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The Rose Shield #2
Oathbreakers' Guild
Catling, an aspirant of the Influencers’ Guild, learns to wield the power of the garden carved into her skin. Friends are fewer than enemies, and those who wished her dead now plot her failure. Sworn to the young queen, she enters the world of Elan-Sia where the powerful maneuver for control of the throne. Amidst rising unrest in the south and increasing pressure from the seafaring Cull Tarr, the high wards of the tiers plot rebellion. Gannon stirs the warrens, and Whitt marches with the warriors of Guardian. Propelled by revenge, Catling journeys to Mur-Vallis. Her mission—to assassinate the man who stole her past, a task that will define her future.
- GenresFantasy
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2017
23 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
D. Wallace Peach
24 books176 followersI didn’t care for reading as a child – I preferred Bonanza and Beverly Hillbillies reruns, Saturday morning cartoons and the Ed Sullivan show. Then one day, I opened a book titled The Hobbit.
Tolkien … literally changed my life.
I love to write. It’s a luxury I never expected I’d have time for – life got in the way. You know how that goes – kids, work, chores… sleep. I worked for 18 years in business where amassing coin was the all-consuming objective. It required huge amounts of time and mental energy. And for me personally, it was soul-slaying.
Then on September 11, 2001 two planes flew into the World Trade Center. I was working in Connecticut, about 2 hours from ground zero, and remember sitting in a conference room, watching the second tower fall.
That tragedy initiated a process of redefinition for me, an evaluation of what was vital and important. Life felt short and precarious, and I started to wonder if it was time to do something that actually mattered. I began to write.
Tolkien … literally changed my life.
I love to write. It’s a luxury I never expected I’d have time for – life got in the way. You know how that goes – kids, work, chores… sleep. I worked for 18 years in business where amassing coin was the all-consuming objective. It required huge amounts of time and mental energy. And for me personally, it was soul-slaying.
Then on September 11, 2001 two planes flew into the World Trade Center. I was working in Connecticut, about 2 hours from ground zero, and remember sitting in a conference room, watching the second tower fall.
That tragedy initiated a process of redefinition for me, an evaluation of what was vital and important. Life felt short and precarious, and I started to wonder if it was time to do something that actually mattered. I began to write.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 19, 2018
The Oathbreakers' Guild begins with the doyen examination of Catling, a new aspirant of the Influencers’ Guild, a secretive, closed society within Ellegean, who control the people of the tiers by flexing their power to manipulate emotions. Catling has an additional energy, the rose birthmark encircling her eye which also gives her the power to sever the influence that controls the people of the kingdom.
Now in her late teens, Catling wields this mysterious ability to invoke emotions between pleasure and pain, and life between healing and death. She remains a pawn in the hands of the Guild, told what to do at every step. As far as she can tell, she will never escape her destiny.
Her mentor, Vianne, sees a path of protection for Caitling where she can serve the young queen, Lelaine and shield her from the influence of the High Wardens. War is brewing and Caitling and her skills will be more in demand than ever before.
The characters from the first book return in this novel. As Caitling and Kaden's skills grow they become more powerful, which creates another set of issues for the Guild. Whitt finds himself a soldier, still yearning for Caitling. Gannon reappears and becomes an asset to the Queen and Ellegeance. The lives of these characters continue to intertwine and intersect in the most magical ways.
There are numerous themes that thread their way through the novel. The use of the influence, like all magic, has consequences which Catling pushes to extreme limits as she breaks her oath to the Guild that controls her life. Revenge forces her to react which results in circumstances that will change her life forever.
D. Wallace Peach has once again created a magical world that will enchant the reader. Her writing and descriptions are rich with the pureness of her imagination. Epic fantasy fans will rejoice in the impeccable world building filled with rich characters who deliver a few surprises of their own.
I can't rave enough about this tetralogy. You will have to experience the magic yourself. It is fast becoming one of my all-time favorite book series. I dream about Ellegeance and these characters who have found their way into my heart. <3
MY RATING:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 Fairies
*I follow the Amazon Rating System*
Now in her late teens, Catling wields this mysterious ability to invoke emotions between pleasure and pain, and life between healing and death. She remains a pawn in the hands of the Guild, told what to do at every step. As far as she can tell, she will never escape her destiny.
Her mentor, Vianne, sees a path of protection for Caitling where she can serve the young queen, Lelaine and shield her from the influence of the High Wardens. War is brewing and Caitling and her skills will be more in demand than ever before.
The characters from the first book return in this novel. As Caitling and Kaden's skills grow they become more powerful, which creates another set of issues for the Guild. Whitt finds himself a soldier, still yearning for Caitling. Gannon reappears and becomes an asset to the Queen and Ellegeance. The lives of these characters continue to intertwine and intersect in the most magical ways.
There are numerous themes that thread their way through the novel. The use of the influence, like all magic, has consequences which Catling pushes to extreme limits as she breaks her oath to the Guild that controls her life. Revenge forces her to react which results in circumstances that will change her life forever.
D. Wallace Peach has once again created a magical world that will enchant the reader. Her writing and descriptions are rich with the pureness of her imagination. Epic fantasy fans will rejoice in the impeccable world building filled with rich characters who deliver a few surprises of their own.
I can't rave enough about this tetralogy. You will have to experience the magic yourself. It is fast becoming one of my all-time favorite book series. I dream about Ellegeance and these characters who have found their way into my heart. <3
MY RATING:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 Fairies
*I follow the Amazon Rating System*
August 9, 2022
In the second book of The Rose Shield series, Catling is the queen’s not-so-secret weapon in the battle to save Ellegeance against rebellion from all sides. War is imminent, and the young queen, though level-headed, is not experienced enough to quell the unrest exacerbated by the high wards of the tiers who have an agenda of their own and the power of influencers to make it happen.
When Catling is given the opportunity to exact revenge against the man who had her family murdered, she takes it only to have it backfire in a way she never could have expected.
Like book one, Oathbreakers’ Guild is filled with complex, unforgettable characters, and a fantastical setting that comes alive with the author’s talent for rich descriptions and lyrical writing. I can’t wait to start book three!
When Catling is given the opportunity to exact revenge against the man who had her family murdered, she takes it only to have it backfire in a way she never could have expected.
Like book one, Oathbreakers’ Guild is filled with complex, unforgettable characters, and a fantastical setting that comes alive with the author’s talent for rich descriptions and lyrical writing. I can’t wait to start book three!
July 26, 2017
This is book two in Ms. Peach’s Oathbreakers' Guild cover Rose Shield quartet, and it begins with Catling, the apprenticeship influencer, one who affects how others around her feel–she can literally broadcast either love or pain onto them. But Catling has an ability every other influencer lacks–she can also provide a shield to protect others from the broadcast emotions of other influencers. It is this ability that brings her to the attention of the young queen–the new monarch wants Catling to keep her royal decisions free of outside influences.
This book has everything fans of epic fantasy look for–a three dimensional alternate setting with flawless world building, characters who act in line with their stated motivations, conflicted loyalties, battle scenes, and dramatic acts of derring do.
One of the best things about reading a D. Wallace Peach book is the author’s use of evocative language. Here is one sentence I loved: “Between two hummocks, fallen leaves littered a channel’s surface, an umber carpet suspended on swirling light.”
This book has everything fans of epic fantasy look for–a three dimensional alternate setting with flawless world building, characters who act in line with their stated motivations, conflicted loyalties, battle scenes, and dramatic acts of derring do.
One of the best things about reading a D. Wallace Peach book is the author’s use of evocative language. Here is one sentence I loved: “Between two hummocks, fallen leaves littered a channel’s surface, an umber carpet suspended on swirling light.”
June 3, 2017
The second novel in the Rose Shield series spans through Caitling's late teens. She finishes her apprenticeship at the Influencers' guild and learns new ways to use her power. She serves the young queen as a shield but has also acquired some knowledge of influencing. The Realm is in trouble as as the High Wardens plot to overthrow and divide the realm for their own gain. A major twist in the story will change Caitling's life forever.
The writing of D. Wallace Peach is fabulous. This novel seemed to me more action driven then character driven. If you like big battle scenes, especially in the later part, this book will not disappoint. With anticipation I will pick up the next book in the series. I'm curious how Caitling will escape the path that was chosen for her and what will make her break her oath to the queen and the Influencers' guild.
The writing of D. Wallace Peach is fabulous. This novel seemed to me more action driven then character driven. If you like big battle scenes, especially in the later part, this book will not disappoint. With anticipation I will pick up the next book in the series. I'm curious how Caitling will escape the path that was chosen for her and what will make her break her oath to the queen and the Influencers' guild.
May 22, 2019
"Oathbreaker's Guild" is a continuation of D. Wallace Peach's luminescent and magical world of powerful Influencers, downtrodden peasants of The Warrens, and a cast of enigmatic characters led by now-young-woman, Catling. "Oathbreaker's" picks up the story where "Catling's Bane" left off and follows Catling and a number of key characters as they maneuver through a land of intrigue and tension as war threatens on the horizon. I will not give away any spoilers here except to say Peach pulls no punches in this second installment, and often leaves her characters reeling in dangerous or fraught situations. "Oathbreaker's" is an enthralling read, and wonderful continuation of this series. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the third part!
April 5, 2018
Highly recommend this one! I hardly thought it possible, but book II is even more engaging than book I of this excellent series. The vivid yet succinct details immerse you in this rich and unique fantasy world. The complex yet relatable political plot is gripping. I didn't want to put it down. But the best part of book II is you come to know the already fascinating characters in a deeper way that evokes real feelings. I care about Catling and all of the characters she meets. Whether I love them or detest them, I feel them and have a heartfelt stake in their journeys. I immediately bought book III. Great series that could become a classic!
September 20, 2017
Can't put it down. Excellent writing and outstanding character development.
October 23, 2018
Doesn’t disappoint!
Many twists and turns that kept the story humming along. I particularly enjoyed delving into the characters and their relationships, past and present.
Many twists and turns that kept the story humming along. I particularly enjoyed delving into the characters and their relationships, past and present.
March 22, 2021
I find this book extremely hard to rate. On one hand the writing is solid, it has a wide vocabulary, well formed sentences and feels seriously worked on. On other hand, this book was as interesting as watching an extremely slow match of chess without knowing what chess is and any rules to the game. With book one I accepted the slow introduction to characters, lengthy descriptions and slow placements of figures on board. I felt it was valid intro. Unfortunately in this book, the pace did not pick up at all. Towards the end of the book, I started to wonder why I felt nothing for atrocities of antagonists. It took me a while to realise that it is because the whole book is incredibly monotone. There are no ups and downs, no positives to brake up the overall depressing atmosphere, no romance or sweeter emotions to endear the characters to readers, so ,when something bad happens to those characters, reader doesn't care. The whole book just drones on and on at the same pace, at the same tone and volume. Even climax was anticlimactic. I had to fight against skipping over and at the end i regretted that i didn't.
So here you go . Book that is of exceptional quality, yet as interesting as a lengthy dry recount of history with way too mutch unnecessary information. I don't know, if i can recommend it.
So here you go . Book that is of exceptional quality, yet as interesting as a lengthy dry recount of history with way too mutch unnecessary information. I don't know, if i can recommend it.
October 12, 2020
The prose and characters remain good, but the story tries to cover so much over so long a time that it's constantly taking scene, location and time leaps whic prevents the character, and so the readers, from trully investing in any of the various plot points. Instead of really living the narrative, we jump through moments of it , moments more often than not immediately continguous with each other. A good example of this is how Catling experiences a traumatic event and her recovery from it is entirely glossed over.
to the author's credit, the character prose and overching narrative are strong enough that the scenes are entertaining in of themselves.
to the author's credit, the character prose and overching narrative are strong enough that the scenes are entertaining in of themselves.
October 3, 2021
The world building being done already, getting into the book was easier than with the first one. The main characters were already set and it was a pleasure to meet them again (well, less so for the mean ones!), see them evolve.
Again, I loved the explorations of the spiritual worlds, the metaphorical inferences from the world building, the treatment of 'otherness', racism, etc. A deeply 'political' book, in the etymological sense of the word, from the city, hidden within a fiction escapade. I love books that make me think without showing me a black and a white answer, and Diana Peach's Rose Shield series does just that.
Again, I loved the explorations of the spiritual worlds, the metaphorical inferences from the world building, the treatment of 'otherness', racism, etc. A deeply 'political' book, in the etymological sense of the word, from the city, hidden within a fiction escapade. I love books that make me think without showing me a black and a white answer, and Diana Peach's Rose Shield series does just that.
July 19, 2022
Caught up in political intrigue and danger, Catling now serves the queen. She’s made deadly enemies but offset them with two close friends. Things go horribly awry when she goes after the man who destroyed her family and is threatening the throne.
This is the second book of the series and like all other D. Wallace Peach stories, it is filled with fantasy, exciting worlds, complex characters and an ending that leaves the reader wanting more. I look forward to book three.
This is the second book of the series and like all other D. Wallace Peach stories, it is filled with fantasy, exciting worlds, complex characters and an ending that leaves the reader wanting more. I look forward to book three.
September 5, 2022
Overall a great read. There were a few areas in there that made me question things about the story but I am still curious. On to book 3
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews