The Silverblood Promise

If you like The Gentleman Bastards, I highly recommend you pick this book up! It's got heists, it's got swordplay, it's got banter. What's not to like? At times this read more like a thriller than a fantasy book in all the best ways. I don't remember the last time I looked down and saw I'd accidentally read for hours without noticing it. Was completely sucked in! While there's always a chance the rest of this series will be a letdown, this is such a strong start that I'm ready for the ride!

This is such a fun and fast paced book! I think a lot of readers will enjoy this and I wouldn’t hesitate to advise this as a starting point to fantasy.

There is plenty of interesting world-building, but it never overwhelms you. Logan is a good writer and his way of describing the world is really great. It sucks you right in.

The characters definitely have their own voice and especially Lukan and Flea shine when they are together.

The story does rely on plot armor, ‘telling, not showing’ and convenient events that aren’t always believable. However, it never took away my enjoyment of reading this book.

This book was at the top of my most anticipated reads this year. It was definitely worth the wait.

This follows Lukan Gardova, a man with many talents, some which may not be legal or ethical. He does what he can to get by. He wasn't always like this. He comes from a prestigious family with money. At least they used to have money. After being booted from the Academy for a duel gone wrong, he pretty much ruined his families reputation and standing.

Now, seven years after leaving home in disgrace he finds out that his father was murdered. No one knows who did it, but there was a note left for Lukan. He swears a Silverblood Promise to find out who killed his father or die trying.

I loved this so much! It's compelling all the way through. The characters are fantastic. Lukan and Flea are my favorites. Most of it takes place in Saphrona, a city full of power struggles and lots of criminals. I also thought the narrator was great. This book is one of the best I've read this year.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an audio arc.

Memories all alone in the moonlight

The first book in a really long time I DNF'ed in pure frustration. I really tried, I did!
I read to 60% of the book and I really wanted to like this book, so I kept on reading, waiting for the plot to thicken, for the characters to develop, but... neither ever happened!
I dislike this book because:
1. the main character: he's just so incredible simple and often straight up stupid. That he has this ‘banter' that other readers refer to with this 10yr old little kid, only shows his immaturity. I don't know whyyyy the characters he meet on his way helps him or continue to place trust in him to do important tasks for him, ‘cause he keeps completely fucking things up with his complete incapability to figure things out. He goes directly into traps, even when the 10 year old kid says “this feels like a trap”, and then gets people killed, and then theres NO FURTHER CONSEQUENCE! Which leads me to my next point of criticism;
2. Is this supposed to be a gritty and cutthroat world? I can think of so many worlds in other books, where if Lukan walked into their city and tried what he's trying here, he'd be stabbed 5 times, and thrown in the gutter on page 12. He has no sense for survival, and yet keeps on surviving on pure dumb luck.
3. The plot is fast paced, I will give you that, but that's only because it is so simplistic. The thing about there being no consequences for his fuck-ups is a perfect example of one of a million loose ends. There's so many points in this story, where the plot could (and should?!) spread out and become more complicated, but just doesn't. It is very ‘then-this-happened-and-then-this-happened-and-so-on'...
I was also completely thrown off by the whole starting point of the story: the ‘silverblood promise'. It's supposed to be a goldblood promise, but because he has no gold, he have to make do with silver - ...whaaat?? We never get any real explanation of the meaning of this kind of promise, that supposedly means a lot, but then again, he makes it to his family's servant? To find out why his dad got murdered? They are in perfect agreement that it is important to figure our why and who did it, so why is this fancy promise necessary? Shouldn't it be perfectly clear when the whole book got the name from this scene? Shouldn't it be a focal point in the story? It didn't feel like it; 60% into the book, it never got mentioned again.
4. There's way to much telling and not nearly enough showing. I got the feeling more times to count, that the author didn't trust me to read the characters and situations right, and therefor directly told me how he would like me to perceive things. He did that a lot through Lukan's inner monologue, which felt odd; who describes people and their surrounding aloud inside their head?

I've never seen Indiana Jones, so I can't comment on the comparisons to that, but what I can say is that the comparisons to The Lies of Locke Lamora is waaaaaaay of. Lukan is FAR to stupid to keep up with the gentlemen bastards, the city of Saphrona has nothing on Camorr as a setting, the complexity of the plot is an ant to an elephant, and then there's the complete lack of interesting characters and engaging dialogue.

I cannot fathom how this book has 4 stars on Goodreads.
I spent £20 on this book and I want them back!

2.5 ⭐️

I can see why people would enjoy this due to its light hearted banter, easy prose, and mystery plot but I didn't really enjoy it because of every one of those reasons.

I don't think James writes conversations well and his attempt to be funny didn't work for me, and most of the conversations were written out way longer than needed and they felt juvenile.

Example:

‘But if we can't see the glowing-‘
‘Gloaming.'
“That's what I said.'
‘It most assuredly wasn't.'
‘It most assuredly wasn't, Flea mimicked, rolling here eyes. ‘you always talk like this?'
‘Like what?'
‘Like a frilly.'
‘A what? Oh, you mean—
‘A rich person.'
Lukan gestured to his travel worn clothes. ‘Do I look rich to you?'
“You sound it.'
‘Well, contrary to your impression-‘

Most of these annoying conversations were in the beginning where Lukan would use his big boy words and Flea would ask what it means and then make fun of him for it, then after so long those stopped and conversations got better but still annoying to me for other reasons.

The prose was really easy but after ready Joe Abercrombie it just didn't help this book which isn't the authors fault but unfortunate timing.

I also for some reason don't like mystery books. Don't get me wrong I enjoy books that have mysteries in them, what good book doesn't? But I don't like books that are built around one big mystery.

All in all it's by no means a bad book it's just not for me. I think if you enjoyed Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks you'd enjoy this. It has very similar YA but not YA feel. I think James will be a great author for my taste one day but I want him to grow and move on to a new series with different plot points.

Another book with a beautiful cover that missed the mark for me

James Logan’s debut, The Silverblood Promise, offers an intriguing premise and a compelling setting that hints at great potential, but the execution falls short in nearly every other aspect, leaving me frustrated and disconnected.

The story’s worldbuilding is perhaps its strongest point, with flashes of creativity that show promise. However, the narrative is bogged down by an overwhelming reliance on exposition. The entire book feels like a guided tour rather than an immersive experience. Instead of showing us the world, the characters, and their motivations, Logan opts to tell—often in clunky explanations.

The characters, unfortunately, are thinly drawn and inconsistent. The protagonist lacks agency, functioning more like a passive participant in a series of poorly-constructed MMO-style fetch quests. Goals are nested within goals, creating a disorienting sense of endless errands that feel more frustrating than purposeful. I often was left wondering, “What was the point again?”

Dialogue is another weak point, with unrealistic exchanges that fail to capture natural rhythm or genuine emotion. Relationships between characters jump inexplicably, lacking any meaningful development. Additionally, the characters often act outside their established (or non-existent) personalities, making it difficult to invest in them or their journeys.

Tropes are present in abundance but not in a way that feels clever or subversive. Instead, they seem thrown together haphazardly, as if the author hoped the mere presence of familiar elements would suffice. Comparisons to The Lies of Locke Lamora feel inevitable, but The Silverblood Promise lacks the wit, depth, and nuance needed to stand alongside Scott Lynch’s work.

To Logan’s credit, this is a debut novel, and there is a glimmer of potential buried under the shortcomings. With time and experience, the author may learn to craft more dynamic characters, build relationships that resonate, and create narratives that immerse rather than frustrate. But as it stands, The Silverblood Promise is an immature and uneven effort that struggles to deliver on its premise.

Final Verdict: A promising idea marred by poor execution, flat characters, and uninspired storytelling. Fans of fantasy may find hints of potential, but patience is required to wade through a disappointing debut.