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An Oath of Fire
Joslyn Lys enjoys living unseen.
There’s no better place for a recluse than the vast and strictly regimented companies of the Imperial Garthearian army. Separated from their ranks in battle, she slays one of the Four Princes—the would-be heir to the Aefyrian throne whose vacancy leaves a void of power that could collapse the Garthearian province. Newly knighted and a threat for Aefyr’s retaliation, Joslyn is sent far from the frontlines to the coastal Rheinashi Peninsula, a land as beautiful as it is dangerous, and populated by the elven peoples once targeted by her homeland during the bloodiest war in memory.
Deep in a territory still reeling from her empire’s transgressions, Joslyn joins Bastard Company, an army of masons and their eccentric knight-captains, in their mission to accord peace by constructing an aqueduct for the Rheinashi people. Joslyn is unsure of her place, her abilities, and for what she stands, but she’ll have to learn quickly if she wants to survive in the land of sea salt, citrus, and bad blood—and if she is to thwart the mad attempts of new enemies to wrest control of the Northern World.
There’s no better place for a recluse than the vast and strictly regimented companies of the Imperial Garthearian army. Separated from their ranks in battle, she slays one of the Four Princes—the would-be heir to the Aefyrian throne whose vacancy leaves a void of power that could collapse the Garthearian province. Newly knighted and a threat for Aefyr’s retaliation, Joslyn is sent far from the frontlines to the coastal Rheinashi Peninsula, a land as beautiful as it is dangerous, and populated by the elven peoples once targeted by her homeland during the bloodiest war in memory.
Deep in a territory still reeling from her empire’s transgressions, Joslyn joins Bastard Company, an army of masons and their eccentric knight-captains, in their mission to accord peace by constructing an aqueduct for the Rheinashi people. Joslyn is unsure of her place, her abilities, and for what she stands, but she’ll have to learn quickly if she wants to survive in the land of sea salt, citrus, and bad blood—and if she is to thwart the mad attempts of new enemies to wrest control of the Northern World.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2023
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10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 2, 2025
Heck! Yes! War fantasy!!
In the chaos of battle, Joslyn, a simple imperial soldier, unwittingly wins herself unwanted fame, a promotion, and an assignment across the continent. Her new position is almost a punishment: Bastard Company, stationed in the elven lands to the west in an attempt to stabilize relations after a bloody war. Already facing a difficult task in a hostile environment, the company must also contend with a rogue elven revolutionary and a prince of the Stormlands with delusions of grandeur—and a grudge against Joslyn.
WHAT a fun time. Every fight is desperate and horrifying, with soldiers grimly scrambling to use whatever they can to survive. It's not glorious! But it's so engaging to read! The religions are complicated and interesting. One doesn't even have gods. Different peoples remember the same myth differently. Elves are freaky. And so much going on is the overblown consequence of some royal's personal life. I love feudal politics.
Joslyn is my favorite my hero my everything. For someone who was using a soldier's life to escape into simplicity, she spends so much time thinking about everything. She didn't ask for this. She's practical. She doesn't love talking to people. Yet people love talking to her, because she always takes them seriously.
The rest of the cast makes things lively. Everyone is kind of messed up from their past, but they each find their own way to deal with it. Or not! Sometimes they drown under guilt and beg for death! Or they do lots and lots of murder. To each their own~.
There are a couple of places this could use some polish. Occasional typos, taking more time with a couple of beats. But altogether, this was really solidly built. I look forward to more, because I feel strongly it'll just get better from here. Also because I want more!!
In the chaos of battle, Joslyn, a simple imperial soldier, unwittingly wins herself unwanted fame, a promotion, and an assignment across the continent. Her new position is almost a punishment: Bastard Company, stationed in the elven lands to the west in an attempt to stabilize relations after a bloody war. Already facing a difficult task in a hostile environment, the company must also contend with a rogue elven revolutionary and a prince of the Stormlands with delusions of grandeur—and a grudge against Joslyn.
WHAT a fun time. Every fight is desperate and horrifying, with soldiers grimly scrambling to use whatever they can to survive. It's not glorious! But it's so engaging to read! The religions are complicated and interesting. One doesn't even have gods. Different peoples remember the same myth differently. Elves are freaky. And so much going on is the overblown consequence of some royal's personal life. I love feudal politics.
Joslyn is my favorite my hero my everything. For someone who was using a soldier's life to escape into simplicity, she spends so much time thinking about everything. She didn't ask for this. She's practical. She doesn't love talking to people. Yet people love talking to her, because she always takes them seriously.
The rest of the cast makes things lively. Everyone is kind of messed up from their past, but they each find their own way to deal with it. Or not! Sometimes they drown under guilt and beg for death! Or they do lots and lots of murder. To each their own~.
There are a couple of places this could use some polish. Occasional typos, taking more time with a couple of beats. But altogether, this was really solidly built. I look forward to more, because I feel strongly it'll just get better from here. Also because I want more!!
November 8, 2025
Oh, wow. Once I got into this, I REALLY got into it.
I absolutely devoured this book between yesterday and today. I've been struggling so hard lately to find a book to catch my interest, and I was mercifully sent this one by my dear friend as she was also plowing through it. A fantasy war book!! And realistically executed!!! A miracle!!!
An Oath of Fire is chiefly the story of Joslyn Lys, a baker's daughter who fears nothing more than being a failure and a disappointment. She runs away from home, leaving naught but a note behind, to join the army, where she can fall into the anonymous ranks and never worry about failed expectations again.
Except Joslyn accidentally becomes the hero of a battle when she kills the crown prince to the Aefyrian throne.
Joslyn is knighted and banished to Bastard Company, a band of mercenaries and masons led by a small group of knights, all of which bring with them their own eccentricities. For all Joslyn wanted to flee the expectations of the world, she stumbled directly into leadership and a contentious attempt at peace between her people—the Garthearian Empire—and the Rheinashi.
I really did enjoy Joslyn immensely. She's just a regular gal who wants to live a regular life beneath the radar. Her knighthood was entirely an accident, the crown prince she had killed pretty much already half dead by the time he had set upon her. This is a fact that follows her, and the knighthood weighs upon her as an undeserved boon, especially as war and rebellion continue to encroach on Bastard Company and their attempts at this peace-offering mission they have embarked upon.
She is also very kind, though, and makes friends relatively easily within this company of castoffs she's joined up with. I am eyeing her and Genn specifically. We will be watching their career (relationship) with great interest. I see it. I see the vision. I'm mad about it.
I really did love this entire cast of characters. Faiyah, the young queen struggling to separate her rule from that of her well-loved father's; Wayne, brother to the crown prince slayed by Joslyn's hand, chasing a fate he has been told is his for the taking; and Caledath, the rebel exiled prince standing against his father and the crushing caste system his people live under—though leaving a river of blood in his wake as he raises his army.
I loved it. I loved it all. I am desperately hoping there will be another book on the way soon...
There was some things to quibble over, like some typos and some places where prose or dialogue could have been tightened a bit, but this was a really fun and engaging read. And, like I said, the first book in months to really grab me and suck me in. It is very well-written with incredibly real characters inlaid within its pages. I really hope the author gives us more!
Please do pick this one up <3 Support indie authors!
I absolutely devoured this book between yesterday and today. I've been struggling so hard lately to find a book to catch my interest, and I was mercifully sent this one by my dear friend as she was also plowing through it. A fantasy war book!! And realistically executed!!! A miracle!!!
An Oath of Fire is chiefly the story of Joslyn Lys, a baker's daughter who fears nothing more than being a failure and a disappointment. She runs away from home, leaving naught but a note behind, to join the army, where she can fall into the anonymous ranks and never worry about failed expectations again.
Except Joslyn accidentally becomes the hero of a battle when she kills the crown prince to the Aefyrian throne.
Joslyn is knighted and banished to Bastard Company, a band of mercenaries and masons led by a small group of knights, all of which bring with them their own eccentricities. For all Joslyn wanted to flee the expectations of the world, she stumbled directly into leadership and a contentious attempt at peace between her people—the Garthearian Empire—and the Rheinashi.
I really did enjoy Joslyn immensely. She's just a regular gal who wants to live a regular life beneath the radar. Her knighthood was entirely an accident, the crown prince she had killed pretty much already half dead by the time he had set upon her. This is a fact that follows her, and the knighthood weighs upon her as an undeserved boon, especially as war and rebellion continue to encroach on Bastard Company and their attempts at this peace-offering mission they have embarked upon.
She is also very kind, though, and makes friends relatively easily within this company of castoffs she's joined up with. I am eyeing her and Genn specifically. We will be watching their career (relationship) with great interest. I see it. I see the vision. I'm mad about it.
I really did love this entire cast of characters. Faiyah, the young queen struggling to separate her rule from that of her well-loved father's; Wayne, brother to the crown prince slayed by Joslyn's hand, chasing a fate he has been told is his for the taking; and Caledath, the rebel exiled prince standing against his father and the crushing caste system his people live under—though leaving a river of blood in his wake as he raises his army.
I loved it. I loved it all. I am desperately hoping there will be another book on the way soon...
There was some things to quibble over, like some typos and some places where prose or dialogue could have been tightened a bit, but this was a really fun and engaging read. And, like I said, the first book in months to really grab me and suck me in. It is very well-written with incredibly real characters inlaid within its pages. I really hope the author gives us more!
Please do pick this one up <3 Support indie authors!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews