The Oath & Blood Price: Part One

by Peter-Shaun Tyrell

Secrets have always kept Thalkin alive but when an acquaintance introduces him to the mysterious sellsword, Edelia, he uncovers a secret that could win a war. He only has to choose the side he gives it to. The land of Duria is divided into two, the Borasian States of the Lord Procterates and Novu-Optu of the Godmen. Nestled in a border state is the town of Scor, where Thalkin is on the cusp of becoming a man yet does not know his path in life. Trust and friendship are distant concepts to Thalkin, but betrayal and resentment have always been close companions of this orphan. In the backdrop of an advancing city that has little time for a street urchin, Thalkin will have to use all of his guile and street smart to not only avoid watchful eyes but to achieve his destiny. What Readers Are ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'Captivating world-building from the off, as soon as you arrive in the story you feel that you're in a fully functioning, well constructed world that you could get lost in.'★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'I will most definitely be looking out for this author in the years to come, his career looks promising.'★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'I was drawn into the well-written narrative from the get-go & the plot moved at a perfect pace.'★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'Truly gripping, takes hold and becomes almost impossible to put down.'★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'Right from the beginning, Thalkin is one of those characters you want to see rise up and overtake his enemies.'★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'The characters are both personable and imperfect, making them feel very human as opposed to just caricatures of people on the page.'★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'I now can not wait for part two of this epic adventure! Thank you Peter-Shaun Tyrell for an amazing adventure! '★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'This was such a good read. The character of Thalkin is so well rounded and realistic. I felt a real empathy for him, his background and the way he is treated. The book definitely leaves you wanting more!'★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'Really enjoyed this book, I could not put it down once I started reading. Not a genre I would normally read but would definitely recommend it. Looking forward to Part 2 now!!'

Genres: Fantasy

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2021

Reviews

[Bt Bay]

What an amazing read! A perfect opener to a fantasy saga. Full of intrigue and wonder. Thalkin is the perfect protagonist in a wonderfully crafted story. Cant wait for next book!!

[K. Thomas]

Any story that starts with bullies getting walloped is likely to get a few positive responses from me. The plot is fun and engaging and the author does a good job creating characters (human and otherwise). I'm not a big fantasy world builder fan, but this didn't have an overwhelming amount of detail for me. It was the right balance of information to move the plot and I found myself very invested in character's journey (though it crushed me a little).

[Matthew]

This was a hell of a ride from the first page to the last, and I was along for the growing boy of Thalkin from beginning to end. I got lost in the story more than one and felt like I was right there with the characters. Glad I already have book two so I don't have to wait for MORE!

[Daniel]

An old school throw back to epic fantasy. It combines interesting monsters, with a brilliant coming of age story, and groundwork to a supremely interesting universe. Cannot wait for book 2.

[A Johnson]

Secrets and war on the horizon. Bullies and an orphan trying to survive and find his way. This was a good start to an epic fantasy adventure.

[B.A. Ellison]

This compact read of several 40 minute sessions brought interesting innovation into a new fantasy series with a narrative which seems like the anti-Earthsea cross a tale from Minas Tirith through the viewpoint of a typical reluctant male-hero orphan of shrouded linage. However, some developmental areas and others that were under-capitalized upon limited its potential to be a 5-star review for me significantly. The lack of an ultimate x-factor playing out over the course of the read is one. Character development for Thalkin and the city of Scor is wrought over each page with a solid foundation for the process, but during the final mission he doesn't really use any of the skills he spent so much of the book's length learning with Elidia.

Thalkin is a troubled orphan with noble foster-parents with the streets of the inner-city flowing through him, and can pick up on subtle personality traits revealing themselves in secrets that he can manipulate into bettering the future for himself. Selling secrets. I thought this and the 'swordplay' were two of the strongest and most refreshing divergences from other series that I have read recently, but its thin spine prevents any particular shocking twists at the end, and props up (or pushes down on) side characters that don't deserve the promotion in order to deliver a rivalry fight and sinister death at the end—which was preventable yet played out anyways, because of Thalkin's sudden bouts of plot-convenience hesitation.

The actions from rivals Thalkin has his most strident relationships are conniving and arrogant as the wretched souls they come from. On a minor note of names, the town lord with the big title and all of the plot-clout centered around him has a name that sounds and spells just a little bit too much like Tom Bombadil for my liking—upon 10 minutes of reflecting upon the similarities. The continent that the series takes place on has solid naming conventions and geographical cognizance—yet omits treacherous terrain nor any flock of expendable orc-like characters for him to hone his annihilation skills upon, for now.

In egress, Oath and Blood Price leaves itself in a good place for the next installation by revealing the shadowy overlord Elves who have a secret knight-magic weapon up their sleeve to form a new conquest-based aggression-pact with the human states, while it also gut-punches the reader with an uncomfortable final fight between the protagonist and rivals who's positions were created through his actions. My reading style had me thinking there should have been about 20% more commas placed throughout, but a no point did the imagery breakdown.

Peter should find a modest amount of more space between the pages by cutting some of the unnecessary passages (like Thalkin learning about the cooling benefits of water in the summer) and keep his feet in the sand a little longer. By then, the readers should be able to feel the spray of his world's secrets like waves lapping against their legs. His delivery should then fill the patchwork like the wall the orphan acquired most of his secrets by work upon as the backdrop of wildlife and life whistling through existence. Tend to that garden audience like Rosalind.

[D.M.]

Amazon Rating: ★★★★★
Book Rating: ☆★★★★

—

Standard fantasy tropes usually started off with one or two chapters following a young orphaned protagonist (mostly) unloved in his rural village before fate/destiny/chance pulls him (or her) away from the dreadful place that spawned him. And he has some great magic and/or skill he has barely learnt but is still plot-armour worthy by the time he sets off, never to return to said hometown again.

This book doesn’t fall for that. It is a traditional fantasy - elves and dwarves and all - but we don’t rush through the poor orphan boy’s horrid life in x-place before having him rush off to become a hero - no we stay with him through the ups and downs, through childish mistakes, through experience gained. We follow him as he honestly tries to be part of his community. We follow him as he becomes a better fighter. And none of it happens in a few days, (or chapters) and he isn’t instantly amazing and better than everyone, he reaps what he sows — there is something natural about how the story unfolds. How the main character behaves, how he progresses. And it’s so rewarding. I can’t way to read what happens next.

And the writing style is beautiful. It’s just lovely prose. It does seem to grow a little flatter later in the book (and there are occasional clunky sentences) - but quality writing is still more consistent than most writers I’ve seen (including famous ones). It’s top stuff.

Thoughts while reading:

Thalkin’s little moments where his imagination runs wild. It reminds me of when I was young and I'd think of such things. It's just such a nice and realistic little touch to the mind of a young person. It doesn't matter how mature a teenager (or even an older person is for that matter) thinks they are or acts, there are flights of fancy running upstairs, whether it is fantasising about the new job and the little gifts secretly engraved for those who wronged him, or imagining becoming a deadly fighter of renown. Etc. They make him feel so human. I love it!

—

My rating Systems:

Amazon Rating: (because they suck when it comes to book ratings)
5 – Fantastic work. Anything from brilliant to highly likeable.
4 – A decent solid piece of writing with a lot going for it. I really dig your jive.
X – No rating if I didn’t like it or think others won’t like it.

All other Book Rating Systems:
5 – Absolutely genius. I probably want to marry you.
4 – Fantastic story. I loved it and will pick up your other work without hesitation.
3 – A good, solid story. I enjoyed it and if it wasn’t quite my thing I’m sure others would dig it.
2 – I wasn’t into it. Some potential but missed opportunities.
1 – Yeah, na.

Typically my Amazon score is my honest rating + an extra star.
I try to star-rate with the intended audience in mind, not my own personal feelings.

[Charlotte]

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my thoughts.

This is a fun little foray into what could easily become a vast epic fantasy world. I was immediately sold on the idea of a street urchin fighting for his life and learning new skills and trades along the way, and The Oath & Blood Price definitely delivered on that. It was a fast, fun read, full of action and sword fights set against a fantasy backdrop.

My favourite part of this book was definitely Thalkin, the street urchin main character. I liked his streetsmarts and his brash attitude that was countered by his desire for knowledge and to outsmart his antagonisers. There were times when he displayed real human emotion - like how mixed his feelings regarding his foster parents were - that really came out of the page and served to make him feel real. I also really loved the inclusion of a female mercenary character, as I've not come across many in all the fantasy books I've read, and we love a badass woman who can wield a sword.

I will say though that the world building was a bit up and down, and that's what prevents me from rating this any higher. I felt like a lot of care and detail had been put into describing the world and the different nations, but there were times when this was just done as an info-dump and not as intricately as possible. There were times, too, and the final chapter of the book springs to mind, where it felt as if that same care hadn't been put into the lore of the world. There were some things, like the Godmen and the elves, that I wish had had more page time and been laid out as if I was a five year old, as I felt as if some of the nuances were lost on me. Whether this is just down to length - this tiny thing is under 200 pages! - or my own inability to comprehend, I'm not sure, but I would have loved to really sink my teeth into the meat of the lore and world building.

Overall though, I found this to be a fun, enjoyable read that I would definitely return to. I flew through the pages thanks to all the action, and I really loved all the fight scenes and the training sessions Thalkin had.

[Alan K. Dell]

I had an absolute blast with this book. A thoroughly immersive experience with a great cast of complex characters, from the utterly reprehensible to the wonderfully sympathetic. There’s compelling intrigue and exciting action with what I can only describe as excellent fight choreography. The descriptions are evocative and distinct, setting both tone and scene effortlessly. For a book with such a relatively slow opening, the pacing is right on-point; it really draws you in.

The plot is the story of orphaned street urchin, Thalkin, as he navigates being the underdog of Scor and tries to make a better life for himself. He’s a compelling character with complex motivations and goals that change and react in a very believable and relatable way. Every new skill he exhibits as the book goes on is well-earned, and despite being on the morally grey side, he’s very easy to root for. Honestly, the characters in this book are written very well. Edelia, Edgir, Sal and Rosalind are a brilliant supporting cast, and Gregori makes a great minor villain as the rich bully. I’ve seen this sort of thing done before in a condensed way in the opening to Drew Wagar’s Shadeward Saga, but here the concept is expanded across a whole book and it works extremely well. I enjoyed the book’s mystery and small-town political intrigue. The stakes are pretty low at this point, mostly surrounding the unclear motivations for the Lord Procterate’s insidiously enthusiastic drive towards growth. It appears mundane, even beneficial—after all, who doesn’t want to live in a prosperous town?—but subtle things don’t add up and it makes for a good driving force behind the mystery. The book also doesn’t pull its punches emotionally, either. There are some very powerful moments here.

There’s not a lot negative I can say about this book, but if I were to really nitpick, there’s a lot of potential for strengthening the prose, as it tends towards the passive, and there are a number of word substitutions. But honestly, none of that bothered me or took me out of the very strong story. I was absolutely invested in the characters and I’m excited to see where this story goes next.

[Armanis Ar-Feinial]

A for originality.
A call back to the old classic fantasy we all loved and adored, and starts at a unique place. Trope, we all love and some times are infuriated with the orphan at a farm. It's there. But we get a little slice of life before getting to the inciting incident at the coming of age tale, which is towards the end of it. This is a slow moving novel with much to promise, and with those promises, we'll hopefully get to see a much wider world that PST has promised us. It reads smoothly. In fact, it kind of reminds me of playing an RPG. Right, you're thrust into a world, and compelled by usually other characters to do something, talk to different people, and that's how he's chosen to build his world and the lore, which is effective without the use of needless expository dumps. It is more effective here because the MC is an orphan, which likely wouldn't have too much knowledge of the outside world, and as an outsider looking in, privy to ask the questions for the reader, and then subsequently have them answered.

Criticisms:
Definitely formatting. There are no single spaces between lines, and those page breaks are noticeably big: this would greatly reduce the page count, and reduce printing costs, and kill less trees. Character development could be better realized with some introspection, and a little more body language than what we get in this book. This book is written in what I typically call Third-Person-First-Objective. To clarify, it is essentially First-person using he/she pronouns without any introspection, which means, you get the events as they unfold without any thoughts as to why these things are actually happening and what the characters think about them. You only get that through dialogue.

[Vidula]

The Oath and Blood Price: Part 1 by Peter-Shaun Tyrell is about Thalkin, an orphan who has spent his life on the streets. Recently, he has been taken in by a kind couple, and it seems like his life is finally looking up. But when he meets expert swordswoman Edelia, he is drawn into an intriguing but dangerous world that could change his fate forever. As soon as I started reading this book, I was drawn in by Thalkin’s character. Because of his identity as a street urchin, he made some really insightful observations about human nature and what it means to belong, which I enjoyed reading. I also liked watching him face difficult decisions throughout the course of the story. Edelia’s character was also well written, and the scenes where she taught Thalkin to fight were some of my favorites in the novel. Many times, fight scenes can feel confusing, but these were done well; I could easily follow the movements. Additionally, I could tell that the author put a lot of thought into creating the setting of this story; the book was rich with details. However, this world building could have been presented better, since there were a lot of places with information dumps that made it confusing to understand. That, in turn, made the plot hard to follow at some points, so I found that I wasn’t as invested in the story as I should have been. Overall, though, this was a solid opening to a fantasy series, and the atmosphere was similar to books such as The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss or Eragon by Christopher Paolini.

[Nathan Kemp]

If you're looking for a new fantasy series that grabs you from the first chapter and refuses to let go, The Oath & Blood Prince: Part 1 is an absolute must-read. This book delivers everything a fantasy enthusiast craves: deep world-building, relatable characters, and a storyline that accelerates to a thrilling pace.

The character development and world-building are excellent. The author does a fantastic job of crafting a believable and immersive world, making it easy to connect with the characters and become invested in their journey and struggles. You genuinely care about what happens to them, a rare feat for the first entry in a series.

The plot itself is a masterclass in engagement. It drew me in immediately, weaving a great storyline that balances intrigue and action. What sets this book apart is the author's narrative style: the descriptive passages are concise and never overly in-depth. This choice ensures a fast-paced reading experience that keeps you page-turning well into the night.

A particular highlight is the combat narrative, which is nothing short of exceptional. The action sequences are vivid, intense, and easy to follow, providing a visceral thrill that many other fantasy books miss.

The Oath & Blood Prince: Part 1 is a powerful, high-energy start to a series. The ending left me wanting to read Part 2 straight away. Highly recommended for anyone who loves fast-paced fantasy with strong characters and thrilling action.

[S.S.]

A gripping story from the very first page.


Main character, Thalkin, is marvellously constructed, with all his imperfections and age-led nature leading the development of the events. There is a lot of depth in his emotions: from longing for a family and belonging somewhere, through proudness, anger, fear and undependability. Furthermore, brilliantly developed by the author town adds a second layer into Thalkin’s depth. A character responds to the town’s mood interacting with its citizens, hiding in some places or watching scenes next to him. Wherever Thalkin is in the Scor (town), something or someone there triggers him to feel in a certain way, which gives a reader a great understanding about his past in that place, and how it made him to be who he was.


Thalkin’s story is sad, and his life is difficult, yet he never gives up. His thrive to learn, always learn and learn more is really appealing. I enjoyed his process of learning and the different teachers he met on the way (from a drunk stranger, through a loving father-like figure and a mysterious worrier). The way he interacted with each of them allowed to understand a lot about Thalkin himself.


I definitely recommend this book for epic-fantasy readers.

[Mandy]

We follow an orphan boy called Thalkin in a place called Scor. He has gotten by with secrets and trading information. One day he comes in contact with a mysterious woman: Edelia, who changes the course he has taken for the past 16 years. War appears to be on the horizon between the divided lands and Thalkin has found himself with more secrets than he knows what to do with.

The writing is interesting, the characters have depth and the reader can easily route for them (Thalkin especially can be understood). The storyline is always flowing and makes for compelling reading. The dialogue between characters is natural and full of emotion. The world-building and attention to detail is exquisite, you can really picture the scenario's, especially the fight scene at the end.

The build-up towards the cliff-hanger at the end makes me want the next book.

The chapters are however quite long and there are some trigger warnings. But, all-in-all I would continue reading The Oath and Blood Prince series and would recommend for people who like fantasy books set in worlds full of humans and elves, where war looms large on the horizon and characters have a great story-line.

[L. Carvalho]

This was the first fantasy book that I've managed to get sucked into since Children of Blood and Bone came out, which is saying a lot because obviously I'm a bit picky. Between the descriptive fight scenes, the banter between Thalkin and nearly everyone else (ahem, especially his bullies), and the world building, this was a perfect read and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in dipping their toes into the fantasy genre.

What drew me to Thalkin's character was his relatability (hi, former foster youth here). I also love how 3-dimensional these characters are. Even the "supporting" characters have depth and I think that's the mark of good writing - but I'm no expert so you should just check out the book yourself!

[Shellina]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 for this epic fantasy. Set in a world of elves and men, The Oath and Blood Price Part One is an enjoyable introduction to the town of Scor and it’s people. Something big is brewing around town, and Thalkin, the local orphan and novice spy, is determined to find out what it is. Along the way, he is befriended by a skilled warrior who helps sharpen his battle skills, which will undoubtedly come in handy in future installments. It was fun to follow this to-be hero and his origin story in this slow burn setup for what promises to be an epic tale. I’m excited to see where fate takes Thalkin next. If you’ve been craving a new adventure rich with detail and action, I strongly recommend Peter-Shaun Tyrell’s The Oath and Blood Price Saga.

[Ryan McBrien]

Incredible, well written book that sets up what I expect to be a fantastic fantasy world filled with lore, epic monsters and fleshed out characters.
This book follows the main character and you see the world through his eyes. Every character is extreamly well written with their own unique personalities and mannerisms. As each chapter comes to an end, you will be filled with an urge to start the next chapter as the suspense of what happens next is constantly present. Upon finishing the first book I wanted to begin the second book straight away.
I will be following this series through until the end.

[Lee Dawson]

Firstly, what an amazing journey.

Thalkin, the main character is written with great emotion and a roughness that really brings him to life. The world building is brilliant with how the society's are brought together to show us what life is like in Scor and how the characters are treated. And the foreshadowing for certain beasts, I can't wait!

The action scenes are brilliant though, they were brought to life as I read along, especially between Thalkin and Edelia. The attention to detail was spot on, each movement and motion accurate to someone who knows how to fight.

I can't wait for part 2, to see where the story goes and what adventures Thalkin will get himself into.

[Julia James]

This book draws you in Almost immediately due to the great action packed fight scenes. The story is centered around a boy named Thalkin. He has never had any positive guidance in life But his circumstances change and adventure awaits. He is a very relatable character and you will find yourself rooting for him to pick a side. I will read book two as soon as it is available.

[K.M.]

Highly recommend.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. An intriguing, wonderfully described world - the author sets the scene perfectly - with a very interesting lead character. I was drawn into the well-written narrative from the get-go & the plot moved at a perfect pace. I highly recommend giving this a read & I look forward to part two.

[Damien Marcus]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to sink into part two. The world that Mr Tyrell has created feels complete and it is easy to allow yourself to get lost inside it. Thalkin is a great character that I found myself caring for from the very beginning.

Everyone should give this book a chance, an easy and enjoyable read.

[N Bookstagram]

Brilliant Read

This was such a good read. The character of Thalkin is so well rounded and realistic. I felt a real empathy for him, his background and the way he is treated. The book definitely leaves you wanting more!

[Sheree]

Fantastic book.

Loved the characters ,so well thought of.story keep you turning pages,that no able to read fast enough to get to next chapter or end,so good I had to pay on kindle for next book. Even though normally free.thank you for great read,need it on film,or episodes.

[Hayley Richardson]

I really enjoyed this book. It's really well written, full of emotion and the characters are great. I rooted for the orphan all the way through. The book is speckled with humour alongside tense and emotional scenes. I really want to know what happens in part 2. Definitely recommend

[Lia]

Listen to our full review on our podcast We’d rather be reading

https://open.spotify.com/show/2Kxppw2...

[Conor Powell]

Great book by a first time author. Would recommend to fans of Gwynne and Rothfuss! Bring on part two!

[Alisha Rowe]

This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/3YGRKb9.











Thalkin has been an orphan as long as he can remember. But, in Duria it is required that the inhabitants of a town care for their orphans. As such, he has been bounced around from house to house doing whatever that house tasks him with in exchange for what food and shelter they choose to provide him. Without the ability to get a normal education Thalkin does tasks for others in the town in exchange for learning skills that he hopes to use to one day leave this town. When Thalkin comes to his newest home instead of the normal abuse and starvation faced he meets compassion, caring, and opportunity. There is more than one option laid out for the young man with the arrival of a sword wielding woman. Will be maintain his oath or pay a blood price?
I received a paperback copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The book starts out a bit slow before picking up once Thalkin finds his interest. I can't say the blood price was the one I expected, but it's generally something you wish could be avoided. It would be a rough thing to live with, although he didn't seem inclined to believe the same chain of events it seemed to me.

There is plenty of action and a bit of fantasy to be found within these pages, making for a great read. The characters are well rounded and you can feel both care and disdain. Not only from the main character but background characters as well. It's hard to tell much more about this book without giving everything away because it is ultimately Thalkin trying to find what suits him best with the skills he is able to acquire and the choices he must make.

[Brandy]

Loved this intro into the world of Duria and its main character, Thalkin. The author did a great job of making you root for the characters and care about what happens to them. It was an exciting read full of creative worldbuilding, awesome action, and even some moments that tugged at the heart. I don't want to give any spoilers but the last couple of scenes broke me as well as left me feeling hopeful for what will come next for Thalkin. This first book could've been hundreds of pages longer and I would've HAPPILY read every bit. Looking forward to getting into part 2!

[Dennis Plante]

Fairly Boring, Mostly Unlikable MC

Not much happens until the end of book. MC unlikable for the most part, he's very rude, immature, and antagonistic.
Some good parts, good thing it was a short book.