The Watchman's Oath

by S.A. Grove

Elizabeth longs to be someone else. When she is at last allowed to accompany her brother on one of his adventures, she realizes exactly who that ‘someone else’ is. However, the idyllic escape doesn’t last long, and she finds herself back in the life of an elven princess she knows is bound for anonymity. Having tasted who she could be, Elizabeth grows restless.

Meanwhile, the old sorcerer Julian plans a second cataclysm for the land of Maura. He just needs to get inside the Garden of the Bel’lator, a small gate into an infinite, magical world. Once there, he will throw open a gate to the hellscape of Sha’ol and Maura will bow to him... or burn.

But he needs a way in. Perhaps this Elizabeth could be of some use, if she could be turned.

Thus begins the battle for the soul of Elizabeth Bel’lator—a battle whose outcome she alone can decide.

365 pages, Paperback

Published August 12, 2019

Reviews

[Nathan Billington · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his second installment, SA Grove throws us into a dynamic tale of a Princess thrown into the clutches of an evil sorcerer, determined to warp her into something she’s not. This book is a test of identity and wills, as its characters are confronted by who they chose to be, how they’ve been changed by the world around them, as the world lumbers on in the face of evil. Who are we? What is our purpose? Is it enough to just seek happiness? Are we all just suckers, helpless to the changing tides, fodder to the powerful? In this tale, Grove gives us his answer: a defiant ‘NO.’ Although we are so much worse off than we realize, we are Loved so much more than know. And that Love makes us able to stand tall, fully known, warts, scars, and all. So stand.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. The first several chapters were full of suspense and intrigue, but then the book fell flat after that. Maybe I missed something, but the story felt like it dredged on and the author didn’t really have a clear plan of where the characters were going.