Mr. Styke

A Powder Mage Novella

De: Brian McClellan

Narrado por: Travis Baldree

One of the cruelest jokes the world played on itself was turning a monster into a civilized man. That’s how Ben Styke sees it, anyway. Fifteen years have passed since the Dynize War and people no longer remember Styke as a convict or a soldier or a killer. He’s just another businessman. Hurting. Tired. Old. Playing a role that does not suit him.

Styke’s world is upended on the day he refuses to sell horses to the wrong man. He is soon targeted by dangerous people with deep pockets, to whom one soft old rancher means nothing. But civilization can only impress itself on a man so much, and Ben Styke has some madness in him yet.

©2026 Brian McClellan (P)2026 Brian McClellan

Only wish it was longer

A great return to the powder mage universe. Great characters, great action. I could listen to this whole series on repeat.

Solid novella

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was my first read of any Brian McClellan book and I figured the best way to was to read something fresh, but loosely connected to what I was interested in his Powder Mage series. This novella in particular was a kickstarter backed backed book which I picked up signed as well. My understanding is this book is basically the end/beginning of the legacy Mr. Styke would be leaving behind after the events of the previous books. The "magic" of the world was not explained but seems there is some range to it. I will likely go back and pickup the rest of the books to actually understand, but there was a moment in the book there was a powder mage that used their power to an interstesting effect with "explosive" results. The name itself gives way to that, so I was not disappointed and happy to see it occur when it did! The story itself hints at maybe there might be more in store for us, but it was great to see Mr. Styke "work".

Returning to the story.

I really loved this book. It was what I've been looking for in a story for a long time. I love the grim-dark feel and of course Styke is the goat. I actually like home a lot more than I originally did because of this book. And obviously it had one of the best narrations out there.