Oh this was absolutely fantastic.
Fast paced, well writtten fantastically brilliant characters and top notch world building

Cannot recommend this enough

The Silverblood Promise was one of my most anticipated books for the first half of this year - I kept seeing it everywhere and, with a slight touch of FOMO, I really really wanted to read it. So, I was extremely delighted when it lived up to all my slightly childish expectations and presented me with a tightly written, exciting package. I loved this epic fantasy with it's daring raids, some larger than life characters and found family feels. For a debut novel, I think this is exceptional.

Lukan Gardova is our main protagonist and has already gone through a lot by the time the story begins. Expelled from the Academy and disowned by his obsessed father, he drifts from one place to the next. His father is murdered and it is up to Lukan, as heir to the Gardovan name, to find out who killed him. Lukan finds himself shipped off to the coastal city of Saphrona, where he finds himself embroiled in some very impressive high-jinks. Lukan is quite a complicated character; slightly morally grey but with too much of a conscience to prevent him being too grey. He will do what it needs to succeed and then worry about the cost later. He also has issues with controlling his mouth, which gets him into more than one spot of bother! But he is loyal and kind and he makes for an interesting POV. His side kick, Flea, is a more scruffy, sassy character and I loved that she wouldn't bow down to her social betters.

The plot could be said to be pretty standard for an epic fantasy but it's execution makes The Silverblood Promise stand out from a crowded pack. The prose is decent and lends a quick pace to the proceedings, making sure it doesn't get bogged down. Most of the story takes place in Saphrona, which is depicted as a fairly standard merchant city. But again, innovative touches like the Bone Pit and the Twice-Crowned King ensures that this doesn't fade into the fantasy background. The city is wonderfully depicted, lending to a sometimes frantic atmosphere. The magic system is soft - I felt that it could be split into two pieces. We have artefacts left by the Phaeron Empire, that disappeared suddenly in days gone by, and the Gleamers, who work as pairs to perform their sorcery. We don't learn a lot about the magic system but I imagine there will be a lot more it in further instalments.

The Silverblood Promise was an exciting and fresh entry in this genre. It didn't always go where I thought it was going, delighting me with its twists and turns. Dangerous and spooky in parts, it was a genuine adventure to read. Found family elements led to some touching moments at appropriate times, giving it a large heart in desperate times feelings. I enjoyed every second of this book and can't wait to see where Lukan's quest takes them next.

Thank you to both NetGalley and the author for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

I have to admit, I initially picked up "The Silverblood Promise" based on its cover alone. However, upon delving into the synopsis and discovering the promise of a heist, I was sold.

James Logan's novel centres around Lukan Gardova, a fallen aristocrat with a complicated relationship with his father and society. His has a very jaded view of the world and doles out sarcasm on the regular even against his better judgement. However, his wandering ways are brought to a halt upon learning of his father's murder. Lukan embarks on a quest for answers, guided by the enigmatic three words his father left behind, his name, a city and a third that isn't familiar.

On his arrival, he meets a street urchin called Flea who acts as his guide and banter buddy whilst he tries to find meaning in this final clue. As Lukan delves deeper into the mystery, he only seems to find more questions than answers, whilst uncovering far more than he bargained for.

There are many twists and turns throughout, punctuated with dry humour and witty comebacks between Lukan and Flea. Their relationship was so hilarious, wholesome and one of my favourite aspects. There are clearly still some loose ends on finishing the book which leaves me hopeful that the 5 star feeling will continue into the next one.

My enjoyment of this book was so thorough that I have purchased a physical copy and eagerly anticipate the day I will (hopefully) be able to request the ARC of the second instalment.

Received arc from Quercus Books and Netgalley for honest read and review,this review is my own personal experience.
This book had so much promise and I did give it a go, but for me.It was a little slow to get into and I think James Logan tried a bit too hard to be funny, where he should have just told a heart story.
All in all I was glad to finish it and am looking forward to the next one.

Lukan Gardova is a bit of a rascal, cast out of both school and his noble but impoverished family after a duel goes wrong. Estranged from his father for years, the news of his death – his murder – is about to set Lukan on an epic, dangerous quest. Can he put a life of failure behind him, and unravel the mysterious last words his father left for him, in a city where coin can buy you… anything.

The Silverblood Promise was touted to me as perfect for fans of Scott Lynch, Sebastien de Castell, and Joe Abercrombie. I’m always a little wary of such comparisons, but having just enjoyed Play of Shadows I was delighted to find this hit in much the same way: good fantasy, based more in reality than magic (or rather, magic with limits, and a lot of artefacts that no one quite understands), and told with just enough sense of humour to make the whole thing a joy to read.

The plot offers mystery and intrigue, as Lukan finds his way in a strange – in both ways – new city, aided by a street rat called Flea who fills in the gaps in Lukan’s knowledge and skills. I did fear a child character could get annoying, but other than being a little too wholesome at heart, Flea is very likeable and fun. Lukan is also easy to get behind – a bit of an idiot at times, but he’s got enough charisma and charm to keep the reader invested.

The worldbuilding is also great, never heavy handed but with just enough otherworldliness to be interesting. I do love the trope of ‘mysterious artefacts of unknowable power’ and they are sparingly and well used here.

There’s also a ton of action. Lukan’s quest attracts all sorts of wrong’uns, so there are plenty of fights and peril. And a few monsters of varying terrifyingness!

All in all, I found this a fun and engaging romp of mostly down-to-earth fantasy (if that’s not too much of an oxymoron!). I’m surprised that this is a debut novel, as it is told deftly and with an excellent balance of humour, action, and mystery.

The Silverblood Promise can be read as a standalone – it finishes its story well – but also leaves a door open for further adventures. I’m thoroughly looking forward to the next chapter, and can indeed recommend this to fans of Sebastien de Castell et al.

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/05/02/the-silverblood-promise-the-last-legacy-1-by-james-logan/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Hooks you with Indecent Haste

I really enjoyed The Silverblood Promise. It just worked really well for me. The writing is smooth. The characters are easy to become attached to. There’s the whole mystery and saving the CIty element to the story which never became dull. The setting was easy to imagine. And, well, it was very entertaining with this really easy going style of banter and bluff going on between the MC and his companions.

So, as the story begins we meet Lukan Gardova. Lukan is the disgraced son of a noble family fallen on hard times. Basically, they have little cash but they compensate by having a long history that keeps them in good stead, that is until Lukan’s actions result in his expulsion from the Academy he attends and a life on the move, estranged from his father and living a life not dissimilar to that of an outlaw. Lukan is set on a path of wine, women, and cards until his father’s trusty retainer seeks him out with the sad news of his father’s demise. Lukan will never have the chance to make amends and the pill is made more bitter to swallow with the knowledge that his father was murdered. However, in his dying moments his father wrote a letter to his son, three words, written in his own blood that will set Lukan on a strange journey in search of answers.

This is very enjoyable and a great start to a series. Let’s have a look at what worked well for me:

The world building was great – and in fact the City we spend most of our time in was fascinating. There’s the sort of attention to detail that bring the place to life without being clunky or purple. Just little snippets of religion, festivals, the way people live, the huge disparity between the rich and the poor that make this a rich and believable place. There’s a tall tower set within the sea where criminals are taken, we soon learn that this is run by the much feared Inquisitors. We have the merchant princes who control everything that takes place, corrupt religious officials who don’t practice what they preach and a twice crowned king of the underworld, nobody so much as picks a pocket in this city without giving him his tithe.

I really liked the characters. Lukan is a lovable and cheeky rogue with a heart of gold. His journey has him racing round the City in search of clues, usually as one door closes another opens and frequently this takes him on a new magical mystery tour that he must solve before he can get any further with his own quest. I will say that Lukan is very easy to read and what makes this more so is that he isn’t perhaps as good as he thinks. He can use a sword but he’s perhaps not the best and he sometimes just runs headlong into trouble. So, he’s not perfect and that goes for the rest of this cast. He is fairly quickly joined by a sassy street urchin known as Flea. She’s a great character, talks too much, but is endearing and her tough early years have given her a hard outer edge. Yes, this is an obvious and frequently used trope, it allows our MC to travel around easily (because he has a knowledgeable companion) and it gives us an ongoing commentary that delivers other snippets of information but, it succeeds because the two work so well together. There are plenty of other characters along the way and they all felt distinct which is a really winning element of the story for me.

I loved the locations we travel on with Lukan. His journey sees him conning his way into a place that most people are trying to escape from, creeping through the dark and creepy catacombs and being chased by a huge magical wolf. Well, I won’t go into everything else because you need to read and discover these things for yourself.

Basically, if you love a fantasy story with great world building, characters that jump off the page, funny banter and plenty of entertainment, a murder mystery that morphs into so much more and offers plenty of promise for the future, portals, magic and strange ‘faceless’ ones, don’t wait any longer – do yourself a favour and jump on this series now. Yes, right now. You know you don’t want to get left behind and this first in series has ended on a perfect note with a great set up for the next book that promises a whole new location and an entirely different mystery for Lukan to solve.

In terms of criticisms. Well, I don’t know, I might have had some along the way but to be honest I was enjoying myself too much to give them much thought and I didn’t make any notes – either good or bad – I simply read.

An impressive debut – my only problem now – waiting for No.2.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars

One of those book you start "just-to-check-how-it-is" and keeps you reading till 3 am as it's just one-more-chapter.
Lucas is not always the sharpest knife but i liked him as I like the fleshed out characters.
The world building is excellent and intriguing, the storytelling kept me hooked. It's fast paced and full of surprises, never drags and I found it highly entertaining.
There's humour, action, intrigue, secrets and mystery: a book according to my heart.
An excellent debut and I can't wait for the next in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

7/10

I didn’t know what to expect going into reading this and I ended up having a great time! This is such a fun fantasy book and it felt so easy to read and get into. The plot and the mystery is fantastic and really engaging. This book is also very fast paced, which was both great but also left me wanting a little more time to bond with the characters. On the whole though, the characters were great. The bond between Lukan and Flea was really a highlight and anytime they were on page together was where the book was at its best. There’s also a major character introduced later in the book that I LOVED, I just really wished she was around for more of the book.

I highly recommend this book to any fantasy readers as you’re in for a fantastic and tense plot and great characters. I can’t wait to read the sequel and learn more about this world and unravel more of its mysteries.

The Silverblood Promise is a mysterious and fast-paced fantasy, set in a world of merchant princes and ancient secrets. Exploring themes of danger, secrets, and the price of truth with a healthy dash of dry / sarcastic humour.

📚 We follow Lukan an academy dropout and disgraced heir to a noble house due to a duel that ended badly. His days now consist of cheap wine and rigged card games. In all honesty he's abit of a loser!!

When Lukan finds out his estranged father was murdered he vows to unravel the mystery behind his death.

His leads him to the city of Saphrona where danger and secrets lie in every corner.

📖 Review:
I had so much fun with this. It's set in a dark and gritty world and Lukans investigation leads him into a brutal conspiracy but the humour throughout add a lightest and made it incredibly entertaining.

The characters really made this for me especially the dynamic between Lukan and Flea. Lukan is rude and impatient but oddly charming and Flea is a young orphaned pickpocket. A chance encounter when Flea targets Lukan sets off the best friendship. These two together made for the most hilarious duo filled with banter and laughs and yet there is heart to it as well in the way they drew strength from one another. (It was giving Indiana Jones and I loved every second) Flea is one of the best little sidekicks I've come across.

The world-building was fantastic and easy to immense yourself into. I loved the magic system. Our MCs don't have magic themselves but we have sorcerers known as gleamers, different creatures and this is filled with action. I love how this put our MCs at a disadvantage and it only added to the entertainment value.

This was addictive, full of twists and turns. I can't recommend it enough. This was a solid debut.

“Sometimes you owed it to yourself to do what was necessary, not what was easy.”

Wow! What a bombshell debut by James Logan. The Silverblood Promise centers around Lukan Gardova, a disgraced nobleman’s son who was estranged from his father following an incident in the Academy we frequented in his town. When is subsequently tracked down and discovers that his father was murderer, he sets sail for Saphrosa to solve the mystery of his dead. However, he’ll find himself in the midst of events that will change the course of his life.

This book has a strong cast of side characters which makes Logan a skilled author for being able to create such memorable characters that only appear briefly throughout the story. The displays of dark sorcery were amazing, and I wasn’t expecting them. This is a fantasy with a touch of mystery to it, making it such an interesting book.

Overall, I had high expectations that were more than met in this impressive debut by Logan and I cannot wait to read the sequel. This is intriguing and a well set up mystery that takes the characters though twisted blood trials, breakouts from prisons, portals and so much more. It was such a thrilling and addictive book that took me deep into the conspiracy that Lukan was in. I highly recommend it especially if you liked Lock Lamora, The Stardust Thief or the politics of Mistborn.

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

The Silverblood Promise by James Logan is the first in a new epic fantasy series and is filled with intriguing characters, dangerous plots and thrilling adventures.
Lukan Gardova is in disgrace, having dropped out of the academy and relinquished his position in society following a duel that ended badly and almost bankrupted his family. When he learns that his father has died in mysterious circumstances with a note to Lukan written in his own blood clutched in his hand, Lukan promises to avenge him and regrets that he did not make amends with him sooner.
Forced to embark on a quest to the distant city of Saphrona, Lukan makes some new friends along the way, friends that he may not want but will find that he needs if he is to survive his quest never mind succeed. This found family is probably my favourite thing about the book, though I did also very much enjoy the world building and the skill the author showed in crafting a story that drew me in quickly and held my interest to the very last page. The pacing is fast and there are lots of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing... and determined to read just one more chapter.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I've read and enjoyed The Silverblood Promise by James Logan. First, let's address the stunning cover of this book. The illustration is by Jeff Brown and I really recommend checking out his art! I've already ordered the special edition from The Broken Binding.

In this story, we follow Lukan, who gets the message about his estranged father having been murdered. That pushes him to decide if he should continue his life as it is, gambling and drinking, or try to get some answers... And if he had chosen the first option, we wouldn't get this book. 😅

For me, this story was one that really transports you to the setting- you can forget you're reading because you get really immersed in the world. In the beginning, I was pretty irritated by our main character, but as the story progressed, I've started appreciating how his journey was crafted and his growth was nice to follow.

I've liked the worldbuilding and I'm intrigued by its many secrets.

The main thing I'd say about this book is it's very entertaining! It's been compared to The Lies of Locke Lamora and I can say I see the similar vibe in these works. Also, I'd say if you've liked The Tainted Cup, you'll like this book! They both are murder mysteries with an effortless sense of humor despite the dire circumstances, and they both have amazing found family. That is actually my absolutely favorite part of following Lukan's story and what ultimately made the book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me. It's a fun, fast, heartwarming but grim book and I'll definitely continue reading the series!

✨✨✨

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for granting me access to an e-arc.

The Silverblood Promise by James Logan. This is the first in the new series The Last Legacy from this debut author.

Thanks to Quercusbooks , Arcadia Books and Netgalley for the earc

Lukan Gardova is an heir of an old noble family and has left his home in disgrace after a duel has gone badly. On a night of drinking and gambling he is found by his family steward who informs him of his father's death and that he is now the head of the family. She also shows him a note left by his father which sends Lukan on an investigation to discover more about the suspicious death of his father. The note leads to the distant city of Saphrona.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story of Lukan trying to solve a mystery to get to the bottom of his father’s death was really interesting as he kind of semi-blunders his way through the city, getting in the way of the various elements of the city who eventually kind of all just want him gone.

Lukan was an interesting character to read, he is smart but does not know when to be quiet and has a bad case of what I like to call foot-in-mouth disease. I like how he manages to fumble through a lot of encounters with people. His companion Flea, a street child, is fun to read but also brings that bit of grit to the duo and both are naive in their own way at times.

The world building was really well done and we get to see the city of Saphrona come alive as Lukan makes his way through the different parts of the city in his quest. We also get a good idea of the world outside through the various factions within the city and Lukan’s investigation. We also get a glimpse of some of the more powerful beings in the world and I can't help but wonder what other supernatural entities may appear in a future book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of fantasy especially those fans of the Gentleman Bastards . I am excited for the next book as I really want to find out more about Lukan’s father.

From Goodreads:
Full of action and adventure with twists and turns galore. Engrossed from the start. A fine cast of interesting and damaged characters.
Can't wait for next one.

Thank you Quercus Publishing and Netgalley for a e-proof of this book!

Very slight spoilers but spoilers all the same- beware!

This book is a solid debut from new author James Logan. My favourite part of The Silverblood Promise is the character work. Logan quickly establishes Lukan Gardova and side kick Flea with both their own endearing characters with a fun yet wholesome dynamic. Ashra, Grabulli and Zandrusa are others I throughly enjoyed.

My second favourite? Pacing. This book was easy to dip in and out of because the fast paced events meant that you could pause and easily pick back up. It also means you don’t want to put the book down! Well done, James Logan!

There are some aspects Logan can work on though. On a fair few occasions I felt the answers to sticky situations were too easy. It would build up to a very well constructed situation that you were grasping for ideas to how Lukan could escape, and it would be some what of a let down how simple it was, too easy for Lukan. Without giving full spoilers, his adventure in prison for me had a lacklustre conclusion that left plot holes. This is something that Logan can 100% work on, as the conclusion of Silverblood Promise shows us. Logan is a very capable author, as seen by the brilliantly thought through world building and magic system.

I will be reading the next instalment of this series! By the end of this book I adored Lukan, Flea and Ashra and can’t wait to see where this murder mystery of Lukan’s father leads us. I can’t wait to see how their dynamics transform either, and in all embarrassing honesty- I can’t wait to see Grabulli in the next book being his ridiculous self. I actually laughed out loud seeing him pop up at the end.

That’s 3.5 stars out of 5 for me, and I hope/ can’t wait for the next instalment to get a better rating!

The novel Silverblood Promise is an absolute must-read that will captivate you from start to finish. It follows the story of Lukan Gardova, a disreputable son from a once-prominent family who is called back home after the murder of his estranged father. Upon his arrival, Lukan discovers a mysterious note written in his father's blood, which leads him to a foreign nation, Saphrona. Determined to uncover the truth behind his father's death, Lukan sets out on a dangerous journey that will test his limits and push him to the brink of danger.

The author's world-building is intricate and filled with details that create a vivid and realistic landscape. The various cultures and beliefs of the world are expertly crafted, and the lore is gradually revealed throughout the book, avoiding massive infodumps that can be tedious to read. Lukan's character is compelling, and his determination to solve his father's murder is admirable, making him a character that readers will root for.

Overall, Silverblood Promise is a thrilling and action-packed novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The story is filled with mystery, intrigue, and political maneuverings that will keep you guessing until the very end. This debut novel is a testament to the author's talent and is not to be missed. My thanks to both Netgalley and Quercus books for a review copy.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley. However I did subsequently buy a physical copy of the book as I enjoyed it.

An entertaining fantasy novel combining murder mystery elements with political intrigue. Our main character learns his father was murdered and left a note written in blood with just three words. Using these clues Lukan must travel to a far off city to uncover what and who caused his father’s death.

The bulk of the book takes place in one city and this was really effective. It created a real sense of nowhere to run for our main character once he started gaining the notice of certain groups who would prefer to silence him. There’s a lovely bit of found family in this too, with unlikely personalities coming together and forming bonds to stop the nefarious plans of others.

Some interesting magic and creatures in this book too. After reading the first book, it’s a series I would happily continue with.

I had the pleasure of doing immersion reading on The Silverblood Promise - both the eARC and the voice narration were fantastic.
I will not go through the plot, the blurb does a very good job at that already. I can instead say that the whole cast of characters, the mysteries and the storyline itself has been a pleasure from the first to the last page.

The subtle connections between existing European countries and the regions in Logan’s world helped me immensely in imagining the world even more vividly - the touch of Spain in Saphrona, Italy, middle east and Russia - I could see them all (and hear most of them in the audio version).

Lukan reminded me so much of that good friend that makes bad decisions, but that deep down deserves all of your trust and needs all of your good advice. The book wrapped up this first part of the adventure in a very satisfying way - I really want book two and three out right now, but I am appreciative of how this first installment ended and feels like I will be able to pick up and go as soon as the continuation will be available.

To me, this book was a solid 5 stars.
One of these books where you know already at the 50% mark that it will be a 5 stars, regardless of what happens next.
I was fully immersed in the story, in the atmosphere and in the mystery - in this first volume we just scratched the surface of Lukan’s quest, but also of the lore around the Phaerons… James, if you happen to read this thank you - The Silverblood Promise wasn’t just what I was hoping it would be, but much, much more than that. To anyone else, go and grab a copy - even better if you grab both print and audio. This book and its narration are perfect for immersion reading.

Lukan is a disgrace to his family name, but when you realise his grandfather was similar as far as gambling goes is it any wonder Lukan is following in his footsteps? Well, there is more to Lukan than that, his mother died when he was 11 and he and his father have gradually grown apart. Lukan is sent to train but a duel that ends badly means Luan is further alienated from his family than ever.

When his father dies, Lukan discovers more than he realised and it leads him on an amazing adventure. His father left a note with three words. He travels to Saphrona to see if he can discover the answers that are held in the note. There he meets some interesting people, who come from different backgrounds and he finds himself mixing with the elite and the waifs.

This is a fab story that is a great start to this series, introducing Lukan and his background as well as the people he meets is great. he learns more about his father and I think he also learns more about himself.

The journey he makes is full of peril and danger and he navigates from one event to another. He seems to have the knack of falling into trouble as well as still seeming to get through things. But, then he does bring a lot on himself with his quick mouth, and constant backchat. It doesn't endear him to others, but thank goodness the author decided that this was a trait for Lukan as it gets him into some serious trouble at times.

I really enjoyed the word building with this, the names and places are manageable and pronounceable, always helpful when you have to remember them! The imagery of the setting is also great, from opulent towers and palaces to basic rooms and inns. There is more to this book than is the beginning and I think there are some things that have a lot more to reveal, especially The Faceless, there are some indications as to who they are but nothing solid yet. this leaves me looking forward to the next books and following Lukan on the next part of his story.

If you are a fan of fantasy that has a mix of sorcery, corruption, deviousness and double-crossing then this is one you should have a look out for. It was a fabulous book to read and it didn't take me long before I was hooked and read it over a couple of days. It is one I would definitely recommend.

I found The Silverblood Promise in itself very promising as a start to a new epic series; there’s a lot to love in this debut novel, which gave me real Lies of Locke Lamora and Blade Itself vibes. I won’t pretend that the concept and world were wholly original in the realm of high fantasy, but I thought it was a very refined example of how to write the genre well, and I had a lot of fun reading it!

The pacing was particularly impressive in The Silverblood Promise, especially for a book of its size. Despite its chunky 600-page length, the story felt fast paced and engaging throughout, without many periods of slowing down. The plot cleverly draws you into the world, with a feeling similar to RPG games with a million interlinked side quests to help you explore the world as the plot advances. You are introduced to a large host of side characters throughout the book, a lot of them vile and nasty, and a select few secretly wholesome and lovely individuals at heart. Whilst I loved seeing these characters in their natural habitat of the streets and hideaways of Saphrona, it feels like James Logan is laying the groundwork for a far larger world, with characters coming and going as they’re needed. I respected the confidence the author had to not reintroduce characters from the start of the book for the sake of it, only bringing them back in if they were relevant to the immediate story.

Possibly a controversial opinion, but I think the weakest main character in the novel was Lukan himself! I still liked following his story - he is an ignorant, overly talkative man who you can’t help but root for - but I was hoping for a little more development in some of his key traits. His reputation as a cardsharp comes to mind here, which only plays a relatively small part in the story. That being said, his personality did feel consistent throughout the novel, with some room for growth in future books. He is honestly pretty ineffective in most situations he finds himself in, but his moral compass keeps him trying to save the day regardless. It was very refreshing to not have any ‘Mary Sue’ characters with overpowerful abilities in the main cast too, and I think his semi-useless role helped with that in a big way.

All in all, The Silverblood Promise lays the groundwork for a really interesting and vibrant world, and has given me the faith that James Logan will make excellent use of it with future books. This is a strong recommendation for readers of fantasy adventure with a subtle sense of humour and a large cast of believable characters populating the world.