Who Would Like This Book:
If you're looking for a fantasy adventure with a twist, Oath of Swords delivers a funny and action-packed tale with characters that quickly grow on you. Weber puts his stamp on the genre with a world that feels lived-in, featuring unique takes on classic fantasy races - most notably the orc-like hradani hero Bahzell, who's all grit and reluctant nobility. Fans of buddy dynamics, rich world-building, and a dash of dry humor (think D&D hijinks mixed with social commentary) will love seeing how Bahzell and his companions navigate prejudice, magic, meddling gods, and very human politics. Perfect for anyone who wants a break from standard Tolkien retreads and prefers their fantasy with heart and a few laughs.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers weren't won over by the novel's pacing, finding it either slow to start or meandering like a series of loosely connected adventures. If you crave meticulous, epic plotting or deeply innovative characters, you may find this too reminiscent of a D&D campaign. The recurring 'rescue the damsel' motif and the way some heavy topics are handled have rubbed certain people the wrong way. Also, if you're coming straight from the high-stakes military sci-fi of Honor Harrington, be prepared for a tonal shift - there are more swords and fewer spaceships here!
About:
'Oath of Swords' by David Weber follows the story of Prince Bahzell Bahnakson, a Horse Stealer Hradni and a political hostage, who finds himself on the run after a confrontation with the Crown Prince of his host country. Along with his companion, Brandark, Bahzell embarks on a journey across the continent, facing evildoers, rescuing maidens in distress, and dealing with unwanted gods. presents a mix of epic fantasy, humor, and action, with a focus on themes of honor, prejudice, and adventure. The writing style is described as witty, glib, and entertaining, with charming but not particularly original characters and a plot that unfolds through a series of tangents.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include elements of violence and references to sensitive themes such as rape.
From The Publisher:
Whom the gods would recruit, they first tick off . . .
Our Hero: The unlikely Paladin, Bahzell Bahnakson of the Horse Stealer Hradani. He's no knight in shining armor. He's a hradani, a race known for their uncontrollable rages, bloodthirsty tendencies, and inability to maintain civilized conduct. None of the other Five Races of man like the hradani. Besides his ethnic burden, Bahzell has problems of his own to deal with: a violated hostage bond, a vengeful prince, a price on his head. He doesn t want to mess with anybody else's problems, let alone a god's. Let alone the War God's So how does he end up a thousand leagues from home, neck-deep in political intrigue, assassins, demons, psionicists, evil sorcery, white sorcery, dark gods, good gods, bad poets, greedy landlords, and most of Bortalik Bay? Well, it's all the War God's fault. . . .
Ratings (3)
Loved It (2) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (12):
Read It (4) | |
Want To Read (7) | |
Not Interested (1) |
What can you read after
Oath of Swords?
About the Author:
With more than eight million copies of his books in print and 33 titles on the New York Times bestseller list, David Weber is a science fiction powerhouse. In the vastly popular Honor Harrington series, the spirit of C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander lives on-into the galactic future. Books in the Honor Harrington and Honorverse series have appeared on 21 bestseller lists, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today. Additional Honorverse collaborations include the spin-off miniseries Manticore Ascendant with New York Times best-selling author, Timothy Zahn; and with Eric Flint, Crown of Slaves and Cauldron of Ghosts contribute to his illustrious list of New York Times and international bestseller lists. Best known for his spirited, modern-minded space operas, Weber is also the creator of the Oath of Swords fantasy series and the Dahak saga, a science fiction and fantasy hybrid. Weber has also engaged in a steady stream of best-selling collaborations: the Starfire Series with Steve White; The Empire of Man Series with John Ringo; the Multiverse Series with Linda Evans and Joelle Presby; and the Ring of Fire Series with Eric Flint. David Weber makes his home in South Carolina with his wife and children.
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