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War Cry
On the high plains, war is life.
Teado has been a part of the war effort for as long as he can remember. His childhood was spent in the aircraft and ammunition factories until his power manifested. Now he is on the front lines, fighting the great war as one of the monstrous shapeshifting wizards that are all but extinct after decades of battle.
Behind enemy lines, Teado’s special operations platoon plays a deadly game of cat and mouse, sabotaging and demoralizing the enemy. But food is scarce. The enemy has pushed their main forces back further and their requests for resupply have gone unanswered. They will make one last dangerous bid for survival and, maybe, change the course of the war forever.
Teado has been a part of the war effort for as long as he can remember. His childhood was spent in the aircraft and ammunition factories until his power manifested. Now he is on the front lines, fighting the great war as one of the monstrous shapeshifting wizards that are all but extinct after decades of battle.
Behind enemy lines, Teado’s special operations platoon plays a deadly game of cat and mouse, sabotaging and demoralizing the enemy. But food is scarce. The enemy has pushed their main forces back further and their requests for resupply have gone unanswered. They will make one last dangerous bid for survival and, maybe, change the course of the war forever.
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First published August 28, 2018
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About the author
Brian McClellan
32Ìýbooks8,545ÌýfollowersBrian 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.
Brian's novels include the Powder Mage Trilogy (Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign, and The Autumn Republic), Gods of Blood and Powder (Sins of Empire, Wrath of Empire, and Blood of Empire), and Valkyrie Collections (Uncanny Collateral)
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.
Brian's novels include the Powder Mage Trilogy (Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign, and The Autumn Republic), Gods of Blood and Powder (Sins of Empire, Wrath of Empire, and Blood of Empire), and Valkyrie Collections (Uncanny Collateral)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
October 26, 2018
Review copy provided by the publisher—Tor.com—in exchange for an honest review.
War Cry was good but in my opinion it would’ve worked so much better as a full novel.
Teado, a Changer, a shape-shifting military asset used for military purposes. He and his platoon have been stranded on the Bavares high plains for years. Desperate, he and his platoon jumped at the chance for a super risky resupply mission. This was a very quick read, not only the length of the novella is short, the story itself was very fast-paced and action-oriented; it took me approximately one hour to finish the book in one sitting.
Told in first person present tense, McClellan’s prose was very easy to follow, engaging, and simple. The actions, magic, and a bit of the world-building were well-written but due to the short length of the novella, I found it super hard to care about the characters� predicament; there was simply not enough room for characterizations and development. I honestly think War Cry would’ve worked so much better as a full novel instead of a novella. The story itself felt like being put to read a novel starting from the last section of a full novel rather than having a feel of a self-contained start to finish story.
Overall though, I did had a good time and War Cry serves really well as a good short escapism experience, especially when you’re in need of a quick war and action-oriented story that you can finish in one or two lunch break.
You can order the book
You can find and the rest of my reviews at
War Cry was good but in my opinion it would’ve worked so much better as a full novel.
Teado, a Changer, a shape-shifting military asset used for military purposes. He and his platoon have been stranded on the Bavares high plains for years. Desperate, he and his platoon jumped at the chance for a super risky resupply mission. This was a very quick read, not only the length of the novella is short, the story itself was very fast-paced and action-oriented; it took me approximately one hour to finish the book in one sitting.
Told in first person present tense, McClellan’s prose was very easy to follow, engaging, and simple. The actions, magic, and a bit of the world-building were well-written but due to the short length of the novella, I found it super hard to care about the characters� predicament; there was simply not enough room for characterizations and development. I honestly think War Cry would’ve worked so much better as a full novel instead of a novella. The story itself felt like being put to read a novel starting from the last section of a full novel rather than having a feel of a self-contained start to finish story.
Overall though, I did had a good time and War Cry serves really well as a good short escapism experience, especially when you’re in need of a quick war and action-oriented story that you can finish in one or two lunch break.
You can order the book
You can find and the rest of my reviews at
August 26, 2018
Teado is a shapeshifting wizard who serves on the front lines of a war that has dominated his life. His platoon specializes in ambush and sneak attacks, but they are running low on supplies. In an effort to steal the needed supplies from the enemy Teado is lost behind enemy lines and struggles to find his way back.
I'm not sure exactly what I imagined War Cry would be like. It does have the feel of a more modern war with planes, motorcycles, machine guns, and other modern technology. The world features wizards such as Fire-Spitters, Smiling Toms, and Changers. Fire-Spitters name seems self explanatory in that they can spit fire. Smiling Tom's create illusions that can be made to mask an army base. Changers seem to be werewolves that don't need the full moon to transform, but they can't pass their powers on through a bite. The world and wizards have potential.
I struggled a bit with War Cry in that I didn't truly connect with any of the characters before events really got moving. The story is told exclusively from Teado's point of view and with the exception of being loyal to his platoon, I don't feel like I knew anything about him as an individual. He's a Changer as well, but that doesn't really flesh him out. The story features some other characters who show even less personality with the exception of Bellara who just wants to use her Smiling Tom powers to make people happy rather than having to be involved in a seemingly never ending war.
The story itself also didn't really draw me in as it was a largely straightforward tale of a character lost behind enemy lines with some slight differences. I felt bad for Teado's platoon as they seemed to be largely abandoned in the war effort. I also was a bit disappointed that the author never really showed the enemy. Granted they have the same types of wizards, but outside of that they were just simple soldiers.
War Cry felt like a good idea that simply wasn't developed enough yet.
3 out of 5 stars
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not sure exactly what I imagined War Cry would be like. It does have the feel of a more modern war with planes, motorcycles, machine guns, and other modern technology. The world features wizards such as Fire-Spitters, Smiling Toms, and Changers. Fire-Spitters name seems self explanatory in that they can spit fire. Smiling Tom's create illusions that can be made to mask an army base. Changers seem to be werewolves that don't need the full moon to transform, but they can't pass their powers on through a bite. The world and wizards have potential.
I struggled a bit with War Cry in that I didn't truly connect with any of the characters before events really got moving. The story is told exclusively from Teado's point of view and with the exception of being loyal to his platoon, I don't feel like I knew anything about him as an individual. He's a Changer as well, but that doesn't really flesh him out. The story features some other characters who show even less personality with the exception of Bellara who just wants to use her Smiling Tom powers to make people happy rather than having to be involved in a seemingly never ending war.
The story itself also didn't really draw me in as it was a largely straightforward tale of a character lost behind enemy lines with some slight differences. I felt bad for Teado's platoon as they seemed to be largely abandoned in the war effort. I also was a bit disappointed that the author never really showed the enemy. Granted they have the same types of wizards, but outside of that they were just simple soldiers.
War Cry felt like a good idea that simply wasn't developed enough yet.
3 out of 5 stars
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2018
Originally reviewed at .
War Cry is a short, action-oriented novella by Brian McClellan. Like his previous works in the Powder Mage Trilogy universe, the author mixes magic and more modern methods of warfare together to create a unique world; a tantalizing backdrop for this tale of soldier Teado and his small band of soldiers caught up in a brutal conflict. Here shape changers, illusionists, and fire wizards fight side-by-side with men riding motorcycles, flying World War II era fighter planes and bombers, and waging war with rifles and handguns. And while the narrative itself doesn’t vary far from the tried-and-true narrative of a classic war tale, War Cry is fast paced, filled with action galore, has several nice twists, and is addictive entertainment like all McClellan’s stories up to this point.
The war began before Teado was even born. The dark, horrific embrace of the endless struggle branding every one of his memories from earliest childhood to the present. All rumors of peace ridiculous lies to be scoffed at. The brutal, nearly forgotten struggle of his platoon the only real thing left in a world filled with shadows. His nights spent listening to the enemies radio broadcasts causing him to wonder if he should give up this fight, desert his comrades, and see if the promises of amnesty, food, and a soft bed are more than just lies. Yet Teado fights on, because his only family is the men and women whom he fights beside every day, and he cannot bear the thought of forsaking them or bringing them harm!
As I’ve already mentioned, War Cry is a rather short (112 pages) novella; its sole desire to tell an entertaining war story in a limited page count. To accomplish this feat, McClellan quickly introduces the main characters, sketches in a world caught up in a decades long war, then drops his readers into a non-stop, action-packed adventure. All of which means this isn’t a tale filled with penetrating introspection, detailed descriptions, endless commentary, or fully developed characters, so no one should pick this one up expecting all that.
Many reviewers seem to have issues with the complexity of War Cry though; its supposed failure to “flesh out� all the characters and fully reveal the world viewed as failures by the author to take full advantage of this premise. My response to these criticisms is that War Cry is not only a damn fun war story to read, but it’s exactly the type of fiction SFF needs more of these days. No, the novella doesn’t preach at its readers like it’s a holy text. Nope, it doesn’t endlessly expound upon meaningful social commentary. What it does is entertain its readers. And I, for one, am very happy it does, because we all need an escape from reality from time to time, and War Cry is exactly what I personally was looking for.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
War Cry is a short, action-oriented novella by Brian McClellan. Like his previous works in the Powder Mage Trilogy universe, the author mixes magic and more modern methods of warfare together to create a unique world; a tantalizing backdrop for this tale of soldier Teado and his small band of soldiers caught up in a brutal conflict. Here shape changers, illusionists, and fire wizards fight side-by-side with men riding motorcycles, flying World War II era fighter planes and bombers, and waging war with rifles and handguns. And while the narrative itself doesn’t vary far from the tried-and-true narrative of a classic war tale, War Cry is fast paced, filled with action galore, has several nice twists, and is addictive entertainment like all McClellan’s stories up to this point.
The war began before Teado was even born. The dark, horrific embrace of the endless struggle branding every one of his memories from earliest childhood to the present. All rumors of peace ridiculous lies to be scoffed at. The brutal, nearly forgotten struggle of his platoon the only real thing left in a world filled with shadows. His nights spent listening to the enemies radio broadcasts causing him to wonder if he should give up this fight, desert his comrades, and see if the promises of amnesty, food, and a soft bed are more than just lies. Yet Teado fights on, because his only family is the men and women whom he fights beside every day, and he cannot bear the thought of forsaking them or bringing them harm!
As I’ve already mentioned, War Cry is a rather short (112 pages) novella; its sole desire to tell an entertaining war story in a limited page count. To accomplish this feat, McClellan quickly introduces the main characters, sketches in a world caught up in a decades long war, then drops his readers into a non-stop, action-packed adventure. All of which means this isn’t a tale filled with penetrating introspection, detailed descriptions, endless commentary, or fully developed characters, so no one should pick this one up expecting all that.
Many reviewers seem to have issues with the complexity of War Cry though; its supposed failure to “flesh out� all the characters and fully reveal the world viewed as failures by the author to take full advantage of this premise. My response to these criticisms is that War Cry is not only a damn fun war story to read, but it’s exactly the type of fiction SFF needs more of these days. No, the novella doesn’t preach at its readers like it’s a holy text. Nope, it doesn’t endlessly expound upon meaningful social commentary. What it does is entertain its readers. And I, for one, am very happy it does, because we all need an escape from reality from time to time, and War Cry is exactly what I personally was looking for.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
September 10, 2018
Red Dawn with magic. Decent fun, though I would have liked more moments with what were interesting supporting characters and less crawling through the desert
I finished this in half an hour and tbh I wound up being a little bit disappointed that a promising idea could not be fleshed out more. I am aware it is a novella but I've read some beautiful self contained stories that work on a small scale. This felt much more like a 100 pages pulled from the middle of a larger book than a complete narrative with a beginning, middle and end.
I finished this in half an hour and tbh I wound up being a little bit disappointed that a promising idea could not be fleshed out more. I am aware it is a novella but I've read some beautiful self contained stories that work on a small scale. This felt much more like a 100 pages pulled from the middle of a larger book than a complete narrative with a beginning, middle and end.
May 11, 2019
3.5*'s
Interesting piece with a Churchillian twist.
Interesting piece with a Churchillian twist.
September 24, 2018
War Cry does not have anything going for it. It is boring for the most part and it is not clear what the point of the book actually is.
The story starts off well with most of the early portions devoted to world building. This is reasonably interesting with a mix of 1900s feel and some sorcery. We get to see the characters and they are your typical plucky soldiers (which is also fine). But, then the plot kicks in and that's where things start to fall apart. The book starts to get into 'Where Eagles Dare' kind of territory and not in a good way. This does not work for a couple of reasons - simply put, this is banal & boring unlike Where Eagles Dare; and this change in direction does not fit in with the overall feel of the book.
The story starts off well with most of the early portions devoted to world building. This is reasonably interesting with a mix of 1900s feel and some sorcery. We get to see the characters and they are your typical plucky soldiers (which is also fine). But, then the plot kicks in and that's where things start to fall apart. The book starts to get into 'Where Eagles Dare' kind of territory and not in a good way. This does not work for a couple of reasons - simply put, this is banal & boring unlike Where Eagles Dare; and this change in direction does not fit in with the overall feel of the book.
September 24, 2018
An extended war with the use of wizards performing a variety of magic is the basis of this tale. ÌýTeado can’t remember a time when there wasn’t a war happening around him. It has been going on for almost all of his life and now in his twenties he is considered an old man among the crew he is stationed with behind enemy lines. ÌýTheir one mission is to create havoc for the enemy in any way possible. But things are bleak; they have very little in the way of supplies and no extra support seems to be coming. But if his team can get to the enemy supply, they might be okay for a few more months.
As a novella set in a new world, the thing you want when you are reading is more story, if it is good. ÌýSince this doesn’t overlap with anything else McClellan has written, there isn’t a lot of time to build a bond with Teado and his team. ÌýI enjoyed the idea of wizard warfare. Some wizards can change shape, other manipulate their surroundings with illusions and then there are those that can manipulate fire. ÌýTeado is a shape changer and very useful to his platoon and while I got a slight feel for the desperation of his team, I didn’t have enough time to really care about any of them.
This has a good pace and the actual story was interesting. ÌýI almost wish it was expanded a little more as I liked the idea. ÌýMcClellen is a strong writer of battle tactics and adding magic into the mix. ÌýThis felt like a WWII battle with magic added in for me and it was a good switch up to my normal fantasy reading. ÌýI definitely prefer the Powder Mage series but this was a good short story to see if you like the style and imagination of the author. Ìý
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 28, 2021
War Cry is a quick read set in a bleak, arid, futuristic war-torn land. Earth with different place names? Some other planet? I'm not sure. There's no prologue to explain what everyone's been doing for the past few centuries; instead, we're treated to dollops of information through character dialogue and interactions as we learn that some characters are the remnants of a class of wizards, and others are shape-shifting monsters that are really good to have in a fight. I'll leave a little mystery and not say which the main character ends up being. We learn just enough of the worldwide conflict to be confused when it turns out that we've understood the situation incompletely. It's a short novella, but I could have used more context and character development to get fully invested in the stakes and earn the emotions at the end. Still, what's there is fairly engrossing, and there are some great action set pieces. I'd recommend this for lovers of futuristic dystopian fantasy.
October 2, 2018
It was a good read, I was mostly surprised about the idea of using wizards in a military scenario - those two things never seem to be in the same stories. If it's a magical army, it will have no technology (think Grisha), and if it has technology, it's just your regular military. So I found that pretty unique!
It was well written and the interesting thing is that it's so short, but it took me three days to finish it. It's like it's bigger on the inside or something! (Brownie points for getting that reference.)
But I found the blurb misleading. I kept waiting for "the big thing that could change the war", but... I didn't really see it that way. It's just a war story with some wizards, there's no "big secret uncovered". Perhaps in the sequels!
I thank Tor.com for sending me a review copy in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
It was well written and the interesting thing is that it's so short, but it took me three days to finish it. It's like it's bigger on the inside or something! (Brownie points for getting that reference.)
But I found the blurb misleading. I kept waiting for "the big thing that could change the war", but... I didn't really see it that way. It's just a war story with some wizards, there's no "big secret uncovered". Perhaps in the sequels!
I thank Tor.com for sending me a review copy in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
September 24, 2018
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.Ìý So here be me honest musingsÌý. . .
Okay so me crew raves about this author.Ìý I haven't read any of his work.Ìý So when I saw this book which "introduces a new universe, new armies, and new monsters," I thought I would check out his writing before I made the leap into his long and established Powder Mage series.Ìý And I loved it.
The story follows Teado who is part of a military campaign that has been going on for generations.Ìý Each side is always claiming victory is around the corner.Ìý But Teado isn't buying it.Ìý His platoon is isolated, starving, and hanging on by a thread.Ìý So when command fails to restock provisions again, Teado's unit takes a desperate gamble for survival.
I was completely engrossed in Teado's struggle and watching the events unfold.Ìý What is interesting about this war story is that it has an older feel to it.Ìý The war machinery feels like something out of WWI.Ìý There are prop planes and motorbikes and such.Ìý But the addition is magic.Ìý For example, Teado is a shape-shifter and can become a super-human fighting machine.Ìý Others make illusions.Ìý It be awesome.
The only problem with this is that it be a novella.Ìý I didn't realize that and was startled when I ran out of book.Ìý I want more!Ìý The story that has been set up is fascinating and I hope we get more tales set in this universe.Ìý In the meantime, I have some Powder Mage books to catch up on!
Check out me other reviews at
Okay so me crew raves about this author.Ìý I haven't read any of his work.Ìý So when I saw this book which "introduces a new universe, new armies, and new monsters," I thought I would check out his writing before I made the leap into his long and established Powder Mage series.Ìý And I loved it.
The story follows Teado who is part of a military campaign that has been going on for generations.Ìý Each side is always claiming victory is around the corner.Ìý But Teado isn't buying it.Ìý His platoon is isolated, starving, and hanging on by a thread.Ìý So when command fails to restock provisions again, Teado's unit takes a desperate gamble for survival.
I was completely engrossed in Teado's struggle and watching the events unfold.Ìý What is interesting about this war story is that it has an older feel to it.Ìý The war machinery feels like something out of WWI.Ìý There are prop planes and motorbikes and such.Ìý But the addition is magic.Ìý For example, Teado is a shape-shifter and can become a super-human fighting machine.Ìý Others make illusions.Ìý It be awesome.
The only problem with this is that it be a novella.Ìý I didn't realize that and was startled when I ran out of book.Ìý I want more!Ìý The story that has been set up is fascinating and I hope we get more tales set in this universe.Ìý In the meantime, I have some Powder Mage books to catch up on!
Check out me other reviews at
November 7, 2018
What a dud.
Like some sort of Z-list movie, War Cry is a novella so devoid of world building and so full of machismo action that I was mildly astonished it made it to print. The magic system seemed uninspired--the lead is pretty much a spiky werewolf--and war, which you'd imagine would be central to the plot, is unexplored over the course of these brief 100 pages. By the time the supporting cast started bitting the dust, I found myself genuinely unable to care because the characters are so undeveloped.
This is the first Tor.com original I've failed to enjoy. What I like about the novellas I've read is that they manage to create a cool world, introduce a neat concept, put a new spin on an old genre, explore an interesting point of view, or just have some plain old good writing. I felt like McClellan's War Cry failed on almost all of those fronts. The story here ends with a promise of more to come, and you best believe I'll be nowhere near it.
Like some sort of Z-list movie, War Cry is a novella so devoid of world building and so full of machismo action that I was mildly astonished it made it to print. The magic system seemed uninspired--the lead is pretty much a spiky werewolf--and war, which you'd imagine would be central to the plot, is unexplored over the course of these brief 100 pages. By the time the supporting cast started bitting the dust, I found myself genuinely unable to care because the characters are so undeveloped.
This is the first Tor.com original I've failed to enjoy. What I like about the novellas I've read is that they manage to create a cool world, introduce a neat concept, put a new spin on an old genre, explore an interesting point of view, or just have some plain old good writing. I felt like McClellan's War Cry failed on almost all of those fronts. The story here ends with a promise of more to come, and you best believe I'll be nowhere near it.
August 29, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan-Tor/Forge and Brian McClellan for an ARC. My opinions are my own and independent of receiving an advanced reading copy.
Rating 3.5 stars
First, I am a big fan of Brian McClellan. I’m just not a big fan of novellas, unless they are connected to a series that I’m familiar with. I mean they are just a morsel, sometimes tasty and sometimes not enough of a bite. War Cry is a standalone for now, hopefully setting up a new world where McClellan can take his usual 600 pages to thrill us with a new adventure. Because you are not yet familiar with this world, and because there is no time to explain in this short work, you are a bit off kilter until you start to understand what is going on.
Meet Teado who is a changer. A changer is a human who changes into some kind of big, animalistic, leathery skinned, spindly ridged creature with talons and horns that is almost indestructible. So cool!! I want to be a changer. They change at will and guns, grenades, even falling off of an airplane will not kill you. Also, if you are injured, and you do get injured, you can stay in this state until your human state can withstand the injuries and heal. There are other wizards, Smiling Toms, that can perform illusions making you see things that aren’t there. Teado’s platoon has a Smiling Tom, Bellara. Bellara wants to perform magic for pleasure, to bring joy to the world. But that doesn’t happen anymore. Anyone’s special talents are for the war effort only. It reminded me of World War I or II when the war effort propaganda took over every day life.
This told from Teado’s perspective. There is no background so it takes a minute before you connect or feel invested in the story. The action is exciting and grounded in the real world, no futuristic bombs or cool gadgets. The military strategies, the troops, the food rations all seem like any war novel, but has a retro feel, like from a previous World War. But you have these interesting elements, like the wizards, that lend an air of excitement and mystery.
I want to know more. I need to know more. Why are they fighting? What is at stake? What is life like in the regular world. There is no time to tell these stories in a novella. So, I will wait for book one of the series. It was a good morsel. But I’m ready for dinner.
Rating 3.5 stars
First, I am a big fan of Brian McClellan. I’m just not a big fan of novellas, unless they are connected to a series that I’m familiar with. I mean they are just a morsel, sometimes tasty and sometimes not enough of a bite. War Cry is a standalone for now, hopefully setting up a new world where McClellan can take his usual 600 pages to thrill us with a new adventure. Because you are not yet familiar with this world, and because there is no time to explain in this short work, you are a bit off kilter until you start to understand what is going on.
Meet Teado who is a changer. A changer is a human who changes into some kind of big, animalistic, leathery skinned, spindly ridged creature with talons and horns that is almost indestructible. So cool!! I want to be a changer. They change at will and guns, grenades, even falling off of an airplane will not kill you. Also, if you are injured, and you do get injured, you can stay in this state until your human state can withstand the injuries and heal. There are other wizards, Smiling Toms, that can perform illusions making you see things that aren’t there. Teado’s platoon has a Smiling Tom, Bellara. Bellara wants to perform magic for pleasure, to bring joy to the world. But that doesn’t happen anymore. Anyone’s special talents are for the war effort only. It reminded me of World War I or II when the war effort propaganda took over every day life.
This told from Teado’s perspective. There is no background so it takes a minute before you connect or feel invested in the story. The action is exciting and grounded in the real world, no futuristic bombs or cool gadgets. The military strategies, the troops, the food rations all seem like any war novel, but has a retro feel, like from a previous World War. But you have these interesting elements, like the wizards, that lend an air of excitement and mystery.
I want to know more. I need to know more. Why are they fighting? What is at stake? What is life like in the regular world. There is no time to tell these stories in a novella. So, I will wait for book one of the series. It was a good morsel. But I’m ready for dinner.
November 1, 2018
This definitely would have been better as a full length novel. It didn't necessarily need to be 500+ pages. The action in this was top notch especially for being just a novella. The characters were okay but since we only had a 90 page story with them I never really felt a connection to either the main character or even side characters. For what little world building we did get, I was intrigued and actually wanted to know more. It almost felt like reading a sampler of a larger story to come that is never coming.
September 11, 2018
Read this in a sitting. Nothing amazing as compared to his other works. Military fantasy with a modern sense of feel. Plot is very reminiscent of Behind Enemy Lines. Cool magic but characters and world building were a little flat, maybe due to the limited size of the book
October 16, 2020
3.5 stars. An interesting and fast-moving plot about a soldier who knows nothing but war. The two sides use a combination of projectile weapons, planes, wizards and shapeshifters, giving the combat an unusual feel. Teado is a shifter, and after a particularly risky assignment with his squad, finds himself in a difficult situation with potential for both sides in the conflict.
There isn't much more to this story, but I think it set up and flowed well, and gave me plenty of combat. I'm not sure I entirely buy the end, but this was better than I was expecting.
There isn't much more to this story, but I think it set up and flowed well, and gave me plenty of combat. I'm not sure I entirely buy the end, but this was better than I was expecting.
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August 29, 2018
Teado's people have been at war for forever. And they are losing.
His platoon is one of the last holdouts, and after a disastrous attempt to steal an enemy cargo plane, Teado is separated from his platoon, and then he stumbles upon a plot that could change the course of the war—and destroy everyone he cares about.
This novella reminded me of Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls in tone (not really in plot so much as the overall helpless of the situation—so I kept thinking of the Spanish Civil War and skirmishes in the mountains) and Correia's Grimnoir Chronicles with the specific types of magic and wizardry that manifest in the world.
While the overall pace and plotting of the story was enjoyable, the ending petered out with a whimper rather than a bang, and the dramatic reveal was neither dramatic nor much of a reveal. Overall, it was a fairly bittersweet ending. It was more of a meh reaction for me than anything, mostly because I didn't really feel myself connecting with Teado's character the longer I sat in his head (while I emphasized with his position, I questioned his lack of questioning anything when he meets M).
I haven't read any of McClellan's longer works, so I don't know if admirers of his work would like this too. It was a good idea, but it fell flat.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
His platoon is one of the last holdouts, and after a disastrous attempt to steal an enemy cargo plane, Teado is separated from his platoon, and then he stumbles upon a plot that could change the course of the war—and destroy everyone he cares about.
This novella reminded me of Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls in tone (not really in plot so much as the overall helpless of the situation—so I kept thinking of the Spanish Civil War and skirmishes in the mountains) and Correia's Grimnoir Chronicles with the specific types of magic and wizardry that manifest in the world.
While the overall pace and plotting of the story was enjoyable, the ending petered out with a whimper rather than a bang, and the dramatic reveal was neither dramatic nor much of a reveal. Overall, it was a fairly bittersweet ending. It was more of a meh reaction for me than anything, mostly because I didn't really feel myself connecting with Teado's character the longer I sat in his head (while I emphasized with his position, I questioned his lack of questioning anything when he meets M).
I haven't read any of McClellan's longer works, so I don't know if admirers of his work would like this too. It was a good idea, but it fell flat.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
March 22, 2019
4 Stars!
Great novella. I only wish it was a full book as I would love to learn more about more about the world, characters, and magic.
Great novella. I only wish it was a full book as I would love to learn more about more about the world, characters, and magic.
March 23, 2019
This novella is an interesting mix of fantasy into a world that is otherwise much like our own. Reminded me a bit of except there's an illusion caster & some shape changers. Neat names for them.
I liked the short format & yet complete story. He did a great job & the narration fit very well. Highly recommended.
I liked the short format & yet complete story. He did a great job & the narration fit very well. Highly recommended.
September 6, 2018
I received an advance copy of this novella via Netgalley.
Brian McClellan is an excellent writer, and War Cry shows that in a fast, breezy read with a lot of depth. War is hell, and to be on the losing side is a special sort of hell. Teado is a shapeshifter with an isolated platoon that is gradually dying off. When they get an opportunity to strike at the enemy--a morale boost as well as a chance to get food--they seize it, with unexpected results.
Teadro is an interesting character whose loyalty to his comrades over his country has a note of realism to it. His shapeshifting magic is fascinating, though I was left wanting to know more about the other magics in this world. This is a very fast, intense read; I finished it in about 30 minutes.
Brian McClellan is an excellent writer, and War Cry shows that in a fast, breezy read with a lot of depth. War is hell, and to be on the losing side is a special sort of hell. Teado is a shapeshifter with an isolated platoon that is gradually dying off. When they get an opportunity to strike at the enemy--a morale boost as well as a chance to get food--they seize it, with unexpected results.
Teadro is an interesting character whose loyalty to his comrades over his country has a note of realism to it. His shapeshifting magic is fascinating, though I was left wanting to know more about the other magics in this world. This is a very fast, intense read; I finished it in about 30 minutes.
July 18, 2018
I first want to thank the publisher and the author for an Advanced Reading Copy of ‘War Cry� in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC in no way influences my overall opinion of the novella.
War. War never changes.
The great war has been ongoing for ages. Some do not even remember a time before there was war. Teado is one of those. He is a ‘Changer�, a wizard with the ability to shape-shift into a large, destructive creature on a whim. He didn’t always have this power, but once it manifested, he was sent to the front lines to lead the attack. Armed with large talons and close to impenetrable skin, his kind were thought to bring about an end to the war. (Picture a mix between the video game Prototype and a Deathclaw from Fallout and you’ll get a glimpse as to Teado’s form.)
But as the war continues, supplies and rations become scarce. The enemy, whom Teado’s platoon uses in order to resupply themselves, has moved back and there is no resupply coming in their near future. Teado and his platoon must make a last ditch effort to attack the enemy, recover their supplies, and get out alive. When they arrive, they find out that they are in for more than they bargained for.
War Cry starts out a little slow, giving the reader a sense of what is going on surrounding Teado and his platoon. We are given a small glimpse into their struggle for survival and the limited avenues in which they can turn, but then the world-building begins and our characters are fleshed out as much as humanly possible within the confines of 96 pages. There are firefights, dogfights, hand-to-talon combat (see what I did there?), political intrigue, etc, all of which McClellan excelled at in his Powder Mage novels, except the talons of course.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it is a very quick read if you need something on a lunch-break. It is very engaging, and intriguing, what with the originality of the ‘Changers� and other wizardry among the ranks, plus the consistent tempo changes keeping the reader off-pace. In short, “Gritty, violent, and downright fun, War Cry will go down as one of my favorite novellas of all time.�
War. War never changes.
The great war has been ongoing for ages. Some do not even remember a time before there was war. Teado is one of those. He is a ‘Changer�, a wizard with the ability to shape-shift into a large, destructive creature on a whim. He didn’t always have this power, but once it manifested, he was sent to the front lines to lead the attack. Armed with large talons and close to impenetrable skin, his kind were thought to bring about an end to the war. (Picture a mix between the video game Prototype and a Deathclaw from Fallout and you’ll get a glimpse as to Teado’s form.)
But as the war continues, supplies and rations become scarce. The enemy, whom Teado’s platoon uses in order to resupply themselves, has moved back and there is no resupply coming in their near future. Teado and his platoon must make a last ditch effort to attack the enemy, recover their supplies, and get out alive. When they arrive, they find out that they are in for more than they bargained for.
War Cry starts out a little slow, giving the reader a sense of what is going on surrounding Teado and his platoon. We are given a small glimpse into their struggle for survival and the limited avenues in which they can turn, but then the world-building begins and our characters are fleshed out as much as humanly possible within the confines of 96 pages. There are firefights, dogfights, hand-to-talon combat (see what I did there?), political intrigue, etc, all of which McClellan excelled at in his Powder Mage novels, except the talons of course.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it is a very quick read if you need something on a lunch-break. It is very engaging, and intriguing, what with the originality of the ‘Changers� and other wizardry among the ranks, plus the consistent tempo changes keeping the reader off-pace. In short, “Gritty, violent, and downright fun, War Cry will go down as one of my favorite novellas of all time.�
August 8, 2018
"The war began before I was born, and for as long as I can remember, someone had been telling us it's almost over."
I'll try to keep this review fairly short, because.. well.. the book is tiny! Not only is it a wee little thing, but it's an insanely addictive read & I don't want to give too much away. As much as I try to keep my reviews spoiler-free, the less you know about this truly is for the better.Ìý
Brian McClellan is a recent new favorite writer of mine. I fucking LOVED The Powder Mage trilogy. I seriously cannot recommend it enough! I was pretty excited when I saw that he was going to have an upcoming novella set within a completely different world. I will read whatever he puts on paper, for real. His writing is dynamic & imaginative. He has this ability to bring something familiar yet new to the table. A brilliant skill for a writer to possess!
War Cry focuses on Teado (a name that I always read as Teebo, like the badass Ewok). Teado is a Changer - shapeshifting wizards that they use as weapons in the military. His platoon has been stranded for some time now, which means that food & supplies are becoming scarce. Morale is at an all-time low.Ìý
The juxtaposition of magic & military worked really fucking well here. The slower moments built up the story surprisingly well, especially considering this is less than 100 pages. The action was intense. The political intrigue is.. intriguing. I couldn't get enough!Ìý
I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed that McClellan will expand upon this world more at some point. It's too good not to!
I'll try to keep this review fairly short, because.. well.. the book is tiny! Not only is it a wee little thing, but it's an insanely addictive read & I don't want to give too much away. As much as I try to keep my reviews spoiler-free, the less you know about this truly is for the better.Ìý
Brian McClellan is a recent new favorite writer of mine. I fucking LOVED The Powder Mage trilogy. I seriously cannot recommend it enough! I was pretty excited when I saw that he was going to have an upcoming novella set within a completely different world. I will read whatever he puts on paper, for real. His writing is dynamic & imaginative. He has this ability to bring something familiar yet new to the table. A brilliant skill for a writer to possess!
War Cry focuses on Teado (a name that I always read as Teebo, like the badass Ewok). Teado is a Changer - shapeshifting wizards that they use as weapons in the military. His platoon has been stranded for some time now, which means that food & supplies are becoming scarce. Morale is at an all-time low.Ìý
The juxtaposition of magic & military worked really fucking well here. The slower moments built up the story surprisingly well, especially considering this is less than 100 pages. The action was intense. The political intrigue is.. intriguing. I couldn't get enough!Ìý
I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed that McClellan will expand upon this world more at some point. It's too good not to!
April 21, 2019
3.5/5
It was good, I specially liked the worldbuilding and the way McClellan aproached war and its consequences but didn't really get to know the characters nor care about them. I think it could've worked way better as a longer book.
It was good, I specially liked the worldbuilding and the way McClellan aproached war and its consequences but didn't really get to know the characters nor care about them. I think it could've worked way better as a longer book.
March 9, 2019
Everything Brian McClellan has written, that I have read, I have loved. The original Powder Mage trilogy, Sins of Empire, the novellas in-between � I’ve lost myself in that world for long, sleepless nights filled with unforgettable characters and the smell of gunpowder.
Of course, anything Brian publishes outside of that world is going to have the hard task of following up on his revolutionary-era epic, and a novella the size of War Cry (94 pages long) is very much limited in what it can accomplish in terms of worldbuilding and memorable characters. The Powder Mage universe is a tough act to follow but War Cry is different enough, and it has an interesting premise. Let’s take a closer look.
The world quickly gripped me, and the plight of main character Teado was relatable. The abysmal hardships Teado and his platoon of guerrilla fighters are weathering through will be familiar to anyone with basic historical knowledge of World War I � food shortages, The platoon has likable enough characters � illusionist Bellara, her brother Rodrigo, and officer Aleta are some of the characters that have some development, whether through action, their own dialogue or that of others, and they’re an interesting bunch I’d have liked to spend more time with.
The action is fast-paced, clear, and filled with magic. I’ve always enjoyed Brian’s take on magic, and he introduces a new system that he’s put some thought in. I wanted to see more of it; Teado is a Changer, which is self-explanatory. Bellara is a Smiling Tom, meanwhile, which is all about illusions and their war-time application; camouflage, misdirection, removal of the engine sounds of an airplane and such practical matters. Magic used for anything else other than the war effort is punishable as treason, or the closest thing to it � and I loved that small morsel of information. The hints of a larger world always served to intrigue me, pull me in deeper into this short narrative. My greatest complaint is, War Cry feels like the opening act of a larger novel; in all honesty, I wish we could get that novel instead.
The novella is written in the first-person point of view, in the present tense. First-person I love, but the present tense has always been a bit of a pain to get used to. It is executed well, I at no point noticed any issues with either the tense or the point of view which comes as no surprise � McClellan has a lot of experience head-hopping between different characters with no issue, and he only ever inhabits the head of Teado here.
Minor spoilers ahead:
It does feel like War Cry is a novel, and I do think that a part of the blurb is somewhat misleading: “Desperate and starving, armed with aging faulty equipment, the team jumps at the chance for a risky resupply mission, even if it might mean not all of them come back. What they discover could change the course of the war.� Except…that’s hardly what happens, is it? It’s nothing they discover during the resupply mission itself, it’s what happens much later that could change the course of the war. And even that is a matter for debate, considering how War Cry ends.
There’s enough in War Cry to recommend this novella, especially on a sale, which is how I got it. The Kindle price is low enough too, it seems � for traditionally published fantasy, anyway. My score for War Cry is a 7/10 � a good read but not great. An enjoyable hour—an hour and a half’s worth of reading in a setting reminiscent of a historical event that doesn’t see too much reimagining in fantasy.
Of course, anything Brian publishes outside of that world is going to have the hard task of following up on his revolutionary-era epic, and a novella the size of War Cry (94 pages long) is very much limited in what it can accomplish in terms of worldbuilding and memorable characters. The Powder Mage universe is a tough act to follow but War Cry is different enough, and it has an interesting premise. Let’s take a closer look.
The world quickly gripped me, and the plight of main character Teado was relatable. The abysmal hardships Teado and his platoon of guerrilla fighters are weathering through will be familiar to anyone with basic historical knowledge of World War I � food shortages, The platoon has likable enough characters � illusionist Bellara, her brother Rodrigo, and officer Aleta are some of the characters that have some development, whether through action, their own dialogue or that of others, and they’re an interesting bunch I’d have liked to spend more time with.
The action is fast-paced, clear, and filled with magic. I’ve always enjoyed Brian’s take on magic, and he introduces a new system that he’s put some thought in. I wanted to see more of it; Teado is a Changer, which is self-explanatory. Bellara is a Smiling Tom, meanwhile, which is all about illusions and their war-time application; camouflage, misdirection, removal of the engine sounds of an airplane and such practical matters. Magic used for anything else other than the war effort is punishable as treason, or the closest thing to it � and I loved that small morsel of information. The hints of a larger world always served to intrigue me, pull me in deeper into this short narrative. My greatest complaint is, War Cry feels like the opening act of a larger novel; in all honesty, I wish we could get that novel instead.
The novella is written in the first-person point of view, in the present tense. First-person I love, but the present tense has always been a bit of a pain to get used to. It is executed well, I at no point noticed any issues with either the tense or the point of view which comes as no surprise � McClellan has a lot of experience head-hopping between different characters with no issue, and he only ever inhabits the head of Teado here.
Minor spoilers ahead:
It does feel like War Cry is a novel, and I do think that a part of the blurb is somewhat misleading: “Desperate and starving, armed with aging faulty equipment, the team jumps at the chance for a risky resupply mission, even if it might mean not all of them come back. What they discover could change the course of the war.� Except…that’s hardly what happens, is it? It’s nothing they discover during the resupply mission itself, it’s what happens much later that could change the course of the war. And even that is a matter for debate, considering how War Cry ends.
There’s enough in War Cry to recommend this novella, especially on a sale, which is how I got it. The Kindle price is low enough too, it seems � for traditionally published fantasy, anyway. My score for War Cry is a 7/10 � a good read but not great. An enjoyable hour—an hour and a half’s worth of reading in a setting reminiscent of a historical event that doesn’t see too much reimagining in fantasy.
January 16, 2019
Received to review via Netgalley
I haven’t read any of McClellan’s longer work yet, so this novella from Tor seemed like a good point to jump in, really! It’s set during a war in a fantasy setting, with very familiar attributes � there’s propaganda, there’s airplanes, everyone’s running short and coaxing coffee out of months� old grounds� but there’s also wizards, of at least two kinds: shapeshifters, and those who can cast illusions. We don’t get some big overview of the war: it’s fairly tight in to a little squad who have been taking losses, fighting hard, and living right on the edge. They get a chance to do a risky mission to get some supplies so they have food and maybe even coffee. And, predictably, it goes wrong.
It feels like there’s a lot more room for story in this world, whether that be an extended version of this story or a series of novellas. It’s not terribly unsatisfying on its own, because there is a kind of end to the immediate plot, but there’s so much more in the world that we don’t get to see, so much more for the characters to do, that it doesn’t feel like a stopping point (more just a pause). There’s room for awesomeness, but it feels like it’s mostly potential right now � an opening act, rather than a story in itself.
September 10, 2018
Not bad, but nothing so memorable here.
October 25, 2018
I want more.
September 12, 2018
Actual rating: 3.50
October 28, 2021
Too bad it was short, because otherwise I liked it. I liked Teado and the basic idea. I liked this war idea where wizards and various creatures live among humans. I knew little about the world and this story wasn’t completely closed. I see a lot of opportunities in this. I hope there will be a sequel.
September 29, 2018
A tough start but the story improved quickly. My only regret? Too short and hope Brian mcclellan will offer us a sequel.
July 29, 2018
Brian McClellan's Powder Mage world has been one of my favourite fantasy series to date. War Cry wasn't even on my radar until it popped up on NetGalley, which I immediately snapped up. While War Cry isn't set in the Powder Mage world or 600+ pages, it was a fantastic little novella that introduces readers to a new world facing a new war. There are different kinds of magic in this world, and our main characters, Teado, is one of those individuals that possesses that kind of magic. Teado is a Changer and because of this ability Teado "enjoys" a certain status; however, when he's stranded behind enemy lines he discovers that not all of his people are invested in combating their common enemy.
While War Cry is a short novella, I thought McClellan did a brilliant job of creating complex characters and giving readers a satisfying story in a limited page count. While I would have been totally happy with another really, really long fantasy novel from McClellan (I did just finish Wrath of Empire, so I'm looking for more), this was a satisfying read, which is perfect for those fantasy readers who can't quite commit to a lengthy tome.
I'm not certain if War Cry kicks of a series in this new world, but I think there is a possibility for it. And I certainly would love to read more of this world and these characters. Like the Power Mage world, McClellan succeeds in creating complex characters who are up against impossible odds.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
While War Cry is a short novella, I thought McClellan did a brilliant job of creating complex characters and giving readers a satisfying story in a limited page count. While I would have been totally happy with another really, really long fantasy novel from McClellan (I did just finish Wrath of Empire, so I'm looking for more), this was a satisfying read, which is perfect for those fantasy readers who can't quite commit to a lengthy tome.
I'm not certain if War Cry kicks of a series in this new world, but I think there is a possibility for it. And I certainly would love to read more of this world and these characters. Like the Power Mage world, McClellan succeeds in creating complex characters who are up against impossible odds.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
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