The Oathbound (Vows and Honor, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Bound by oath to each other and to the Goddess, the swordswoman Tarma and the wizard Kethry begin a joint career as mercenaries in the constant struggle for justice in a land where demons come in human and not-so-human forms. The author of the "Heroes of Valdemar" trilogy begins a new series involving a pair of likeable, savvy heroines. Sword and sorcery with warmth and humor make this a story that will appeal to most fantasy fans. JC
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Tarma witnessed her clan's murder and, swearing vengeance, became a master warrior. Kethry fled her forced "marriage" and became an adept--pledging her power to the greatest good. When Kethry obtains a magical sword which draws her to others in need, the two vow to avenge the wrongs done to womanhood.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: DAW; First Thus edition (July 5, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0886774144
• ISBN-13: 978-0886774141
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,139 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 1 in The Vows and Honor Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasant Surprise, July 16, 2002

By	Leanna "moondance34" (South Deerfield, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Tarma is a Shin'a'in warrior of the Dhorisha Plains, sworn to serve her Goddess. Kethry, a former noble, is a White Winds sorceress working toward Adept status. The two are paired together by the that oath they have sworn, and they begin their journey as mercenaries. Along the way, Tarma and Kethry encounter a number of dangerous foes that they alone may have the strength to defeat...

"The Oathbound" is the first book in Mercedes Lackey's Vows and Honor Series. It was my ninth Lackey book, and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by it. I picked it just to get the background on what was happening the world of Velgarth 100 years previous to The Heralds of Valdemar Trilogy. I found myself unable to put it down towards the end. The action was intense for the last 150 pages or so.

Tarma and Kethry were very engaging characters, and I loved their interactions with each other and how they were so accepting of the other's differences. It was refreshing to see people from completely different backgrounds become best friends with no prejudices.

However, I would not recommend this book to young readers. One of the characters is perversely sexual in a purely evil way.

Bottom Line: A fun read (Yeah, Girl Power!) for all mature readers, not just sci-fi/fantasy people.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The first of the Tarma and Kethry Books, February 13, 2003

By	Nancy E. "Nancy" (USA) - See all my reviews

Tarma is a shin'a'nin sword sworn. This means that she has dedicated her life to the goddess in hope of saving her clan, which was all but wiped out years before. Kethry is a noble born sorceress who, after fleeing a forced marriage, has become a blood sister to Tarma and is intent on helping her bring her clan to life again. Unfortunately this is easier said then done. Traveling as freelance mercenaries, Tarma and Kethry move from town to town in hope of work to help them make money. But when they find work it is far from simple. And when they can't find work trouble still seems to find them. Kethry carries the magical sword Need, that is made for a woman only to fight with and will never harm a woman. And when Need feels a woman in trouble it immediately rushed off to save her, dragging Kethry and her blood sister around behind them. What kind of adventures will they face?

Having already read seven other Valdemar books, I was very excited to pick this one up. Like many of Mercedes Lackey's other earlier books, it's filled with a real energy that just makes Tarma and Kethry's adventures just thrilling. The characters of Tarma and Kethry are strong and exciting. You can tell that they really have a strong bond with each other. I can't wait to read the other Vows and Honors book and the short story collection that goes along with it. The only problem I had with it has to do with the fact that although this is the fist Tarma and Kethry book, it starts very much int he middle of their story. The first Tarma and Kethry story is a short story in a separate anthology, one that I haven't read. Although Mercedes Lackey does a good job of explaining what happened in the past I would have liked it a lot more if I had actually got to read the story that happened before hand. It really sounds interesting. But beyond that I really liked this story and I know that any fans of Valdemar will love it too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could give this book more stars!!!, August 29, 2001

By	Loyalfoleyfan "blonderoo" (Saskatoon, Canada) - See all my reviews

I really, really enjoyed this book. The story is of two oathbound sisters, a Shin'a'in swordmaster and a White Winds sorceress, who face trials and tribulations while attempting to rebuild their clan.
I liked that Tarma and Kethry did not mesh together perfectly. After all, they had been together only a short time. It would have been ridiculous to portray them as best buds, when they really didn't know that each other that well. There are moments when the two women are awkward around each other, which you don't see in the later books, Oathbreakers and Oathblood.
Anyways, this is an extremely enjoyable book. I only wish I could give it more stars!