Oath of the Chosen

by Nicole Holleman

Magic is murder.

In the brutal kingdom of Averyth, where outlawed magic is passed through murder, the Chosen are trained from childhood to make sure it ends that way.

Auri is the best of them. An elite torturer with a flawless record, raised to hunt outlawed magic with blades and blood. Loyal. Lethal. Unquestioning.

Until Auri is thrust into a competition to crown the first Royal Chosen, and she realizes that winning could expose the secret she’s risked everything to keep hidden: Auri has magic of her own.

As the trials unfold, it becomes clear that Auri’s loyalty is what’s really being tested.

Then everything breaks. The competition is violently interrupted by a coordinated attack—one that fractures the illusion of control Averyth has relied on for generations.

In the chaos, Auri is forced to flee with the last person she should trust: a former Assignment she was trained to break. A man bound to her past, armed with dangerous truths and a dangerously disarming charm that’s becoming harder to resist.

Hunted by the very system she upheld, Auri must unravel betrayals, buried histories, and a prophecy whispered in the shadows.

Because some destinies don’t come quietly.

Some destinies scream.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Dark Romance, Fiction, Fantasy Romance, Dark

480 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 11, 2027

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a pre-publication version of this book by Nicole, and let me tell everyone you are in for such a wild ride! To be transparent, Nicole is a long time friend of mine, and she is the one who got me into Romantasy genre. So some may say I am biased. However, trust me when I tell you that I have picky taste in characters, story and most of all I LOVE a bit of gore and a “spooky” vibe. That being said, good god this book is AMAZING! I literally cannot wait to hear everyone’s thoughts. The mystery, the tension, the unique characters, the storyline! Nicole Holleman is now one of my favorite authors, which is wild to say since we had braces together, but I truly am so excited for the world to have this!

[Ashley Vitale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Edelweiss for the eARC of Oath of the Chosen and a HUGE thank you to Nicole for writing an absolute masterpiece.

This book will not be for everyone so PLEASE read the trigger warnings beforehand. This book takes place in a torture keep and in turn has very, VERY dark themes.

With that being said, this book was phenomenal from start to finish. The main character, Aurium, was so beautifully written and I really enjoyed the representation of having anxiety written into her character.

Also, the MMC in this book??? I can tell I'm going to LOVE him. His banter is top notch book boyfriend material. I can't wait to get more of him in book 2.

Lastly, that ending... that is some Rebecca Yarros type of cliffhanger. Maybe even worse (in the best way possible). I'm still trying to make sense of what that last line was. Diabolical is what it is 😂

I think it's safe to say I will be eagerly awaiting book 2, whenever that will be (absolutely no rush of course) and I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who loves high fantasy with very dark themes!

[Momo · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I owe this author an apology. To be fair, I didn't go in with low expectations as much as no expectations. I knew nothing about the author and I looked them up after reading an excellent first chapter because I wanted to see what else they had written, I was surprised to find this was a debut novel from someone who ran a podcast. I admittedly assumed it was going to be rather generic fantasy with some dark fantasy elements thrown in for flavor and likely a fast-burn relationship (I'm the type who loves when it takes MULTIPLE books to get a couple together. Sorry, not sorry).

I'm so glad I had such an open mind because I was not expecting what I got. I loved this book so much that I actually go through the first chapter in depth here and analyze why it works so well. If you're not interested in that, you can stop at my username . I was initially intrigued by the whole "magic is passed by murder" premise. My immediate assumption was that this would turn out to be an elaborate falsehood perpetuated by those in power to justify their oppression/persecution of magic users. I was fully expecting the usual revelation that the system is built on a lie, but - *not really a spoiler since it is confirmed early on but marking in case* no, it really can be passed through murder.

And I LOVED that.

Absolutely fantastic way to actually add shades of grey and set up the world. Instead of giving us a conveniently fabricated justification for oppression, Nicole establishes a world in which the perceived danger has a genuine foundation. Regardless of whether the persecution is justified, it does make the ethical questions considerably more interesting. How does a society regulate something that genuinely creates an incentive to kill? What happens when what makes someone powerful also makes them a target? How do fear, religion, political authority, and cultural norms develop around that reality? Does it distinguish between an accident or purposeful murder? Where does self-defense fit in? How direct does the murder have to be?

I ADORE fantasy that actually really leans into and considers the social implications of its magic system. Here, the rules have consequences for how people perceive one another, how institutions justify their existence, and how violence is actually embedded in the culture and how creates this moral ambiguity without requiring every character to be secretly evil. Nicole clearly thought through the implications of her world rather than simply establishing rules whenever the plot required them. The way people react to the FMC, the casual observations that initially seem insignificant but become important later (the MMC's skin), and the contrast between life inside and outside the Keep make this world that feels lived in.

And this brings me to the other thing that drew me into it. Our female main character, Auri, is a torturer. Not someone who merely has a dark past, or a supposedly ruthless heroine whose worst actions conveniently happen off-page, but an active participant in this system. And the MMC (I don't want to reveal who it is even though it becomes obvious soon enough) is a previous victim. I LOVE when the MMC begins in a position of lesser power because it creates a completely different kind of tension, and this particular reversal of the usual romantic power dynamics was fascinating. And this could have been poorly done, but what makes it work so well is that our MMC never feels powerless as a character, even when he’s physically at someone else’s mercy. He retains his wit, confidence, and ability to challenge the FMC, often unsettling her far more effectively with a few well-placed comments than he ever could through physical intimidation. Nicole doesn’t need to make him physically dominant to give him a commanding presence, which is SUCH a relief. And speaking of him, I genuinely think writing convincing banter is one of the hardest things to pull off in fiction. It’s easy to write a character who’s supposed to be charming, but considerably harder to make readers actually find him charming or even cliche. Nicole absolutely succeeded here. He made me laugh out loud, and I adored him.His humor feels natural rather than manufactured for the sake of a witty exchange, and I loved how he could be ridiculous one moment and unexpectedly perceptive or tender the next.

Back to Auri, I absolutely loved her. She’s complex, stubborn, and deeply conditioned by the institution that raised her, but what I appreciated most was how much of her characterization was shown rather than told. Her upbringing has fundamentally altered how she perceives the world, and some of the most effective moments are surprisingly mundane. When she leaves the Keep, for instance, she’s overwhelmed by the richness of the forest’s colors, something most people wouldn’t think twice about. She’s astonished by ordinary civilians simply going about their lives, smiling, laughing, and existing without constant fear. Even something as simple as being in a crowd, accepting help, or experiencing ordinary comforts becomes complicated because she’s spent her entire life interpreting vulnerability as danger (or a professional failure) or being apart. Those details were genuinely some of my favorite parts of the book. Nicole clearly put an enormous amount of thought into how someone raised in that environment would actually behave, not just during moments of crisis but in everyday situations. I particularly appreciated how the narrative allows ordinary experiences to carry as much significance as dramatic revelations. Watching her encounter civilian life reveals the psychological consequences of her upbringing in ways more effectively than explicitly describing her trauma. There’s a fascinating tension between who she has been trained to be and who she might become when she is no longer defined by her role within the Chosen. I REALLY appreciated that the FMC’s development isn’t simply about becoming softer or fallING in love. It’s about beginning to question an entire moral framework and who she planned to be.

Nicole doesn’t make Audi’s morality easy digestible. She’s simultaneously a victim of an abusive institution and someone who has actively perpetuated and even flourished in its violence. It's one thing to survive a system, another to excel in it. I love when a story allows those two truths to coexist rather than using trauma as an automatic absolution- her conditioning makes her understandable, but it doesn’t make her innocent. The institution reminds me of an abusive home, where you can love it and hate it at the same time. The side characters are also excellently fleshed out, I won't spend as much time on them because of word limits but they enhanced rather than detracted (love some bi rep and sapphic action). My one reservation was the FMC’s relationship with her Asp. I understood intellectually why she mattered but I wish we had been given more of a chance to get attached (flashback, even) especially with their distant interactions.

And then there’s the romance. THE YEARNING.
I absolutely loved how slowly Nicole builds the relationship through tiny, almost microscopic moments of affection. The knuckle kisses, the flexing of his hand, the little gestures and fleeting interactions that carry so much more emotional weight than grand declarations ever could. I was practically collecting these moments like evidence in an investigation.

I especially appreciated that their relationship wasn’t insta-love, given how they meet and the enormous power imbalance between them. I love how since we know trust is foreign to her, it makes sense this is slow (please keep it slow). There’s also something particularly lovely about how the meaning of physical touch evolves throughout the story. In the Keep, hands are associated with restraints, weapons, control, and inflicting pain. As their relationship develops, his hands to her (she notices them) become sources of tenderness, reassurance, and connection. An offered hand or a kiss to the knuckles takes on an entirely different significance when you consider what physical contact has represented throughout her life.

And I genuinely understood why she would be drawn to MMC. He’s not simply a romantic interest who exists to soften a hardened heroine. His presence challenges her understanding of relationships, and through their interactions we discover facets of her personality that might otherwise have remained buried. He offers a kind of connection she’s never really been allowed to experience, and in many ways, he becomes part of her healing. Not because he magically fixes her trauma, but because he gives her opportunities to experience trust, affection, and vulnerability without the expectations imposed by the Chosen.

I also liked that their dynamic isn’t entirely straightforward. His humor and teasing can challenge her boundaries, and her reactions aren’t always rational or proportionate to the situation. But that makes sense given her background. She’s learning how to interact with someone outside a hierarchy built around control and obedience, and those interactions are understandably messy.

I do hope the following books continue exploring the MMC's experiences and emotional needs independently of the FMC’s development, though. He’s such an engaging character in his own right, and given the circumstances of their relationship, I’m particularly interested in how he processes his own vulnerability, captivity, and developing trust. There’s a lot of fascinating territory to explore there; I would love to see him receive the same psychological depth Auri gets.

And the mystery! I was constantly left with new questions, and I loved how seemingly throwaway comments could take on entirely different meanings later. There was always just enough information to keep me theorizing without feeling like everything was being handed to me. I particularly enjoy when an author trusts readers to notice details and make connections rather than immediately explaining the significance of everything. The ending genuinely caught me off guard, and now I’m slightly furious with myself for reading this so early because I have to wait an unreasonable amount of time for the sequel.

INSTAGRAM: belle_bibliotherapy

ANALYSIS:
Here are our opening lines.
"His blood splattered across the stone floor, painting my new boots in crimson.
Then he began screaming.
I arched a brow at him and married it with a methodic breath. It came off as bored, annoyed even, but as the extra oxygen slowed my heart rate, a tightness within me loosened.
Twin tears rolled down the fire wielder’s face, emphasizing the plea he’d been voicing between wails.
I clicked my tongue. “No, no. None of that.” I used the edge of my most precise dagger, as thin as a needle, to brush away the tears, and his eyes shot open with a gasp.
Good.”

Chat, are you seeing this? In a few sentences, Nicole subverts our expectations. Chapter 1 begins in media res as we are greeted with an interrogation room, rather than introducing the world, protagonist or even politician system. This isn't unusual, we often see main characters placed in this positions, whether it be as a rebel, prisoner, or other, usually to show us our FMC is defiant and introduce the world/conflict/values. But the clever thing here is the moral inversion- our main character is the torturer. In the first two sentences, we get this juxtaposition of a violent action and then Auri, the FMC, responds with irritation. Not anger, not horror- irritation. Already we're not just asking what's happening, but what kind of person this is.

Characterization : Nicole does a really good job with her details to establish characterization. For example, the detail of the boots being new is clever because it shows how she is more concerned about a material possession while there's literally a person suffering in front of her and shows us her apparent priorities without being explicitly stated. Usually when we are introduced to the MC, especially a FMC, we are shown sympathetic qualities first so we like the character before some of their complicated morality is introduced, but Nicole doesn't do that. Auri's narrative hints that either our character has grown up an environment, where violence is so normal she's been desensitized to it or she herself is indifferent to violence. I think it might have been more powerful if Nicole trusted the initial sort of contrast she set up and didn't reinforce Auri's indifference by by explicating starting her physical and mental state. This chapter establish one of the strongest elements for me of the book- Auri's psychological complexity. She's not really being presented as someone who enjoys cruelty as much as someone who is really good at performing it. The fact that she feels her heart "twinge" when the prisoner whimpers and then tries to distract herself by focusing on physical sensations, shows that there is a division between her conditioned "professional" (for lack of a better word) self and her emotional self she hasn't managed to completely extinguish. Showing that there isn't an absence of empathy as much as a suppression of it actually does a really good job of setting up her later actions in the book.
Not to mention the compelling internal conflict where she is both the instrument of oppression but also someone in oppressive circumstances.

As I mentioned, Nicole does a great job of details. The mention of the moisturized hands suggest that either Auri is not some impoverished desperate person, but someone who either has the luxury of time and the resources to perform self-care. The silver knuckles are described as being scratched, which not only implies that this isn't new occurrence, but also that they are used so often there's no point in replacing/polish them or possibly, that our narrator doesn't care about them or really see them as part of her (aka, they are detached). Yet she repeatedly touches them to ground herself, which is interesting because they are the item she uses to inflict distress but also manage her own. Auri is shown to be observant and when she notices a weakness, she thinks about immediately exploiting it.That being said, I do think that it would have been more powerful if the narrative did not immediately explain the psychological meaning of a gesture after Auri does it and some things (masking, etc) were less explicit. In my opinion, her empathy being clear too early on removes some of the fun because I think it would've been really interesting if we were left more uncertain about her moral character and if her distress originates from compassion, trauma, or even just like losing control. Especially when the prisoner's crimes are revealed, because it gives us an easy route towards reader sympathy for the protagonist. Nicole could simply have a different aim in mind, either whether it is to make us question if the punishment fits the crime or if the belief she is pushing evil is part of the ideology that sustains the Chosen, but on a personal note, I think it might have been more interesting to keep up the moral ambiguity established at the start and force reader to confront a genuinely ethical dilemma- or at least reveal the crimes later so we aren't encouraged to immediately excuse her actions.

Worldbuilding: Nicole effectively sprinkles subtle world building, such as when Auri playfully addresses the stone statue. She also introduces the institution Auri is in through memories, which show us how it is not only embedded in everyday experience but also for long how it has been, how pervasive it is, and even how things the reader would see as abusive are normal to her. A minor note is that I do think the chapter could have been more selective about how and where it introduced things, such as when she thinks about her vocal training, it interrupts a tense sense and the transition from torture to training feels like it is clearly designed to give us information rather than arising naturally from her thoughts. She does a better job in giving us and establishing the social and cultural environment. Not only does Auri think about mundane worries like raisin in stew, but she thinks about her friends laughing over food, the pranks they play on each other and even her closeness with a friend when she thinks about going into Kai's room to get shoe polish (notice the focus on presentation here again). She's not some lone antisocial person or a monster, but someone who is capable of extreme violence but also friendship, humor, and mundane routines. I think it especially works that these interactions show the humanity in her but Auri thinks "there was no room for humanity within these stone walls". I will note that with Nicole's excellent focus on details, I expected the repeated mentions of dinner to imply her to be some starving child picked up off the streets with her focus on food, not someone taken from a loving family though.

Magic System: Like I said, flat out, the idea that magic can be obtained through murder is an excellent premise. It immediately links magic with corruption, it is not only a gift or inherited talent but one that can be acquired through violence and fascinating to explore- especially as we are shown it isn't pure propaganda like one expects but also raises the question of why/how this happens and why some are born with it. Especially of interest is that you would expect the Chosen to get the magic to become more powerful and use people's crimes as justification but they don't. (Spoiler for ending of chapter 1) -The fact that the Chosen can't legally kill their Assignments, yet they can inflict mortal injuries makes it really interesting as to what counts as direct death but also shows a legal system concerned with technical compliance rather than ethics. I think the chapter does well avoiding a giant exposition dump but there is still a lot of proper nouns to process while simultaneously processing the interrogation, Auri's psychological state, the magic system, and multiple institutions, which might scare off some readers.

The ending of the first chapter is excellent. We expect the prisoner to die but the reveal how the Chosen are limited totally changes the meaning of the violence we witnessed. This first chapter does a great job of raising questions and being intense but intensity is not the same time as suspense. Since our girl is always in complete control, it does limit the dramatic tension but does a great job at establishing the power imbalance and introducing us. The framing as violence as a professional duty where she focuses on routine, efficiency and technical skill is make it more disturbing especially when we think in terms of proportionality and cruelty .

Prose: Nicole's prose is something I would describe as effective and highly sensory. I think the prose would benefit from greater confidence in its own subtext. Nicole's style, to me, is strongest when she uses it to reveal characterization hints or inner conflicts but I personally think the figurative language could be tweaked to be more impactful. These points keep it from 5 stars. Some elaborate comparisons are beautiful but not really effective (like describing interrogation as a dance). IMO figurative language is most effective when it clarifies or intensities an experience so when I have to stop to interpret the mechanics of a comparison, it can interrupt my immersion- describing a voice as "crystallized honey" is wonderfully evocative, but hard to actually imagine in terms of sound. I like the focus on sensory experiences but Auri repeatedly notices her hand, stomach, heartbeat, breathing, etc which can get repetitive- I think you can absolutely keep this pattern but make it more efficient by having each recurrence add a different dimension to Auri.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

WOW! What a debut novel! I went into the book expecting to enjoy it given my love and appreciation for Nicole the podcast host and person - but find that I don't need my biased opinion of the author to state with all certainty that this is an absolutely excellent start to what I am sure will be an excellent fantasy trilogy! I am going to attempt to keep this spoiler free and list some of the aspects I loved about Oath of the Chosen:

The world and the lore: the author has created not only a rich tapestry (get it?) of a world within Oath, but also has planted the seeds of curiosity to learn more about other continents, additional folklore, other religions, the way magic works etc. as the series continues, The magic system is unique and leaves us with many questions going forward. The setting and the role of leadership across Averyth will continue to come into question as time goes on. I particularly loved reading a tale told by one of the characters as folklore at one point in the book as it gave a lot of interesting political, economic, and magical explanations that often mirrored our own world. Nicole has also included beautiful and casual diverse representation throughout the book without it needing to be over explained in a way that works so well for the story and adds richness to the world.

Auri: our main character is textured, unique, and experiences issues that many of us deal with in our day to day lives: the pressure of expectations, anxiety and panic attacks, learning to prioritise oneself and deconstructing our absolute faith in the system. She is strong, confident, yet also deep down a soft and hurt soul who needs support and familiar love. She was an amazing POV to read from. I also loved that we really got to know her and her place in the Chosen Keep and how she views the world (and how that changes over time) before we got into her potential romance/tension with Tad.

The Chosen 4: Reigg, Laz, and Kai were such an interesting group to surround Auri as we got to know her, each serving a purpose for us to get to know Auri a little bit and learn to love (Kai, you are on thin ice) them all individually. I love Reigg so much!

Tad: I will think of Tad often - funny, yet soft and supportive where needed, willing to do what needs to be done, and yet also mysterious and we are just desperate throughout the back half of the book to know more about him. The scene in the inn will stay with me going forward, and Tad has potential to become one of the most fascinating characters going forwards, if you know you know!

The creatures: Drakes, wyverns, rabbits, horses (hi Bertha), all of them added to the world in such a positive way!

The darkness: I loved how the author did not shy away from some true darkness in this story, where it did not feel gratuitous but added to the atmosphere and plot. Notably one very dark moment shocked me in the second half of the book and I was impressed that the author kept that moment in as it added to Auri's character and trajectory in a strong way.

The presence of music: first of all, applause to Nicole for her lyrics in this book as it felt authentic and how a song would truly be written - and also I love how deeply music impacts Auri and how it will continue to do so moving forward!

If I had one small complaint, certain names/stories/vibes gave some twists/potential plots away but that may be a result of the literal hundreds of romantasy books I have read and I am sure the regular reader will be taken on an absolute journey throughout Oath.

Nicole should be so proud of herself with this story and I am both overjoyed to have gotten to ARC read this book and kicking myself for the extended wait for whatever book will come next! I can't wait to learn more about Tad, Auri, Graeve, Deirdrah, Druwigs, the list could go on and on!

[Kathleen Howlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Nicole, Del Rey and Netgalley for the gifted eArc. All opinions are my own.

I had very high expectations going into Oath of the Chosen and Nicole has hit it out of the park. If I could give this more than 5 stars I absolutely would. The characters, the lore, the world-building and the romance are all so well developed. Often you see one side of the storytelling come out as more prominent, but here they all sing a perfect symphony on the page. And this book isn't afraid to go DARK, but it doesn't do it in a superfluous way or just for shock value. Every foray into the darkness brings insight into the brutality of this world and helps us better understand our characters, especially Auri. Do make sure to check those trigger warnings before reading, Oath of the Chosen didn't come to play!

I'm absolutely in love with Auri as an FMC. I love her complexity so much I don't even want to dumb it down by using the standard tropes we apply to our MCs like "badass" and "morally grey" even if they absolutely fit. She is this perfect blending of light and dark, vulnerable but strong, and confident but self-doubting. The depiction of her anxiety and panic attacks is refreshing in its realism. Anyone who has ever suffered from either is likely to feel like they are being seen in Auri, and will hopefully use her character as a reminder to breathe. My baby boy Tad is like a little present I want to unwrap because he has secrets wrapped in mystery that's just begging to be unravelled. I like the glimpses we get into his true personality, and the teases of answers to at least some of our unknowns around him. The tension and banter between Auri and Tad is chef's kiss and that burn is definitely SLOW. I can't even call this enemies to lovers, it's more enemies to reluctant allies to (maybe) friends. This is how you do a slow burn and I just know the pay-off is going to be delicious. Spice lovers never fear, we do get some chilli peppers on page and boy does Nicole know how to write a spicy scene! MA'AM!

I was completely blown away by the world-building in Oath of the Chosen, for the self-described hopeless romantic Nicole hasn't been afraid to let her fantasy lore nerd flag fly. The lore is dense, and there is a lot of it, but it's woven so effortlessly into the prose it feels like the reader is naturally discovering something rather than going through a massive lore dump. There is also a thread of mystery surround Auri, Tad, and the magic itself that has me absolutely hooked and begging for more. I love all of the little easter eggs (like someone's name maybe?) and this world is a deep diver heaven. Too bad my favourite deep divers will need to sit this one out lest they give everything away! Speaking of my favourite deep divers, shout out to the dragons vs wyvern reference, this had me absolutely kicking my little feet in delight!

Oath of the Chosen is an absolutely fantastic debut and belongs on the TBR of any dark fantasy lover. My only regret in reading this arc is how very long I'll need to wait to dive back into this world. I can already tell this is going to be a wonderfully wild ride of a series.

[bookbrownie0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books pull you in from the very beginning, and Oaths of the Chosen was definitely one of those reads for me. What initially appears to be a story about ambition, trials and the desire to become one of the Royal Chosen gradually develops into something much darker, more complex and full of twists.
I absolutely loved the trials element of this story. Each one brings its own tension, challenges and psychological battles, keeping you invested and wondering what could possibly come next. The second trial in particular had me on the edge of my seat!
What I enjoyed most was watching Auri's perspective change throughout the story. She's determined to prove herself, earn her place among the Royal Chosen and remain faithful to everything she's been taught. But as the story unfolds, cracks begin to appear in everything she's ever believed. Her growing doubts, the treatment of those brought before the Keep and the realisation that the people she once admired may not be quite who she thought they were make for a fascinating character journey.
There's also a brilliant layer of mystery surrounding Auri's past, her magic and the people around her. Secrets, emotional manipulation, shifting loyalties and unanswered questions are woven throughout the story, making it almost impossible to know who to trust. I loved how the more I discovered, the more I questioned what I thought I understood.
The world building is another real highlight. The caste system, magical abilities, gem currency and the rules governing the Chosen all help create a fascinating world that feels both richly developed and unsettling. There's always something new to discover, and just when you think you're beginning to understand how everything works, another revelation turns things on their head.
I also really enjoyed the emotional depth of the story. Beneath all the magic, trials and darker elements, there's a strong thread of loneliness, belonging, guilt and the struggle between doing what is expected of you and questioning what you know to be right.
And that ending! I finished with so many questions and desperately wanting more. It's a proper cliffhanger that leaves you thinking about the characters and the story long after you've turned the final page.
A gripping, dark fantasy filled with tense trials, secrets, betrayal, moral conflict and characters whose loyalties are constantly tested. I loved Auri's journey and the way the story continually challenged my assumptions.

Five huge stars from me. I need the next book immediately!
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A huge thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Oaths of the Chosen by Nicole Holleman. I absolutely loved this book and feel very lucky to have been chosen to read and review it ahead of publication. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series! 🖤

[Deepinfiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest thoughts after receiving advanced copy from netgalley.
OOTC promised dark tension and grit, and it completely delivered.
This felt so new and fresh for the genre, not following a typical structure. I was gripped from the get.
We dive straight into a dark reality for our FMC, Auri, who is such a complex, rich character. I loved the depiction of her anxiety and following her thought process when navigating the relentless challenges thrown at her. You can literally feel the war between who she could have been and who she has been conditioned to become. This makes her POV feel raw, grounded, and immediately engaging. We love a morally grey FMC, it’s giving Aelin and I’m not remotely mad about it.
The pacing builds the intrigue beautifully and I love the magic system. I mean, gaining illegal magic through murder really adds to the dark atmosphere, and you can tell we’ve only scratched the surface of the world with so much left to explore in future books. This is definitely fantasy-forward, with the romance thread feeling secondary for now but clearly setting up a lot more to come.
The MMC brings golden retriever energy for the most part, yet he’s wrapped in so much mystery that you spend the book simultaneously swooning at his charm, and questioning his every move.
Some of my favourite moments were during classic trope-ish scenes (that people are going to LOVE), there’s a self-awareness that pokes a little fun and at times feels a bit tongue in cheek. I found myself giggling and tipping my metaphorical hat to Nicole several times.
This gave me everything I ever want to see, intense stakes, believable tension, intrigue, and an immediate need for the next book! That ending?! Urrgghhh.
I can already see how obsessed people are going to be with this. Thank you so much for allowing me to read OOTC, and congratulations on an incredible debut!

[Jess B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am FURIOUS at this book (in the way only a good cliffhanger can cause)

I need to know RIGHT NOW where this is going! I couldn't predict a single moment of this book. Even the classic tropes like only 1 bed in the inn were flipped and now I am bereft and frustrated at how long I will have to wait to know what happens next in Auri and 'Tad's' tale.

Auri is a refreshing take on the 'chosen one' character. Moody, conflicted and deeply insecure she feels more real and relatable than many other protagonists of the genre. Her and Tad create that kind of warm glow romance that makes you smile as you read... despite the fact neither of them are willing to admit it in the book yet (which is my biggest complaint- that and the pointlessness of her relationship with Kai which seemed purely to be a means for the reader to understand Auri better).

This book will make you very angry but I would definitely say you should read it.

[Angela P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Edelweiss, for the ARC Copy to Oath of the Chosen.

Nicole, girl, thank you for taking the leap to write this book and put yourself out there. Taking us along in the process. Take a bow.

Now, I will say this. This book is NOT for the faint of heart. OOTC is a dark fantasy with a super small amount of romance. There is gore, torture, genocide, and that's all on Chapter one. Take these as your TW's.

Aurium is a member of the Chosen. Top in her field. Her job? Eradicate magic users. Simple enough, right? Wrong! I'm not spoiling 💩. Read the book! You won't regret it.

And that ending?! How. Dare. You. Nicole.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 5/5
🌶/3

[Meredith Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic....Nicole....the end???? How could you do that to us??? Love unreliable narrators! The world is so interesting, can't wait go thru it again and see everything I know I missed! The magic system....whoa....but no spoilers....I have theories...

[Tori Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

UGH THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD OH MY GODDDD

I love this FMC, the MMC had me rolling on the floor laughing and I think they just loved f*cking with her.

I NEED MORE! I cannot wait for the next book, and you MUST read this!!!

[Ariele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole's worldbuilding is next level, and her creativity knows no bounds. Preorder smash!

[Huniyah]

Expected publication May 11