The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood

Apr 22, 2019 Emily May rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019, modern-lit, arc

“My lady. If thou wilt allow me to help thee,” he said. When I didn’t answer, he got down on one knee, like he meant to propose to me. “’Tis my honor to carry thee whither thou desirest.”

It has taken me so long to organise my thoughts on this book. You know when you're just so sure you're going to love a book? When you start reading and it doesn't immediately grab you, but there's time, and you read some more, and it's just not everything you were hoping for, but you push on and finish it an

“My lady. If thou wilt allow me to help thee,” he said. When I didn’t answer, he got down on one knee, like he meant to propose to me. “’Tis my honor to carry thee whither thou desirest.”

It has taken me so long to organise my thoughts on this book. You know when you're just so sure you're going to love a book? When you start reading and it doesn't immediately grab you, but there's time, and you read some more, and it's just not everything you were hoping for, but you push on and finish it and look back and think: that was decent, but I expected so much more?

Thing is, I loved Greenwood's All the Ugly and Wonderful Things. I thought it was a raw, honest and horrible portrait of abuse. Maybe you will like The Reckless Oath We Made more if you viewed the author's previous book as some kind of taboo romance. It wasn't that for me. Which was why I felt surprised when this book turned out to be a romance. The other aspects of the plot felt like nothing more than trimmings around the romance.

One thing I didn't mind - but it is worth mentioning because many people won't like it - is the way Gentry speaks in Middle English and believes he is a knight. Look at the opening quote I used and note that a good portion of this book is all written like that. But I do think it makes sense. Gentry is autistic and very dedicated to his knightly code of honor. He spends a lot of his time (and a long slow chunk of this book) doing historical reenactments out in the woods.

The other half of this love story is Zhorzha, who Gentry is determined to save. When Zee's sister goes missing - possibly kidnapped - Gentry is the only person she feels she can turn to.

Their relationship is slow burn, natural, and heart-wrenching at times, but I wish I'd known I was heading into more of a straight-up romance before I started this one. I was expecting something more hard-hitting, different, and emotionally challenging, like the author's first book.

Maybe All the Ugly and Wonderful Things just set the bar too high.

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Aug 10, 2019 Val ⚓️ Shameless Non-Snowflake ⚓️ rated it really liked it

Shelves: top-reads-of-2019, quirky-character, can-shit-on-paper-i-would-read-it, slow-burn, pissed-me-the-fuck-off, 4-stars

Before I get started, I just want to say how fortunate I feel to have been contacted by Bryn Greenwood herself and offered an ARC for this book earlier in the year. I truly loved and adored All the Ugly and Wonderful Things.

So much, in fact, that I recommended it to my grandmother...who had just recently started the switch to audio books after experiencing failing eyesight...and who scolded me like a child afterward for not warning her about some of the "racier" (her word) scenes she had to lis ...more

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Apr 07, 2019 karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: grit-lit, from-publisher-or-author

oooh, goodreads choice awards semifinalist for BEST FICTION 2019! what will happen?

i gave this one four stars because i didn’t like it quite as much as All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, but that’s a pretty hard book to top. my 1-5 ratings are starbitrary, but my words are all encouraging you to read this book.

this is literary fiction that has put one fist in the romance barrel and one fist in the crime fiction barrel, grabbed the most interesting bits and made a whole new thing outta them.

i d ...more

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Sep 04, 2019 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it it was amazing

Shelves: i-m-intrigued

Are you the junk of the unconventional love stories with irregular, different characters you’ve never seen at your regular romance novels?

Have you ever felt in love with a book and to express your feelings about it, have you written a song for it and sung it at the karaoke bar covering your ears not to hear boos!

I’ve done it after I’ve read “All the Beautiful and Ugly Things” and this time instead of writing a new song, I’ll sing “can’t take my eyes off you” till my throat hurts and my neighbor ...more

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Aug 20, 2019 Bryn Greenwood added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: my-own-books

The paperback edition is here! (8/25/20). To celebrate it, I'm sharing a bunch of notes and highlights, if you'd like to know more about how my brain works when I'm creating characters and stories.

(8/20/19) Here it is at last. My book is out in the world. It's a terrifying day, because something I spent so much time alone with is out of my hands. It's also an exciting day, because this is a book I want people to read. I want it to find the people who connect with it--my people. ...more

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Jul 29, 2019 Liz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, bestof-2019

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things was an amazing book. While I forget most books just weeks after I read them, that one really stuck with me. So I was thrilled to get an early look at Brynwood’s latest work.
Brynwood doesn’t pick easy topics or easy characters. Among other jobs, Zee is a drug mule. As the story opens, she’s bringing two suitcases of weed to her drug dealing boss. She’s traveling with her six year old nephew, because her sister is missing. Turns out, her sister, a prison volunteer ...more

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Aug 25, 2019 Angela M rated it it was ok

Shelves: edelweiss-reviews

2.5 stars.
A little too quirky, way over the top and a bit convoluted. The fairy tale nature of the story with an autistic man who thinks he’s a knight, mixed with drugs, a prison breakouts, the KKK, a plan gone wrong to free a character believed to be kidnapped, and a slew of other real life issues had me struggling to get through it, even with a bit of skimming which I freely admit to. Gentry’s Middle English drove me crazy after while, but I have to say he was one of my favorite characters, a ...more

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May 09, 2019 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, read-2019, from-publisher

After reading All the Ugly and Wonderful Things I knew when I heard that Bryn Greenwood was about to release another book my face started doing this right here.........

I loved that book. Hard.
But now? I'm having a hard time choosing a favorite between that book and this one.

I have a problem though. I can rant for hours when I hate a book...but when I love it? I turn into a big old hot mess and can't word for nothing.

Here goes my rambling though. (And it's not really a synopsis of the b ...more

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Sep 25, 2019 *TUDOR^QUEEN* rated it really liked it

The main character of this book is Zhorzha "Zee" Trego. She's had a troubled family life due to her father having gone to prison for murder when she was a child. This tragedy had a negative rippling effect on the family, because Zee's mother weighs about 600 pounds and never leaves the house. Mom is also a hoarder, and there is barely room to even walk around. Zhorzha doesn't live there anymore, but she works as a waitress and sells pot to subsidize her Mom's living expenses. In fact, Zee will e The main character of this book is Zhorzha "Zee" Trego. She's had a troubled family life due to her father having gone to prison for murder when she was a child. This tragedy had a negative rippling effect on the family, because Zee's mother weighs about 600 pounds and never leaves the house. Mom is also a hoarder, and there is barely room to even walk around. Zhorzha doesn't live there anymore, but she works as a waitress and sells pot to subsidize her Mom's living expenses. In fact, Zee will even sink to performing sexual favors, if necessary. Life has not been kind to the Trego family, but Zee has a strong survival instinct. Zee's sister LaReigne has a young son named Marcus, and Zee is forced to take him on a drug run as the book begins. LaReigne has been unreachable because she was taken hostage during a prison breakout where she volunteers.

The one person Zee can always depend upon is Gentry Frank. They met each other in the waiting room of a physical therapy office following an injury Zee suffered on a motorcycle. To say that Gentry is eccentric would be a major understatement. He avoids meeting eyes, only speaks in Middle English (like a gallant medieval knight), and hears three different voices (who also speak in native Middle English). One of the voices told Gentry that it was his destiny to always watch over "Lady Zhorzha", and as if he took an oath to do so, he shadows Zee protectively throughout the book. He is actually my favorite character in this story. Clinically Gentry is autistic, but he has a job, drives, and lives in a loving adoptive home with other adopted special needs siblings. The parents tolerate Gentry's medieval passions by allowing him to have swords, chain mail and other medieval warrior trappings. He even goes on getaways with like-minded friends to joust and have medieval style battles. However, he's very respectful, gallant and loyal to Zee, and I truly enjoyed reading those passages. The one thing Gentry had a bit of a hard time with was being touched, but that was a hurdle that Zee and Gentry would climb.

The storyline of LaReigne's hostage situation provides yet another crisis for the Trego family to navigate. Zee has so much hardship and heartbreak to deal with, that I was glad for the positive influence of Gentry's character to uplift the atmosphere. With all the upheaval and uncertainties in her life, she often finds herself with no regular place to stay. She's become an expert at being a transitory guest in people's houses. She's also become very street smart and cunning as a result of her dicey circumstances. As hard a life as she's had, she still has compassion, generosity and family loyalty. Her relationship with Gentry was the crowning glory of the book, for I loved the softness and emotions laid bare by these two unlikely souls bound together.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons / Penguin Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy via Edelweiss. ...more

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Nov 23, 2019 jessica rated it really liked it

this is one of the most unconventional books ive ever read. from the characters to the plot, this is quite unlike anything ive come across in a story.

i LOVE greenwoods ‘all the ugly and wonderful things’ and, because of it, i know she has a talent for capturing the raw and emotional and overlooked. she does exactly that with this story, but it doesnt feel quite as effortless to me. and im not sure if its because of the storys inherent nature, but everything that makes this different is blatantl ...more

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Jul 21, 2019 Christy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-audio, 2019-four-stars

4.25 stars

I am so thankful I gave this book a second chance! Earlier this year, I was graciously contacted by the author and was provided a paperback arc. I couldn’t contain my excitement in getting to read The Reckless Oath We Made early, as her other book (ATUAWT) is one of my top favorite reads. When the time came to sit down and read the book, I couldn’t get into it. I tried really hard, but I wasn’t enjoying it, so I put it down for a few months.

Seeing as I couldn’t get into reading my 4.25 stars

I am so thankful I gave this book a second chance! Earlier this year, I was graciously contacted by the author and was provided a paperback arc. I couldn’t contain my excitement in getting to read The Reckless Oath We Made early, as her other book (ATUAWT) is one of my top favorite reads. When the time came to sit down and read the book, I couldn’t get into it. I tried really hard, but I wasn’t enjoying it, so I put it down for a few months.

Seeing as I couldn’t get into reading my physical copy, I picked up the audiobook and holy wow- it made ALL the difference for me. It has a full cast and is so well done. I can’t recommend the audio book enough, it was such an enjoyable listening experience. Now to the actual story…

The Reckless Oath We Made follows our main character Zee. Zee is not your typical heroine. None of the main characters are quite typical and I love that. Zee is a tall, red headed girl who has a lot of family issues. She’s going through a lot, and she has a real life knight in shining armor to save the day. Gentry.

Gentry has been called to protect Zee. He’ll do anything for her. Gentry talks like a knight and his voices tell him that Lady Zhorzha is his to protect and serve, for he is her champion. Gentry is autistic and chilverous. He’s not your typical hero but he’s pretty amazing. His chapters are voiced in medieval speak, and it took a second to get used to, but once I did, it was just him and it was perfect.

This book is different. It’s completely unconventional and unique and I loved it. Truly, I completely adored Gentry, Zee was amazing, and Marcus was the most adorable. There were so many great characters and it had a lot of different pov’s, which is helpful. Getting many different perspectives gives us a true look at the situation happening in this story.

This is not the kind of book I would normally pick up, but I will read anything this author writes. I love her voice and her compelling and original stories. This was unputdownable and an incredible read. Once again, I’ve got to recommend the audiobook for this because it was amazing! ...more

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Apr 25, 2019 Kelly (and the Book Boar) rated it really liked it

Shelves: shut-up-and-take-my-money, like-this-or-we-cant-be-friends, arcs, lil-bit-of-chickenfriend, dysfunction-junction, book-of-the-month-selection, read-in-2019

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

RELEASE DAY TODAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY (8/20)

4.5 Stars

Waaaaaaaaay back in 2016 I scored a NetGalley ARC of a little book by an unknown author. (Basically, the mere mention of the word “meth” gets me all grabby hands.) To say All the Ugly and Wonderful Things blew my socks off is probably the understatement of the decade. I barfed my feelings out all over the intertubes about the sleeper that would become one of my favorite stories of ...more

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Aug 25, 2019 Diane S ☔ rated it really liked it

Shelves: lor-2019

Since I've been reading so many non fiction books I've had a hard time with fiction. Except for my mysteries, which I seem to be doing okay with. You're both going to be surprised but i loved this. Yes, it was over the top, unrealistic but to me it's a modern day adult fairy tale. Z. Coming from a family of crime, relatives and friends with the KKK has as a defender,Sir Gentry. I fell hard for Gentry. Anyway, I think this is a clever book, and i didn't read her first, not my type of subject matt ...more

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Jun 12, 2019 Dorie - Cats&Books :) rated it liked it

Shelves: edelweiss, abandoned

DNF at 40%

No, no, no I can't take another sentence of Middle English that I have to translate in my brain before I can continue the story. This is a DNF for me at 40% Example: “My lady. If thou wilt allow me to help thee,” he said. When I didn’t answer, he got down on one knee, like he meant to propose to me. “’Tis my honor to carry thee whither thou desirest.”and on and on an on.

This is such a disappointment for me. I know that there is a great story here but I gave it two evenings and only mad ...more

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Sep 29, 2019 MarilynW rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss

The Reckless Oath We Made is a winner for me. And, as I read the book, I was picturing the author as Zee. Pictures I've seen of the author are of a no nonsense woman, strong, good looking in the not Hollywood fake way, and that is how I see Zee, the woman with frizzy red hair, tall, big, and maintaining a loyalty to her family that keeps them upright even if they aren't aware that she is holding them up. I realized that she's beautiful, but she doesn't know it. She's not the typical petite beaut The Reckless Oath We Made is a winner for me. And, as I read the book, I was picturing the author as Zee. Pictures I've seen of the author are of a no nonsense woman, strong, good looking in the not Hollywood fake way, and that is how I see Zee, the woman with frizzy red hair, tall, big, and maintaining a loyalty to her family that keeps them upright even if they aren't aware that she is holding them up. I realized that she's beautiful, but she doesn't know it. She's not the typical petite beauty of her former cheerleading sister, whose life has always revolved around boys and men. Instead she is the beautiful that Gentry sees and I trust Gentry, the short, stout, strong, autistic man who is loyal to those he cares about and loves and who doesn't see the world through a shallow, "what's popular today" filter.

When the book started, I didn't care for Zee. She was working as a drug mule, sometimes sold her body for sex because she needed the money, was way past ever thinking about being in love, and was from an extremely dysfunctional family, which was still "dysfunctioning" all over the place, even as the book begins. Zee is hauling her young nephew Marcus on a drug run, in the middle of the night, because her sister is MIA and she'll be in big trouble if she doesn't finish the job. It's only as the book continues that we learn just what a crummy life Zee had growing up with a mom who binged up to 600 lbs after her dad went to prison for murdering a bank guard, a mother who turned into such a hoarder that Zee was forced out of their home at 16, because there was not a single space for her to place her body. Zee was homeless as she tried to finish high school and then lived on the couch of her sister for a few years, working several jobs at a time.

Really Zee was looking after her tiny nephew during those years, because her sister and her worthless husband were too busy fighting to take care of him. Once the husband is out of the picture, Zee is more of a mom to Marcus than his own mom has ever been. Zee doesn't want Marcus to have a neglected upbringing like she had and it is her life goal to make sure he grows up better than she grew up. Zee also has a strong sense of responsibility to take care of her mentally ill mother, despite any recognition for what she is doing for her mom. Enter Gentry, a 24 year old autistic man who knows how worthy Zee is in life and knows that his life's purpose is to be her champion. One of the voices told him so. Gentry hears voices and they guide him on his knightly mission to watch over Zee.

Gentry works at a job, riveting wings on airplanes, drives a truck, and lives with his adoptive family. But also Gentry is a knight, spends weekends wearing armor and living the life of a knight, while building his own castle and jousting with his like minded friends. His life revolves around the code of honor of a knight and he will give his all to keep Zee safe. I did struggle with Gentry's Middle English speech and never did get to a point that I could read it without being stopped in my tracks. It was a part of Gentry but I wasn't very good at understanding what he was saying without a lot of effort on my part. Still, I liked Gentry enough that I was willing to keep on reading...I really liked this story so very much, once I knew the people in the story, that I just kept on reading.

Turns out the reason Marcus's mom is AWOL is because two of the KKK prisoners she volunteers to spend time with, have taken her and another woman hostage. Zee's life is thrown into more of a mess than it already is, with having to care for Marcus, deal with her mom's house being searched by law enforcement, having her car impounded to be searched, having to try to make her shift at the bar, and getting kicked out of her sister's apartment because her name isn't on the lease.

Gentry, who has been watching her from a distance for the last two years comes to her rescue and that is when I fell in love with Gentry and later on, Zee. I liked so many of the characters in this book, whether they appear for a brief time or longer. The author gives them such life, makes them seem so real, with their faults and everydayness. It helps that we get to read the book from many viewpoints and that's how I began to know how attractive Zee really is, in ways that really matter.

I love characters studies and I love these characters and this book made me happy in the end, when the beginning didn't give me the least bit of reason to think I'd feel the way I did at the end. I like when I get hit with these kinds of feelings and will be reading more work by this author. Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for this ARC. ...more

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Jul 04, 2019 Cheri rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fiction-contemporary, 2019, arc, 1600-s, netgalley, kansas, missouri

!! NOW AVAILABLE !!

Zhorzha Trego’s life has never been easy - not as long as she remembers, anyway. Her father Marcus went to prison when she was just a child, and died there, leaving her mother to fill the holes in her heart with objects and food. Her mother’s grief affected both her and her older sister, LaReigne, who volunteers at the local prison, leaving her with the burden of financial support for the family - on a waitress income. To add to her personal issues, an accident left her with !! NOW AVAILABLE !!

Zhorzha Trego’s life has never been easy - not as long as she remembers, anyway. Her father Marcus went to prison when she was just a child, and died there, leaving her mother to fill the holes in her heart with objects and food. Her mother’s grief affected both her and her older sister, LaReigne, who volunteers at the local prison, leaving her with the burden of financial support for the family - on a waitress income. To add to her personal issues, an accident left her with chronic pain in her hip along with a stack of mounting medical bills. When Zhorzha, Zee, learns that LaReigne, along with another woman, has been taken hostage by two escaped convicts, she is riding the train with her nephew, five-year-old Marcus, carrying weed that she intends to sell to help pay the bills – not exactly how she had planned things would be.

The news of LaReigne’s abduction brings with it, of course, additional interest by the press and the attention of the police, which ends up with Zee losing her job, her apartment and her car one after another.

Leaving physical therapy two months after her accident, still on crutches, when Zee’s ride doesn’t show up after she’s waited hours, she leaves the lobby for the parking lot, she sees a man waiting by his truck who bows to her, and says: “My lady. Thy servant.” From then on, Gentry would become her champion – he believes he has been tasked with this mission by voices only he can hear. Gentry Frank is on the spectrum, but he is also a knight who speaks only in early modern English, and who works as “a vassal of the Duke of Bombardier,” riveting wings on Learjets.

There are nine narrators in this story, but the main one is Zee, with 37 of the 63 brief chapters being narrated by her, Gentry has eleven, with the remainder including Marcus, and a Deputy. Rather than being confusing, each character seemed to bring more light to this tale.

I loved this story, which has so much more to it beyond this brief review. There’s an element of a somewhat unconventional romance, but in a gritty-fairy-tale-ish way that takes many twists and turns - some of them dark, but not gruesome- and, like the best of stories, leaves you wanting to share your joy with everyone you know.

Pub Date: 20 Aug 2019

Many thanks for the ARC provided by PENGUIN GROUP Putnam ...more

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Aug 03, 2019 Karen added it · review of another edition

DNF at 20%
Not interested in the characters or story line at all! I’m quite disappointed because I loved this author’s All the Ugly and Wonderful Things! Too many books waiting for me to waste my time on this one.. but... I am in the minority here so don’t go by me😅

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Aug 25, 2019 Esil rated it liked it

Shelves: ew

I think I get what Bryn Greenwood is doing in This Reckless Oath We Made, but it was a bit too over the top for me. Zee is 26 years old, and her life is a mess. Her father died in jail as a convicted murderer, her mother is a shut-in hoarder and her sister has recently disappeared, leaving her to care for her 5 year old nephew and to try to find her sister. Initially, the best way she comes up with to help herself, her sister and her nephew is by selling weed and getting what she can from creepy I think I get what Bryn Greenwood is doing in This Reckless Oath We Made, but it was a bit too over the top for me. Zee is 26 years old, and her life is a mess. Her father died in jail as a convicted murderer, her mother is a shut-in hoarder and her sister has recently disappeared, leaving her to care for her 5 year old nephew and to try to find her sister. Initially, the best way she comes up with to help herself, her sister and her nephew is by selling weed and getting what she can from creepy guys. That is, until her knight in shining armour, Gentry, comes to the rescue. Actually, Gentry is a 24 year old autistic young man, who only speaks in Middle English, has a few obstinate invisible friends and is obsessed with swords and chivalry. Gentry believes that he is Zee’s “champion”, which means that he is obliged to protect her. The collision of Zee’s world with Gentry’s world leads to pretty dramatic and — in my humble opinion — over the top results. I won’t say more about the plot to avoid spoilers.

This feels like a mash up of a very dark fairy tale with what some have described as “Appalachian noir”. In theory, I don’t have a problem with the concept. After all, I loved Patrick deWitt’s Undermajordomo Minor — a dark fairy tale if there ever was one — and have really enjoyed Brian Panowich’s books — a true writer of Appalachian noir. But some of the key plot twists went way too far for me — especially what Gentry ends up doing for Zee, and what ends up happening to him as a consequence. I wasn’t shocked — I just fell out of my suspension of disbelief bubble and thought “no way”. That said, there were things I liked about the story — I liked Gentry’s character for the most part, I liked Zee’s transformation throughout the story and I quite liked the end — so I’m comfortable with a 3 star rating. I think my disappointment with this one is that I would have liked it so much more if Garwood had held back on some of the more over the top aspects of the plot.

I suspect many people with love this book. But it didn’t quite work for me. This was a buddy read with Angela and Diane, and this was a rare occasion when we each had different reactions. So make sure to read a bunch of reviews before deciding whether to give this one a chance or to write it off. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy. ...more

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Aug 07, 2019 Corina rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, mental-illness, standalone

The story not only covers topics like hoarding, which honestly fascinates but also creeps me out, mental illness, and complicated family dynamics. Surprisingly it also was about living during the Renaissance period. Which really caught me unprepared but is something I rather enjoy reading about.

I’m not going to lie, I was hesitant about picking up this book. After so many years of adoring ATUAWT I didn’t know what to expect, nor what I actually hoped for, and I was definitely worried to be disap ...more

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Jan 06, 2019 Barbara White rated it it was amazing

I finished this late last night--or rather, early this morning--and THE RECKLESS OATH WE MADE is, without doubt, one of the best books I've ever read. A glorious epic with unforgettable characters who live outside the lines, it's about pain and poverty, mental illness and medieval chivalry, love and redemption.

Zee and Sir Gentry are mismatched in every way except for their sense of loyalty. She’s a wise-ass, hot-tempered, drug-dealing waitress with a shattered hip who kept her family together-- ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 CC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, bbs-challenge, feels, angsty-mild-to-i-have-an-ulcer, damaged, f-br

Zhorzha “Zee” Trego hasn’t had an easy life, but she’s learned to adapt considering the circumstances. After her sister is taken hostage during a prison break, Zhorzha is burdened with added responsibility. Yet, there is one person who seems to be watching over her.

“She wore her anger like a cloak of fire that burned none but herself.”

Gentry Frank is a unique man of many talents and enigmatic layers. With his chivalrous nature, Gentry offers his noble service to Lady Zhorzha. As he proves h

Zhorzha “Zee” Trego hasn’t had an easy life, but she’s learned to adapt considering the circumstances. After her sister is taken hostage during a prison break, Zhorzha is burdened with added responsibility. Yet, there is one person who seems to be watching over her.

“She wore her anger like a cloak of fire that burned none but herself.”

Gentry Frank is a unique man of many talents and enigmatic layers. With his chivalrous nature, Gentry offers his noble service to Lady Zhorzha. As he proves his honor, the situation escalates leading to irrevocable circumstances.

“Tis not for thee to be worthy. ‘Twas for me to become worthy.”

Told from multiple character perspectives, the story moves at a steady pace with building tension. As the friendship between Zee and Gentry strengthens, there seems to be a question of imbalance and whether there are ulterior motives. However, as more is revealed about Gentry, it appears that there’s more under the surface.

“This is how a tower be built. Lay first the foundation stone. Then upon it, lay the next stone. Up and up, one stone, then another, til thou hast built a tower to keep thee and thine safe.”

In starting this book, I was excited because this author is new to me and her storytelling is compelling. These characters are quite diverse, posing challenges, and some are not necessarily likeable or redeemable. The standout character for me is Gentry. Though he appears to have certain affectations, there is also clarity to his process.

While it seems like it’s the author’s intent to stir the pot, I had difficulty with Zee from the beginning. Though there were times when her situation seemed to be out of her control, she also made harmful choices that were hard to ultimately reconcile.

The Reckless Oath We Made is a thought provoking story about redemption, loyalty and friendship.

*An ARC was provided by in exchange for an honest review.*

*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey and Loyda!*

For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

...more

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Jul 29, 2019 Pavlina Read more sleep less blog rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, best-cover

❤️4 STARS❤️

This was a unique story, I did't loved it as much as All The Ugly and wonderfull things but still it was captivating and original.It started really well, but I find myself struggling a little bit at some points, but while I continue reading it I loved it even more!

description

Gentry is mostly the reason I loved this one!Zee and Gentry were intresting and unique!It was a little bit difficult to used to Gentry's POV because he use Middle English.The writing was flawless and the story was sad.

If yo ...more

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Oct 20, 2020 Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) added it

TW: racism, racial slurs, gun violence, drug/alcohol abuse, hoarding, fatphobia, slut shaming, murder

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Aug 06, 2019 Book of the Month added it

Why I love it
by Liberty Hardy

Get ready to call in sick so you can devour one of the most imaginative novels of the year! Its wildly original story full of achingly real characters will have you turning the pages like you’re competing in an Olympic reading event.

Zhorzha Trego has a world of problems. She lives with her gullible older sister and five-year-old nephew in Kansas. She waits tables (and sells pot) to try and make ends meet; she is in chronic pain; her mother is a recluse who has filled ...more

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Jun 27, 2019 Brandi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-netgalley-author

Super excited to get the chance to read this one early! :)
description

This captivating and utterly unique story had me glued to my kindle. Honestly, I have struggled to put my thoughts into words. This story is different, and the way Gentry speaks certainly took some getting use too, but, I felt this story. These characters have earned a special place in my heart. When I hit The End, I found it hard to say goodbye to them. Bryn is two for two with me and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

*ARC ...more

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Jul 27, 2019 Amy | Foxy Blogs rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-or-netgalley, july-2019, 2019-books

THE RECKLESS OATH WE MADE is an unlikely love story about a woman whose family has a criminal background and an autistic man who speaks only in Middle English and believes himself to be a knight.

”People talk about having an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. I had a pair of imaginary bill collectors, so no matter which way I turned, there was somebody to remind me I needed money. That’s how I ended up on a train at four o’clock in the morning with my nephew and a hundred pounds ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 warhawke rated it really liked it

Shelves: fuck-buddy-read, arc-netgalley-request, family-friendship, general-fiction

Genre: General Fiction
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person – Multiple
Rating:

Life had never been easy for Zhorzha (Zee) Trego. When a crisis hit her already barely hanging family, salvation came in the form of Gentry Frank - a literal knight in shining armor. Together, they embarked on a dangerous task that would challenge their freedom and loyalty and consequently changed the course of their lives.

Gentry was one of the most unique heroes I’ve read. I absolutely loved him for his mind and his h ...more

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Jan 16, 2020 Aga Durka rated it liked it

The Reckless Oath We Made is a quirky and an over the top story of friendships, family ties, and love connections. I have tried to decide if this is a romance, suspense, or family drama read, and in the end, I finally concluded that this is simply a mix of all of the above. A mix that was not necessarily a good combination.

I found this book a little confusing at times due to the choice of the characters the author decided to use to tell the story. As much as I loved Gentry’s uniqueness, being an ...more

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Jun 25, 2019 Emily rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1-digital-arcs-unread, 2019

Bryn Greenwood is a goddamn treasure and we don't deserve her. ...more

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Aug 30, 2019 Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" rated it it was amazing

Shelves: top-30-of-the-bests, favorite-of-2019, favorite-author

6 stars!!!

One thing is certain Bryn Greenwood never does conventional or the expected!

Demonstration in two steps:

One: Forget the perfectly handsome hero or gorgeous heroine.
Zhorzha or Zee or Lady Zhorzha is very tall has thick creamy thights and fatty boobs with a mane of fire. She swears, has a huge tattoo and has never hesitated trading sex for money.

Gentry is not very tall but stocky. In need of a real haircuts and speaks to his feet. He is autistic and hear four voices: the Witch ...more

flag 20 likes · Like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
Goodreads Librari...: Please add awards (Kirkus & KS notable book)	4	19	Jul 23, 2020 06:28PM
Book of The Month: The Reckless Oath We Made	2	37	Sep 14, 2019 10:18AM
Angela, Diane and Esil discuss	35	25	Sep 03, 2019 02:23PM

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