FORMAT/INFO: The Silverblood Promise was published on May 7th, 2024 by Tor Books. It is 528 pages long and currently available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: After a scandal saw him kicked out of academy and destroyed what was left of his noble family's fortune, Logan Gardova hasn't been exactly welcome at home. Instead, he's spent the last several years gambling and traveling about, trying his best to forget about the day that changed everything. But when Lukan receives word that his father has been murdered, he realizes he has to put the past aside and find out why on earth anyone would want his father dead. His only clue leads him to Saphrona, a city ruled by merchant princes, where anything can be bought for the right price. Unfortunately, to find more answers, Lukan will have to help right an injustice in the city, one that could send a delicate peace between nations up in flames.

The Silverblood Promise is an exciting classic fantasy adventure that takes our hero everywhere from the court of a thief king to a faceoff with mythical beings. Despite its 500+ pages, it moves exceedingly quickly. I frequently found myself sitting down to read a few chapters and realized I'd devoured 75-100 pages without realizing it.

Something to be prepared for is that while Lukan is on a quest to find out what happened to his father, most of the story isn't about that at all. Lukan's one clue is the name of someone located in the city of Saphrona. But in order to get the next clue, he needs to help get someone out of a jam, which leads him to accidentally inserting himself into an effort to stop a plot to shift the power balance in the city. While some of the things Lukan discovers may end up being tied into the overall mystery, when the dust settles, don't expect Lukan to have suddenly solved his own father's murder. Instead, he's completed one set of adventures in Saphrona, and is off in the direction of his next clue.

The supporting cast is full of familiar archetypes, from smart-mouthed street orphan Flea to a mercenary leader who doesn't have anything personally against Lukan, it's just business. None of them break the mold, but they don't need to in order to help make The Silverblood Promise a fun and engaging adventure.

What's holding The Silverblood Promise back, in my opinion, is lead character Lukan. Now, I will be the first to admit that I like my characters to be exceedingly competent and knowledgeable. I want to see the best-of-the-best going toe-to-toe with equally matched villains. Lukan, however, is juuuust competent enough to get by. He doesn't make huge mistakes, but he's impatient and quick to take things at face value. In short, he reminded me of Luke Skywalker from STAR WARS in his farm boy era, where he just wants to run off and save the day without wondering too hard if anybody is hiding more beneath the surface than you can see at first glance. Hopefully, though, just like Luke, Lukan will find himself growing along his adventures and become a more proficient character over time.

CONCLUSION: The Silverblood Promise is here to scratch your classic fantasy adventure itch. It's a tried and true story, full of familiar beats, with just enough twists to keep things interesting. It never felt like a weighty tome and I appreciated how it kept the story moving. I will definitely be back to check out the next installment, The Blackfire Blade!