Books › Oath of Swords
Oath of Swords
576 pages
A witty, action-packed sword-and-sorcery romp that pairs crunchy world-building with the irresistible charm of a gruff, reluctant hero.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like settling into a classic tabletop RPG campaign run by a master storyteller. It delivers a brisk, action-packed adventure anchored by a deeply companionable mood and a wry, pragmatic tone. The narrative thrives on the friction of a gruff, misunderstood outsider navigating a world that despises him, turning tropes on their heads with sharp wit and intelligent world-building. The prose is detailed and kinetic, lingering on the crunch of combat and the rich history of the realm without ever losing its forward momentum. It is a story about reluctant heroism, loyalty, and the slow burn of earning honor in a prejudiced world. Fans of classic sword-and-sorcery who love excellent buddy banter and a hero who grumbles all the way to doing the right thing will devour this journey.
- Mood
- companionable
- action-packed
- triumphant
- Tone
- wry
- pragmatic
- adventurous
- witty
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- reluctant heroism · overcoming prejudice · unlikely friendships · honor and duty
- The writing
- Pragmatic and highly detailed, balancing crunchy world-building with sharp, witty dialogue and kinetic action sequences.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from a cynical, misunderstood exile just trying to survive to a reluctant but steadfast champion of a higher cause.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave classic, intelligent sword-and-sorcery romps anchored by gruff, honorable heroes and excellent buddy banter.
Content notes
- fantasy violence
- prejudice and xenophobia
- gore
About the book
The creator of sf series heroine Honor Harrington turns successfully to fantasy. Bahzell is a prince of the Hradni, an outsize humanoid race prone to berserk rages. Due to a variety of circumstances, he becomes obliged to flee into regular humans' lands where Hradni are understandably unpopular. He and his companion survive a series of briskly paced adventures in a world Weber builds with a nice eye for detail, above-average knowledge of history, and a pleasing amount of wit. Moreover, the book's ending neither requires nor precludes a sequel. At the moment, Weber is not on a course to high honors or academic reputation but rather is emerging as a consistent producer of highly entertaining and intelligent action tales. Roland Green
Description from Open Library.
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