Short Story Review: “The Girl of Hrusch Avenue” by Brian McClellan

It is a sure bet that fans of Brian McClellan’s Epic Fantasy debut, Promise of Blood, are wanting to sate their thirst for more Powder Mage awesomeness. The Crimson Campaign, (Book Two in the Powder Mage Trilogy), doesn’t hit shelves until February, 2014, but a new short story, titled, “The Girl of Hrusch Avenue”, will give readers a quick fix in the meantime.

“The Girl of Hrusch Avenue” is a small glimpse into the life of Vlora, a secondary character from McClellan’s novel. It is a tale about the hardships of being an orphan on the street, and about young Vlora’s obsession with guns. Familiar characters make an appearance, and the magic system of Powder Mages is briefly explained. It is a good starting place for someone who has yet to pick up Promise of Blood.

The one thing missing in “The Girl of Hrusch Avenue” is scope. The world of the Powder Mages is—for lack of a better word—epic. The sense of larger-than-life goings on was missed. Considering the word count of the story, however, and the age of its protagonist, one can easily forgive McClellan for keeping things simple. Hopefully Vlora’s point of view will be explored further in the future.

The Girl of Hrusch Avenue: A Powder Mage Short Story is fun, easy to read, and a welcome addition to the Powder Mage universe. Be sure to add it to your short story summer reading! Brian offers links on his website where you can buy it directly from him, or on Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.

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Review by Jordan Ricks

Bio:

Jordan started reading genre fiction when Goosebumps hit the shelves during the third grade. He picked up a copy of Ender’s Game a few years later, and then read all six original Dune novels in quick succession. He’s been devouring all things speculative ever since. Thanks to all the reading, the writer bug caught him at a young age–now he just has to learn how to finish writing what he starts. Jordan attended Orson Scott Card’s Writing Class in 2007, and David Farland’s Death Camp in 2009. One day he will finish his college education, and then go on to rule the world. For the time being, he slaves away in a frame shop in Utah, gold-leafing picture frames for artists and designers around the world. When not working for the man, Jordan spends his time at home with his wife and two kids. He usually has an audiobook playing in his ear.

You can catch him on his blog every once in a while at www.jordanricks.blogspot.com, and on twitter @jrdnricks.