Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black, this first book in a dark and action-packed new series is impossible to put down! Light magic is forbidden. Dark magic spells death. Haven has both. After the Prince of Penryth saved her from captivity, seventeen-year-old Haven Ashwood spends her days protecting the kind prince and her nights secretly fighting the monsters outside the castle … her nights secretly fighting the monsters outside the castle walls.
When one of those monsters kidnaps Prince Bell, Haven must ally with Archeron Halfbane and his band of immortals to rescue her friend.
Her quest takes her deep into the domain of a warped and vicious queen where the rules are simple: break her curse or die.
Lost in a land of twisted magic and fabled creatures, Haven finds herself unprepared, not just for the feelings she develops for Archeron, but for the warring powers raging inside her.
Her rare and forbidden type of magic may be their only hope . . . but mixing light and dark comes with a steep price.
Haven’s soul.
Faced with impossible love, heartbreaking betrayals, and a queen intent on destroying the realm, only one thing remains certain.
Haven must shatter the curse or it will devour everything she loves.
Welcome to the Kingdom of Runes where immortals and humans clash, light and dark magic reign, and mythical creatures lurk in the shadows. If you like fierce heroines, enemies-to-lovers romance, wild plot twists, and endearing characters that stay with you long after you reach the end, you need to discover the book readers are calling dark fantasy at its best. Just make sure to clear out some space on your calendar first!
Oath Taker was previously published in the boxed set Shattered Worlds under the name Curse Breaker. This is a revised second edition. The Kingdom of Runes series is upper/mature YA and contains mild cursing and adult situations, including romance.
“Could not put this book down! I was in a massive slump after Sarah J Maas finished her throne of glass series nothing was hitting the spot UNTIL NOW!” -Sarah Edwy-Smith , Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
“Grey has a major talent for world building and writing strong female characters. The story was exciting and I could hardly put this book down.”
-Lauren G., Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
“Audrey Grey has such a way with words and her story telling in unique and very twisty (you won’t see a lot of things coming!).”
-JK Leonard, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
“Audrey Grey is a genius storyteller that has woven a witty tale of magic, adventure, action, romance and danger.”
-Cassie J., Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
“OMG I freaking love this story. Audrey’s writing is descriptive, captivating and hooks you in from the first moment on. It was an amazing story with absolutely great characters (loved the side characters as well). I cannot wait to read what else Audrey has in store for us.”
-Jamie S., Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★more
I was blown away by this book. The twists and turns the story took surprised me every time, and I couldn’t put it down. I love the dynamics of Haven’s relationships with the other characters and the strength she has within herself and her own knowledge of who she is. The characters in this book are just so well written, I find myself deeply invested in each one, especially those who’s outward vulnerabilities reflect their own kind of strength. All in all, it’s beautifully done.
I usually dislike books that constantly change perspective, but this went together nicely. This world is only beginning to show it’s various peculiarities and it’s fascinating. I’m as fascinated by Haven as all the other beings around her. There are a lot of questions this books gives – and I look forward to reading the answers.
WOW what a start to this series! Light and dark magic, mythical beings, kick ass heroines, romance, curses and twists and turns galore, this story just grabbed me and sucked me in and had me on the edge of my seat the whole read! Well written this well thought out plot is fantastic and gripping and I really need the next book now!!!
Oath Taker by Audrey Grey is the first book in her new series – Kingdom of Runes. In this fascinating book the author introduces readers to a world where light magic is forbidden and dark magic spells death. A curse hangs over the land, and any who hold magic are taken by the Shade Queen and destroyed by her daughter on a full moon. Haven, the main character, is saved by Prince Bell as a young girl and decides to dedicate her life to him as his protector. But their lives are about to change. Prince Bell is abducted by a Shade Lord, and Haven is determined to save him and break the Curse that binds the lands if she can.
I am an avid fan of Audrey Grey and let me just say this…this book does NOT disappoint. It was so hard to put down, and when I absolutely had to I couldn’t stop thinking about…what happens next?! Haven is one of those characters that both gets on my nerves and one that I rooted for the whole way. LOL! I love her dedication to the Prince even though…I hate to say…he’s a bit of a weakling. I hate to say that I was a bit disappointed in that fact. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I can understand it to an extent. The path that he is on is not the one that he would have chosen for himself, and it shows. Acheron is an engaging and interesting character. The author gives us little hints and teases at his past…where he came from, but she keeps most of it shrouded in mystery. Stolas is another interesting character for me. Honestly, he’s the one that I find myself quite drawn to. Both of these men are arrogant, but I love that there is more to them than meets the eye.
There honestly isn’t much that I don’t like about this book. As I stated earlier I have this love/hate thing going on when it comes to Haven, but I understand it. I find myself disappointed in her when she allows her own selfishness to take hold and blind her to the potential consequences of her actions. I saw this several times in this book and her knee jerk response was always “she didn’t think.” In the realms of sounding snarky…that much was obvious. But I like that at the end of the day…all of this is thoroughly planned out by the author. She’s making Haven as real as possible, and so Haven is very flawed.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. It’s an exceptional story and I loved every minute of it. Prepare to be teased with the ending! Yes, there is a bit of a cliffhanger. It’s nothing too intense…unless you read the preview for book two. I refrained…just barely. LOL! But I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. There is a bit of romance and I am eager to see where it goes…and whom with as well. If you are a fan of this author then I highly recommend you grab this book!
Holy Stolis and Shades below, that was incredible!! Oath Taker has is all, exceptional world-building, complex characters, and a killer storyline that’ll leave your heart pounding and dying for more. I loved the depth and complexities and I’m still struggling to find the words to describe just how much I loved it. If you enjoyed Throne of Glass or just breathtaking fantasy, this is a must-read!
This book starts off hitting the ground at a dead run, dragging you behind as the first few pages pull you headlong into a battle of fear and determination. Haven, the MC of this book, is almost instantly likeable as she is full of snark, secrets, weapons, and surprises. I can’t say enough good things about this book that practically arrested me from page 1. I knew Audrey Grey was a fantastic writer, but this book about blew me away with the world building, deeply complex, flawed, and courageously loyal characters; some with intentions and motivations that aren’t yet clear, and others whose every move are calculated and cruel. I loved all the many twists and turns and straight-up drop-offs that lead up to an ending that teases you with what’s to come, while also leaving you straddling a precipise of a cliffhanger, desperate for answers. Book 2 can’t come soon enough!
This is such an exciting and unexpected journey, unique compared to so many fantasies I’ve read. It kept me turning the pages, begging for the next moment and wanting to know how these characters would interact. This curse is all-consuming, and I want so much for the heroine to not only survive but conquer.
When Prince Bell is captured, Haven takes it upon herself to go after him. After all, he saved her life, and now he’s become her best friend. She can’t imagine her life without him. But when something evil enters the city and discovers something different about her, the quest becomes more than a simple rescue but a young woman searching for herself and where she fits in this world into which she’s been thrown.
Along the way, she meets Archeron, who brings out so many feelings in her she’s never experienced before. She doesn’t know if she can trust him or his band of immortal friends, but she isn’t given much of a choice. She needs them in order to overcome the overwhelming odds that are against her, one of the greatest being what she carries inside her own soul.
It wasn’t just a magical story but drew me in from the moment. I love a strong heroine, and this author writes a young woman who refuses to give up no matter her circumstances. She’s precocious and bold, and whenever someone tells her she can’t, she rises above and shows them what she’s made of. I loved this story and cannot wait to be able to read the next chapter in the series.