked out pretty well.

Still, the book never really hit that moment where I was totally riveted and really enthralled by the story - it's good throughout, but never great.  Making it less great is the fact that as the book goes on, characters and ideas from the prior trilogy seem to pop back up, and while the book explains enough that I never was lost, I suspect that a lot of the impact of these things is totally lost.  So while this book IS stand-alone (contrast another recently reviewed book on this blog, Fire Dance, which advertises as stand-alone and definitely isn't), it still probably isn't an ideal place to start with this universe.

Overall, Sins of Empire is solid, and I might continue on with the series (which continues later this month).  Not sure I will though.