The Autumn Republic

Written by Brian McClellan

Narrated by Christian Rodska

IN A RICH, DISTINCTIVE WORLD THAT MIXES MAGIC WITH TECHNOLOGY, WHO COULD STAND AGAINST MAGES THAT CONTROL GUNPOWDER AND BULLETS?
The capital has fallen...
Field Marshal Tamas returns to his beloved country to find that for the first time in history, the capital city of Adro lies in the hands of a foreign invader. His son is missing, his allies are indistinguishable from his foes, and reinforcements are several weeks away.

An army divided...
With the Kez still bearing down upon them and without clear leadership, the Adran army has turned against itself. Inspector Adamat is drawn into the very heart of this new mutiny with promises of finding his kidnapped son.

All hope rests with one...
And Taniel Two-shot, hunted by men he once thought his friends, must safeguard the only chance Adro has of getting through this war without being destroyed...
THE AUTUMN REPUBLIC is the epic conclusion that began with Promise of Blood and The Crimson Campaign.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Feb 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781478929338

Brian McClellan

Brian McClellan is an American epic fantasy author from Cleveland, Ohio. He is known for his acclaimed Powder Mage Universe and essays on the life and business of being a writer. Brian now lives on the side of a mountain in Utah with his wife, Michele, where he writes books and nurses a crippling video game addiction.

Reviews for The Autumn Republic

[kinwolf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a ride! I've devoured the books in this series and tears at the end. I have to admit this last book in the trilogy was not as tight as the first two, and that's why I'm *only* giving it 4 stars.The story is nicely wrapped up, but also leaves enough open threads for the author to comes back to Ador in the future(and i hope he eventually does)This series is a must read for any fantasy fans.

[cerelin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The conclusion to The Powder Mage Trilogy reveals the fate of Tamas' revolution and his country Adro. After a failed strategy left Tamas and his men stranded in enemy territory, the Field Marshal returns to find the capital held by a new player, and the Kez pushing further into Adro. This one felt a little rushed in some parts, but was still an enjoyable read. Taniel and Tamas both get opportunities to shine, while Adamat is much less prominent though he is still key to finding out what is really going on. Nila gets more time in the spotlight, although I would have like more answers regarding her power. Everything Tamas and his council have been planning is coming to fruition but there remains another threat to the new republic.

[chris_el-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My signed copy arrived in the mail yesterday. I finished it at 2am this morning. I don't normally do things like that so it's fun to find something to read that keeps you turning the pages even though you might suffer for it the next day. All three books in this trilogy have been page turners for me.

I feel like the major plot threads were wrapped up. The good guys mostly win and the bad guys mostly lose. Brian does a good pretty good job balancing the time spent between characters so all of them you were hoping to follow get some time. There is more story if Brian wants to keep writing and use some of the same characters. Not all the questions about characters get answered.

There are a few things I might have done differently but overall I enjoyed the book, and the trilogy, so I'm not going to nitpick. Looking forward to what Brian decides to write next. =)

P.S. Brian, I love that the time between your book release dates is measured in months instead of years. I love Brent Weeks (and found your books because of his recommendation) but it's kind of awful having to wait over a year for the next installment in a series.

[speljamr_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A powerful close to the Powder Mage trilogy. This has been hands-down one of the best new fantasy series I've read in some time. My previous reviews on the first two books stand true right to the very end of this one. I look forward to seeing where Brian McClellan takes us next.

[gsb68 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Muskets and Magic. Brian McClellan makes them go together like peanut butter and chocolate. I generally prefer more medieval setting but this french revolution inspired series has been refreshingly different. Great concluding volume of a trilogy!

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this a very satisfying conclusion to the series, don't get e wrong, I did want more but I found it very satisfying in how it wrapped up the stories and what was happening. I was frustrated occasionally with the multiple story lines but they made sense at the end, Taniel stayed my favourite character and Nila and Bo were fascinating. It was interesting to see what was going on behind the scenes and how things were being manipulated and I just couldn't put the book down for very long.Interesting read, I would recommend the series.

[quondame · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

OK, I only have myself to blame after the first two. I can't explain it.

[stefferoo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The end of the Powder Mage trilogy has finally arrived with The Autumn Republic. I really enjoyed the first two novels, and was very much looking forward to this concluding volume. So did it meet my expectations? All told I’m happy to say that it did, in all the ways that count. Still, I confess I can be quite particular about my series-enders. As much as enjoyed this book, if I’m to be completely honest, I did feel there were a couple areas that fell short.I can’t deny that Brian McClellan did a wonderful job wrapping things up, though. The Autumn Republic starts the way the previous book The Crimson Campaign ended – with the world in chaos. The capital city of Adro has fallen, and Tamas returns from the field only to find his beloved country occupied by a foreign force. His son Taniel is missing and presumed dead. Without strong leadership, his own army is tearing itself apart from the inside out. And on top of all that, the Kez have not ceased their attacks on Adran territory. For various reasons, I had hard time getting into this book. Catching up at the beginning of each sequel is never easy for me, and it wasn’t helped by the book’s slower pacing, at least at the beginning. I recall having had a similar issue with book two as well. It appears I’m in the minority, but I felt that unlike The Crimson Campaign, things here didn’t hit its stride until well into the second half. That’s not to say I didn’t find the novel interesting; on the contrary, McClellan juggles multiple points-of-view and furthers his characters’ story lines. Tamas has his hands full dealing with angry gods and invading armies. Meanwhile, Inspector Adamat is on a mission to rescue his kidnapped son, and finds himself investigating more cases besides. Bo finds a worthy apprentice in the former servant-turned-Privileged-sorcerer Nila. And Taniel Two-Shot, who is in fact very much alive, is hiding in the hills with his companion Ka-Poel, the two of them on the run from enemies he once thought were his friends. The scope of the story has expanded, and likewise the number of players. In spite of the many subplots, however, the feeling that we were just biding our time never truly left me. There’s so much going on, but that the ending is the main showpiece here was never in doubt, and many developments felt secondary when I could see that everything was building towards the grand finale. No other chapters made me feel this way more than Adamat’s. His eldest child had been taken from him, and yet his grief is hardly conveyed; after that issue plays itself out, he takes on another investigation and life goes on, almost like the author needed to give him something to do. I liked following his storyline, but its progression and resolution was just unexpected to say the least, especially in light of everything he and his family experienced. It was a bit disappointing, considering how Adamat was my favorite character in Promise of Blood.That said, other characters were much more convincing. In the last book, Taniel was the one who emerged as the clear favorite as I found him and his story to be the most compelling, but he spends most of the time in this book on the lam. I therefore wondered if it would finally be Tamas’s turn to shine in The Autumn Republic. What actually happened surprised me. The one who really stood out for me this time was not any of the main characters but Nila, the young woman started off as a secondary character in Promise of Blood, but whose role eventually grew when huge revelations about her were dropped on readers at the end of The Crimson Campaign. She gets a lot more page time in this book, along with her own side plot which I really enjoyed. Her relationship with Bo was one of the major highlights, and I wish it had been given more attention because something special was definitely happening there.The writing has become more natural and polished over the course of the series, which makes this concluding volume all the more rewarding. I did assert that the ending here was the crown jewel of the book, and McClellan gives it his all, delivering a stunning send-off to the trilogy. He ties up the major loose ends, though I felt there were a few important matters still left unresolved. Ka-Poel’s character immediately comes to mind. Where did she come from? What’s the origin behind her amazing abilities? How did she get mixed up with Taniel in the first place? I’ve been asking these questions since the first book hoping to find answers in this final installment, but I still feel none the wiser. Nila’s transition from humble servant to powerful sorceress also happened way too quickly, and I wish there had been more time given to her growth, not to mention a better explanation into her immense power that had remained latent for so long. One thing to keep in mind is that I do tend to be more critical of endings – especially bittersweet ones. I have nothing against bittersweet endings (I relish them, in fact) but predictability takes away a lot of the enjoyment. I had guessed correctly how things were going to end for at least a couple of the characters, so that dulled the emotional impact considerably. All told, however, I don’t want to come across too negative, or discourage anyone from picking up these Powder Mage books. They’re totally worth it. Even though McClellan may have missed a few opportunities and played things a little bit too safe, I liked this book and thought it was a worthy conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. My issues with it are minor and hardly deal breakers, especially for a relatively new author who now has a completed epic fantasy trilogy under his belt. I am looking forward to his future writing endeavors with much enthusiasm and interest.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: The war has come to a head, and no one knows how it’s going to end in this thrilling conclusion to the Powder Mage trilogy.Opening Sentence: Field Marshal Tamas stood in the ruins of the Kresim Cathedral in Adopest.The Review:The war with the Kez has finally reached its peak. Tamas is moving as fast as he can to reach his troops in time. Taniel is missing, last seen hanging from a Kez pole. Adamat, Bo, and Nila find themselves on the front in their efforts to find Taniel. Basically, everything’s gone to hell, and no one knows how it’s going to end. Will anyone be left standing when it’s all over?I was pleasantly surprised by the first two books in this trilogy, so I was greatly looking forward to reading this last installment. I am happy to say my excitement was not unwarranted. This final book started off quickly and never let up the pace. I found myself reading as quickly as I could because I kept wanting to get to the next page, the next scene as quickly as possible so I could find out what was going to happen. Before I knew it, the book was over, and I was completely satisfied with how everything turned out, but sad that I had to leave this incredible world that McClellan has created.All of the main characters have their time to shine in this last book, most notably (in my opinion) Tamas and Nila. If you had told me back in book one that Nila would turn out to be one of my favorite characters, I would have called you a liar. But here, I found myself looking forward to her scenes most of all. She has come quite a long way from being just a laundress for a noble family. As for Tamas, it’s easy to see the toll his actions have taken on him. At this point, he is just ready for this war to be done so he can finally rest. As tired as he is, both mentally and physically, he still feels a great responsibility towards his people and will not allow himself to take it easy until peace is gained. He is definitely one of the most honorable characters I’ve come across in recent memory.I honestly have nothing bad to say about this book. I had one nitpicky thing bugging me as I read, but by the end of the book, that small issue had been taken care of, so I have nothing to complain about. The book was honestly a joy from start to finish, full of action, drama, and great characters. As I read, I could easily picture everything in my mind, almost as if it were a movie. Fans of the first two installments of the trilogy should be greatly satisfied with how everything turns out. I for one am looking forward to seeing what else McClellan has to offer in the future. I will definitely be putting his books on my must-read list!Notable Scene:Nila gave a scream – half startled, half victorious. “I’ve got it!”“What? You haven’t got it,” Adamat said. “Do you even know what you did?”Nila held her off-hand away from herself gingerly, pointing toward an open patch of ground between two nearby tents. She brushed her thumb across her forefinger, then touched it gently to her pinkie.Flame erupted from her dominant hand – not a thin tendril this time, but a gout that seemed to spring up from the ground, setting fire to the grass and rising five or six feet in the air, traveling from her to the spot she’d pointed at as if following a line of lamp oil.“All right,” Adamat said. “I’m impressed.” “Terrified” seemed a better word for it, but Adamat didn’t think the girl needed to hear that. She didn’t know what she was doing. Who knew what an untrained Privileged was capable of? She might be able to set fire to the entire enemy army, but could she keep from doing the same to her allies?He wondered if he should head toward the Adran lines. If Tamas was back, Adamat would need to report everything that had happened over the last several months. But during a battle wouldn’t be the best time.At least it might get him farther away from the approaching Kez auxiliaries.“Nila, we should…” he trailed off. The girl was gone. He cast about, then spotted her sprinting, skirts in hand, toward the Wings’ rearguard and the Kez auxiliaries beyond them.What was she doing? She couldn’t possibly think she could help. She was just rushing off to get herself killed.Adamat looked toward the Adran lines. He could make it. The Adran command tent was less than two miles away. He could get there and report to Tamas, and maybe manage to send some help this direction.The girl wasn’t his responsibility. She was Bo’s, and Adamat owed Bo nothing.With a curse, Adamat set off after Nila.FTC Advisory: Orbit provided me with a copy of The Autumn Republic. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[kevn57-163679 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3 1/2 stars, a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy and as strong a novel as "The Crimson Campaign" the 2nd book in the series. Bo was one of my favorite characters in the series and he got more "screen time" in this book, on the other hand Ka-poel another favorite got even less then in the other books.

[narilka · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Autumn Republic is the highly satisfying ending to a truly enjoyable trilogy. Events pick up shortly after where two leaves off and doesn't waste any time getting us back in the action. Adro's capital has been taken over, the army is divided, the Kez continue to advance and Taniel has gone missing. Field Marshal Tamas has his hands full!I can't say enough good things about how much I enjoyed this final installment. Well written action scenes, great character development, answers about how Privileged magic works, an understated romance, betrayals, brilliant battle plans. As much as I enjoyed the arcs Taniel, Tamas and Adamat went on it was Bo and Nila who stole the show for me. I loved Nila's discovery and mentorship as she learns her new skills and role in society. Bo would be a frustrating and fun teacher. I couldn't wait for the story to come back to these two each time the POV shifted to someone else.The grand finale does a great job of tying the story threads together and cleaning up a lot of loose ends yet leaving things open enough that more could be written for these characters and world. Which McClellan already has done. I'm looking forward starting the next trilogy.

[high_enginseer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The conclusion to The Powder Mage Trilogy reveals the fate of Tamas' revolution and his country Adro. After a failed strategy left Tamas and his men stranded in enemy territory, the Field Marshal returns to find the capital held by a new player, and the Kez pushing further into Adro. This one felt a little rushed in some parts, but was still an enjoyable read. Taniel and Tamas both get opportunities to shine, while Adamat is much less prominent though he is still key to finding out what is really going on. Nila gets more time in the spotlight, although I would have like more answers regarding her power. Everything Tamas and his council have been planning is coming to fruition but there remains another threat to the new republic.