Oathbreakers

Remembering my thoughts on Oathbound, the previous novel in the Vows and Honor trilogy, I admit I had some trepidation about this one. Fortunately, I ended up pleasantly surprised. Where the first book of the trilogy was obviously originally a collection of short stories strung together by only a light touch of editing, this book was one long story, complete and full, and therefore much more entertaining and devoid of the problems that I found in Oathbound.

Tarma and Kethry became much more interesting to me in this novel than they were in the previous, and I suspect no small part of that was due to the first book's sloppy editing. More of their story was revealed and explained in a way that made me want to keep reading instead of show more frustrating me with tantalyzing hints about a previously-published short story that I didn't get a chance to see.

I was particularly amused by Tarma's frustration at Leslac, especially the section that detailed him stating that he would be the man to cure her of her celibacy. Speaking as someone who identifies as asexual (though, I'll grant you, my asexuality isn't because of any religious devotion or calling, as Tarma's is), the "you just need to find the right person" attitude is a very common and annoying reaction that a lot of people have, and I was thrilled to see Tarma be so incensed at Leslac's presumption.

On the down side, some of the plot elements were not particularly surprising when they were presented. Idra's fate, I think, is one that I saw coming a mile off.

It also seems that this book was written when Lackey didn't know where to place it on the Valdemar timeline, because there were another boatload of inconsistancies with the rest of the series. Kethry's use of magic within Valdemar's borders, and the matter of who's ruling Rethwellan clash with facts stated in later Valdemar novels. It's disappointing when my favourite author can't keep her own timeline straight, and when inconsistancies have become par for the course, even so early on in the series. I'm not holding those against this particular novel, though; merely against the series as a whole. On its own, or even within its own trilogy, I don't think I encountered any contradictions. In a wider context, however...

But that won't stop me from doing what I've been doing for years: reading the Valdemar novels and loving them anyway! show less

After the first disappointing volume of this series I was expecting more of the same so it was a pleasant surprise to find that this volume mostly reached the workmanlike level of a good read achieved by the sequel 'By the Sword' which I happened to read first. Unlike the first volume which is basically a series of short stories put together - as I've now realised is actually the case since some of them are reprinted in original form in another volume - this is a proper novel. It deals with the time the two characters spent in a mercenary company, the Sunhawks, which is referred to in the sequel in the first part of that where the two characters appear, much older.

The beginning sets the scene with one of the 'jobs' for which the show more Sunhawks are engaged, but soon their company leader, Idra, has to leave - she is from the Rethwellan royal family but renounced her claim to the throne in order to live independently as a soldier. Now she is required back to help settle the rival claims of her two brothers following their father's death - a magic sword used to settle such issues but it was stolen some time ago. But Idra does not return when expected and Tarma and Kethry journey incognito, with their sentient wolf partner, to the capital to try to find out what happened to her, only to become embroiled in politics and power struggles. In the course of this, Kethry comes into her own as she grows in her magical abilities and also finds the man who will become her partner and help rebuild Tarma's clan.

Some interesting developments in this story but some puzzles also - in 'By the Sword' the two characters tell Kerowyn that magic does not work in Valdemar - yet in this story they journey there and it very much does work, even if they are staying fairly near the border. In the sequel mages literally can't cross into Valdemar or they suffer terrible psychological problems. So that seems a changed premise. I was also hoping that, as in 'By the Sword', this book had escaped the "rape fixation" that a lot of this author's work seems to suffer from, but late into the book this does intrude again, though offstage and at least acknowledged as a form of torture used to try to break a woman. I did find it rather incredible though that the perpetrators included the brother of the woman subjected to it as this person was not portrayed as sufficiently sociopathic for this to be the case.

As with the other books, sometimes there is a lot of exposition with characters telling each other what they have done rather than showing a bit of it which would be more involving. But on the whole this is an acceptable read with some good character and action sequences. So a 3-star read overall. show less

I find Tarma and Kethry two of Lackey's most appealing characters. (To say nothing of Warrl, a kind of androgenous talking wolf).

The earlier book, Oathbound proceeds this--I don't think you have to read it to enjoy this book, but I'd recommend it highly too. That first book is more a collection of stories--this one is a true novel. I enjoy it for its depiction of a mercenary company, the Sun Hawks, which is evocatively depicted here. It's nice to see a fantasy novel not just about a lone hero but comrades and the themes of not just honor, but friendship, partnership and family. How they're developed through the actions of the book make this one of Lackey's best and most enjoyable novels.

Tarma and Kethry's actual adventures in here are kind of...not minor, exactly, but not...I don't know. I want to say, not life-changing the way the ones in the first book are - but then I think about meeting Jadrek, and when Kethry was injured, and the whole Idra sequence, and...yeah. Lifechanging they _are_. Maybe it's just that they're both pretty well grown up at the beginning of the book - and at the end, there are changes, but they're still grown up. The first book is largely about them finding their feet, personally and as a team. This one they _are_ a team and as a team accomplish some pretty amazing stuff. And lay the foundations for some serious changes for Valdemar and Velgarth as a whole...(though they don't come out for show more another book or three!) show less

Many times a sequel isn't as strong as the original. Oathbreakers, if anything, is stronger. Less episodic, there's a missing person who ties the whole novel together. Kethry and Tarma are tasked to find her, or to discover her fate. For fans of Valdemar, a herald and his companion do make an entrance. The background to one of Valdemar's alliances is also revealed.

People may not realize that there are two CDs that accompany Oathbound and Oathbreakers. They bear the same title, but are/were put out by Firebird Arts and Music. They include the filk songs (science fiction/fantasy folk songs) that Lackey published about these books. Both are excellent listening.

For fans of sword-and-sorcery novels, few are as good as this one. Highly show more recommended. show less

See my review about the first book in the series The Oathbound.

While you don't need to read the first book in order to enjoy this one, if you love this one I highly recommend going back and reading the first one.

This story revolves around the disappearance of Idra, commander of the Sunhawks mercenaries. Tarma and Kethry are the members of the mercenary company who lead an investigation into what happened to their beloved leader. The mystery isn't the that complex or really the appeal of the story, but rather the elaborate plan that results of a very satisfying climax. As well as the heart-clenching bond all of the Sunhawks feel for Idra.

Again this is a fantastic fantasy novel. Filled with humor, though this story has a great deal of show more darkness and a fair amount of sadness. There is a surprise romance, though it is not the focus of the story. Instead the focus is friendship and loyalty, with a platonic relationship (between two women) center stage.

The book may have been published over twenty years ago, but it still does a far better job of female representation and diversity than most modern fantasy novels. show less

Oathbreakers is the only proper novel in the Tarma-and-Kethry sequence, and it's good. It's a little more of a proper Valdemar novel, despite only barely touching on Valdemar itself, and much less a sword-and-sorcery pastiche.

It's still very much pulp - the language, while competent and noticeably smoother than its immediate predecessor, is still rather faux-medieval and occasionally overwrought, the plot is a little too pat to be totally believable, and it's yet another rape-revenge story at the heart. The characters are, as usual, totally delightful, but the worldbuilding isn't as complete as in most of the later stories, and it shows.

Despite all that, it's up there with my favorite Valdemar novels - it's relatively short and a show more quick, entertaining read. Not fine literature, but excellent pulp. show less