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The Oathsworn Legacy
SPFBO X Finalist.
Rawley and Baelin make a living the only way they know how—protecting the people of Centrum by slaying the dark things that stole their childhood: Monsters, and everything evil.
Though the work never ends, and there’s plenty of coin to go around, Rawley and Baelin discover a sinister secret hidden deep within the crevices of Centrum’s past. Centuries of lies and deceit unravel before them, and they soon shift from mere mercenaries to a force that will last generations.
At least, that’s their hope.
Dwarves in the west, Wroughtmen in the north, Elves in the east, and a tyrant king ruling with an oppressive fist, Rawley and Baelin balance on the precipice of total chaos.
Will everything they’ve accomplished be enough to save them from the shadows rising, or will a plot that’s generations old finally drag everything into the abyss?
Rawley and Baelin make a living the only way they know how—protecting the people of Centrum by slaying the dark things that stole their childhood: Monsters, and everything evil.
Though the work never ends, and there’s plenty of coin to go around, Rawley and Baelin discover a sinister secret hidden deep within the crevices of Centrum’s past. Centuries of lies and deceit unravel before them, and they soon shift from mere mercenaries to a force that will last generations.
At least, that’s their hope.
Dwarves in the west, Wroughtmen in the north, Elves in the east, and a tyrant king ruling with an oppressive fist, Rawley and Baelin balance on the precipice of total chaos.
Will everything they’ve accomplished be enough to save them from the shadows rising, or will a plot that’s generations old finally drag everything into the abyss?
642 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2023
34 people are currently reading
1921 people want to read
About the author
K.R. Gangi
3 books60 followersStories gift us with the ability to live countless lives.
In these lives we are able to conjure magic, battle against political corruption, pilot a spaceship, fly on the backs of dragons, or patrol through the jungles on a foreign planet. They intrigue us, scare us, make us laugh, make us cry, make us cringe, and make us mad.
Being able to feel so much by simply reading words is the true power of a story, and I hope you find power in mine.
In these lives we are able to conjure magic, battle against political corruption, pilot a spaceship, fly on the backs of dragons, or patrol through the jungles on a foreign planet. They intrigue us, scare us, make us laugh, make us cry, make us cringe, and make us mad.
Being able to feel so much by simply reading words is the true power of a story, and I hope you find power in mine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 26, 2024
This book has so much heart in it.
It was perfectly plotted imo to make you feel not just for the characters but with the characters.
I cant scream more about how much I loved this book. Which is why I moved it forward as my finalist for the coverswithcassidy SPFBOX team!
This was unique, well crafted and kept me turning the pages.
It was perfectly plotted imo to make you feel not just for the characters but with the characters.
I cant scream more about how much I loved this book. Which is why I moved it forward as my finalist for the coverswithcassidy SPFBOX team!
This was unique, well crafted and kept me turning the pages.
November 22, 2024
Finalist review for SPFBOX as part of team Fantasy Book Critic. This is just my opinion, group verdict may differ widely.
7/10
In The Oathsworn Legacy, K.R. Gangi blends all the best elements of The Witcher (short stories) and Riyria Revelations to deliver an altogether more unique fantasy adventure full of action and heart. It’s epic, it’s fun, it’s emotional, and somehow it gives off peak nostalgic traditional fantasy vibes while also being excitingly refreshing and unlike anything I have ever read.
What starts out as a sort of self-contained short story style ‘monster of the week’ adventure following Baelin and Rawley, two brothers with a hunger for vengeance and justice, slowly morphs into a truly epic dark fantasy with some light cosmic horror vibes and world(s?)-ending stakes, and somehow it just works. The Oathsworn Legacy truly turned out to be much more multi-layered than I initially gave it credit for, and I loved how Gangi wove so much rich lore and history into this action-packed narrative in such a seamless and organic way.
Now, I am not going to lie, the first half of The Oathsworn Legacy took a lot of trust and patience on my part. The action really took centre stage and all the big important character-/relationships developments that I typically thrive on as a character-driven reader seemed to happen off page, which made it hard for me to get emotionally invested. However, Gangi really cleverly wove some ominous foreshadowing into the epigraphs, which created an looming sense of dread that kept me really eager to keep turning the pages and discover the larger picture.
And I am so glad I trusted the process, because this story really crept up on me and the second half (especially the more quiet and introspective parts narrated from Simon’s first person perspective) gave me everything I was yearning for all along. I simply adored the unconventional yet strong found family that started to develop, and especially Simon, Helgatha and Danial really stole the show for me. Despite all the darkness and danger, The Oathsworn Legacy is at its core a beautifully hopeful and empowering story about brotherhood, courage, friendship, forgiveness, sacrifice, legacy, and the power of empathy and community in fighting against evil for a more safe, just and equal world; it shares important messages that are both (frustratingly) timeless and oh so painfully timely in these current days.
I do have to admit that I only ever really felt invested in the handful of key characters who make up the found family of Oathsworn, which unfortunately lowered some of the stakes and emotional impact during the big final battle because I simply hadn't gotten the time to get invested in the wider cast of characters. However, all the most important victories, losses, sacrifices, and beautifully bittersweet twists and turns hit exactly as hard as they were supposed to, and the ending was more satisfying than I could ever have hoped for.
Despite some of my quibbles due to personal tastes, this 600+ page chonker proved to be an inexplicably smooth read that I just effortlessly devoured in only a few days. And while it works perfectly as a self-contained standalone, the epilogue gives a little enticing tease about all the many unsung heroes whose stories are yet to be told, which makes me very eager to return to this world someday to explore it in all its glory. If you like the sound of an epic fantasy in the vein of John Gwynne or Michael J. Sullivan, but told in a completely unique style, then I can’t recommend The Oathsworn Legacy highly enough!
7/10
In The Oathsworn Legacy, K.R. Gangi blends all the best elements of The Witcher (short stories) and Riyria Revelations to deliver an altogether more unique fantasy adventure full of action and heart. It’s epic, it’s fun, it’s emotional, and somehow it gives off peak nostalgic traditional fantasy vibes while also being excitingly refreshing and unlike anything I have ever read.
What starts out as a sort of self-contained short story style ‘monster of the week’ adventure following Baelin and Rawley, two brothers with a hunger for vengeance and justice, slowly morphs into a truly epic dark fantasy with some light cosmic horror vibes and world(s?)-ending stakes, and somehow it just works. The Oathsworn Legacy truly turned out to be much more multi-layered than I initially gave it credit for, and I loved how Gangi wove so much rich lore and history into this action-packed narrative in such a seamless and organic way.
Now, I am not going to lie, the first half of The Oathsworn Legacy took a lot of trust and patience on my part. The action really took centre stage and all the big important character-/relationships developments that I typically thrive on as a character-driven reader seemed to happen off page, which made it hard for me to get emotionally invested. However, Gangi really cleverly wove some ominous foreshadowing into the epigraphs, which created an looming sense of dread that kept me really eager to keep turning the pages and discover the larger picture.
And I am so glad I trusted the process, because this story really crept up on me and the second half (especially the more quiet and introspective parts narrated from Simon’s first person perspective) gave me everything I was yearning for all along. I simply adored the unconventional yet strong found family that started to develop, and especially Simon, Helgatha and Danial really stole the show for me. Despite all the darkness and danger, The Oathsworn Legacy is at its core a beautifully hopeful and empowering story about brotherhood, courage, friendship, forgiveness, sacrifice, legacy, and the power of empathy and community in fighting against evil for a more safe, just and equal world; it shares important messages that are both (frustratingly) timeless and oh so painfully timely in these current days.
I do have to admit that I only ever really felt invested in the handful of key characters who make up the found family of Oathsworn, which unfortunately lowered some of the stakes and emotional impact during the big final battle because I simply hadn't gotten the time to get invested in the wider cast of characters. However, all the most important victories, losses, sacrifices, and beautifully bittersweet twists and turns hit exactly as hard as they were supposed to, and the ending was more satisfying than I could ever have hoped for.
Despite some of my quibbles due to personal tastes, this 600+ page chonker proved to be an inexplicably smooth read that I just effortlessly devoured in only a few days. And while it works perfectly as a self-contained standalone, the epilogue gives a little enticing tease about all the many unsung heroes whose stories are yet to be told, which makes me very eager to return to this world someday to explore it in all its glory. If you like the sound of an epic fantasy in the vein of John Gwynne or Michael J. Sullivan, but told in a completely unique style, then I can’t recommend The Oathsworn Legacy highly enough!
November 22, 2024
I admit the page count of most SPFBO X’s finalists terrifies me. The Oathsworn Legacy is on the chunkier side, but it reads surprisingly fast. Why? It’s well-written and structured more like a mini-series than a typical novel with a linear progression of the plot.
It’s made of interconnected stories, so instead of a straight shot from start to finish, each “episode” builds on the previous one but focuses on different aspects of the bigger story. Chapters introduce new players (good and evil), deepen relationships and the world. This might throw some readers off, but for me, it worked well. Especially that the characters are one of the strongest parts of the story: well-rounded, memorable, and complex.
Brothers Rawley and Baelin Terricaut, start as monster hunters but quickly become something much bigger. Along the way, they meet an excellent cast of secondary characters who all add something important to the story. My favorites were Helgatha (a witch) and Simon (shapeshifter and scribe).
The world here is definitely dark and dangerous, and I loved that. Despite bleaker moments and devastating deaths, it never turns nihilistic. The focus on strong relationships between protagonists and their found family dynamics keeps the hope alive. The magic system? There is one, and it’s beautifully vague; it hints at immense, mysterious forces without trying to explain them—and it feels perfectly suited to this world.
If there’s a downside, it’s the length and unconventional structure, which may not work for everyone. But for me, the layered narrative felt right for this story. The Oathsworn Legacy isn’t for the squeamish or impatient, but if you’re up for a long, complex fantasy that makes you care, it’s worth the read.
It’s made of interconnected stories, so instead of a straight shot from start to finish, each “episode” builds on the previous one but focuses on different aspects of the bigger story. Chapters introduce new players (good and evil), deepen relationships and the world. This might throw some readers off, but for me, it worked well. Especially that the characters are one of the strongest parts of the story: well-rounded, memorable, and complex.
Brothers Rawley and Baelin Terricaut, start as monster hunters but quickly become something much bigger. Along the way, they meet an excellent cast of secondary characters who all add something important to the story. My favorites were Helgatha (a witch) and Simon (shapeshifter and scribe).
The world here is definitely dark and dangerous, and I loved that. Despite bleaker moments and devastating deaths, it never turns nihilistic. The focus on strong relationships between protagonists and their found family dynamics keeps the hope alive. The magic system? There is one, and it’s beautifully vague; it hints at immense, mysterious forces without trying to explain them—and it feels perfectly suited to this world.
If there’s a downside, it’s the length and unconventional structure, which may not work for everyone. But for me, the layered narrative felt right for this story. The Oathsworn Legacy isn’t for the squeamish or impatient, but if you’re up for a long, complex fantasy that makes you care, it’s worth the read.
Read
August 9, 2025A finalist in the 10th annual SPFBO contest!
April 27, 2025
My SPFBOX finalist review of The Oathsworn Legacy is published at Before We Go Blog.
In The Oathsworn Legacy, author K.R. Gangi delivers sword and sorcery fantasy with a Lovecraftian twist. The structure of The Oathsworn Legacy recalls that of the excellent Hanuvar Trilogy by Howard Andrew Jones, where each chapter acts as a standalone short story. The individual stories then come together to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
K.R. Gangi’s worldbuilding embraces standard Tolkienesque elements, including elven and dwarven races, wizards, etc. His writing is more informal compared to that of either Tolkien or Jones. The first half of The Oathsworn Legacy seems like standard fare sword and sorcery, with a “monster of the week” flair that belies the depth that is slowly being developed.
Gangi levels up somewhere mid-novel, elevating the second half of the book to a quality on par with the best of Howard Andrew Jones. Gangi also adopts a more Lovecraftian air in this latter part of the book, which works especially well when combined with a switch from third-person to first-person narration. I honestly wasn’t quite prepared for the level of emotional depth that emerges in the second half of the novel. Overall, The Oathsworn Legacy is highly recommended for fans of dark epic fantasy and sword and sorcery.
In The Oathsworn Legacy, author K.R. Gangi delivers sword and sorcery fantasy with a Lovecraftian twist. The structure of The Oathsworn Legacy recalls that of the excellent Hanuvar Trilogy by Howard Andrew Jones, where each chapter acts as a standalone short story. The individual stories then come together to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
K.R. Gangi’s worldbuilding embraces standard Tolkienesque elements, including elven and dwarven races, wizards, etc. His writing is more informal compared to that of either Tolkien or Jones. The first half of The Oathsworn Legacy seems like standard fare sword and sorcery, with a “monster of the week” flair that belies the depth that is slowly being developed.
Gangi levels up somewhere mid-novel, elevating the second half of the book to a quality on par with the best of Howard Andrew Jones. Gangi also adopts a more Lovecraftian air in this latter part of the book, which works especially well when combined with a switch from third-person to first-person narration. I honestly wasn’t quite prepared for the level of emotional depth that emerges in the second half of the novel. Overall, The Oathsworn Legacy is highly recommended for fans of dark epic fantasy and sword and sorcery.
April 5, 2025
I read this as a judge for #SPFBOX and we go on quite a journey with this big book! It feels like a collection of short stories at first, documenting the adventures of Baelin and his younger brother Rawley, who are on a quest for vengeance and to rid the world of some of the monsters which plague it.
The format which these stories start off with was easy reading, but lacks a hit of characterisation and depth for my liking. Personally I enjoy it much more when I can sink into the characters and their motivations and their feelings, and that does come, but much later on in the book (and this is a long book). Once we do get to a first person perspective I found I connected a lot more with the plot, and the characters grew on me more as time went by and we saw more of what they were trying to achieve.
This is a very traditional fantasy in some ways with lots of magical creatures embodying their stereotypes like Elves and Dwarves and so on. We also have a very “big bad” character pulling lots of strings behind the scenes, and a school setting too. There’s a lot here which any fantasy reader would thoroughly enjoy, and I certainly did find the middle section the most enjoyable for the humour, the characters and the magic which they utilise to stop all the monsters in the world.
The beginning of this story felt too surface-level to me, and whilst it built a picture slowly which I did like, I felt like I would have preferred a deeper dive earlier on. The stories come together to build a wider world and it’s clever, but I wanted a bit more from the get go to be excited by and rooting for.
The last third is very dramatic with a lot of twists and turns and epic battles. For me, it was a bit too bogged down in the battles scenes and I found myself glossing over the big war scenes a bit, as that’s not really very interesting to me. I did like seeing our characters perform in the battle, but the descriptions of lesser characters and their goings on in the battle didn’t excite me.
The final part of this book, especially the last few pages, really did tug on the heartstrings. It’s a self-contained story, but there’s a hint that the world could have more disaster ahead. I really think the ending was executed nicely and there’s some touching moments.
Overall, it’s got a lot to like and some fun characters, but it plays on the traditional a lot and it felt pretty bloated at times. I wanted to fall in love but I found the drawbacks of the short story format and the slow pace meant I couldn’t quite get there. A solid 3.5 which is 7/10 for #SPFBO though.
The format which these stories start off with was easy reading, but lacks a hit of characterisation and depth for my liking. Personally I enjoy it much more when I can sink into the characters and their motivations and their feelings, and that does come, but much later on in the book (and this is a long book). Once we do get to a first person perspective I found I connected a lot more with the plot, and the characters grew on me more as time went by and we saw more of what they were trying to achieve.
This is a very traditional fantasy in some ways with lots of magical creatures embodying their stereotypes like Elves and Dwarves and so on. We also have a very “big bad” character pulling lots of strings behind the scenes, and a school setting too. There’s a lot here which any fantasy reader would thoroughly enjoy, and I certainly did find the middle section the most enjoyable for the humour, the characters and the magic which they utilise to stop all the monsters in the world.
The beginning of this story felt too surface-level to me, and whilst it built a picture slowly which I did like, I felt like I would have preferred a deeper dive earlier on. The stories come together to build a wider world and it’s clever, but I wanted a bit more from the get go to be excited by and rooting for.
The last third is very dramatic with a lot of twists and turns and epic battles. For me, it was a bit too bogged down in the battles scenes and I found myself glossing over the big war scenes a bit, as that’s not really very interesting to me. I did like seeing our characters perform in the battle, but the descriptions of lesser characters and their goings on in the battle didn’t excite me.
The final part of this book, especially the last few pages, really did tug on the heartstrings. It’s a self-contained story, but there’s a hint that the world could have more disaster ahead. I really think the ending was executed nicely and there’s some touching moments.
Overall, it’s got a lot to like and some fun characters, but it plays on the traditional a lot and it felt pretty bloated at times. I wanted to fall in love but I found the drawbacks of the short story format and the slow pace meant I couldn’t quite get there. A solid 3.5 which is 7/10 for #SPFBO though.
July 26, 2024
I’m so glad to say that I loved this book! I’ll have a video review coming since this is one of my SPFBO reads :)
March 3, 2025
Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely!
This book almost needs two ratings from me. I didn't really connect well with the first half. It felt quite "episodic", with seemingly unconnected little side quests and no real direction. It felt too easy and more like a D&D campaign with new distractions for each session.
So if I would have had to rate this book in the first third, I'd probably have gone with a low score.
However, somewhere around the middle I noticed I actually started to care for the characters, and slowly there was some overarching plot emerging.
Slowly, slowly this book managed to get Its hooks into me, and I got more and more invested.
The second half was a good read, and by the end I was fully lost in this world, and celebrating and grieving with the characters.
It went from disjointed adventures, a bit like a "B movie" version of Ryiria, to a gripping epic fantasy.
I really wish the start would be polished up a bit more, and the young men slang toned down a bit. I fully understand that it's meant to show the growth of the two brothers, but it was just a tad too heavy for my liking.
I didn't really care for any of the characters as it was just action after action, and a bit of "oh whatever, we're the best, just lets go and kill some more monsters" with a shrug and no real depth or consequences.
Once they actually get some padding and start to feel like people, and not just overpowered game characters who'll just succeed at anything anyway the story improves so much!
This book almost needs two ratings from me. I didn't really connect well with the first half. It felt quite "episodic", with seemingly unconnected little side quests and no real direction. It felt too easy and more like a D&D campaign with new distractions for each session.
So if I would have had to rate this book in the first third, I'd probably have gone with a low score.
However, somewhere around the middle I noticed I actually started to care for the characters, and slowly there was some overarching plot emerging.
Slowly, slowly this book managed to get Its hooks into me, and I got more and more invested.
The second half was a good read, and by the end I was fully lost in this world, and celebrating and grieving with the characters.
It went from disjointed adventures, a bit like a "B movie" version of Ryiria, to a gripping epic fantasy.
I really wish the start would be polished up a bit more, and the young men slang toned down a bit. I fully understand that it's meant to show the growth of the two brothers, but it was just a tad too heavy for my liking.
I didn't really care for any of the characters as it was just action after action, and a bit of "oh whatever, we're the best, just lets go and kill some more monsters" with a shrug and no real depth or consequences.
Once they actually get some padding and start to feel like people, and not just overpowered game characters who'll just succeed at anything anyway the story improves so much!
January 5, 2025
For a large book (over 400p)this certainly didn't read like one. Each chapter is an adventure on its own (each starting with some foreshadowing from the scribe Simon, whom we meet quite early in the book) without all the travelling and insignificant details that sometime tend to bloat epic fantasies. The parts written by the Simon add just enough detail to future events and even though knowing what is to come certainly doesn't take away the impact of when it does (here is where I admit I had to reach for the tissues a couple of times during my read).
At the beginning the adventures of our 2 MCs - brothers Baelin and Rawley seem innocuous and disparate but eventually things become seen on a much larger, universal scale. The brothers also add others to their group, all with their own unique skills (& foibles). If you're one for "found family" in your reading then Oathsworn Legacy is definitely for you.
I'm not big on epic fantasies these days but this book floated my boat - Dwarves, Elves and all. The narrative style was well done and I devoured this book over a weekend. Well done. 8/10.
At the beginning the adventures of our 2 MCs - brothers Baelin and Rawley seem innocuous and disparate but eventually things become seen on a much larger, universal scale. The brothers also add others to their group, all with their own unique skills (& foibles). If you're one for "found family" in your reading then Oathsworn Legacy is definitely for you.
I'm not big on epic fantasies these days but this book floated my boat - Dwarves, Elves and all. The narrative style was well done and I devoured this book over a weekend. Well done. 8/10.
July 18, 2024
This boo was so fun. At first, I was really unsure about the almost short story, storytelling style, but as we went on, and things started to come together, I ended up not minding it. The stories start to be more cohesive and feel like a novel about 40% in. This book in the style and plot reminded me a lot of the first few Witcher books but not quite as serious. I ended up really liking the characters, and some of the deaths got me in the feels. Overall, this is a really fun, traditional fantasy standalone that I'll recommend!
October 10, 2024
There are horrors in this world. Vileness taints the land. There is also the brave who boldly confront it. The greatest challenge begins.
Absolute blast with this SPFBO X finalist. Witcher vibes, heart,humour & high stakes.Terror meets fun.
Absolute blast with this SPFBO X finalist. Witcher vibes, heart,humour & high stakes.Terror meets fun.
March 14, 2025
Disclaimer - Read as a judge for SPFBOX (team Fantasy Faction) - this is my personal opinion and rating and doesn't necessarily reflect team members views or our overall rating. 7.5/10
For a large book (over 400p)this certainly didn't read like one. Each chapter is an adventure on its own (each starting with some foreshadowing from the scribe Simon, whom we meet quite early in the book) without all the travelling and insignificant details that sometime tend to bloat epic fantasies. The parts written by the Simon add just enough detail to future events and even though knowing what is to come certainly doesn't take away the impact of when it does (here is where I admit I had to reach for the tissues a couple during my read).
At the beginning the adventures of our 2 MCs - brothers Baelin and Rawley seem innocuous and disparate but eventually things become seen on a much larger, universal scale. The brothers also add others to their group, all with their own unique skills (& foibles). If you're one for "found family" in your reading then Oathsworn Legacy is definitely for you.
I'm not big on epic fantasies these days but this book floated my boat - Dwarves, Elves and all. I thought the narrative style was well done and I devoured this book over a weekend.
(also really liked seeing the romance forming between the more “elderly” characters in this story)
For a large book (over 400p)this certainly didn't read like one. Each chapter is an adventure on its own (each starting with some foreshadowing from the scribe Simon, whom we meet quite early in the book) without all the travelling and insignificant details that sometime tend to bloat epic fantasies. The parts written by the Simon add just enough detail to future events and even though knowing what is to come certainly doesn't take away the impact of when it does (here is where I admit I had to reach for the tissues a couple during my read).
At the beginning the adventures of our 2 MCs - brothers Baelin and Rawley seem innocuous and disparate but eventually things become seen on a much larger, universal scale. The brothers also add others to their group, all with their own unique skills (& foibles). If you're one for "found family" in your reading then Oathsworn Legacy is definitely for you.
I'm not big on epic fantasies these days but this book floated my boat - Dwarves, Elves and all. I thought the narrative style was well done and I devoured this book over a weekend.
(also really liked seeing the romance forming between the more “elderly” characters in this story)
Read
February 1, 2025Rtc. Spfbo10
December 29, 2024
Great book for those who like fantasy like Lord of the Rings or the Witcher (magic, monsters, elves, dwarves, good v evil, brotherhood, etc.)! Each chapter/story drew me in right away and they all build upon each other nicely to create a gripping and cohesive story. Great writing, great characters, and awesome world building!
May 25, 2025
RTC, fun episodic fantasy that really picks up midway through
December 16, 2024
The Oathsworn Legacy was a surprise and I really enjoyed it. A series of interconnecting stories that eventually led to a finale, it took me a while to warm up to the way the story was told, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. The only issue I really had is the author's tendency to lead the reader rather than let reader learn things as they read, too much telling rather than figuring things out.
February 12, 2025
I read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom.
The Oathsworn Legacy is a chonker of a book but its style of telling is what makes it feel very digestible in a one bite at a time kind of way. At the risk of repeating every reviewer out there- it’s a collection of shorter tales that make up the whole picture. Very much like a season of television - Supernatural comes to mind here, because of the monster of the week feel in the shorter stories with an overreaching arc across them. I chose The Oathsworn Legacy to read over the holidays for that very reason. I thought it would be easier to keep up with self-contained stories like this while busy, and my plan worked well.
The Oathsworn Legacy had some cool ideas, I liked how the small-scale small-stakes stories turn rather large by the end of things. Also, I particularly liked the whole old-school feel of assembling an adventure group, while not ever actually doing that in the traditional classic fantasy way. It gave it a bit of a twist on the usual.
I did find this story-telling style kept me from really connecting to the two brothers Baelin and Rawley, but this a story written about their escapades from the pov of a different character, Simon, and that might be a little bit why I felt more connection to Simon and other characters than I did to the brothers themselves.
Also a lot of events happen off-screen – motivations and some big character choices are occasionally found out after the fact- things that would help you understand where their headspace is or was, at the time etc.
I’m not overly keen on that style- I don’t want to see every choice but when a lot of important events occur off-screen, and I am given the “and this is the solution that problem we were having” I get frustrated because I want to see them surpass the problem.
The Oathsworn Legacy is an overall fun, actiony, and surprisingly quick read. I think a lot of people will enjoy the ease in which the stories are presented and for me I especially enjoyed the ‘monster of the week’ format for having some great scenarios. The Indiana Jones feel of Bhaliddar’s Defense was my favourite it was the story that really hooked me in and made me want to keep reading.
6.5 or 3.5 stars
Learn more about the contest here-
Mark Lawrence: The Official Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off homepage #SPFBO SPFBO
Phase one is here
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
Mark Lawrence: SPFBOX finalists - SPFBO 10
The Oathsworn Legacy is a chonker of a book but its style of telling is what makes it feel very digestible in a one bite at a time kind of way. At the risk of repeating every reviewer out there- it’s a collection of shorter tales that make up the whole picture. Very much like a season of television - Supernatural comes to mind here, because of the monster of the week feel in the shorter stories with an overreaching arc across them. I chose The Oathsworn Legacy to read over the holidays for that very reason. I thought it would be easier to keep up with self-contained stories like this while busy, and my plan worked well.
The Oathsworn Legacy had some cool ideas, I liked how the small-scale small-stakes stories turn rather large by the end of things. Also, I particularly liked the whole old-school feel of assembling an adventure group, while not ever actually doing that in the traditional classic fantasy way. It gave it a bit of a twist on the usual.
I did find this story-telling style kept me from really connecting to the two brothers Baelin and Rawley, but this a story written about their escapades from the pov of a different character, Simon, and that might be a little bit why I felt more connection to Simon and other characters than I did to the brothers themselves.
Also a lot of events happen off-screen – motivations and some big character choices are occasionally found out after the fact- things that would help you understand where their headspace is or was, at the time etc.
I’m not overly keen on that style- I don’t want to see every choice but when a lot of important events occur off-screen, and I am given the “and this is the solution that problem we were having” I get frustrated because I want to see them surpass the problem.
The Oathsworn Legacy is an overall fun, actiony, and surprisingly quick read. I think a lot of people will enjoy the ease in which the stories are presented and for me I especially enjoyed the ‘monster of the week’ format for having some great scenarios. The Indiana Jones feel of Bhaliddar’s Defense was my favourite it was the story that really hooked me in and made me want to keep reading.
6.5 or 3.5 stars
Learn more about the contest here-
Mark Lawrence: The Official Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off homepage #SPFBO SPFBO
Phase one is here
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
Mark Lawrence: SPFBOX finalists - SPFBO 10
October 23, 2024
This book is such a hidden gem and well deserves being a finalist in SPFBO 10. I really liked the vignette/short story narrative style, it helped keep the plot moving forward without a lot of unnecessary filler. The story also flowed really nicely.
The characters were excellent. Baelin and Rawley were really good main characters and I absolutely loved our supporting characters in Danial, Helgatha, and Simon.
The characters were excellent. Baelin and Rawley were really good main characters and I absolutely loved our supporting characters in Danial, Helgatha, and Simon.
November 24, 2024
Quite a long book, but the chapters are like episodes, making it an easy read. Many wonderful characters and relationships to care about. Though quite dark, it is balanced with happy moments, too.
October 24, 2024
I rate this book 3.75 stars.
Stand-alone epic fantasy.
The main characters, who are brothers, are engaging, interesting, three-dimensional, and their compelling back stories.
The first half of the book flowed at steady clip from one chapter to the next. This part of the story benefited from a tight focus on the two brothers and their adventures prior to starting their school.
The second half of the book slowed, not to a crawl, but not at the same clip as the first half. The story expanded in scope, setting, and characters.
Minor characters are featured more in the second half introduced some of the major secondary characters. Each of the is interesting and has potential, and I would have like to have spent more time with them.
Additionally, it appeared to be more description and more telling than showing in the second part of the story. The author mentioned some interesting events that occurred outside of the main plot such as King Solaris.
I would have liked to read more about the problems between the brothers, their school, and King Solaris and the military instead of being told about them.
The story really slowed near the end when the antagonist talked and talked and description of the setting.
I think this book is a little too long. If the the story was expanded to another book or so, the other events mentioned such as the issues with King Solaris, exploring the relationships with the elves and dwarves, and showing (instead of telling) motivations of the antagonist.
Even with these gripes, I enjoyed the story, specifically the adventures with the brothers.
Stand-alone epic fantasy.
The main characters, who are brothers, are engaging, interesting, three-dimensional, and their compelling back stories.
The first half of the book flowed at steady clip from one chapter to the next. This part of the story benefited from a tight focus on the two brothers and their adventures prior to starting their school.
The second half of the book slowed, not to a crawl, but not at the same clip as the first half. The story expanded in scope, setting, and characters.
Minor characters are featured more in the second half introduced some of the major secondary characters. Each of the is interesting and has potential, and I would have like to have spent more time with them.
Additionally, it appeared to be more description and more telling than showing in the second part of the story. The author mentioned some interesting events that occurred outside of the main plot such as King Solaris.
I would have liked to read more about the problems between the brothers, their school, and King Solaris and the military instead of being told about them.
The story really slowed near the end when the antagonist talked and talked and description of the setting.
I think this book is a little too long. If the the story was expanded to another book or so, the other events mentioned such as the issues with King Solaris, exploring the relationships with the elves and dwarves, and showing (instead of telling) motivations of the antagonist.
Even with these gripes, I enjoyed the story, specifically the adventures with the brothers.
November 6, 2024
I first came across Gangi's work in 2020 and I'm delighted to see it getting the recognition it deserves.
The Oathsworn Legacy is another great example of Gangi's talent. Well written and entertaining, this is the sort of story that it's impossible not to like. If you enjoy fantasy, give it a try!
4.5⭐
The Oathsworn Legacy is another great example of Gangi's talent. Well written and entertaining, this is the sort of story that it's impossible not to like. If you enjoy fantasy, give it a try!
4.5⭐
October 19, 2024
I picked this up as one of the finalists of the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off and I really enjoyed it. What starts as a series of loosely connected vignettes in the lives of two brothers who hunt monsters for a living (reminiscent of Witcher) grows into an epic about uniting the various races (Elves Dwarves, Humans, etc) to fight a tyrant king allied with an ancient evil. It's violent without being grimdark, with found family and a little snark. Good stuff!
Want to read
September 30, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBOX contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A scribe writes of two brothers who he has known and loved and shared in their often dark and dangerous adventures in this unique fantasy epic!
Masterful prose in this entry that drew me into the story with a calming urgency that made the opening sections a delight to read.
This starts with a kind of double prologue - a narrative frame of reminiscing scribe as narrator, and then a tragic, inciting incident of our MC’s life of adventure. Unlike other, drearily slow biographical-fantasies, however, this structure worked wonderfully.
The framing voice is distinct from the third-person close narration, and creates a sense of a dynamic story that may very well move in unique ways that I’m looking forward to discovering more of.
Our MCs, tho young when we meet them, are not overwritten to convince us they are really children. There is a solemnity to them in their grief that is believable, but also dramatically engaging to read.
The first chapter makes wonderful use of managing time, centering the present action and dialogue of the scene while still filling in all the necessary context of a sudden, violent turn in our MCs lives, after which they are conscious that they will never be the same.
I can’t say enough good things about the prose and dialogue. They are not overdone in the least. This is perfectly balanced, easy to read without being overly simple. It is descriptive, but focused with its details. It’s off to a great start.
I’m already getting a sense of our characters and their relationship. They’re practical. They’re strong, but they aren’t without serious, heartfelt emotion. They’ve already been through something they think they will never recover from. It’s deeply compelling.
I do think there is a missed opportunity for worldbuilding in ch1. There’s something bad that might be dwelling in a cave near our MC’s home, but what they think it might be we don’t get to know.
Some more specificity here would have given me a better idea what the bounds of knowledge are for our youths, as well as just what kind of fantasy world this is. Goblins? Ghouls? A bear? Which might it be? I can’t say.
Nonetheless, I’m captivated by this opening. It’s reminded me somewhat of David Gemmell’s best work. This is listed as just over 600 pages, and while they would often make me worry about story bloat, I’m hopeful the structure if this novel will handle it well.
This has been focused, effective, and emotional without forcing its emotions on me. That’s a rare skill! I heartily recommend it to everyone, if only to read this excellent beginning. I’m wow’d! I’m in!
A scribe writes of two brothers who he has known and loved and shared in their often dark and dangerous adventures in this unique fantasy epic!
Masterful prose in this entry that drew me into the story with a calming urgency that made the opening sections a delight to read.
This starts with a kind of double prologue - a narrative frame of reminiscing scribe as narrator, and then a tragic, inciting incident of our MC’s life of adventure. Unlike other, drearily slow biographical-fantasies, however, this structure worked wonderfully.
The framing voice is distinct from the third-person close narration, and creates a sense of a dynamic story that may very well move in unique ways that I’m looking forward to discovering more of.
Our MCs, tho young when we meet them, are not overwritten to convince us they are really children. There is a solemnity to them in their grief that is believable, but also dramatically engaging to read.
The first chapter makes wonderful use of managing time, centering the present action and dialogue of the scene while still filling in all the necessary context of a sudden, violent turn in our MCs lives, after which they are conscious that they will never be the same.
I can’t say enough good things about the prose and dialogue. They are not overdone in the least. This is perfectly balanced, easy to read without being overly simple. It is descriptive, but focused with its details. It’s off to a great start.
I’m already getting a sense of our characters and their relationship. They’re practical. They’re strong, but they aren’t without serious, heartfelt emotion. They’ve already been through something they think they will never recover from. It’s deeply compelling.
I do think there is a missed opportunity for worldbuilding in ch1. There’s something bad that might be dwelling in a cave near our MC’s home, but what they think it might be we don’t get to know.
Some more specificity here would have given me a better idea what the bounds of knowledge are for our youths, as well as just what kind of fantasy world this is. Goblins? Ghouls? A bear? Which might it be? I can’t say.
Nonetheless, I’m captivated by this opening. It’s reminded me somewhat of David Gemmell’s best work. This is listed as just over 600 pages, and while they would often make me worry about story bloat, I’m hopeful the structure if this novel will handle it well.
This has been focused, effective, and emotional without forcing its emotions on me. That’s a rare skill! I heartily recommend it to everyone, if only to read this excellent beginning. I’m wow’d! I’m in!
November 17, 2023
Loved this book. It was different from other books I've read. Instead of one constant story line it was more like a TV series and every chapter was a new episode with your favorite characters. It brought a wide range of emotion through the entire book, which is what in my opinion makes a great novel. I felt joy, surprise, deep sadness, determination and love. The bond between the characters is so heartfelt and real. The author really makes you fall in love with these characters. Definitely worth the read.
April 17, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book. Very easy to follow the different characters. I loved how the chapters were like separate adventures, almost like a mini series which all comes together at the end. The storyline was very good and really enjoyed how it ended. Awesome read.
February 16, 2025
The Oathsworn Legacy is pure classic fantasy for those craving Tolkien aesthetics, and I don’t just mean swords, sorcery, Elves, and Dwarves. This is the tale of the Terricaut brothers, Baelin and Rawley, who become monster hunters after losing their parents to a monster attack when children. During the first half of the book, each chapter is presented in a ‘monster of the week’ type format with the brothers tackling a particular monster. Each of these episodes introduce characters and aspects of the world that are expanded upon later. This format might not work for all, and unfortunately it didn’t work for me, as I found it much harder to connect with the story and characters.
At around the 40% mark, however, the book seems to leave this format and take on a more traditional structure as various pieces of the story converge. The two brothers create a monster-hunting school and recruit a variety of interesting side characters, some of which have their own POV and show a different side to Baelin and Rawley. Their quest becomes more traditional too, as they attempt to unite the Elves and Dwarves against a looming dark enemy and a threat of world destruction. This is where the Tolkien influence really shines, in my opinion, as there are strong themes of found family, brotherhood, and hope in their battles against evil, which as other judges have stated, feel oddly apt for these dark times back in reality. There’s a lot of heart here, and some emotional scenes heading to the end.
Unfortunately, I’ve come to realise that classic fantasy isn’t my type of fantasy, and The Oathsworn Legacy missed the mark for me for a few reasons, despite its charm. When I was a teen, I used to watch Dragon Ball Z, where the battles would drag out for weeks on end. And then Bulma went and married Vegeta off screen and I was outraged that we never saw how that happened. There are many instances of that here. We’re told about the monster school, but we’re never shown what it does or how it works. Much of the character development, including recruiting new students and staff, or even Rawley finding love, happens off page. I wanted to see more of that instead of drawn-out battle scenes. Some of these battle chapters were over seventy pages long and introduced a list of characters that exist essentially as red shirts to be killed off, and I felt exhausted by the end of them.
So much of the world and lore was presented through exposition, rather than shown naturally. To that end, The Oathsworn Legacy feels too ambitious. There’s too much story here, literally spanning decades, all squeezed into an already large book. I feel the story could be stronger if split into a series and allowed room to grow and develop those missing moments. Or perhaps I’m just not the right reader for this book.
At around the 40% mark, however, the book seems to leave this format and take on a more traditional structure as various pieces of the story converge. The two brothers create a monster-hunting school and recruit a variety of interesting side characters, some of which have their own POV and show a different side to Baelin and Rawley. Their quest becomes more traditional too, as they attempt to unite the Elves and Dwarves against a looming dark enemy and a threat of world destruction. This is where the Tolkien influence really shines, in my opinion, as there are strong themes of found family, brotherhood, and hope in their battles against evil, which as other judges have stated, feel oddly apt for these dark times back in reality. There’s a lot of heart here, and some emotional scenes heading to the end.
Unfortunately, I’ve come to realise that classic fantasy isn’t my type of fantasy, and The Oathsworn Legacy missed the mark for me for a few reasons, despite its charm. When I was a teen, I used to watch Dragon Ball Z, where the battles would drag out for weeks on end. And then Bulma went and married Vegeta off screen and I was outraged that we never saw how that happened. There are many instances of that here. We’re told about the monster school, but we’re never shown what it does or how it works. Much of the character development, including recruiting new students and staff, or even Rawley finding love, happens off page. I wanted to see more of that instead of drawn-out battle scenes. Some of these battle chapters were over seventy pages long and introduced a list of characters that exist essentially as red shirts to be killed off, and I felt exhausted by the end of them.
So much of the world and lore was presented through exposition, rather than shown naturally. To that end, The Oathsworn Legacy feels too ambitious. There’s too much story here, literally spanning decades, all squeezed into an already large book. I feel the story could be stronger if split into a series and allowed room to grow and develop those missing moments. Or perhaps I’m just not the right reader for this book.
February 4, 2025
This is a beautifully written book! The story is about the lives of two brothers, each chapter unfolding as a distinct narrative while contributing to the larger, overarching tale. I fell in love with many of the characters, especially the narrator. Even though some pretty dark stuff happens, there are also so many genuinely funny moments that keep the tone surprisingly bright.
June 25, 2025
Interesting SPFBO Find.
I recommend this to anyone who loves classic sword and sorcery. I highly enjoyed it, my only quibble is a decision made at the very end, that made no sense to me, and caused extra grief. But others probably wouldn't think this was a mark against it, so I won't dock a star. It's just me personally. But all in all a great read.
I recommend this to anyone who loves classic sword and sorcery. I highly enjoyed it, my only quibble is a decision made at the very end, that made no sense to me, and caused extra grief. But others probably wouldn't think this was a mark against it, so I won't dock a star. It's just me personally. But all in all a great read.
December 28, 2023
The Oathsworn Legacy is by far my favorite KR Gangi book. It was so well written and perfectly paced for an epic adventure. I loved the episodic nature of the chapters and the depth of the characters. The vibes are D&D meets supernatural- so fun.
December 19, 2024
*This book is a finalist in the 10th annual SPFBO (Self-published Fantasy Blog-Off) competition, & because I’m also a finalist, I won’t be giving any rating less than 5 stars to remain impartial, but I want to support my fellow finalists by hyping their books. Please give them all a look!*
The Oathsworn Legacy is a rollicking adventure of monsters and beasties, one that starts off with a simple premise but ends with a world-shattering arc, both the physical world and an emotional one. A chonky tome with heart, action, schemes, and monster slaying.
The Terricaut brothers, Baelin and Rawley, are orphaned at tender ages by some beasties and they vow to fight back. So years later, after being trained by a well-known general, they become mercs who slay monsters. As their fame grows, they open up a school for wayward souls, teaching them the ways of monster hunting. Along the way, they begin to unravel some ancient mysteries. A lot happens, but mostly, blood and beastie viscera.
Before I get to the cast, I want to start with the style of this story, as it is quite unique. It’s very episodic in nature, and according to the Gangi, these early scenes started off as short stories that he eventually was able to connect into a full narrative. And I agree with this. It reminds me a lot of the early Witcher books, as there is a contained beastie of the week vibe, in that the early chapters are all about a particular mission for the Terricaut brothers. That said, there is connective tissue that is within, so pay attention, because things that might seem innocuous at the start do play a major role in the story. But each episode does end up building upon one another until about the 50% mark when the true narrative starts to unfold into a great story arc.
Also, the beastie of the week concept is a smörgåsbord of DnD creatures. It’s a blast, let me tell you. We have the standard ogres, elves, dwarves, wizards, etc. But then we get things like doppelgangers. There’s creepy crawlies, there’s undead, there’s cults. What more can you ask for in a story like this???
This story is all about the Terricaut brothers. Baelin, the elder of the pair, is the more contemplative, logical thinker. But he is also bigger and fills the bruiser role, the de facto leader. Rawley, on the other hand, is more carefree, quick with a quip, more prone to anger. Definitely the brash one. Their dynamic is amazing, they play off each other excellently. Both of their overall arcs are great, and the ending was just amazing. I really felt these two grew on me as the story unfolded. We do get a number of different POVs as the Terricaut school of monster slayers opens and each character is as different as could be. I don’t want to get into all of them, but each one is superb in their own right. Some brave souls, some tortured ones. I do want to mention Simon, the doppelganger. He’s a very intriguing character and one I found very interesting. I won’t go into much with him due to spoilers, but he’s probably my fave of the story.
One thing to mention about Simon that I really really really liked is that he not only authors the epithets of each chapter, but when he becomes a POV in the latter part of the story, the POV shifts from 3rd person limited to 1st person. It was a really bold choice by Gangi and it could have backfired tremendously. But it didn’t. I think it was awesome. I’ve only seen that style done once before well, so bravo.
This book is a chonker, nearly 650 pages, but the episodic nature of the chapters made this book fly by. I don’t know if I would try such a style myself, but Gangi really pulls it off. The prose is regularly good to excellent. The action scenes feel realistic. The dialogue is top notch. Seriously, this book has exquisite dialogue, especially from Rawley. Not once, even during the worldbuilding exposition, did I feel like the dialogue dragged or wasn’t natural sounding. There is a toooooon of dialogue in this book, but it all worked well. Gangi definitely knows how to write dialogue. I don’t want this to sound as a negative because it all came together, but I will admit, that early episodic nature did feel slightly aimless for me. But again, it was all connected once the pieces started settling in and I began to see the puzzle for all the pieces.
All told, I really enjoyed The Oathsworn Legacy and want more from this world!
The Oathsworn Legacy is a rollicking adventure of monsters and beasties, one that starts off with a simple premise but ends with a world-shattering arc, both the physical world and an emotional one. A chonky tome with heart, action, schemes, and monster slaying.
The Terricaut brothers, Baelin and Rawley, are orphaned at tender ages by some beasties and they vow to fight back. So years later, after being trained by a well-known general, they become mercs who slay monsters. As their fame grows, they open up a school for wayward souls, teaching them the ways of monster hunting. Along the way, they begin to unravel some ancient mysteries. A lot happens, but mostly, blood and beastie viscera.
Before I get to the cast, I want to start with the style of this story, as it is quite unique. It’s very episodic in nature, and according to the Gangi, these early scenes started off as short stories that he eventually was able to connect into a full narrative. And I agree with this. It reminds me a lot of the early Witcher books, as there is a contained beastie of the week vibe, in that the early chapters are all about a particular mission for the Terricaut brothers. That said, there is connective tissue that is within, so pay attention, because things that might seem innocuous at the start do play a major role in the story. But each episode does end up building upon one another until about the 50% mark when the true narrative starts to unfold into a great story arc.
Also, the beastie of the week concept is a smörgåsbord of DnD creatures. It’s a blast, let me tell you. We have the standard ogres, elves, dwarves, wizards, etc. But then we get things like doppelgangers. There’s creepy crawlies, there’s undead, there’s cults. What more can you ask for in a story like this???
This story is all about the Terricaut brothers. Baelin, the elder of the pair, is the more contemplative, logical thinker. But he is also bigger and fills the bruiser role, the de facto leader. Rawley, on the other hand, is more carefree, quick with a quip, more prone to anger. Definitely the brash one. Their dynamic is amazing, they play off each other excellently. Both of their overall arcs are great, and the ending was just amazing. I really felt these two grew on me as the story unfolded. We do get a number of different POVs as the Terricaut school of monster slayers opens and each character is as different as could be. I don’t want to get into all of them, but each one is superb in their own right. Some brave souls, some tortured ones. I do want to mention Simon, the doppelganger. He’s a very intriguing character and one I found very interesting. I won’t go into much with him due to spoilers, but he’s probably my fave of the story.
One thing to mention about Simon that I really really really liked is that he not only authors the epithets of each chapter, but when he becomes a POV in the latter part of the story, the POV shifts from 3rd person limited to 1st person. It was a really bold choice by Gangi and it could have backfired tremendously. But it didn’t. I think it was awesome. I’ve only seen that style done once before well, so bravo.
This book is a chonker, nearly 650 pages, but the episodic nature of the chapters made this book fly by. I don’t know if I would try such a style myself, but Gangi really pulls it off. The prose is regularly good to excellent. The action scenes feel realistic. The dialogue is top notch. Seriously, this book has exquisite dialogue, especially from Rawley. Not once, even during the worldbuilding exposition, did I feel like the dialogue dragged or wasn’t natural sounding. There is a toooooon of dialogue in this book, but it all worked well. Gangi definitely knows how to write dialogue. I don’t want this to sound as a negative because it all came together, but I will admit, that early episodic nature did feel slightly aimless for me. But again, it was all connected once the pieces started settling in and I began to see the puzzle for all the pieces.
All told, I really enjoyed The Oathsworn Legacy and want more from this world!
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