WOW! Where do I even begin with this amazing fantasy book? The plot? Fantastic. Characters? Developed and lovable. Action? Packed. Consider me sold on this entire series just from reading this ARC.

Our first book in this series follows Lukan, a seemingly normal man who spends his days drinking and gambling like any normal person. Until he discovers his father is murdered. This sets Lukan down a path that has plenty of action, mystery, and friendship along the way.

The plot in this book is just fantastic. The “quest” the character was given is quite simple and it only builds as the story continues, with twists and turns along the way. The world is built as you progress through the story but I would like to see a map in the finished book or maybe just expanding on some explanations of the world as a whole in the second book.

The characters, I will only mention Lukan at this time, are wonderfully built. They have purpose, reason, and their intent as well as personalities are clearly shown, not just described. Other characters to join Lukan on his quest also have the same amount of effort put into their character building, making you fall in love with them, even if they’re just “side characters”.

I can’t comment too much on the magic system or overall political system due to the fact that this is a series and I have a feeling we’ll discover more about that as we move on… BUT. The little bit of political interference and involvement that we are exposed to is well explained and sensical.

This book really did it for me and I’m already dying for the second one. I cannot wait to purchase this book when it releases and most likely reread it. 100% will be recommending!

Sadly, I think this is a soft DNF for me. I like the murder mystery idea a lot, but I'm finding the writing to be a bit of a struggle. It is very dialogue heavy with lots of word vomit info dumping. I liked some of the scenes with the worm and the pyramid a lot! I think I might go back to this when I'm in a more adventure fantasy style mood.

This is a solid start to a series that I'm quite excited about. I love a good adventure fantasy and this is exactly what we get. Excited to see where it goes next.

Mmm, okay. I have mixed thoughts about this book. While it had some interesting aspects and a good setup for a thrilling adventure, it didn’t meet my expectations.

The story follows Lukan, a disgraced heir to an ancient noble house, as he learns of his father’s mysterious murder and sets out to uncover the truth, leading him to the treacherous streets of Saphrona.

The beginning was strong, with neat world-building, and what topped it all was the layered mystery. The storyline reads like a game, where side quests are played to progress the main quest, a dynamic I found completely absorbing.

But the primary reason why I disliked this book was its excessive reliance on convenient plot devices. Every time Lukan found himself desperate, lost, or in a dangerous situation, a person conveniently appeared to save the day, which made Lukan seem less capable and undermined his character growth. Moreover, it made the story less believable and diminished the impact of key moments.

Also, I wouldn’t market this to fans of Joe Abercrombie because the highlight of Abercrombie’s works is his characters—something I felt missing in The Silverblood Promise. Abercrombie’s characters are known for their moral complexity, depth, and ambiguity, whereas in Silverblood Promise they seem one-dimensional, simple, and lacking vulnerability. I’m just saying this so you don’t expect the same thing from this book as you would from Abercrombie’s, like I did.

Nonetheless, I’m still intrigued by the setting, the mysteries, and the lore, as well as the magic system that hasn’t been fully explored yet. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next installment.

Thank you Tor Publishing for sending me a digital ARC of The Silverblood Promise.

Logan's story sets off an exciting new fantasy series. I enjoyed it quite a bit, even if it wasn't my favorite of the last few I read. I will definitely be recommending this to many of our fantasy focused readers.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

Enjoyable story about a young man looking into his estranged father's murder. He manages to gather a few helpers along the way and has to overcome quite a few major obstacles, but he does discover some new things about his father and (in this book) just manages to unravel a piece of the puzzle surround his father's death. He does overindulge in alcohol a few too many times when he knows that he is on a critical timeline to solve some of the mysteries he is investigating. Hopefully he'll mature a bit in future books and perhaps behave a bit more responsibly. And, yes, I'll be there to read more books about him and his endeavors.

The Silverblood Promise - James Logan (ARC)

⭐️ -3.5
📱

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This story follows Lukan as he travels to the city of Saphrona to investigate his father’s murder and soon finds himself very much in over his head.

I feel a bit mixed about this…
To start with the positive, this was a really fun time. It was really fast paced and familiar (in a good way) fantasy mystery and the ending left me definitely interested in picking up the next one. I really liked our little gang and the beginnings of a found family dynamic between them.

I think that the comparison to Scott Lynch is accurate, I can definitely see parallels between Lukan and Locke, both idiots who are too charming and lucky for their own good.

My main issue with this was the writing unfortunately. There was a lot of info dumping and a lot of telling, not showing which just made it feel a bit clunky to me.
A lot of the humour in this reminded me a bit of Sanderson’s humour which, unfortunately, is my least favourite part of Sanderson’s writing but if it works for you then the humour in this likely would as well.

I think that if you’re more of a plot reader and if you like fast paced books then this will work for you better than it did for me. I kept wishing we had a bit more time to sit with the characters and get to know them and their feelings more but that’s just my preference, I like slow books a lot more!

So yes, I’m definitely interested in picking up the next one and I think there are a lot of people who will like this more than I did as my issues are mostly just preference (I mean I guess any review is but you know what I mean lol).

‼️ Warnings: a bit of mild body horror elements, vomiting (there’s weirdly a lot of vomiting in this book)

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this fantasy adventure that takes place in a city known for its deals, not for its ideals, where secrets and deception rules and only a down-and-out-aristocrat and his friend to get to bottom of a mystery that might mean redemption.

The first book of fantasy I read was The Hobbit, and I loved it. Hitting up libraries it was hard finding genre stuff in my small town, I had better luck in the big city of New York, using my grandparents to feed my gateway reading drugs. Still it was mostly high fantasy, more Tolkein, George McDonald, Lord Dunsany. I think I hit a Lovecraft once, but that's another story. Dungeons & Dragons changed that, with more publishers coming out with different kinds of books, that I would pick up where I could. I discovered Thieves World just as I discovered pulps and noir detective stories. Again, love at first page. Grimy stories about adventurers doing bad things, stealing, getting revenge, fighting for what is right, when the system was against them. In fantasy settings, but one's that seemed real, and honest. The Silverblood Promise by James Logan, is exactly the kind of fantasy I grew up on the constant search for. A noir story of a knight errant, looking for answers, revenge and redemption, mixed with gambling, drinking, fighting and a boon companion to help carry the load.

Lukan Gardova should not be sitting in the rundown taverns, full of drunken adventurers looking for fights and or love, looking at a bad hand of cards. Lukan is a son of privilege, the heir to an academic family high in status, wealth and power. However that has been taken away from Lukan, a rash decision, made for honor, ended in disgrace and and banishment. As Lukan bluffs his way into another win, and upsetting another cardshark, Lukan thinks of ways to return to his old life. These plans are thrown aside when Lukan is told his father has been murdered, in circumstances that are strange, and mysterious. Only one clue, words in blood, remain. Lukan vows to find out what happened to his father, and maybe prove to be son he could have been, even if his father is gone. Lukan's bumbling steps at investigating lead him to the City. Saphrona. A city known for its deals, and intrigues, loaded with merchants, royalty, winners, many losers and lots of low people. Accompanied by a young man Flea, one who is of the life that Lukan has more or less found himself in, both start to ask questions that certain powerful people do not want asked, or answered.

A big book that is first in a very promising series, full of smelly taverns, more stinky people, and the rankness of betrayal. Logan is very good at setting up the story, slowly unfolding the mythology and history of the world, mostly through the mouth of Lukan. Which is good as Lukan is a very good character, a person who thinks he is better than he is, but doesn't really appreciate that he is. Lukan has a lot of baggage, and really grows as a characters throughout the story. As does Flea who might get some of the best zingers and line readings. The story seems simple, fail son goes for revenge, but there is a lot more going on, and Logan carefully shows his cards, but doesn't have to bluff, as his hand is strong. I liked the setting, the realness of the characters, the gambling, the drinking, and the well done action scenes.

Recommended for fans who like their fantasy stories with a lot of grit, a little bit of a smell, but all honor and full of heart. A very good start to a series that I would like to read more of.

A well-paced fantasy with impressive world building and characterizations. The characters jump off the page, they are interesting and likeable. Logan delivers a layered fantasy with adventure, schemes and intrigue.

This is a world I will most definitely be revisiting as the series progresses.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley, #TheSilverbloodPromise

When Lukan Gardova learns of his estranged father’s murder he makes a silverblood promise, resolving to find the killer. A three-word clue written in his father’s own blood takes him to a foreign country where he discovers the woman who might be able to help him is incarcerated on false charges and due to be executed. That leads him deeper into mystery, mayhem and a dangerous underworld ruled by the Twice-Crowned King. He discovers a massive political plot which seems to be succeeding, but which, in all conscience, he can’t ignore. This feels like a book the author has thrown everything at to see if it sticks, and mostly it does. Lukan is a decent main character, driven by an incident in his past. There are some good supporting characters, notably Flea, the street urchin.

My first highly rated book of the year. This should be on every fantasy fan's radar. It feel both familiar in pacing, but refreshing in story telling. Logan's prose was very well executed in this narrative, and I'm excited to see where he takes this series next. I'm already excited for the next installment.

This was a great read. Nice blend of fantasy, adventure, mystery and intrigue. I liked the main character but had a few "why are you so dumb" moments with him. Got over it, though, as I thought I'd rather have someone who makes errors than Mr. Perfect at everything. Looking forward to the next entry in the series.

It’s been a while since I read an ARC because of the pressure they can emit with their looming release dates and the rush to read it quickly to ensure your review is one of the first out. Fortunately I didn’t suffer from this as I got tied down with work halfway through so this took me longer than planned to read, but I have now finished this debut book from Orbit’s Senior Commissioning Editor, James Long (writing as James Logan).

The story begins with a young man called Lukan Gardova. Not on speaking terms with his father, and with his mother dead, he roams the land doing whatever he wants but doesn’t have any of the money or grandeur you might expect from a noble family since an earlier incident cost the family dearly.

Early in the story he is tracked down by his father’s retainer who advises that his father has been murdered but left a note for Lukan. This note sends Lukan on a mission across the sea in the hope of solving his father’s murder.

I decided to read this book for a couple of reasons. The fantastic cover art by Jeff Brown really caught my eye. It gives off a caped crusader vibe with two characters on the roof of a building overlooking a city. The other reason was that it sounded like a fun fantasy story written by someone who has a lot of experience knowing what works in this genre.

From the get go this book is constantly moving, constantly pushing you to be intrigued about what might come next, while delivering fun, relatable characters who all have an air of mystery to them. The pacing in this story is perfect and there wasn’t a time when I was reading it where there was something happening that wasn’t fun.

The characters are half of the story and they are well written. Unique in their own right and great when interacting with one another. There are heartfelt conversations, heated discussions and some genuinely smile-inducing banter between them. I felt that Lukan especially came alive off the pages with Flea a close second, although I think Flea really grew within this story and is my favourite.

I really liked the worldbuilding and think that James has done a good job of setting up a world that will only get more interesting as this series progresses. It has a hard magic system with the gleamers and some soft magic with the faceless but I expect this will get more fleshed out in the coming stories.

This plot driven story is a good one. It’s fun, simple enough to follow but also allows itself to be mysterious, keeping you guessing what will happen until the final chapters. I liked that it was kind of a murder mystery fantasy story but it was neither grimdark which I think some may be expecting. It skirts that middle ground that should resonate with all fantasy fans much like The Hobbit if only a little darker in places.

There are a couple of nods I noticed to Joe Abercrombie’s First Law that put a smile on my face and put me in that famous meme/gif of Leonardo DiCaprio. One of the characters has nine fingers and one of the chapters is called The Blade Itself. There are probably more but those are two that I spotted.

I think the political intrigue could have been built on further and the number of characters reduced then this could have been a tighter story. As it stands there are a handful of characters that grace the pages, and provide forward movement of the story but in the end we know very little about and so this either leaves us with unknown elements left for a later time (which is a possibility but doubtful given how this story ends) or pieces of the world that will never be explored. I hope it’s the former.

This is a fun story that will delight fantasy readers. It delivers some fun magic, devious villains and a murder mystery set against the backdrop of a large city full of hidden secrets you get to slowly uncover with Lukan, both as first time visitors. I hope the following stories really build on what James has began to build here because there is a really big opportunity for this to be an excellent epic fantasy trilogy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: First off, I would like to thank the author for contacting his publisher so as to provide an ARC at my request. I had a feeling that this was going to be a grand adventure based on the description and fought hard for the copy.

Lukan, as a failed aristo, goes on a quest of discovery in a distant land. With only a cryptic note scrawled in his fathers blood, he wends his way through the murderous twists and turns seeking answers from his inheritance.

Oh my shjt this was good. No, this was great. This novel is written with a deft hand at building characters that leap off the pages. Lukan, Flea, The Scrivener, etc., all of them are wonderfully built. The movement is fantastic and marries well with the character development.

This is one of only a few novels (Red Limit Freeway series, Hobart Floyt series by Brian Daley, Gentlemen Bastards series) that I would read again. Read this novel as slow as you can because once it is over there will be a an aching for more.

Rating: 4.9/5

This book is an exquisite choice for aficionados of sprawling epic fantasy narratives, particularly those who relish a profound exploration of characters and intricate world-building. The prose within is exceptionally crafted, boasting a seamless flow that captivates readers effortlessly. Each chapter unfurls with meticulous attention to detail, offering a tapestry of vivid imagery and nuanced storytelling. The wealth of intricacies woven into the narrative from the very first chapter instills a sense of anticipation and confidence in the reader, suggesting the promising trajectory of a masterfully crafted tale.

The Silverblood Promise by James Logan, a good story but I had to keep coming back to it, it simply didn't consistently hold my interest. I do think others will enjoy it and thank you for giving me a chance with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for providing me with this ARC.

The Silverblood Promise is a fast-paced, rip-roaring fantasy debut that had me hooked from the very first page. The novel is also filled to the brim with loveable characters, interesting character dynamics, and excellent banter. And if that weren't enough to get readers interested, The Silverblood Promise also involves hair-brained schemes, heists, murder mysteries, and secrets of an extinct ancient race (or two).

The novel follows Lukan Gardova, a disreputable and all-but disowned son from a formerly prominent family, who is called back home after the murder of his estranged father. His father left a mysterious note written in his own blood for his son, pointing him towards a foreign nation. Filled with regret for not repairing his relationship with his dad while he had the chance and determined to do this one last thing for him, Lukan sets out to Saphrona to solve the mysteries surrounding his father's death. There, he quickly finds himself in over his head, and waist high in intrigue, both political and involving forces far beyond his understanding.

"I'm just wondering whether your father uncovered information―a secret, perhaps―that his murderer wanted to protect."*

Lukan is not without allies though. By his side is Flea, a young street urchin who is quick on her feet and without much left to lose. Lukan and Flea have an incredible dynamic, though not quite like father-and-daughter, it is reminiscent of it simply due to their age gap. However, Flea saves Lukan’s skin just as often as he saves hers, so it's really fun to watch. Though I have seen other reviewers compare their bond to Ellie and Joel’s relationship from The Last of Us, I personally felt more of an older brother-sister dynamic from these two rather than that of a father-daughter dynamic. Regardless of the details, I enjoyed their constant back-and-forth banter, which always felt natural to me.

Banter and dialogue in general is definitely one of author James Logan's strong suits. Conversations show (not tell) characters' back stories and tragic pasts in an organic way that never feels like mere story setup. Instead, it feels like readers merely have a front row seat to a friend bearing his or her soul to another trusted person. This type of storytelling really shows off the author's writing craft, as it never felt like it slowed down the story, and instead was a natural part of characters getting to know one another. As a reader, it also made me feel that much more attached to the characters and their relationships.

"'If you knew me better,' he replied, rising to his feet, 'you'll know I have two weaknesses.'
'Only two?'
'Dark-eyed women and unopened bottles.'
'In that case, I'm glad I have green eyes.'
And honestly, I was immediately invested in Lukan’s life. I loved that the book didn't shy away from his flaws, reminding me a bit of Han Solo—who has a devil-may-care attitude and a propensity to save his own skin. You're never quite sure if he'll show up when you need him, but somehow he always does in a way that defies all possible expectations. Fans of The Kingkiller Chronicles will love Lukan as well, because Lukan has a lot of Kvothe's quick wit (and his appreciation for women). However, Lukan feels a lot more human and less legendary to me than Kvothe, simply from his willingness to admit his own flaws to himself and others. Lukan's not telling the story of his youth years down the road and reflecting on his mistakes, in hindsight, like Kvothe, but is instead taking ownership of his faults in the present.

"'Remarkable,' Delastro said, shaking her head. 'Not content with making enemies of the three most powerful men in the city, not to mention the Twice-Crowned King, you're now intent on crossing the Faceless. How far do you intend to push your luck, Gardova?'
'As far as I have to.' Which is likely to be a damned long way."
To be quite honest, it's hard for me to even think of any drawbacks or criticisms of The Silverblood Promise because I simply had so much fun reading it. Though if I had to come up with a complaint, it's that not a lot of new territory is covered in this book. It has a lot of the same types of beloved tropes and archetypes that we see time and time again in fantasy, and while these are executed with aplomb in The Silverblood Promise, some readers may be a bit bored with the lack of newness. I, however, was not one of those readers and enjoyed every second in this world, which was filled with both political intrigue and fantastical mysteries.

I'd also say that though the characters are flawed and complex, the novel is so fast-paced and jam-packed with intrigue and the need for getting out of constant bad situations, that there just isn't a whole lot of time to be spared on tons of emotional depth. But with the characters just getting to know each other and dealing with lots of very pressing matters, this lack of trauma exploration makes sense for the story. With the groundwork for the characters, their background, and the world-building laid, I can easily see future installments in the series exploring the emotions of the characters even further, as The Silverblood Promise has definitely hinted at decorated pasts for all of its characters.

And I can't wait to find out more about all of the characters and the mysteries of the world in The Silverblood Promise. This was such a fantastic debut and I am dying to read future installments of the series. I cannot wait to see what else this author writes in the future.

*All quotes taken from an ARC and subject to change at time of publication.

This is perfect for fans of epic fantasy with a heavy focus on the characters and world. The prose/writing itself is really good, easy to follow, and I can see all these little details from chapter 1 for which I have a lot of confidence they will lead to a well-crafted story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

When I discussed this book with a friend of mine who is an author, I said "I rarely read books where the prose is this good", where she replied "the author is a well known editor, thats why. And that pretty much sets the tone. Imagine Sanderson's adventure with Scott Lynches rompy heist drama, all of it in a delightful prose that isn't overly flowery but still mature.

Logan creates a layered world where there is danger and intrigue behind every corner in The Silverblood Promise. Lukan is a disgraced noble from a lesser house, who travels to the foreign city of Saphrona to uncover the secret behind his father's murder. His journey takes him to the twisted underbelly of the city, where the secrets behind it's elite are revealed.

The Silverblood Promise hits hard out the gate with a genuinely intriguing and well set up mystery that takes the characters through twisted blood trials, prisons breakouts, and larceny. I adore fantasy mystery, but to have it mixed in with a little bit of hunger games and heist adventure is icing on the cake. All of these elements are believable, thrilling, and add to the excitement of exploring the city of Saphrona- which is brimming with personality.

Lukan as a lead character is fantastic. Equal parts immature rich kid and spirited adventurer, Lukan is the lovable scamp you want to root for every step of the way whose still capable of growing and changing. His relationship with the child thief Flea is heartwarming as you can get, and his interactions with the residents of the city are always fascinating. Lukan is part everyman, part capable adventurer with a heart of gold. Imagine Nathan Drake if he came from money.

Some of the additional side characters include the merchant princes that dominate the city, a group of heartless, money obsessed assassins with jewel themed code names, and Lady Midnight, the mysterious thief able to "walk through walls" that finds she has more in common with Lukan than she ever expected. All of the characters that inhabit Saphrona are incredible and honestly deserve their own books. I could read about the merchants twisting each other's wrists playing politics or the assassins journeys for 400 pages easily. There is a part of the book where wealthy and overconfident residents put themselves through violent trials to earn prizes...and thats a book in itself.

James Logan puts so much care in the crafting of both his story and characters that every single scene in memorable and interesting.

The Silverblood Promise will no doubt be one of my favorite books this year, and feels like such a refreshing reprieve from the same old fantasy tropes that have been trending. Its familiar yet different. I strongly recommend if you loved Lock Lamora, The Stardust Thief, and the non romanetic elements of Six of Crows.

Engaging and entertaining. This is a recommended purchase for collections where epic fantasy is popular.