Light magic is forbidden.
Dark magic spells death.
Haven has both.
After the Prince of Penryth saved her from captivity, seventeen-year-old Haven Ashwood spends her days protecting the kind prince and her nights secretly fighting the monsters outside the castle walls.
When one of those monsters kidnaps Prince Bell, Haven must ally with Archeron Halfbane and his band of immortals to rescue her friend.
Her quest takes her deep into the domain of a warped and vicious queen where the rules are simple: break her curse or die.
Lost in a land of twisted magic and fabled creatures, Haven finds herself unprepared, not just for the feelings she develops for Archeron, but for the warring powers raging inside her.
Her rare and forbidden type of magic may be their only hope . . . but mixing light and dark comes with a steep price.
Haven’s soul.
Faced with impossible love, heartbreaking betrayals, and a queen intent on destroying the realm, only one thing remains certain.
Haven must shatter the curse or it will devour everything she loves.
Welcome to the Kingdom of Runes where immortals and humans clash, light and dark magic reign, and mythical creatures lurk in the shadows. If you like fierce heroines, enemies-to-lovers romance, wild plot twists, and endearing characters that stay with you long after you reach the end, you need to discover the book readers are calling dark fantasy at its best. Just make sure to clear out some space on your calendar first!
More info on Goodreads....
Review:
Oath Taker is the first novel in Audrey Grey’s new Kingdom of Runes series and offers readers a bewitching and sweeping fantasy adventure that will delight fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo with its fast pace, death-defying danger and bold characters.
Having been saved from slavery by crown prince Bellamy of Penryth as a child, seventeen year old Haven Ashwood spends her days protecting and supporting the kind-hearted prince while secretly spending her nights hunting monsters just outside the castles walls. In a world where both light and dark magic exist, Haven remains an anomaly for her ability to wield both; her only friend the prince. Then Bell is kidnapped by the very monsters Haven hunts, and she finds herself determined to rescue him. Even if the cost means partnering with the arrogant Archeron Halfbane, a Sun Lord bound to the King of Penryth and a group of his fellow immortals. Journeying across the kingdom, Haven’s only hope at rescuing Bell lies in destroying the curse that hangs over Penryth, but to do so she must face a vicious Queen whose twisted magic is stronger than anything Haven has ever seen. Trusting Archeron isn’t an option, but as the only way to beat their shared foe, Haven will need to put her faith in the hands of someone capable of destroying her if she hopes to save the ones she loves…..
As someone who has read and adored all of Audrey Grey's novels to date, I was beyond stoked when I heard about her latest novel Oath Taker and as a fantasy lover I knew it sounded right up my alley. And boy was I right! In the vein of all the best fantasy novels, Oath Taker proved to be an exceptionally well plotted and detailed adventure that held my complete and utter attention from the very first page. Intertwining all the elements of a great fantasy---adventure, action, danger, magic, monsters, possible romance---Oath Taker brings to life a compelling and intriguing world in the form of Penryth, a land where humans exist alongside magic and creatures capable of wielding it with both kindness and cruelty.
Audrey Grey weaves together a really well rounded and paced story in Oath Taker. The world feels well structured and complete; nuanced and layered--it's clear Grey has put a lot of time and effort into constructing her world. Grey also implores a rich history to support her creation with a tangible backstory and mythology which includes the Noctis and Solis; two races of immortal beings who lives alongside and occasionally amongst the mortals of the world. I personally thought they were very intriguing races and am enjoying seeing them woven into the story which is darkly fairytale-like at times and reminiscent of some popular fantasy lore.
The protagonist of Oath Taker is Haven, a tough, capable and highly likable young woman who had a hard start in life and is guarded as a result. Haven doesn’t let a lot of people in and does not trust easily which has left her with only one person in her life she truly cares about; her best friend and the Crown Prince of Penryth Bellamy. Haven’s loyalty to Bellamy is unwavering and after he is kidnapped, she showcases her determination to find him constantly throughout the novel as she journeys with strangers in an effort to find him. I quite liked Haven. She intelligent and able and smart mouthed. This is a girl who knows how to take care of herself and I’m hoping she’ll find happiness throughout the series.
Alongside Haven is an interesting cast of characters, both human and immortal. Though primarily told through Haven’s perspective, Oath Taker also features chapters through the eyes of Archeron, Stolas and Bellamy. I genuinely enjoy the chemistry between Haven and Archeron and Haven and Stolas but am not liking the possibility of a love triangle. I foresee something similar to the Feyre/Tamlin/Rhysand love triangle Sarah J. Maas is famous for and am crossing my fingers this won’t be the case. Don’t get me wrong—I think both men are intriguing and promising characters but I really hate love triangles.
Swimming in magic and danger, Oath Taker is a lyrical and sweeping fantasy. Audrey Grey has set the base for what is sure to be a thrilling series and leaves this first instalment guaranteeing readers will be keeping their eyes peeled for more. I know I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel as soon as possible!
Rating:
Source: Sent for review by author (Thank you Audrey!)
Publisher: Starfall Press
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: May 23rd 2019
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Final Thoughts: I LOVED Oath Taker and can't wait for the next novel!
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