The Oathbound (Vows and Honor, #1)

by Mercedes Lackey

The first book in the Vows and Honor trilogy unites swordmaster and sorceress in a quest for revenge in this thrilling epic fantasy

She was Tarma. Born to the Clan of the Hawk of the nomadic Shin’a’in people, she saw her entire clan slain by brigands. Vowing blood revenge upon the murderers, she became one of the sword-sworn, the most elite of all warriors. And trained in all the forms of death-dealing combat, she took to the road in search of her enemies.
 
She was Kethry. Born to a noble house, sold into a hateful “marriage”, she fled life’s harshness for the sanctuary of the White Winds, a powerful school of sorcery. Becoming an adept, she pledged to use her talents for the greatest good. Yet unlike other sorcerers, Kethry could use worldly weapons as well as magical skills. And when she became the bearer of a uniquely magical sword that drew her to those in need, Kethry was led to a fateful meeting with Tarma.
 
United by sword-spell and the will of the Goddess, Tarma and Kethry swore a blood oath to carry on their mutual fight against evil. And together, swordsmaster and sorceress set forth to fulfill their destiny….

• ISBN10: 1101121491
• ISBN13: 9781101121498
• Publish Date: 5 July 1988
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Daw Books
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kim Deister]

This is a strong female-centric book set in the bigger Velgrath world in which the Valdemar saga is set.

One of the things I loved most about the saga is the diversity of the cast of characters. In Oathbound, the women have agency, rather than having been relegated to damsels in distress or gratuitously sexualized. Tarma and Kethry are a warrior and a mage respectively, Tarma also a woman of color. Also wonderful is that the two women are not pitted against one another but are supportive and close. In keeping with diversity, there is a positive representation of an asexual character.

There are those that take issue of the off-the-page rapes, including those of a child, and the violence against other women. I understand that, but I also don’t have a problem with that as it is not used as a gratuitous element, but as a character-defining element in the cases of Tarma and Kethry, as well as an accounting of just how villainous the antagonists are.

I found the story deeply engaging, troubling moments and all. There were themes of strength and support, of loyalty and love, of sacrifice for the greater good.