Review: Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

I still hold that Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn series is the best work of contemporary Arthuriana of recent years.

Oathbound does nothing to change my opinion and many things to cement it. Having burned out her own Medium abilities to protect herself from Arthur, Bree, the rightful king (she is always called a king, by the way, never a queen, and that seems appropriate here) makes a bargain with a Shadow demon. In fact, the king of shadows, who wants his crown back…and may have other plans for Bree.

Bree, meanwhile, has lost the memory of every living person she loves. And that’s what this book is about, ultimately.

Love. Power of love is common in fantasy, but in this book it’s treated a bit differently. There are hard choices, including ones where there is no right choice. There are new relationships too (and a casually trans character). People in this book aren’t good or evil; they are just people.

And maybe its about that too.

I thought this was going to be the last book, but at the end of its 600 pages we’re left with more questions and answers.

Which is good, it means there will be more.

Recommended.

I received a copy of this book for award consideration purposes.

Review: Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

CW: Child abuse and neglect, death of animals, mention of sexual assault.

This book definitely falls into the category of fairy tale narrative. It also takes place in an unusual setting – still a European one, but to students of history the setting is easily recognizable as the Holy Roman Empire.

Albeit one that is slightly queernormed and somewhat more gender equal than the real historical version…same sex marriage is normal and trans people are recognized, in a no big deal way.

But to the fairy tale. Vanja is the adopted daughter of Death and Fortune – among the more powerful of the Low Gods. (This implies the existance of High Gods, but we don’t see much of them). For this is also a world in which gods walk the Earth and have very direct dealings with mortals.

Very direct.

And Low Gods range from concepts like Death and Fortune to genius loci, one of whom plays a key role.

Vanja, in an attempt to get away from her mothers, has taken the place of her former mistress, the princess Giselle. And is robbing the rich to give to the poor.

Until she gets herself cursed.

This is also a romance (there are, in fact, two romance plots, kind of tied together). But before it’s any of those and even before it’s a fairy tale narrative, this is a heist novel.

A heist novel in which not just jewels but identities are being stolen.

And it’s a lot of fun. It’s upper YA, but I’d say it will definitely appeal to adults, especially ones who grew up on some of the older YA out there.

Recommended to people who enjoy fairy tale narratives.

I received a copy of this book for award consideration purposes.