Hunter's Oath (Daw Book Collectors) [Paperback]

Michelle West (Author)

Book Description

Series: Daw Book Collectors | Publication Date: October 1, 1995

Swearing allegiance to the Hunter God, the people of Breodanir become prosperous under the protection of the Hunter Lords, and Gilliam of Elseth and the orphan boy Stephen must pledge the Oath of the Sacred Hunt. Original.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: DAW (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0886776813
• ISBN-13: 978-0886776817
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first chapter in the development of an Epic, July 9, 2005

By 

Terra LeMay "Terra" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter's Oath (Daw Book Collectors) (Paperback)

I loved this book, and in fact so far I have not been disappointed by anything that Michelle West has written. This series is supposed to stand alone (it does) from the Sun Sword series, but I read the Sun Sword series first, and now that I have read these two books, I wish I had read them first. They develop the world in a way that gives you insights into the second series that feel missing, once you know they were there. If you are planning on reading The sun Sword series, I suggest that you start here, first. Even though you supposedly don't need to.
These books are written in a 3rd person SHIFTING point of view. That means that if you tend to prefer books that stick in the POV of only a single character, you may not like these. I LOVED the technique though. Because of the shifting POV, it takes a little time to really learn the characters, but give it a chance. Once you do, you have an intimate knowledge of Several of the Key players and each one has a depth and motivation that makes you want to learn more about them all. You also get brief glimpses into the worlds of some of the minor players and villians and that adds dimensions to the story that would have otherwise been lacking.
The world is completely original, as well as, well developed and complex. This book really does set up the world and the larger plot on an epic scale, and though the story develops a great deal in this book, it really blooms in the next novel and in the Sun Sword series. The complexity of the plot and the complexity of characters may mean that the book might be less accessable to readers who prefer to have the story dumped into their laps. These are NOT card-board characters and you really need to watch them develop to understand them. If you enjoy a journey with interesting twists and turns along the way, you will definitely enjoy this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Deep and multi-faceted, July 6, 2007

By 

Natalie (CA, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter's Oath (Daw Book Collectors) (Paperback)

What I really love about Michelle West's writing is that she gets into each character's head so well. While a lot is still clothed in mystery, the switches in perspective shift this story from just another fantasy novel into something deeper and more epic. That very epic sense is what makes HUNTER'S OATH so dense. There were times that I had to pause, take a breath, and learn to savor the story itself.

Gilliam is a Hunter Lord; Stephen is his Huntbrother. Together, they must participate in the Sacred Hunt each year in order to keep Breodanir safe and bountiful, at the risk of their own lives. But it soon becomes much more than that as Stephen falls prey to the unfathomable world of magic, demon-kin, and Gods.

I suspect what many can either find fault with or relish in HUNTER'S OATH is its ability to surround you with so much that you're not sure if you're enthralled with the world... or just confused. But if you simply let go, agree to not understand every little detail - then you can let it take you on a ride that is most definitely worth reading. I found myself incredibly attached to the world, its characters, its conflicts, which was really a surprise because I never thought I'd be thrilled to be reading about hunting and dogs. But really, it's so much more than that.

I'd say, read this if you're looking to get into something interesting but also by no means an easy, sit-back-and-enjoy type of book. You'll find yourself immersed in a world wrought with intense intrigue, conflict, and sacrifice, and a mishmash of fascinating characters (time-travelers, assasins, kings, thieves) that kept me keenly interested.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of a very interesting world, November 11, 2003

By 

"dollfantchu" (VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter's Oath (Daw Book Collectors) (Paperback)

This book is the beginning of one of the most interesting fantasy series being written today. The first book revolves around two young men who are "blood brothers" in a country where the rules of The Hunt govern the land. It is a story primarily about a "coming of age," and themes of responsibily, love, and death figure prominently. There are introductions of other intriguing characters, such as Evayne, who can walk through time and place, and Kallandras, a bard with some unique talents and surprising skills. These characters peak the interest, and become more "knowable" over time, as West takes great care to get inside the minds of many characters, even the villains. Definitely, the beginning of a must-read series!