Brian McClellan is among my favourite epic fantasy authors having given us door-stopping tomes like the Powder Mage trilogy and his new one, Wrath of the Empire, second book in the series set in the same world that started off with Sins of the Empire coming out this year as well.
When I got the ARC of his new novella, War Cry - I had no idea it was a novella. I expected it to be a full on, tour de force epic fantasy novel. A epic fantasy based on the World War was indeed pretty intriguing and then Brian had me reading this at one stretch, this whole Saturday wrapping it up early evening. It is that good, damn addictive.

So War Cry introduces us to a world, in the state of a perpetual war, an area called Bava or Bavares high plain, possibly one of largest plateau in the world - through the eyes of this shape-shifter called Teado. He is a Changer ( and I will just let you experience what he really is, through the book without divulging much details!) and he holed up in a small canyon with his platoon, Bavarean soldiers set to do guerrilla warfare on the enemy. All of the members of the platoon have become his friends and a sort of family. As they wait for supplies from the main company, Teado also listens to the radio often tuned into the enemy's stations. Seditious propaganda to induce them to desert camp and move over to the enemy. We are introduced to his friends, Aleta - a sharp shooter who makes dreadful coffee, Rodrigo the die-hard ever cheerful pilot who makes his weekly runs to get supplies and ration to the platoon from the headquarters with his single-seater plane and his sister, Bellara - a sixteen year old sorcerer who maintains the illusions so to keep the platoon hidden from the enemy plane recon missions.

On a daring mission to capture a supplies plane, Teado gets separated from his friends and lands up in no-man's land, scouted and hunted by enemies. How he makes it back from behind enemy lines makes up the rest of the edge-of-the-seat thrilling narrative that takes no prisoners and just spritzes along till the unexpected twist at the end of the story.

It's a slim novella and it's a wonder how Brian has packed in so much world building, magic systems and a thoughtful examination of war and the after-effects of the same. Bellara has a question early on in the book that is the perfect example of how powerful and yet simplistic this process has been - "What is more important? Killing the enemy or creating wonders for the children?"

In fact, Bella's character is one of my favourite in this book. Teado is mostly reactionary, a young man whose fervour and fortitude is unquestionably high, his intentions noble and his actions definitely speak louder than his words. Needless to say, I loved the frenetic action set-pieces (as I have come to expect from Brian) and the edge of the seat tension as it unfolded through to the very climax making me glued to my kindle reader for better part of this day.

And yet the gentler moments between these hair-raising battle sequences and treacherous tight-rope walking amidst grenades and back-stabbing war politics, are what won my heart. Like when Aleta and Teado discuss the taste of coffee, soft doughy bread and the prospects of a never-ending war. Or when Bellara questions Teado about the futility of this war and her intentions to make illusions that would make people happy.

It is a wonderful dissertation on the psychology of war-weary soldiers on the ground. And its also a pulse-pounding adventure featuring some heart-stopping magical action sequences in a world where the war is eternal. A Must Read.

I love this story! I'm really glad he's stepping out from the Powder Mage world into something different (don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy the Powder Mage series, but I was excited to hear that he was branching into a differentish genre), and think that this is a great trip.

I got a World War vibe from the whole thing, but it seemed to be two countries battling it out over the course of decades, and I feel like he did a good job of populating his world with believable characters and settings.

I would have liked to have seen more character interaction; I liked what there was and can understand why there isn't more, but I really hope there are more stories set in this world to better flesh it out.

i have loved all the authors previous books and was delighted to get a copy of this to review.
i was slightly disappointed that this was only a novella, however once i got over this i quickly devoured the story.
i assume its really a set up for what is going to be a new series.

As with previous books there is a lovely mix of low tech and magic not just your usual swords and sorcery and the story gives us just enough background to make you want to read more about the world and conflict there in.

My only real grip is a what i felt was a very abrupt ending , although i guess that may be the price to pay for this being a novella i am certainly hooked enough to read more and look forward to what i hope is a full length novel to start of a new series!!

Another month, another Tor.com novella…

One of the great things about these novellas is that authors can try new ideas and stories, often different from the work they are known for. More in-depth than a short story, but not as complex as a novel or a trilogy, Tor and other publishers have for the last few years brought back this rather unfashionable mode of story-telling.

It has been successful too – see Tor’s recent Nebula and Hugo Award success with Martha Wells’ first Murderbot story, All Systems Red, for example.

Like Martha before him, Brian is best known for his Fantasy writing. His Powder Mage series (five novels, and nearly a dozen novellas so far) have also won Awards (Promise of Blood won the Morningstar Award for Best Newcomer, 2014).

For this novella, it’s a new setting, with new characters. War Cry feels more contemporary than any of his previous work.

The beginning of this novella reads like many a fairly modern war story. It could be the Spanish Civil War of 1936 or Stalingrad in 1941, with talk of propaganda leaflet raids, machine guns, propaganda radio, worn-out carbines and an army on the cusp of defeat.  It’s only after a couple of pages that mention is made of Teado’s platoon’s real job – a platoon that uses sorcery and magic to get the job done.

The only problem is that things are increasingly tough – their side in the war are losing, supplies are running out, equipment is failing and soldiers are beginning to desert – or, at least, think about it.

A chance at a resupply mission, albeit risky, is undertaken with some enthusiasm – not only does it mean that the might have food and viable weapons to use, but it gets them out of the foxholes they’re stuck in and relieves the boredom and tension of being unable to make much of a difference. After hijacking what they hope is a new supply of enemy food, Teado, separated from the rest of his platoon, finds instead something else that could change the course of the war.

The mixture of relatively modern warfare and witchcraft is nothing really new – Poul Anderson was doing it with his Operation Chaos stories back in 1956, for example, Heinlein had something similar by showing us magic being used as a business strategy in Magic, Inc. (1940) and in 2015 there was a good anthology edited by John Joseph Adams named Operation Arcana which covered similar ground. Even Lord of the Rings has medieval battles with added magic.

But what Brian does here is breath life into old tropes.  His use of different magical types is interesting. Teado is a Changer, who, rather like werewolves, can change his form at will. Bellara is a Smiling Tom, who can use magical illusion to make things seem invisible. There’s also mention of Fire-Spitters and Wormers, although they are not really seen in this story.

War Cry is a Fantasy story, admittedly, but at the same time it shows the reader basic human universals - warfare is horrible, but at the same time it is something that for the sake of freedom and liberty has to be done, friends and loyalty is important.

In fact, most of all, this is a story of honour and betrayal. Teado is torn between defending his comrades and leaving what seems to be an increasingly senseless war. He is also a teenager who makes a huge mistake which has consequences for his friends. By the end there is resolution, although not without cost, and things are more complicated than they at first appear.

So: if the idea of these novellas is to entertain, has War Cry worked? Yes. Teado is likeable and sympathetic and the characterisation is brief but adequate, enough to give us the idea of what is going on before focussing on the pace and the plot.

The other success is that the story also introduces the reader to a new world, which I’d be very happy to read more of. The ending is partly left to allow this to happen.

In short, War Cry is a terrific success. It sets its stall out quickly, is readable in one session and remains memorable throughout. Like Martha’s series, I’m hoping to read more from this world in the future.

Soy una de las principales defensoras de la publicación de Brian McClellan en España. Sus novelas de flintlock fantasy son un buen ejemplo de creación de mundos complejos y personajes carismáticos. Pero en esta ocasión hablaré de una obra totalmente distinta, titulada War Cry.

Lo primero que destacaría sobre War Cry es su longitud. Es un relato muy corto y quizá esta extensión juegue en contra del autor, acostumbrado a desarrollar sus ideas en un espacio mucho más amplio, aunque también tiene algunas historias cortas situadas en su mundo de fantasía. Pero estas otras historias se pueden apoyar en el conocimiento que el lector ya pueda tener de ese mundo, mientras que War Cry debe valerse por sí sola.

¿Lo consigue? Sí, pero a cambio ha de sacrificar otras cosas, como la coherencia de algunas acciones. Y eso que el mundo que ha creado, con una guerra donde son importantes los poderes mágicos de algunos combatientes (¿he oído mutantes?), suena muy interesante. Pero es difícil creer en una guerra en status quo cuando uno solo de esos combatientes es perfectamente capaz de acabar con un batallón, con una piel resistente a las balas, por ejemplo. Aunque ambos bandos tengan personajes con estas características, resulta difícil imaginar una lucha de trincheras disponiendo de estas posibilidades.

Las escenas de acción tampoco me han acabado de convencer. Es muy espectacular realizar un asalto entre dos aviones para conseguir robar provisiones, pero fuerza mucho nuestra incredulidad.

El mensaje antibelicista que lleva la historia si me parece importante. Años de guerra que han destrozado el futuro de las naciones involucradas, sin que haya perspectivas de un fin cercano. Vidas cercenadas por una lucha de la que ni siquiera se conocen las causas. Esta desesperanza si que la relata perfectamente McClellan.

No considero War Cry un ejemplo del trabajo habitual de este autor, más bien una excepción. Si deseas conocer cómo escribe, te recomendaría mejor empezar con alguna de sus historias cortas o novellas que en algún momento ha puesto gratis en su web. War Cry te gustará si lo tuyo es la ficción bélica o las historias de superpoderes.

I received an advance copy of this novella via Netgalley.

Brian McClellan is an excellent writer, and <i>War Cry</i> shows that in a fast, breezy read with a lot of depth. War is hell, and to be on the losing side is a special sort of hell. Teado is a shapeshifter with an isolated platoon that is gradually dying off. When they get an opportunity to strike at the enemy--a morale boost as well as a chance to get food--they seize it, with unexpected results.

Teadro is an interesting character whose loyalty to his comrades over his country has a note of realism to it. His shapeshifting magic is fascinating, though I was left wanting to know more about the other magics in this world. This is a very fast, intense read; I finished it in about 30 minutes.

There’s one huge problem with Brian McClellan’s “War Cry” ($11.99, Tor). There’s simply not enough of it. It's an incredible setting and story that grips you the way that most of McClellan's work does, but it leaves you wanting to know far more about the world and the characters than you get in this introduction.

McClellan puts us in the middle of a platoon of guerilla warriors in a setting that gave me a bit of a World War II vibe. Unfortunately for this troop, they’re stranded behind enemy lines in a war that has gone on for as long as anyone can remember. Supplies are short, their numbers are dwindling, but still they do what they can.

They’ve survived mainly on the strength of their resourcefulness and an illusionist that can disguise their base and movements. Then their pilot, one of the last left on their side as far as they know, learns of a possible supply score. It’s a big risk, but they have to take it, and it may finally change the course of the war.

This is a 95-page novella, but it really didn’t feel like it. I blew through it in no time and was left wanting more. I immediately felt at home among this group. There’s a warmth and camaraderie despite their situation that comes through from the first pages of the story.

The world in which it’s set is a fascinating one, with a generation of people who have known nothing but war, yet still some of them hold hope for better things. That, I believe, is why it’s not the shape-shifter Teado, who is the focal character of the book, that I felt most drawn toward, but the illusionist, or Smiling Tom, Bellara. Amidst the grim surroundings, she dreams of using her gifts for something other survival, bringing a bit of happiness to a world that has forgotten it.

A lot happens in the short pages of this tale, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story is action-packed and intense, but goes by very quickly without a lot of development of what is an incredible idea. Here’s hoping that this is just the introduction, and there are more -- and longer -- explorations of this world to come.

In the book War Cry, author Brian McClellan writes about Teado, a Changer who is in the struggle of his life to survive. Could his actions change the course of the war? I did not enjoy this book. Something about the style and characters I could not connect to it. It was short and a fast read. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Trying to do a McClellan book in 95 pages is always going to be a hard sell - his writing is all about depth and character growth - neither of which can be done in a novella format. So I am guessing that what we have here is a prequel that introduces how our squad came together from separate parts. But this looks to be an intriguing series whose setting is very reminiscent of the Spanish Civil War.

Story: Teo's squad has been inflicting heavy damage on the enemy from their hidden base. But supplies are running low and they are cut off from further supply lines. In a desperate gamble, they attack an enemy cargo plane with the hope of bringing home fresh supplies. But all does not go as planned.

With War Cry, we once again have the interesting merger of magic and war. In this case, we are given shape changers, illusionists, and fire mages - with likely many more to come. Each mage type has a very catchy and era appropriate name-type that once again showcases McClellan's attention to detail. This isn't the Powder Mages rewritten for the future. It feels like a new world, a new era, and with its own rules.

In all, I am looking forward to this being continued as a full series. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Teado's people have been at war for forever. And they are losing.

His platoon is one of the last holdouts, and after a disastrous attempt to steal an enemy cargo plane, Teado is separated from his platoon, and then he stumbles upon a plot that could change the course of the war—and destroy everyone he cares about.

This novella reminded me of Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls in tone (not really in plot so much as the overall helpless of the situation—so I kept thinking of the Spanish Civil War and skirmishes in the mountains) and Correia's Grimnoir Chronicles with the specific types of magic and wizardry that manifest in the world.

While the overall pace and plotting of the story was enjoyable, the ending petered out with a whimper rather than a bang, and the dramatic reveal was neither dramatic nor much of a reveal. Overall, it was a fairly bittersweet ending. It was more of a meh reaction for me than anything, mostly because I didn't really feel myself connecting with Teado's character the longer I sat in his head (while I emphasized with his position, I questioned his lack of questioning anything when he meets M).

I haven't read any of McClellan's longer works, so I don't know if admirer's of his work would like this too. It was a good idea, but it fell flat.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This is the first work of McClellan's that I have read, and it happens to be a great place to start! Or at least *I* think so, but I'll leave it to the McClellan aficionados to examine how "War Cry" relates to the entirety of McClellan's rather massive body of work. I'm a huge fan of the latest crop of Tor.com novellas, among whom "War Cry" sits in good company. When I say that this is "capable" science fantasy, I'm not using the word lightly; there have been plenty of smart and strong war (or after-the-war) novels and novellas in science fiction and fantasy over the last year, and this is up there with the leaders of the pack. If it had come out a little earlier in the year, it may even have nipped past its remaining competitors due to novelty. As it is, this is still a fun, if grim, read, with plenty of sharp dialogue and nifty action sequences that tap into some of the World War II vibes which have been bubbling to the surface in literature lately. Oh, and we all know I love a good, old-fashioned unresolvable moral dilemma to sucker-punch me while deplaning from a new book. McClellan delivers on all of the above, and I'm hoping this ends up being the start of a new series!

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan-Tor/Forge and Brian McClellan for an ARC. My opinions are my own and independent of receiving an advanced reading copy.

Rating 3.5 stars
First, I am a big fan of Brian McClellan. I’m just not a big fan of novellas, unless they are connected to a series that I’m familiar with. I mean they are just a morsel, sometimes tasty and sometimes not enough of a bite. War Cry is a standalone for now, hopefully setting up a new world where McClellan can take his usual 600 pages to thrill us with a new adventure. Because you are not yet familiar with this world, and because there is no time to explain in this short work, you are a bit off kilter until you start to understand what is going on.

Meet Teado who is a changer. A changer is a human who changes into some kind of big, animalistic, leathery skinned, spindly ridged creature with talons and horns that is almost indestructible. So cool!! I want to be a changer. They change at will and guns, grenades, even falling off of an airplane will not kill you. Also, if you are injured, and you do get injured, you can stay in this state until your human state can withstand the injuries and heal. There are other wizards, Smiling Toms, that can perform illusions making you see things that aren’t there. Teado’s platoon has a Smiling Tom, Bellara. Bellara wants to perform magic for pleasure, to bring joy to the world. But that doesn’t happen anymore. Anyone’s special talents are for the war effort only. It reminded me of World War I or II when the war effort propaganda took over every day life.

This told from Teado’s perspective. There is no background so it takes a minute before you connect or feel invested in the story. The action is exciting and grounded in the real world, no futuristic bombs or cool gadgets. The military strategies, the troops, the food rations all seem like any war novel, but has a retro feel, like from a previous World War. But you have these interesting elements, like the wizards, that lend an air of excitement and mystery.

I want to know more. I need to know more. Why are they fighting? What is at stake? What is life like in the regular world. There is no time to tell these stories in a novella. So, I will wait for book one of the series. It was a good morsel. But I’m ready for dinner.

I thought that this was just an excerpt, but it turns out that this is the whole book. I'm a bit disappointed with the length of it, as I feel that it definitely could have been fleshed out into a full length novel. However, I really enjoyed what I did read.

I love this authors world building and character development. The settings remind of World War II in the mountains. Soldiers are in the mountains and they are told to harass their enemies. This war has been going on since the main character was a child. They are tired and disheartened. They don't have a lot of supplies, they're actually starving and have very little support from home base. They're given a mission to steal a supply plane from their enemy from a new base that they're building nearby. They have a very small plane and two of the people going are strapped to the wings. This is where it gets really interesting.
Some of the people are wizards and they have some interesting powers. We are told that not many wizards are left since the war has lasted so long. Different wizards have different powers. Some of them include turning in to very strong beings’. sort of like werewolves but that's just an example so far, I haven't seen any werewolves. The change is quick and painless. It is part of their everyday lives since there is no fear from their companions. Other wizards are illusionist that help hide the soldiers.
Although it is a very short story (I think I read it in a couple of hours) the author is very good at evoking love for these characters. The world is familiar but different enough to make us want to learn more. Would love to read more stories about them. Although it is a stand alone story it ends with the possibility of more.

Staring out across the plains, the team feels hunger. The need of food, family, and an end to the war they have always known. A specialized squad of rangers: gunners, magic-users, medics... all tired of waiting. Until their resupply man returns with two tins of biscuits, and news that it might be the end of the supplies. Two lousy tins of biscuits. From this news begets a plan so crazy, its methods have been outlawed for most of the war.

In just under a hundred pages, McClellan vividly draws a world that is a war-addled wreck of politics, WW2 weaponry, and magic. Everything is breaking: machinery, spirits, and the soldiers themselves. The narrator Teado is a Changer, a man who is able to metamorphosize into a 'prehistoric monster'-like beast of awesome strength, speed, and stamina. McClellen aptly reveals the world's nuts and bolts through Teado's eyes. The reader gets his personal and global observations and reflections of what's going on between nations and the team members. It's a small picture, but one that has great potential.

War Cry is a perfect introduction into McClellen's new foray into world building, a place many readers would be itching to explore. A gritty mission of need turns into an incisive, yet measured glimpse of the war and its participants. Highly recommended.

Teado is a shapeshifting wizard who serves on the front lines of a war that has dominated his life. His platoon specializes in ambush and sneak attacks, but they are running low on supplies. In an effort to steal the needed supplies from the enemy Teado is lost behind enemy lines and struggles to find his way back.

I'm not sure exactly what I imagined War Cry would be like. It does have the feel of a more modern war with planes, motorcycles, machine guns, and other modern technology. The world features wizards such as Fire-Spitters, Smiling Toms, and Changers. Fire-Spitters name seems self explanatory in that they can spit fire. Smiling Tom's create illusions that can be made to mask an army base. Changers seem to be werewolves that don't need the full moon to transform, but they can't pass their powers on through a bite. The world and wizards have potential.

I struggled a bit with War Cry in that I didn't truly connect with any of the characters before events really got moving. The story is told exclusively from Teado's point of view and with the exception of being loyal to his platoon, I don't feel like I knew anything about him as an individual. He's a Changer as well, but that doesn't really flesh him out. The story features some other characters who show even less personality with the exception of Bellara who just wants to use her Smiling Tom powers to make people happy rather than having to be involved in a seemingly never ending war.

The story itself also didn't really draw me in as it was a largely straightforward tale of a character lost behind enemy lines with some slight differences. I felt bad for Teado's platoon as they seemed to be largely abandoned in the war effort. I also was a bit disappointed that the author never really showed the enemy. Granted they have the same types of wizards, but outside of that they were just simple soldiers.

War Cry felt like a good idea that simply wasn't developed enough yet.

3 out of 5 stars

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I first want to thank the publisher and the author for an Advanced Reading Copy of ‘War Cry’ in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC in no way influences my overall opinion of the novella.

War. War never changes.

The great war has been ongoing for ages. Some do not even remember a time before there was war. Teado is one of those. He is a ‘Changer’, a wizard with the ability to shape-shift into a large, destructive creature on a whim. He didn’t always have this power, but once it manifested, he was sent to the front lines to lead the attack. Armed with large talons and close to impenetrable skin, his kind were thought to bring about an end to the war. (Picture a mix between the video game Prototype and a Deathclaw from Fallout and you’ll get a glimpse as to Teado’s form.)

But as the war continues, supplies and rations become scarce. The enemy, whom Teado’s platoon uses in order to resupply themselves, has moved back and there is no resupply coming in their near future. Teado and his platoon must make a last ditch effort to attack the enemy, recover their supplies, and get out alive. When they arrive, they find out that they are in for more than they bargained for.

War Cry starts out a little slow, giving the reader a sense of what is going on surrounding Teado and his platoon. We are given a small glimpse into their struggle for survival and the limited avenues in which they can turn, but then the world-building begins and our characters are fleshed out as much as humanly possible within the confines of 96 pages. There are firefights, dogfights, hand-to-talon combat (see what I did there?), political intrigue, etc, all of which McClellan excelled at in his Powder Mage novels, except the talons of course.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it is a very quick read if you need something on a lunch-break. It is very engaging, and intriguing, what with the originality of the ‘Changers’ and other wizardry among the ranks, plus the consistent tempo changes keeping the reader off-pace. In short, “Gritty, violent, and downright fun, War Cry will go down as one of my favorite novellas of all time.”

A great Novella from the pen of McClellan, a different type of mage than his other books but delves more into traditional fantasy than we usually see from him and yet its not... If you enjoy his other books I highly encourage you to give this little book a read!

Despite falling behind on his ‘main’ fantasy series, the Powder Mage trilogy and the new Gods of Blood and Powder, McClellan is one of my favourite (fantasy) author working today. When I heard that he had a novella on the way from Tor.com, I immediately put it on my must-read list. Due out in a couple of weeks, War Cry lived up to my expectations: it’s really good.

War Cry introduces readers to a whole new world: a world seemingly caught in a perpetual war of attrition. However, while it appears to be World War II-esque technology-levels, this world’s armies also employ sorcerers and shape-shifters. This novella focuses on the travails of Teado, a shape-shifter who, after a daring raid, is separated from his platoon and must make his way back.

The novella contains some good action, for sure, but also examines the lives and psychologies of the war-weary soldiers on the ground. With limited or non-existant supplies, and no end in sight, morale is low, tensions are high. The information war is ongoing, too. At one point, Teado and his comrade Aleta talk about the enemy’s radio broadcasts they sometimes catch:

“No, not by accident. We all listen, Teado. We all wonder if their food is better, or their beds and clothes warmer. We all look toward the enemy air base and wonder if we could make it there without one of our friends shooting us in the back for desertion.”

Teado’s journey, while relatively small in scale, nevertheless offers readers a great look at the world McClellan has created. There are divided loyalties, tense chases and a great ending. I won’t go into any more detail about the plot (it’s a rather slim novella, so spoilers would abound at — in my opinion — an unacceptable rate). One thing I will say, however: I really hope McClellan has plans to explore this world more.

Highly recommended.

Brian McClellan's Powder Mage world has been one of my favourite fantasy series to date. War Cry wasn't even on my radar until it popped up on NetGalley, which I immediately snapped up. While War Cry isn't set in the Powder Mage world or 600+ pages, it was a fantastic little novella that introduces readers to a new world facing a new war. There are different kinds of magic in this world, and our main characters, Teado, is one of those individuals that possesses that kind of magic. Teado is a Changer and because of this ability Teado "enjoys" a certain status; however, when he's stranded behind enemy lines he discovers that not all of his people are invested in combating their common enemy.

While War Cry is a short novella, I thought McClellan did a brilliant job of creating complex characters and giving readers a satisfying story in a limited page count. While I would have been totally happy with another really, really long fantasy novel from McClellan (I did just finish Wrath of Empire, so I'm looking for more), this was a satisfying read, which is perfect for those fantasy readers who can't quite commit to a lengthy tome.

I'm not certain if War Cry kicks of a series in this new world, but I think there is a possibility for it. And I certainly would love to read more of this world and these characters. Like the Power Mage world, McClellan succeeds in creating complex characters who are up against impossible odds.