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The Oathtaker #1
Oathtaker
An Oath Sworn.
A Struggle Engaged.
A Sacrifice Required.
When Mara, a trained Oathtaker, is drawn by the scent of the Select to battle underworld beasts summoned by powers of evil to destroy the guardians of life, she swears a life oath for the protection of her charge.
Armed with a unique weapon and her attendant magic, and with the aid of her Oathtaker cohorts, two ancients and a spymaster, Mara seeks safety for her charge from one who would end Oosa’s rightful line of rule and from assassins who endeavor to bring ruin to the land.
As Mara puzzles to decipher ancient prophecy concerning her charge, as she is haunted with memories of her own past failings, she discovers the price her oath will exact.
To renounce her word would be treasonous; to fail, ruinous; to persevere, tortuous.
Abiding by an oath requires sacrifice.
A Struggle Engaged.
A Sacrifice Required.
When Mara, a trained Oathtaker, is drawn by the scent of the Select to battle underworld beasts summoned by powers of evil to destroy the guardians of life, she swears a life oath for the protection of her charge.
Armed with a unique weapon and her attendant magic, and with the aid of her Oathtaker cohorts, two ancients and a spymaster, Mara seeks safety for her charge from one who would end Oosa’s rightful line of rule and from assassins who endeavor to bring ruin to the land.
As Mara puzzles to decipher ancient prophecy concerning her charge, as she is haunted with memories of her own past failings, she discovers the price her oath will exact.
To renounce her word would be treasonous; to fail, ruinous; to persevere, tortuous.
Abiding by an oath requires sacrifice.
720 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2013
56 people are currently reading
4625 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Reding
6 books164 followersMulti-award winning author Patricia Reding leads a double life. By day, she practices law. By night, she reads, reviews a wide variety of works, and writes fantasy. She lives on an island on the Mississippi with her husband and youngest daughter (her son and oldest daughter having already flown the nest), and Flynn Rider (an English Cream Golden Retriever). From there she seeks to create a world in which she can be in two places at once.
Readers--Follow Patricia on Bublish at http://bit.ly/1YyHA6X.
Oathtaker won a GOLD medal in the Literary Classics International Book Award Contest. Select and Ephemeral and Fleeting are SILVER medal winners in the Literary Classics International Book Award Contest.
Both Oathtaker and Select are Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest winners.
Oathtaker was named a Finalist in the Beverly Hills International Book Award Contest.
Select was named a Semifinalist in the 2017 Kindle Book Review Awards.
AND--WindDancer Films selected Oathtaker as one of ten books (out of the many thousands of 2014 contest entries) that will be given a closer look for possible film and or television.
Oathtaker, Select, and Ephemeral and Fleeting, have all earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the Readers' Favorite 5-star seal.
Both Oathtaker, Vol. 1 and Select, Vol. 2, were revised and republished in 2017.
Readers--Follow Patricia on Bublish at http://bit.ly/1YyHA6X.
Oathtaker won a GOLD medal in the Literary Classics International Book Award Contest. Select and Ephemeral and Fleeting are SILVER medal winners in the Literary Classics International Book Award Contest.
Both Oathtaker and Select are Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest winners.
Oathtaker was named a Finalist in the Beverly Hills International Book Award Contest.
Select was named a Semifinalist in the 2017 Kindle Book Review Awards.
AND--WindDancer Films selected Oathtaker as one of ten books (out of the many thousands of 2014 contest entries) that will be given a closer look for possible film and or television.
Oathtaker, Select, and Ephemeral and Fleeting, have all earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the Readers' Favorite 5-star seal.
Both Oathtaker, Vol. 1 and Select, Vol. 2, were revised and republished in 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 8, 2015
This is a book to be admired.
The Oathtaker is a riveting, wonderful fantasy world that sucks you in from the very first chapter. There are so many things that contribute to this book being extraordinary. The characters (Mara is the meaning of heroine), the plot, the setting, and the way it is written. You know you are reading a wonderfully written novel when you can visually picture yourself in the world that is being written about. I am enjoying it more and more as I reread it. I look forward to the continuations of this series and highly recommend it to any and all fellow fantasy lovers.
The Oathtaker is a riveting, wonderful fantasy world that sucks you in from the very first chapter. There are so many things that contribute to this book being extraordinary. The characters (Mara is the meaning of heroine), the plot, the setting, and the way it is written. You know you are reading a wonderfully written novel when you can visually picture yourself in the world that is being written about. I am enjoying it more and more as I reread it. I look forward to the continuations of this series and highly recommend it to any and all fellow fantasy lovers.
April 5, 2014
I received a free copy of Oathtaker through the Firstreads program. This did not affect my rating of the book in any way.
Oathtaker is Patricia Reding's debut fantasy novel, and it reads as such. Reding's grammar and spelling is fine, which is frequently a problem for many debut novels that I've read. The book is generally interesting. Really, it's a pretty solid effort for a debut novel. Unfortunately, it's not a debut novel. It's a debut fantasy novel. Reding seems to only have a vague or general understanding as to how the fantasy genre actually works. As Reding has said that one of her favorite authors is Terry Goodkind, I find this to be... unsurprising.
The world that she built is frequently inconsistent and illogical. Her explanations only vaguely make sense. She's created a world ruled by "The Select" who rule by Divine Right, which they received from Ehyeh, the Good One (More on this later). The Selects' responsibilities are determined by birth order, and the most powerful/important is the youngest (The pinnacle being the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter). Apparently, the only member of the family that gets to have magic powers is the youngest, and when she (because it appears that only women can be Select) is about to die, she releases her power to her youngest child. If she fails to release her power it goes back to her next youngest sister. I confess that I don't really understand how the "females only" bit works, since the person's responsibilities are based on their birth order: does a fourth child who is only the third daughter have the responsibilities of a third or a fourth? My understanding of it got even more muddy since the big ol' prophecy discusses the "Seventh seventh and she who is but is not" which is an allusion to the twin daughters of a Seventh (which has never happened before!). Now, I don't know about you, but I'd call the second twin of a seventh pregnancy the eighth child, but apparently we count based on which pregnancy the child comes from. I'll admit that the youngest being the most important/powerful was an interesting twist, but the explanation really didn't satisfy me. On the other hand, the explanation of each Select's role and responsibilities was exhaustive.
One of the more time-honored traditions of fantasy novels is to have a main character who is young and in a student/apprentice role. This allows the reader to learn along with the protagonist, and so you can achieve world exposition without it feeling awkward and artificial. Mara, having just completed her training as an Oathtaker, seemed to fit the mold at first glance. Unfortunately, this was not the case. 140 pages into the book, there's a scene in Sanctuary where there are 7 giant stained glass windows, one for each type of Select. We proceed to have a ridiculously artificial conversation between several characters wherein they explain each of these roles to each other. For more than 6 pages. I mean, we're talking about a societal structure that is well established and is quasi-religious, and we still need to have a long drawn out explanation of each of them? To me, that seems like it should be standard knowledge. Furthermore, 3 of the 4 people explaining these roles to each other are trained Oathtakers. Why do they need to have this conversation? That should have been day one of Oathtaker training. So if it was, why are they rehashing it? If it wasn't... I mean, picture it as a zoo-keeper training program: "You're going to be taking care of animals. They're different, do different things, and eat different things. Just figure it out on your own." Although, we also discover that these ultra-bodyguards to the Select are not trained in a centralized academy of some kind, but instead in a variety of regions, and that the skills and knowledge imparted are not standardized. Oathtakers receive "attendant magic" to aid them in protecting their Select. In exchange for the magical powers and not aging so long as their Select is alive, Oathtakers are not allowed to marry. Mara has absolutely no idea about attendant magic, despite the fact that she's a trained Oathtaker. I understand that she can't do too much training since she doesn't have powers yet, but it's explained that certain kinds of attendant magic are common, and so you'd think she'd at least hear about that. On the upside, as Mara is the Oathtaker to not one, but two Select (which has never happened before!) she gets more and better powers than everyone else. She can tell when people are lying, figure out what people are afraid of, turn floating lights into exploding crystals (which she then keeps in a giant bowl... 'cause that's safe), is telepathic, can teleport (which has never happened before!) and can taste colors. She also gets a lot of help, since the twins gather a veritable harem of Oathtakers, since Ehyeh accepts every single person's oath to protect the girls (which has never happened before!)
At times, it feels like Reding is just trying too hard. The chapters where she's trying to disguise Lilith's boy-toy's identity are heavy-handed. Fairly late (I can't find it right now, but I'm pretty sure that it's after the halfway point of the book) she just casually drops in that Oosa has 3 moons that are out of phase with each other, which while cool, served no purpose, and seemed just there to reinforce the fact that it's a fantasy novel.
Another element that is very jarring to the reader is Reding's language usage. In the first 60 pages, we meet Dixon, Mara, Rowena, Reigna, and Gadon (amongst others). Then we meet Gadon's henchmen: Bruce and Simon. Uh.... really? Gadon, Bruce, and Simon? One of these things is not like the other, and it shouldn't be in this genre. Again, I think this might be Reding trying to take a page from Goodkind's books, where his high(ish)-fantasy protagonist is named Richard. Unfortunately, unlike Goodkind, who provided an explanation for why this was, we just have to accept that some people have fantasy-genre names, and some people are Bruce. Similarly, the language use oscillates between being somewhat stilted with minimal contractions and maximal fantasy-soundingness, to sounding like a current teenager. The action sequences are clunky, and feature way too many exclamation points. "Dixon drew another blade. He threw it. The aim was true! The beast burst into flame and disappeared! Then, yet another beast approached!" There's even a moment when "Velia held her breath in anticipation of the worst when she... made her way up [the stairs]. She felt as though she was playing a game of chicken." So your technologically barren fantasy world still has people playing chicken? Not quite sure how well that'll work, but I guess we'll just go with it. Also, we're apparently also in a world where other regions had Romance Languages, as someone has a horse named "Deangelo" which makes Mara immediately comment "Oh! Of the Angels!"
Speaking of angels, we're circling back around to Ehyeh and the religiousness. To be fair, you had to look fairly closely at times, to realize that this was actually "Christian Fantasy," but it was there. Most of the time, it was just that people would pray to the Good One, and their prayers would be answered, but there's also the moment where we learn about the origins of the Select. "At Ehyeh's direction, Denika and Vesper collected all the members of their family together. Then the Good One took them away... [and] caused a great fire to consume all the earth." Compare to: "At Yahweh's direction, Noah collected all the members of his family together. Then the Good Lord took them away... and caused a great flood to consume all the earth." So it turns out that the Select are the descendents of Noah, I guess. Interestingly enough, though, the high morality that one would expect to find from this framework are noticeably absent. For example, Mara is not only in favor of, but utilizes torture, and several of the "good guys" seem to take pleasure in killing their enemies.
All in all, Oathtaker was an okay debut novel, but not a good fantasy novel. It lacks internal consistency, features illogical world building, and demonstrates a general lack of comfort with the genre. I think that with greater exposure to some of the great authors of the fantasy genre (e.g. Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Steven Erikson, Brent Weeks) and some more practice, Ms. Reding could develop a decent world, characters and story, but I don't think Oathtaker is going to fit the bill.
Oathtaker is Patricia Reding's debut fantasy novel, and it reads as such. Reding's grammar and spelling is fine, which is frequently a problem for many debut novels that I've read. The book is generally interesting. Really, it's a pretty solid effort for a debut novel. Unfortunately, it's not a debut novel. It's a debut fantasy novel. Reding seems to only have a vague or general understanding as to how the fantasy genre actually works. As Reding has said that one of her favorite authors is Terry Goodkind, I find this to be... unsurprising.
The world that she built is frequently inconsistent and illogical. Her explanations only vaguely make sense. She's created a world ruled by "The Select" who rule by Divine Right, which they received from Ehyeh, the Good One (More on this later). The Selects' responsibilities are determined by birth order, and the most powerful/important is the youngest (The pinnacle being the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter). Apparently, the only member of the family that gets to have magic powers is the youngest, and when she (because it appears that only women can be Select) is about to die, she releases her power to her youngest child. If she fails to release her power it goes back to her next youngest sister. I confess that I don't really understand how the "females only" bit works, since the person's responsibilities are based on their birth order: does a fourth child who is only the third daughter have the responsibilities of a third or a fourth? My understanding of it got even more muddy since the big ol' prophecy discusses the "Seventh seventh and she who is but is not" which is an allusion to the twin daughters of a Seventh (which has never happened before!). Now, I don't know about you, but I'd call the second twin of a seventh pregnancy the eighth child, but apparently we count based on which pregnancy the child comes from. I'll admit that the youngest being the most important/powerful was an interesting twist, but the explanation really didn't satisfy me. On the other hand, the explanation of each Select's role and responsibilities was exhaustive.
One of the more time-honored traditions of fantasy novels is to have a main character who is young and in a student/apprentice role. This allows the reader to learn along with the protagonist, and so you can achieve world exposition without it feeling awkward and artificial. Mara, having just completed her training as an Oathtaker, seemed to fit the mold at first glance. Unfortunately, this was not the case. 140 pages into the book, there's a scene in Sanctuary where there are 7 giant stained glass windows, one for each type of Select. We proceed to have a ridiculously artificial conversation between several characters wherein they explain each of these roles to each other. For more than 6 pages. I mean, we're talking about a societal structure that is well established and is quasi-religious, and we still need to have a long drawn out explanation of each of them? To me, that seems like it should be standard knowledge. Furthermore, 3 of the 4 people explaining these roles to each other are trained Oathtakers. Why do they need to have this conversation? That should have been day one of Oathtaker training. So if it was, why are they rehashing it? If it wasn't... I mean, picture it as a zoo-keeper training program: "You're going to be taking care of animals. They're different, do different things, and eat different things. Just figure it out on your own." Although, we also discover that these ultra-bodyguards to the Select are not trained in a centralized academy of some kind, but instead in a variety of regions, and that the skills and knowledge imparted are not standardized. Oathtakers receive "attendant magic" to aid them in protecting their Select. In exchange for the magical powers and not aging so long as their Select is alive, Oathtakers are not allowed to marry. Mara has absolutely no idea about attendant magic, despite the fact that she's a trained Oathtaker. I understand that she can't do too much training since she doesn't have powers yet, but it's explained that certain kinds of attendant magic are common, and so you'd think she'd at least hear about that. On the upside, as Mara is the Oathtaker to not one, but two Select (which has never happened before!) she gets more and better powers than everyone else. She can tell when people are lying, figure out what people are afraid of, turn floating lights into exploding crystals (which she then keeps in a giant bowl... 'cause that's safe), is telepathic, can teleport (which has never happened before!) and can taste colors. She also gets a lot of help, since the twins gather a veritable harem of Oathtakers, since Ehyeh accepts every single person's oath to protect the girls (which has never happened before!)
At times, it feels like Reding is just trying too hard. The chapters where she's trying to disguise Lilith's boy-toy's identity are heavy-handed. Fairly late (I can't find it right now, but I'm pretty sure that it's after the halfway point of the book) she just casually drops in that Oosa has 3 moons that are out of phase with each other, which while cool, served no purpose, and seemed just there to reinforce the fact that it's a fantasy novel.
Another element that is very jarring to the reader is Reding's language usage. In the first 60 pages, we meet Dixon, Mara, Rowena, Reigna, and Gadon (amongst others). Then we meet Gadon's henchmen: Bruce and Simon. Uh.... really? Gadon, Bruce, and Simon? One of these things is not like the other, and it shouldn't be in this genre. Again, I think this might be Reding trying to take a page from Goodkind's books, where his high(ish)-fantasy protagonist is named Richard. Unfortunately, unlike Goodkind, who provided an explanation for why this was, we just have to accept that some people have fantasy-genre names, and some people are Bruce. Similarly, the language use oscillates between being somewhat stilted with minimal contractions and maximal fantasy-soundingness, to sounding like a current teenager. The action sequences are clunky, and feature way too many exclamation points. "Dixon drew another blade. He threw it. The aim was true! The beast burst into flame and disappeared! Then, yet another beast approached!" There's even a moment when "Velia held her breath in anticipation of the worst when she... made her way up [the stairs]. She felt as though she was playing a game of chicken." So your technologically barren fantasy world still has people playing chicken? Not quite sure how well that'll work, but I guess we'll just go with it. Also, we're apparently also in a world where other regions had Romance Languages, as someone has a horse named "Deangelo" which makes Mara immediately comment "Oh! Of the Angels!"
Speaking of angels, we're circling back around to Ehyeh and the religiousness. To be fair, you had to look fairly closely at times, to realize that this was actually "Christian Fantasy," but it was there. Most of the time, it was just that people would pray to the Good One, and their prayers would be answered, but there's also the moment where we learn about the origins of the Select. "At Ehyeh's direction, Denika and Vesper collected all the members of their family together. Then the Good One took them away... [and] caused a great fire to consume all the earth." Compare to: "At Yahweh's direction, Noah collected all the members of his family together. Then the Good Lord took them away... and caused a great flood to consume all the earth." So it turns out that the Select are the descendents of Noah, I guess. Interestingly enough, though, the high morality that one would expect to find from this framework are noticeably absent. For example, Mara is not only in favor of, but utilizes torture, and several of the "good guys" seem to take pleasure in killing their enemies.
All in all, Oathtaker was an okay debut novel, but not a good fantasy novel. It lacks internal consistency, features illogical world building, and demonstrates a general lack of comfort with the genre. I think that with greater exposure to some of the great authors of the fantasy genre (e.g. Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Steven Erikson, Brent Weeks) and some more practice, Ms. Reding could develop a decent world, characters and story, but I don't think Oathtaker is going to fit the bill.
April 11, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, nonreciprocal review.
This was my first fantasy book so I was not sure what to expect. While it is essentially a story of the battle between good and evil, there is so much more to take from this book. From the very beginning I was pulled into this story. The author writes with clarity and creativity. She successfully created characters with such great depth that the issues of commitment, honor and integrity were skillfully woven throughout the story. I loved the fantasy world I found myself immersed in and the thrilling ride that the characters took me on. This was a great read! I will definitely look for more books from this author.
This was my first fantasy book so I was not sure what to expect. While it is essentially a story of the battle between good and evil, there is so much more to take from this book. From the very beginning I was pulled into this story. The author writes with clarity and creativity. She successfully created characters with such great depth that the issues of commitment, honor and integrity were skillfully woven throughout the story. I loved the fantasy world I found myself immersed in and the thrilling ride that the characters took me on. This was a great read! I will definitely look for more books from this author.
June 20, 2015
In the past, I must admit to being a fan of the fantasy genre, growing up reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. As I have gotten older, my tastes have shifted to military espionage and historical fiction. Recently I broke away from my current reading list and discovered a wordsmith of impeccable talent, and I invite other readers to make the same discovery.
Author Patricia Reding’s Oathtaker is a brisk read, despite its 500+ page-count. The action is intense and begins right out of the gate. Excellent characterizations, with some very evil antagonists balanced by vulnerable heroes, Oathtaker is an impressive and ambitious debut in a genre that continues to enjoy a surge of popularity.
Mara and Dixon are Oathtakers, caring for the twin daughters of one of the Select, the ruling class of Oosa. Clearly not set on Earth (or any version of Earth familiar to this reader), this world is orbited by three moons, with a backdrop of forests, sanctuaries and palaces. You can see the locales easily in your mind’s eye based on Reding’s superb window-dressing. Incidentally, the artwork on the cover of the book establishes a solid feel for the environment her characters live in.
Honor and commitment, in spite of personal sacrifice, is the theme of Oathtaker. Reding fleshes this out well, calling attention to the various Oathtakers’ duties as they care for their charges. This world is filled with ‘attendant magic’, as well as oral histories and traditions that go to great lengths to establish the story’s societal hierarchy.
Oosa has a rustic feel. Technology is practically non-existent, and in its place we are introduced to the intangible mysticism that is the foundation of great fantasy and mythic story-telling. While I resist comparisons to other authors, doing so in this case might help put the story in the proper frame of reference. Patricia Reding has a voice similar to Ursula K. Le Guin, of Wizard of Earthsea fame, and Oathtaker has the same sylvan feel. In like manner, the book reflects a majesty that can be found in Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, and like those books, Oathtaker is an allegory to the Christian faith.
Reding is an idealist, and populates her world with characters readers can easily identify with. On the flip side, Oosa’s quasi-governmental/religious structure is meticulously detailed—an aspect of the story drawn, no doubt, from Reding’s background as an attorney. The main characters seem ready to kill each other at the beginning of the story, but personalities like these are bound to—well, you’ll just have to see for yourself, but I think most readers will catch on to how things eventually develop.
Props to Reding for building tension as the book progresses. I was perched on the edge of my seat while reading the climactic ending (on one occasion I stretched my lunch hour a little longer to absorb the action). I give her 5 out of 5 for her antagonists’ malevolent intentions. Lillith is especially diabolical, using her feminine wiles and seduction (tastefully done) to achieve her goals. Mara is the other side of the coin, young, idealistic, and virtuous, with a strong commitment to honor and integrity, and the character attributes of each are beautifully crafted.
To find out more, you'll just have to get a copy of the book for yourself. It's available in a handsome paperback version, as well as Kindle edition, and the second, soon-to-be published book in the series, Select, is already receiving 5-Star reviews from readersfavorite.com. I understand that Oathtaker is being considered by Wind Dancer Films for production as a television/movie feature, and the book has already garnered an award in the 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest.
Read Oathtaker. I heartily recommend it. It's a complex but vastly entertaining story of good versus evil. This is undoubtedly just the beginning for Patricia Reding's writing career. Personally, I'd like to see what she does with historical fiction. She certainly has the chops for something along that line, and I doubt we've seen the limits to Reding's creative abilities.
Steve Wilson
author of the Michael Neill Adventures
Author Patricia Reding’s Oathtaker is a brisk read, despite its 500+ page-count. The action is intense and begins right out of the gate. Excellent characterizations, with some very evil antagonists balanced by vulnerable heroes, Oathtaker is an impressive and ambitious debut in a genre that continues to enjoy a surge of popularity.
Mara and Dixon are Oathtakers, caring for the twin daughters of one of the Select, the ruling class of Oosa. Clearly not set on Earth (or any version of Earth familiar to this reader), this world is orbited by three moons, with a backdrop of forests, sanctuaries and palaces. You can see the locales easily in your mind’s eye based on Reding’s superb window-dressing. Incidentally, the artwork on the cover of the book establishes a solid feel for the environment her characters live in.
Honor and commitment, in spite of personal sacrifice, is the theme of Oathtaker. Reding fleshes this out well, calling attention to the various Oathtakers’ duties as they care for their charges. This world is filled with ‘attendant magic’, as well as oral histories and traditions that go to great lengths to establish the story’s societal hierarchy.
Oosa has a rustic feel. Technology is practically non-existent, and in its place we are introduced to the intangible mysticism that is the foundation of great fantasy and mythic story-telling. While I resist comparisons to other authors, doing so in this case might help put the story in the proper frame of reference. Patricia Reding has a voice similar to Ursula K. Le Guin, of Wizard of Earthsea fame, and Oathtaker has the same sylvan feel. In like manner, the book reflects a majesty that can be found in Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, and like those books, Oathtaker is an allegory to the Christian faith.
Reding is an idealist, and populates her world with characters readers can easily identify with. On the flip side, Oosa’s quasi-governmental/religious structure is meticulously detailed—an aspect of the story drawn, no doubt, from Reding’s background as an attorney. The main characters seem ready to kill each other at the beginning of the story, but personalities like these are bound to—well, you’ll just have to see for yourself, but I think most readers will catch on to how things eventually develop.
Props to Reding for building tension as the book progresses. I was perched on the edge of my seat while reading the climactic ending (on one occasion I stretched my lunch hour a little longer to absorb the action). I give her 5 out of 5 for her antagonists’ malevolent intentions. Lillith is especially diabolical, using her feminine wiles and seduction (tastefully done) to achieve her goals. Mara is the other side of the coin, young, idealistic, and virtuous, with a strong commitment to honor and integrity, and the character attributes of each are beautifully crafted.
To find out more, you'll just have to get a copy of the book for yourself. It's available in a handsome paperback version, as well as Kindle edition, and the second, soon-to-be published book in the series, Select, is already receiving 5-Star reviews from readersfavorite.com. I understand that Oathtaker is being considered by Wind Dancer Films for production as a television/movie feature, and the book has already garnered an award in the 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest.
Read Oathtaker. I heartily recommend it. It's a complex but vastly entertaining story of good versus evil. This is undoubtedly just the beginning for Patricia Reding's writing career. Personally, I'd like to see what she does with historical fiction. She certainly has the chops for something along that line, and I doubt we've seen the limits to Reding's creative abilities.
Steve Wilson
author of the Michael Neill Adventures
March 12, 2013
For all fantasy fans (AND for those who don't yet consider themselves fans of fantasy), this is absolutely a worthy read. The first five chapters are available in the preview on Amazon, but I was hooked before the end of the first. There's magic and secrets, prophecy and discovery, and a fierce heroine you can really root for.
Just try not to gobble it up too quickly; we may have a while to wait for the sequel.
Just try not to gobble it up too quickly; we may have a while to wait for the sequel.
April 19, 2017
Oathtaker is a whirlwind of adventure, emotions, and just the right amount of magic from start to finish. The dynamic characters, Mara and Dixon, form a unique bond to their Select that captatives the reader, especially myself, that pulls you through the pages of the book at top speed. The enchanting settings of both the cities and country, and spiraling plot is filled with twists and turns, where they meet quite the crew to accompany them on their mission to protect the twins till they come of age to take their throne. The relationships formed, both between main characters and their accompaniment(s), grow over time so that the reader is fully immersed in the world of Oosa’s reign. I fully enjoyed this book, could hardly put it down, and would highly recommend!
August 14, 2017
Oathtaker is a book I might never have read if its author had not gifted me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Nevertheless, I found myself enthralled in the story, unwilling to put it down unless forced to do so. Unlike many fantasies, the human characters reign supreme in the story and the “creatures,” while inventive, are only used for background. There is magic in this created fantasy world and evil quite supreme. The story and the characters grab the reader drawing them further and further into a world you will desire to know and will come to cherish. Reding’s fantasy is not this world she has created, but the images of it floating in your mind throughout your day urging you back into this book.
August 14, 2018
As a fantasy author and fantasy reader, I am so glad I found this series. Ms. Reding has created a compelling story with well developed and likable characters. I was drawn into the story immediately and couldn't put it down. I appreciated the Christian symbolism and the slight smattering of political commentary. Readers from teens to adult will enjoy this series.
M.J. Evans, author of "The Centaur Chronicles."
M.J. Evans, author of "The Centaur Chronicles."
August 11, 2017
I received this book series in a sweepstakes and fell in love with the story by the third chapter. The characters are well written and the story line flows very nicely and has an originality to it that is refreshing. It is written in a way that anyone from late teens, young adults and even me (in my mid forties) can understand and enjoy. There were a few editing errors in it but not to the point where it becomes annoying. On pins and needles waiting for the next installment. . . . . that should be coming out; when? :-)
October 3, 2015
I received this book for free from a Goodreads giveaway.
To start out, my rating is really more of a 4.5 but Goodreads does not allow half star reviews so I'll just bump it up to a 5!
Fantasy is not a genre that I usually read, but I think Oathtaker may have changed that. Everything was always so interesting and intense, and I was always excited to be reading it. This is also where this book gets its half star rating. Maybe it was just me, but there were characters being introduced left and right, and sometimes I could not keep up. This being said, I did love the characters. From Mara to Velia, they were all so interesting and easy to like. Each of them held a purpose and were very strong in their own way.
One of my favorite things about this book was the amount of women that held power. Usually in media and entertainment today men are many times in charge and it was a great change. Every female character was badass in their own sense and it was a very nice thing to see. Even when Mara was thinking of her love for Dixon she was truly thinking of the girls and their safety. She knew (or at least thought) there was no way to be with Dixon while the girls were in the picture, and she was ready to let him go in order to continue to protect the girls to her full ability. She was so headstrong but at the same time sympathetic to others. Mara was such an amazing lead character to read, and quickly became one of my favorites of all time.
That being said about the female characters, I also loved the male characters! They (with an exception of some) were so kind and dedicated to the cause of protecting the girls. It was so great to see male characters who were "tough guys" but at the same time actually had emotions.
Lilith was such an interesting villain. She wasn't one of those villains that just was, simply a villain. She had her backstory and her reasons for being the way she was, even if they were not justified. Lilith always had her eyes on the prize and did whatever she thought was necessary to get it. Her complete submission to Daeva and his powers showed that she was truly desperate for her goal. Although she was so strong, it seemed at the same time she was very weak.
Relationships played a huge part in Oathtaker. Whether they were strong or negative, they played into the story and made it that much more interesting. My favorite relationship was the relationship each of the girls' army had with the girls. They were willing to do anything to protect them. Another note on the relationships, in most YA today there's always that "love triangle" that I can't stand. Oathtaker took a pleasant turn from that. Mara only had feelings for Dixon, and Dixon only for Mara. Their love grew over time and that was also a refreshing thing to see! Instead of that annoying insta-love we got to see them learning about each other and bonding throughout the story. Also, I just wanted to say Mara and Dixon are adorable I cried at some points over how cute they were. I've decided to call them Mixon.
I could say much more, but I think I'll stop there. Overall, I loved this book. With the only downside I can think of being that I simply couldn't comprehend some of the characters when introduced at some points, it didn't hurt my appreciation and love of the story. The world, the characters, and the story were all so intriguing and I was always on the edge of my seat. I'm eagerly awaiting Select!!!
To start out, my rating is really more of a 4.5 but Goodreads does not allow half star reviews so I'll just bump it up to a 5!
Fantasy is not a genre that I usually read, but I think Oathtaker may have changed that. Everything was always so interesting and intense, and I was always excited to be reading it. This is also where this book gets its half star rating. Maybe it was just me, but there were characters being introduced left and right, and sometimes I could not keep up. This being said, I did love the characters. From Mara to Velia, they were all so interesting and easy to like. Each of them held a purpose and were very strong in their own way.
One of my favorite things about this book was the amount of women that held power. Usually in media and entertainment today men are many times in charge and it was a great change. Every female character was badass in their own sense and it was a very nice thing to see. Even when Mara was thinking of her love for Dixon she was truly thinking of the girls and their safety. She knew (or at least thought) there was no way to be with Dixon while the girls were in the picture, and she was ready to let him go in order to continue to protect the girls to her full ability. She was so headstrong but at the same time sympathetic to others. Mara was such an amazing lead character to read, and quickly became one of my favorites of all time.
That being said about the female characters, I also loved the male characters! They (with an exception of some) were so kind and dedicated to the cause of protecting the girls. It was so great to see male characters who were "tough guys" but at the same time actually had emotions.
Lilith was such an interesting villain. She wasn't one of those villains that just was, simply a villain. She had her backstory and her reasons for being the way she was, even if they were not justified. Lilith always had her eyes on the prize and did whatever she thought was necessary to get it. Her complete submission to Daeva and his powers showed that she was truly desperate for her goal. Although she was so strong, it seemed at the same time she was very weak.
Relationships played a huge part in Oathtaker. Whether they were strong or negative, they played into the story and made it that much more interesting. My favorite relationship was the relationship each of the girls' army had with the girls. They were willing to do anything to protect them. Another note on the relationships, in most YA today there's always that "love triangle" that I can't stand. Oathtaker took a pleasant turn from that. Mara only had feelings for Dixon, and Dixon only for Mara. Their love grew over time and that was also a refreshing thing to see! Instead of that annoying insta-love we got to see them learning about each other and bonding throughout the story. Also, I just wanted to say Mara and Dixon are adorable I cried at some points over how cute they were. I've decided to call them Mixon.
I could say much more, but I think I'll stop there. Overall, I loved this book. With the only downside I can think of being that I simply couldn't comprehend some of the characters when introduced at some points, it didn't hurt my appreciation and love of the story. The world, the characters, and the story were all so intriguing and I was always on the edge of my seat. I'm eagerly awaiting Select!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2014
So, I stick by my status update: I’m not sure why this has such a high rating here on Goodreads. It’s marketed as Epic Fantasy, but is lacking in so many key elements that make Epic Fantasy so great.
So, Let’s Begin!! #1, I had a major problem with the World Building in the story. Where exactly is this story taking place? There is a forest, a palace, and a nice picnic area by a waterfall, but there was not enough description of the town or cities these characters lived in or passed by in their journey. About 22% into the book I decided to insert these characters into another world that I felt was fitting for the story. That’s rights, with a flick of my wrist and my Harry Potter wand (courtesy of Universal Studios- Orlando, Florida); I magically transported these characters to ABC’s Once Upon A Time’s Enchanted Forest. And, Magic!! Yes, that is much better!
#2, The Folklore- Are you serious?! All I get is the Preface in the very beginning? Now, I must tell you the Preface is what grabbed my attention. It is the reason I decided to continue reading. But, the story went nowhere after that. Where are the Myths, the Legends, the Oral tradition passed down through generations? All I got was one little prophecy and a continued reference to this library that held all the secrets. Can we please go to the library? I want to learn more!
#3, Magic & Supernatural Elements, You mean to tell me that as an Oathtaker you were never aware you would receive some psychic or magical powers after taking the Oath. Where is your training young apprentice? You magically get pulled into this world where you fight a pack of “Gruts” (Big Giant Scary Dogs). You’re a good shot so you had training somewhere with the all mighty Oathtakers before your time. But, your magic in this quest is dull & boring. There was nothing unique or captivating about your magic that made me want to continue reading. The lack of other Supernatural Elements left the story feeling incomplete and the characters under developed.
And, finally #4 Good vs. Evil – It’s present in every fantasy novel, but this one seemed typical. Of course the evil was a jealous sister who felt she should inherit all the land and become the ruler. Why evil sisters would have it no other way. And, since we are in the Enchanted Forest it becomes only fitting that she would become the Evil Queen. So in a way, I definitely made the right choice with my setting for this story.
Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one about 50% into the novel for all the reasons listed above. I will say though if you are a beginner to Epic Fantasy this would be a good novel to get into. You can at least get a sense of what exactly makes Epic Fantasy sooo epic.
So, Let’s Begin!! #1, I had a major problem with the World Building in the story. Where exactly is this story taking place? There is a forest, a palace, and a nice picnic area by a waterfall, but there was not enough description of the town or cities these characters lived in or passed by in their journey. About 22% into the book I decided to insert these characters into another world that I felt was fitting for the story. That’s rights, with a flick of my wrist and my Harry Potter wand (courtesy of Universal Studios- Orlando, Florida); I magically transported these characters to ABC’s Once Upon A Time’s Enchanted Forest. And, Magic!! Yes, that is much better!
#2, The Folklore- Are you serious?! All I get is the Preface in the very beginning? Now, I must tell you the Preface is what grabbed my attention. It is the reason I decided to continue reading. But, the story went nowhere after that. Where are the Myths, the Legends, the Oral tradition passed down through generations? All I got was one little prophecy and a continued reference to this library that held all the secrets. Can we please go to the library? I want to learn more!
#3, Magic & Supernatural Elements, You mean to tell me that as an Oathtaker you were never aware you would receive some psychic or magical powers after taking the Oath. Where is your training young apprentice? You magically get pulled into this world where you fight a pack of “Gruts” (Big Giant Scary Dogs). You’re a good shot so you had training somewhere with the all mighty Oathtakers before your time. But, your magic in this quest is dull & boring. There was nothing unique or captivating about your magic that made me want to continue reading. The lack of other Supernatural Elements left the story feeling incomplete and the characters under developed.
And, finally #4 Good vs. Evil – It’s present in every fantasy novel, but this one seemed typical. Of course the evil was a jealous sister who felt she should inherit all the land and become the ruler. Why evil sisters would have it no other way. And, since we are in the Enchanted Forest it becomes only fitting that she would become the Evil Queen. So in a way, I definitely made the right choice with my setting for this story.
Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one about 50% into the novel for all the reasons listed above. I will say though if you are a beginner to Epic Fantasy this would be a good novel to get into. You can at least get a sense of what exactly makes Epic Fantasy sooo epic.
August 6, 2013
The Oathtaker
Written by Patricia Reding
I was given a free copy of Oathtaker in exchange for an honest review.
I give this story 5 stars.
If you enjoyed Lord of the Rings, you will love this story. Oathtaker is well written, full of twists and turns, adventure, dangers, triumphs, and magic both good and evil. The characters are well thought out and believable. The plot is flawless.
Have you ever read a book that had all the fine points worked out but you just could not get into the story? Well, this is not that book! When you pick up this book be prepared to fall in love with Mara as she battles her way through the maze of evil and magic to protect her two tiny wards.
Mara is an Oathtaker. The Oathtakers are a sect dedicated to the protection of The Select who are the leaders and moral backbone of the society. Though young and untested Mara is well trained and possesses a strong devotion to The Good One. When she is “called” she does not hesitate to take the “Oath” that will bind her to two infants. These two tiny, as in newborn infants, will grow up to be instrumental in the survival of all that is good in their world.
Mara meets up with Dixon, another Oathtaker. Dixon is the Oathtaker to the mother of the infants. When the mother dies in childbirth he is released from his oath. Knowing the significance of the two infants, he binds himself with a lesser oath to them. Together, Mara and Dixon will strike out on a journey to save the babies from the evil that would kill them and rob the world of all peace and goodness.
Along with the few power-endowed tools of her trade, Mara soon learns of her attendant magic. This is magic that is granted to an Oathtaker when needed to protect her ward. Mara gathers a small but unique army of followers willing to take an oath to protect the babies.
The journey ahead, for this small group, is filled with twists and turns, as Mara and the others must out wit the evil and dangerous powers that threaten the babies and the world. This story contains adventure, intrigue, battles to the death, and of course love.
Will Mara be able to protect both of the babies? Will she be able to save the man she loves and still keep the babies safe? Will she be able to defeat the ancient power that threatens to cast her world into darkness? You will just have to read the book to find out.
Ms. Reding is truly a gifted storyteller. This is not a book to miss. I am anxiously waiting for “Select” the next book in this series.
Written by Patricia Reding
I was given a free copy of Oathtaker in exchange for an honest review.
I give this story 5 stars.
If you enjoyed Lord of the Rings, you will love this story. Oathtaker is well written, full of twists and turns, adventure, dangers, triumphs, and magic both good and evil. The characters are well thought out and believable. The plot is flawless.
Have you ever read a book that had all the fine points worked out but you just could not get into the story? Well, this is not that book! When you pick up this book be prepared to fall in love with Mara as she battles her way through the maze of evil and magic to protect her two tiny wards.
Mara is an Oathtaker. The Oathtakers are a sect dedicated to the protection of The Select who are the leaders and moral backbone of the society. Though young and untested Mara is well trained and possesses a strong devotion to The Good One. When she is “called” she does not hesitate to take the “Oath” that will bind her to two infants. These two tiny, as in newborn infants, will grow up to be instrumental in the survival of all that is good in their world.
Mara meets up with Dixon, another Oathtaker. Dixon is the Oathtaker to the mother of the infants. When the mother dies in childbirth he is released from his oath. Knowing the significance of the two infants, he binds himself with a lesser oath to them. Together, Mara and Dixon will strike out on a journey to save the babies from the evil that would kill them and rob the world of all peace and goodness.
Along with the few power-endowed tools of her trade, Mara soon learns of her attendant magic. This is magic that is granted to an Oathtaker when needed to protect her ward. Mara gathers a small but unique army of followers willing to take an oath to protect the babies.
The journey ahead, for this small group, is filled with twists and turns, as Mara and the others must out wit the evil and dangerous powers that threaten the babies and the world. This story contains adventure, intrigue, battles to the death, and of course love.
Will Mara be able to protect both of the babies? Will she be able to save the man she loves and still keep the babies safe? Will she be able to defeat the ancient power that threatens to cast her world into darkness? You will just have to read the book to find out.
Ms. Reding is truly a gifted storyteller. This is not a book to miss. I am anxiously waiting for “Select” the next book in this series.
November 1, 2013
What an awesome story. Best Fantasy I've read in ages. Entire review up shortly on Goodreads/Amazon and my blog: http://www.naimeless.wordpress.com
<3
I could only hope to tell a tale as gripping and detailed as Patricia Reding's Oathtaker. It's a masterful work, and something I just finished reading last week.
I would classify myself as a VERY picky fantasy/sci-fi reader. It takes a LOT to impress me especially when I consider myself to be the target market for an author's book. I review a lot of paranormal and sci-fi works, especially those for a YA audience, but sadly my youth is behind me. Reviewing those books allows me to connect with my past, and review with a lens of a YA reader, and (hopefully) give an honest review of how I feel the target audience will respond to any given book.
Impressing myself as the target is MUCH harder. Where YA is fun, adventurous and sometimes (but not always) light to read, true tales of science fiction and fantasy that are well written are much harder to find.
Click to buy on Amazon
Here's what intrigued me about reading Oathtaker.
It's much longer than your average YA or fantasy book. At 720 pages (paperback) it is not just a novel but a saga, and only the first in the series. I'll admit, I was getting tired of short stories (less than 250 pages) that only allowed me a short time to get to know the characters.
The characters are quite well developed, and the terminology that is unique to the world is very well explained and not difficult to grasp onto. When a new word is introduced, it's explained in the next sentence or two. After that, Reding makes sure frequent use of those terms is employed, and the reader is gradually introduced to a new language. The words choses are also phonetically appeasing and easy to latch onto verbally. Mara was definitely my favorite character, and I'd love to be more like her especially the mad skills she employs to safe her charges!
There's a world created in those 720 pages that makes me want more. I love stand alone books, but this book makes me want to read the next one, and the one after that and so on and so on. It's as magical as the worlds in Game of Thrones, the Dragon Rider's series, and Anne Rice's novels.
I wanted a saga, and a story I could sink into and read for hours and not put down. I got exactly that. The plot was superbly executed, very detailed, and an adventure at every page turn. Be prepared to put down every other book you own when you pick this one up.
Full review and blog post available at: http://wp.me/p1gkrF-NH
<3
I could only hope to tell a tale as gripping and detailed as Patricia Reding's Oathtaker. It's a masterful work, and something I just finished reading last week.
I would classify myself as a VERY picky fantasy/sci-fi reader. It takes a LOT to impress me especially when I consider myself to be the target market for an author's book. I review a lot of paranormal and sci-fi works, especially those for a YA audience, but sadly my youth is behind me. Reviewing those books allows me to connect with my past, and review with a lens of a YA reader, and (hopefully) give an honest review of how I feel the target audience will respond to any given book.
Impressing myself as the target is MUCH harder. Where YA is fun, adventurous and sometimes (but not always) light to read, true tales of science fiction and fantasy that are well written are much harder to find.
Click to buy on Amazon
Here's what intrigued me about reading Oathtaker.
It's much longer than your average YA or fantasy book. At 720 pages (paperback) it is not just a novel but a saga, and only the first in the series. I'll admit, I was getting tired of short stories (less than 250 pages) that only allowed me a short time to get to know the characters.
The characters are quite well developed, and the terminology that is unique to the world is very well explained and not difficult to grasp onto. When a new word is introduced, it's explained in the next sentence or two. After that, Reding makes sure frequent use of those terms is employed, and the reader is gradually introduced to a new language. The words choses are also phonetically appeasing and easy to latch onto verbally. Mara was definitely my favorite character, and I'd love to be more like her especially the mad skills she employs to safe her charges!
There's a world created in those 720 pages that makes me want more. I love stand alone books, but this book makes me want to read the next one, and the one after that and so on and so on. It's as magical as the worlds in Game of Thrones, the Dragon Rider's series, and Anne Rice's novels.
I wanted a saga, and a story I could sink into and read for hours and not put down. I got exactly that. The plot was superbly executed, very detailed, and an adventure at every page turn. Be prepared to put down every other book you own when you pick this one up.
Full review and blog post available at: http://wp.me/p1gkrF-NH
May 10, 2013
The Oathtaker is a beautiful and fantastic epic adventure filled with all the things I love most – a captivating storyline, edge-of-your-seat suspense, thought-provoking characters, and never-ending twists and turns. I would enthusiastically recommend this story to fans of Lord of the Rings. They would truly appreciate all of the subtleties of the plot, the richness of the characters, and the complexity of the overall story itself. Honestly, anyone who enjoys such hearty stories would find this book truly compelling and extremely satisfying.
We are drawn into a world where those who swear to protect the lives of a small group of people called Select are known as Oathtakers. They take their job with the utmost sincerity and gravity in light of all that their vows entail. An Oathtaker who reneges on their vow is seen as disgraced, so when a new Oathtaker named Mara stumbles upon her first charge she is in no way prepared for how it would completely change her life and the consequences she will face as a result of answering the call.
While Mara is armed with her formidable Oathtaker’s blade to aid her in her journey, she soon learns how lacking her store of weapons are when she discovers that her charge is more special than she could ever have imagined. Thankfully, with this added burden and responsibility, Mara is mercifully granted all of the resources needed to fulfill her task. Those resources serve to both lighten her burden as well as to test her resolve in keeping her vow.
I was immediately drawn in by the character of Mara because she knew she would be given the strength to step out and fulfill her arduous and wonderful task, but she lacked the courage at first. I find myself at times lacking the courage to step up and take what I know is mine out of fear of failure. Mara’s lack of self-confidence is found in my own heart, but I am hopeful that I will learn to develop the same confidence and courage that Mara discovered had lived within her own heart all along.
Patricia Reding has created a wonderfully, enjoyable story filled with a spectacular array of characters that are so rich and vivid that you will wonder if you can still hear them talking to you even after you have finished reading this book. I hope that your heart will be just as captivated as mine was as you partake in this thrilling journey. Patricia Reding is a marvelous new author that you simply have to discover for yourself!
We are drawn into a world where those who swear to protect the lives of a small group of people called Select are known as Oathtakers. They take their job with the utmost sincerity and gravity in light of all that their vows entail. An Oathtaker who reneges on their vow is seen as disgraced, so when a new Oathtaker named Mara stumbles upon her first charge she is in no way prepared for how it would completely change her life and the consequences she will face as a result of answering the call.
While Mara is armed with her formidable Oathtaker’s blade to aid her in her journey, she soon learns how lacking her store of weapons are when she discovers that her charge is more special than she could ever have imagined. Thankfully, with this added burden and responsibility, Mara is mercifully granted all of the resources needed to fulfill her task. Those resources serve to both lighten her burden as well as to test her resolve in keeping her vow.
I was immediately drawn in by the character of Mara because she knew she would be given the strength to step out and fulfill her arduous and wonderful task, but she lacked the courage at first. I find myself at times lacking the courage to step up and take what I know is mine out of fear of failure. Mara’s lack of self-confidence is found in my own heart, but I am hopeful that I will learn to develop the same confidence and courage that Mara discovered had lived within her own heart all along.
Patricia Reding has created a wonderfully, enjoyable story filled with a spectacular array of characters that are so rich and vivid that you will wonder if you can still hear them talking to you even after you have finished reading this book. I hope that your heart will be just as captivated as mine was as you partake in this thrilling journey. Patricia Reding is a marvelous new author that you simply have to discover for yourself!
June 18, 2013
Patricia Reding’s novel, Oathtaker, contains a good fantasy story. It follows the adventures of Mara Richmond, a young member of a sect known as The Oathtakrs, who dedicate their lives to protecting the leaders of society, The Select. For a debut novel, she’s done a nice job of assembling all the essential elements that fantasy readers enjoy. There’s a brave, dedicated heroine; plenty of magic – even a few powers I’ve never seen before, like the ability to sing others to sleep. There are evil, power-hungry bad guys. And, of course, what story would be complete without some fighting, a little betrayal, and even some kissing.
Reding’s also built a complete world around her characters. She delves into some of the history of the nation of Oosa, the medieval land in which Mara lives, the religious beliefs of its citizens, and the internal workings of their government.
However, at times, the book can be a frustrating read. Reding writes in a dense, formal, style that often gets in the way of some of the best moments of the story. For example, whenever a new character is introduced, even if it’s a minor one, the flow of events comes to a halt as the reader is presented with an overly- detailed, paragraph-long physical description of the newcomer. Call me a stickler, but I couldn’t help thinking that what the reader really wants to know is not what the character looks like, but what they’re going to do to help move the story along. Likewise, moments of high tension or conflict were often robbed of their immediacy and impact by excessive wordiness.
Unfortunately, all this wordiness also translates into length, and at more than seven hundred pages, this is a long book. Several times I found myself wishing for less backstory on minor characters, or complaining when the action shifted to unnecessary characters who join the story late in the game.
Even so, Mara was a good character to root for as she tries to balance her obligations against her emotions, and the story delivers a satisfying – if somewhat predictable – conclusion.
I received a free copy of this work in exchange for an honest, nonreciprocal review.
Reding’s also built a complete world around her characters. She delves into some of the history of the nation of Oosa, the medieval land in which Mara lives, the religious beliefs of its citizens, and the internal workings of their government.
However, at times, the book can be a frustrating read. Reding writes in a dense, formal, style that often gets in the way of some of the best moments of the story. For example, whenever a new character is introduced, even if it’s a minor one, the flow of events comes to a halt as the reader is presented with an overly- detailed, paragraph-long physical description of the newcomer. Call me a stickler, but I couldn’t help thinking that what the reader really wants to know is not what the character looks like, but what they’re going to do to help move the story along. Likewise, moments of high tension or conflict were often robbed of their immediacy and impact by excessive wordiness.
Unfortunately, all this wordiness also translates into length, and at more than seven hundred pages, this is a long book. Several times I found myself wishing for less backstory on minor characters, or complaining when the action shifted to unnecessary characters who join the story late in the game.
Even so, Mara was a good character to root for as she tries to balance her obligations against her emotions, and the story delivers a satisfying – if somewhat predictable – conclusion.
I received a free copy of this work in exchange for an honest, nonreciprocal review.
January 3, 2015
It's time for me to lose the notion that I don't care for fantasy novels. I devoured the Hunger Games trilogy, and I recently tore through another fantasy novel, Patricia Reding's Oathtaker. It is a perfectly paced story that, in spite of its nearly 500 pages, had me moving from beginning to end in far less time than I have spent with a book in a long time. This is partly because of Reding's great pacing, partly because I thought about the characters when I wasn't reading and couldn't wait to get back to them, and partly because the plot kept me reading longer and later at night than I normally can stay awake for. The plot is imaginative, as you would hope a fantasy story would be, yet made sense, even to a realist like me. Reding gives her readers lots of sensory details that allow us to see, hear, taste, smell and feel what her characters are experiencing. Surely the author is a cook, because when the characters in her story had a meal, my mouth watered. These sensory details convinced me that the world of this story could exist, if not here, now, then in some parallel universe. Yet I never felt like I was wading through too much description. This world also had a consistency and a logic that I could believe, even though characters had powers or "gifts" and there are creatures and a basic premise that puts this story in the fantasy genre. Oathtakers includes elements of suspense, action, romance, and wonder. It's a story of good versus evil, with heroes that I loved and a villain who is very, very bad with believable motivations. The characters are fully formed and human, even though they live in a world and at a time that is alien to me. The best thing about Oathtakers is that there's more! It's the first in a series. I look forward to the next book in this series. I guess I really am a reader of fantasy.
May 1, 2016
A hard-fought fight for good over evil, the personal development of authentic characters and their relationships, an ancient prophecy revealed and fulfilled; Patricia Reding has skilfully woven the many and varied threads of this fantasy novel into a very satisfying epic adventure. She has managed to create a world that is both very different than our own and yet completely believable, and I very much appreciated being able to pronounce all the names used rather than stumbling over weird words that you have no clue as to how they might sound! The characters are extremely well-drawn and memorable, and I felt an instant liking for the lead character Mara, who is strong yet vulnerable and fully committed to the oath that she takes. By contrast, her arch-nemesis Lilith is despicably selfish and thoroughly consumed by evil, and the general populace have become a law unto themselves.
Oathtaker is fab! It's compelling and fast-paced, and the suspense is kept up right through to a great ending. A remarkably fast read for a book of this length.
Oathtaker is fab! It's compelling and fast-paced, and the suspense is kept up right through to a great ending. A remarkably fast read for a book of this length.
September 14, 2015
Oathtaker, the first book in a series by Patricia Reding, is the refreshingly unique novel about Mara, a trained oathtaker living in the land of Oosa. The sacrifices made by oathtakers are great, but those sworn to fulfill the task have willingly accepted the burden of their responsibilities. Oosa, a world full of rich traditions and powerful legends, is the setting for this fantasy fiction novel of epic proportions in which ancient prophecies are revealed and good wages war upon evil. This highly engaging book boasts a robust plot paired with a healthy share of life and death struggles and a delightful love story woven throughout.
In this adventure-filled tale Reding incorporates devious characters and charming heroes, cunningly beautiful ladies, and enchanted buildings. Each character is distinctive, believable and well developed. We loved the story, the flow, the excitement and can’t wait for the next book in what promises to be a great series.
In this adventure-filled tale Reding incorporates devious characters and charming heroes, cunningly beautiful ladies, and enchanted buildings. Each character is distinctive, believable and well developed. We loved the story, the flow, the excitement and can’t wait for the next book in what promises to be a great series.
August 7, 2013
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oathtaker by Patricia Reding - An Epic book deserves an Epic review!
"An Oath Sworn. A Struggle Engaged. A Sacrifice Required" - This book was LONG, and I mean it, but its so worth it!
Patricia Reding weaves this story that just sucks you in. You follow along with Mara as she finds her charges and meets some very interesting travel companions. You feel the anger at Lilith as you watch her unspeakable acts unfold. The hope that springs with each new protector to the 'girls army'. All the while you fall in love with Dixon more and more, just as Mara does.
Two thumbs up Miss Patricia, two very big thumbs up!
Oathtaker by Patricia Reding - An Epic book deserves an Epic review!
"An Oath Sworn. A Struggle Engaged. A Sacrifice Required" - This book was LONG, and I mean it, but its so worth it!
Patricia Reding weaves this story that just sucks you in. You follow along with Mara as she finds her charges and meets some very interesting travel companions. You feel the anger at Lilith as you watch her unspeakable acts unfold. The hope that springs with each new protector to the 'girls army'. All the while you fall in love with Dixon more and more, just as Mara does.
Two thumbs up Miss Patricia, two very big thumbs up!
August 15, 2013
I loved this book!!! Mrs. Reding did a great job of relating the characters to real people and their hopes, dreams, doubts, and feelings. I am an avid reader, and in all the books I've read this is BIG a favorite. Oathtaker kept me busy at nights under my blankets with a light, in the car, and pretty much every where else I could smuggle a book. I would definitely recommend this book to any book lover and can't wait until "Select" comes out. Each page held a new interest and I almost cried when the story came to an end. This book is a great example of determination, duty, and love. GREAT JOB MRS. REDING!!!!!:)
October 3, 2013
*Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I have never been able to get into a fantasy books before BUT Patricia Reding opened my eyes to a brand new world! I found myself falling in love with the characters and I loved the battles between good and evil. I spent so many late nights reading because I couldn't put my kindle down. It was a long book (the longest I have read in awhile) but it was so worth it and I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future! To me it goes on my top 10 books of the year of 2013!
I have never been able to get into a fantasy books before BUT Patricia Reding opened my eyes to a brand new world! I found myself falling in love with the characters and I loved the battles between good and evil. I spent so many late nights reading because I couldn't put my kindle down. It was a long book (the longest I have read in awhile) but it was so worth it and I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future! To me it goes on my top 10 books of the year of 2013!
May 17, 2013
My husband and I really enjoyed Patricia Reding's new book "Oathtaker". The imagination of this author is quite unique. I kept reading to find out what new "power" each Oathtaker was entrusted with. The theme is good vs evil. There are twists and turns that you would never expect with the various personalities that Reding has created. I found myself identifying with one of these personalities, losing myself in the novel. I have but one question ...... when does "Select" her next novel come out.
January 5, 2015
I really enjoyed this book from the very start! The descriptions and world building are highly detailed, and the character of Mara is strong, dynamic and someone you really root for. There were a few slower parts, but honestly, I love getting to know characters back stories and where they are coming from, so to me the descriptions and attention to drew me in even more. It was a quick read, too quick maybe - since now I have to wait for the next one.
May 31, 2016
I read this and to my surprise I ended up really liking the story. It is YA don't get me wrong,but there is violence which leads
to some pretty dark scenes.And I really liked the characters I think especially Basha,she's kind of a badass.
The magic that is used is very clerical (that's what we would call it in D&D).The oathtaker is basically a protector and their powers
are granted to them by their deity.And each oathtaker has different powers so there's that.
to some pretty dark scenes.And I really liked the characters I think especially Basha,she's kind of a badass.
The magic that is used is very clerical (that's what we would call it in D&D).The oathtaker is basically a protector and their powers
are granted to them by their deity.And each oathtaker has different powers so there's that.
May 28, 2015
I truly enjoyed this novel! I reviewed it as a member of an online review group in exchange for a fair and honest review. I read the original 2014 version and found the characters and storyline to be well thought out and engaging. In my mind it played out like a Hollywood movie... one that I would love to see on a big screen some day.
March 8, 2018
Enjoyed it
Enjoyed it a lot. It wrapped up pretty nicely whilst it gave room for more adventures! Will definitely read the next one.
Enjoyed it a lot. It wrapped up pretty nicely whilst it gave room for more adventures! Will definitely read the next one.
January 17, 2015
Oathtaker is a fantasy where a young and inexperienced heroine takes on the responsibility for two vitally important infants, whom a villainous woman is set to destroy. I liked it, but there were a few things that bugged me.
Things I liked:
First off, I found the character and location names, easy to read and pronounce. This is rare in a fantasy book. It was refreshing not to have to guess at pronounciation. I've begun to be really sick of the goofy names in this genre. Then again, the rather sudden tendency to name the horses near the end of the story, like that was significant, kind of surprised me, and the horses' names were more fantasy-bookish than the people's names.
The cover was simply beautiful and right on the mark for this genre. I like the one that shows Mara's face, but the one with Mara facing away is also nice. The editing is excellent. There are very few errors throughout, and the usage of grammar is solid and consistent. This is a long book, but it flows well and is easy to read. That's good for folks who like to stay engaged with a story for a long time.
The action sequences are well done and exciting, particularly the opening battle and the final battle. There's also some infiltration and sneaking about that I enjoyed. Add to that some clean romance. There's tension (the characters even call it that a few times), but nothing more racy than sitting in each other's arms on a bench or taking a walk. I like how the connection between Mara and Dixon was built and resolved. And on that note, I really dig the solid ending, no cliffhanger. There's room for another, but it leaves you satisfied. The main conflict is resolved. Then again, the court case seemed out of place. It felt like I was suddenly reading a different genre.
As for my favorite characters, well, they weren't the main two: Mara and Dixon. My favorite villain was Lilith. She's just plain evil, wrapped in a pretty shell. I like how she's supposed to be on the side of good and that's how she gets away with things until she makes her move. The Select scent, and how she imitates it, how that's described, is excellent. My favorite hero was Velia. I loved Velia. She is a great example of female fantasy heroine. I found myself wishing the whole story was told from her perspective instead of Mara's, but she only comes into the picture near the end.
Things I didn't like:
The dialog was often choppy or fell into sort of an interrogation. There was also a lot of repetition and back and forth between the characters, almost like they were all either being hard headed or not listening to each other. I also noted numerous out of place emotional responses during dialog. Like they were just tacked on as an afterthought to liven it up. As I got deeper into the book, I began to pick up on a trend in the dialog. It seemed that after a while there was no real differentiation between how most of the people spoke and acted while talking, especially among the good guys.
This probably fed into why I never really felt a connection to most of the characters. I didn't dislike them, just didn't feel particularly worried for them when something went wrong or happy for them when something went right. Often, people are introduced, then the doings of groups of them are listed out. I lost track of who was whom frequently.
It's also a little hard to root for people who act in illogical ways, at least it is so for me. For example, when running for help, why would you start with niceties? I think you'd much more likely start with the plea for help or the announcement of danger, specifically, not dancing around the subject. When running for safety, why would you stop and study in one place for weeks or months instead of continuing on directly to the safe haven and keeping your extremely important charges there? Or, when trying to save someone, why would one of the characters refuse to let the other get on with it and just run alongside for an on-the-go breakdown of what's happening?
As for the magic system, it's intriguing, but how Mara learns about it isn't. She's just so hard headed and clueless: about the magic, about her role, about what to do next. Lack of training just doesn't fly for how difficult it is for Dixon and the others to convince her that she's doing magical things. Then suddenly, she's all about redefining magic. She's kind of a disappointment. Also, this story features the most useless magical item I've ever read about: the oracle.
Colloquialisms and foods that exist in our world just kind of destroyed the feeling of being in another one when they popped up in the story. Sure, they may be eating crepes or whatever, but I don't want to hear them called that. Nope, I like to hear them described and then try to make that connection myself. I'm sure there's no France in Oosa. The descriptions of the food reminded me of those you might find in a food magazine. They did sound appetizing, but they felt out of place.
Overall:
This is an epic-length fantasy, but not quite what I would call an epic fantasy. I liked it, but I found a lot of things just a bit off from what I'd expect in a fantasy book. As someone who reads the likes of Robert Jordan, Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weiss, Terry Brooks, and Terry Goodkind, I feel like I have a good grasp of what makes a truly memorable epic fantasy, one I'd want to read over and over again. This book had some of that, but not quite all of it.
I think casual or new readers of fantasy might find this to their liking, particularly those who like a book that will keep them busy for a long while. I also think that people who like fantasies without a lot of tonguetwisters will find this relievingly free of hard to pronounce names and locations. I know I did.
I received the review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Things I liked:
First off, I found the character and location names, easy to read and pronounce. This is rare in a fantasy book. It was refreshing not to have to guess at pronounciation. I've begun to be really sick of the goofy names in this genre. Then again, the rather sudden tendency to name the horses near the end of the story, like that was significant, kind of surprised me, and the horses' names were more fantasy-bookish than the people's names.
The cover was simply beautiful and right on the mark for this genre. I like the one that shows Mara's face, but the one with Mara facing away is also nice. The editing is excellent. There are very few errors throughout, and the usage of grammar is solid and consistent. This is a long book, but it flows well and is easy to read. That's good for folks who like to stay engaged with a story for a long time.
The action sequences are well done and exciting, particularly the opening battle and the final battle. There's also some infiltration and sneaking about that I enjoyed. Add to that some clean romance. There's tension (the characters even call it that a few times), but nothing more racy than sitting in each other's arms on a bench or taking a walk. I like how the connection between Mara and Dixon was built and resolved. And on that note, I really dig the solid ending, no cliffhanger. There's room for another, but it leaves you satisfied. The main conflict is resolved. Then again, the court case seemed out of place. It felt like I was suddenly reading a different genre.
As for my favorite characters, well, they weren't the main two: Mara and Dixon. My favorite villain was Lilith. She's just plain evil, wrapped in a pretty shell. I like how she's supposed to be on the side of good and that's how she gets away with things until she makes her move. The Select scent, and how she imitates it, how that's described, is excellent. My favorite hero was Velia. I loved Velia. She is a great example of female fantasy heroine. I found myself wishing the whole story was told from her perspective instead of Mara's, but she only comes into the picture near the end.
Things I didn't like:
The dialog was often choppy or fell into sort of an interrogation. There was also a lot of repetition and back and forth between the characters, almost like they were all either being hard headed or not listening to each other. I also noted numerous out of place emotional responses during dialog. Like they were just tacked on as an afterthought to liven it up. As I got deeper into the book, I began to pick up on a trend in the dialog. It seemed that after a while there was no real differentiation between how most of the people spoke and acted while talking, especially among the good guys.
This probably fed into why I never really felt a connection to most of the characters. I didn't dislike them, just didn't feel particularly worried for them when something went wrong or happy for them when something went right. Often, people are introduced, then the doings of groups of them are listed out. I lost track of who was whom frequently.
It's also a little hard to root for people who act in illogical ways, at least it is so for me. For example, when running for help, why would you start with niceties? I think you'd much more likely start with the plea for help or the announcement of danger, specifically, not dancing around the subject. When running for safety, why would you stop and study in one place for weeks or months instead of continuing on directly to the safe haven and keeping your extremely important charges there? Or, when trying to save someone, why would one of the characters refuse to let the other get on with it and just run alongside for an on-the-go breakdown of what's happening?
As for the magic system, it's intriguing, but how Mara learns about it isn't. She's just so hard headed and clueless: about the magic, about her role, about what to do next. Lack of training just doesn't fly for how difficult it is for Dixon and the others to convince her that she's doing magical things. Then suddenly, she's all about redefining magic. She's kind of a disappointment. Also, this story features the most useless magical item I've ever read about: the oracle.
Colloquialisms and foods that exist in our world just kind of destroyed the feeling of being in another one when they popped up in the story. Sure, they may be eating crepes or whatever, but I don't want to hear them called that. Nope, I like to hear them described and then try to make that connection myself. I'm sure there's no France in Oosa. The descriptions of the food reminded me of those you might find in a food magazine. They did sound appetizing, but they felt out of place.
Overall:
This is an epic-length fantasy, but not quite what I would call an epic fantasy. I liked it, but I found a lot of things just a bit off from what I'd expect in a fantasy book. As someone who reads the likes of Robert Jordan, Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weiss, Terry Brooks, and Terry Goodkind, I feel like I have a good grasp of what makes a truly memorable epic fantasy, one I'd want to read over and over again. This book had some of that, but not quite all of it.
I think casual or new readers of fantasy might find this to their liking, particularly those who like a book that will keep them busy for a long while. I also think that people who like fantasies without a lot of tonguetwisters will find this relievingly free of hard to pronounce names and locations. I know I did.
I received the review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and fair review.
July 15, 2017
I wasn't really expecting a lot from the blurb while it seemed interesting. I wasn't really sure what it would be about. This was a really good and interesting read. I'm too tired to write in full sentences so let's go for a list.
What I liked
•The characters- Mara and Dixon, along with the others, were interesting.
•Also despite the many characters, the story worked.
•The romance- Yes I saw that coming but it was still pretty good.
•I liked the plot- and the fact that it was the youngest rather than the oldest who were more 'important'. I thought that was unique and I liked it.
•The cover- I like the cover!
What I didn't liked
•I feel like the worldbuilding could have been better. I'm still not sure how this world exactly functions.
•It was a little predictable.
•I got bored in the middle somewhere which let the book down a little.
Overall, I feel like this was a good read and I enjoyed it.
What I liked
•The characters- Mara and Dixon, along with the others, were interesting.
•Also despite the many characters, the story worked.
•The romance- Yes I saw that coming but it was still pretty good.
•I liked the plot- and the fact that it was the youngest rather than the oldest who were more 'important'. I thought that was unique and I liked it.
•The cover- I like the cover!
What I didn't liked
•I feel like the worldbuilding could have been better. I'm still not sure how this world exactly functions.
•It was a little predictable.
•I got bored in the middle somewhere which let the book down a little.
Overall, I feel like this was a good read and I enjoyed it.
October 23, 2017
Brimming with magic, murder, and marvelous adventures, Oathtaker is a journey of faith and discovery set in a world where the villains are dastardly and the magic epic. While I enjoyed the story's quest, it was the ideas themselves that swept me away, so many beautiful concepts--living books, crystals forged from pure light, oaths acknowledged by the earth itself, and teleportation by a rippling current of magic. Reding instills her story with color and scent and beautiful ideas that will linger on in your imagination long after you've finished the last page.
October 14, 2017
A wonderful fantasy fiction filled with well-rounded charters, engaging plot lines and a little bit of magic. Reding takes you right into the fantasy world of the Select and Mara’s role as protector. She’s relatable, strong, loyal… I liked watching her grow and mature through the trials she would endure protecting the “chosen ones.”
Evil has met it’s match with antagonist, Lilith. She really is pure evil and will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
A wonderful, entertaining read.
Evil has met it’s match with antagonist, Lilith. She really is pure evil and will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
A wonderful, entertaining read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews