The Oathbreaker's Shadow
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
In the land of Darhan, promises are bound by magic, tied into knots, and worn with pride. Those who break them are physically scarred, cast out into the desert, and stalked by vengeful shadows of their treachery. Fifteen-year-old Raim, the best young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard, has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. He doesn’t know where it came from and barely thinks about it at all. But on the most important day of his life, when Raim agrees to give his life as a warrior to the future king, that knot bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin. Now scarred as an oathbreaker, Raim has two options: run or die.
"An excellent choice for those looking for a compelling and detailed fantasy novel."—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Middle-school readers looking to get lost in another world will enjoy this adventure-packed read."—BOOKLIST
"An intriguing start to McCulloch's planned series."—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"The most compelling new fantasy I've read in years."—Jonathan Stroud, author of Lockwood & Co and the Bartimaeus books
“Brilliant. Absolutely gripping from the start, a complete joy and a great new voice.”—Conn Iggulden, author of the internationally bestselling Empire series
“The Oathbreaker’s Shadow is a very promising debut in what bodes to be an electrifying duology. Unusual magic set in an exotic location and nomadic culture lures the reader to total immersion in Raim’s world.”—Robin Hobb, internationally bestselling author of the Farseer trilogy
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
It takes a bit of work to make headway into debut author McCulloch's imaginative space. She eschews the typical medieval European world of fantasy for a nomadic yurt village on the steppes. The cast of characters is large, the customs and beliefs distant, and worldbuilding detail comes thick and fast. For readers who stick with it, what unfolds is a thoughtful coming-of-age story focused on questions of what constitutes betrayal. Raim, at 15, has been the devoted friend of Khareh, the crown prince of Dashan, for five years. The boys are on the brink of adult choices: Raim wants to become an elite Yun warrior, while Khareh is sliding into a battle of wills with the khan he has been chosen to succeed. As the boys swear a sacred vow to be forever protector and protected, these futures crumble. Marked as an oathbreaker and outcast, Raim goes on the run for his life into the merciless desert. Many questions are raised and none resolved, yet it's an intriguing start to McCulloch's planned series. Ages 12 up.
