First Vow: Ours is the Burden

Janissary #1

by M.H. Foster

WHEN MAGIC FEEDS ON BLOOD, WHO BEARS THE COST?

Human Janissaries serve as living power sources for their elven masters in the war against the orcs.

First Vow by MH Foster, the opening book of the Janissary Series, tells a powerful story of loyalty, sacrifice, and the unbreakable determination of young warriors forced to grow up too soon.

From his sickly childhood to his first command, Mallory carries a secret that makes him both indispensable and dangerous—one that could shatter the Compact between humans and elves and alter the course of the war itself.

As battles rage and loyalties are tested, Mallory must conceal what sets him apart, or embrace it to protect those he loves.

First Vow is a coming-of-age epic where magic is both gift and chain, and survival demands sacrifice, courage, and the will to question who truly holds power. For readers who crave epic fantasy filled with heart, steel, and sacrifice, this is the beginning of an unforgettable saga.

Witness the birth of a legend. Question who truly holds power.

Genres: Fantasy

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2025

About the author

I write cozy fantasy fiction and other types of short stories and novels.

For those of you who have read my books, please visit my patreon page for regular updates and short stories from the worlds of A Gentle Apocalypse and Janissary.

https://www.patreon.com/mhfoster

Reviews

[Krista B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm disappointed, because I loved the two Demon Overlord books I've gotten to read so far (and have the third on pre-order!).

This book definitely reads far more flat to me. The characters are are mostly one-dimensional and the prose quality just kind of feels like moving people here and there. The world doesn't feel as believable, perhaps because it is built on so much a grander scale than the little village from the Demon Overlord.

The main character, Mallory, undergoes such rapid promotion that it is frankly comical to imagine a boy in his late teens suddenly being thrust into such positions of power. He is also the Chosen One, a trope I tend to dislike in fantasy universes.

I didn't feel particularly emotionally attached to any of these people, and I skimmed a great deal.

Alas! I continue to anxiously await Demon Overlord #3 and I will attempt to conveniently forget this book and its sequel which I DNF.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of disappointing

Its well written. No complaints about spelling or other errors. I just didn't really like it that much. The characters are all one dimensional and at no point did I care who lived or died. The entire story was very lackluster. Every little event came across as overly dramatic and almost every military tactic or action felt half baked. If you are an eternal race that has centuries of experience how can your tactics and anticipation be so poor? I also could never get over the MC having a woman's name or how little of a role elves or magic play in the story.

[Rod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disappointing, compared to the author’s first two books released in the Gentle Apocalypse series. I had very high hopes based on the latter. But alas, First Vow had none of the charm. Rather, it felt like a bland young adult novel or the main character rose to prominence without really earning it. Mostly by being in the right place at the right time. At least none of the characters were as offputting as most young adult type books like this. But nobody was particularly engaging. And the mysterious hints at tension between the elves and potential for human magic was clumsy at best. I will not be reading the second book in this series.

[Liz K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating series!

This series has everything you’d expect in a 5-star rating- truly interesting plot, characters with depth and personality, and a writing skill that brings everything alive.

[Griff · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect plane read. Obsessed with this entire universe.