Oath of Betrayal Book Review
‘I will give you my all—my fire, my magic, and my life. Just stay with me. I don’t want to dwell in the dark again.’
Synposis
She yearned for death. He needed a weapon. Her magic was the answer.
Tormented by guilt and grief, with her power crippled after losing her bonded mates, Annika feigned her death and sought refuge in a secluded town. After a chance encounter with a dragon exposes her power to its riders, she escapes without revealing her identity, but the relentless Commander of the Dragon Riders tracks her down, determined to make her his weapon.
Ormond will sacrifice everything to defend his kingdom, even if it means bonding with a broken mage—unless Alaric, his dark fae necromancer, claims her first. Under the Commander’s touch, Annika’s magic rekindles, but she resists until a sudden attack unveils a devastating truth: when your enemy is the Lich King, death is not the worst that could happen. Desperate to survive, she needs to ground her power with an anchor.
Torn between Ormond, who ignites her magic, and Alaric, who tames its roaring inferno, Annika faces an impossible choice. Can she overcome her grief and become the weapon she was meant to be? With war threatening all she holds dear, will one anchor be enough to save her and the people she has sworn to protect?
The decision lies in her heart—to sacrifice her soul or sacrifice the kingdom.
REVIEW
Oath of Betrayal, book 1 of Olena Nikitin’s new The Cursed Bonds duology, is a stunning entry into high fantasy, brimming with epic world-building, a unique magic system, and Nikitin’s signature fascinating blend of Slavic mythology. The story centers around Annika Diavellar (“Ani”), a powerful yet broken mage, whose grief after losing her bonded mates is unmistakable and deeply resonant. The emotional depth of Ani’s journey as she grapples with her past while being torn between two compelling men who just happen to also be friends—Ormond Erenhart (“Orm”), the formidable Commander of the Dragon Riders, and Alaric’va Shen’ra (“Ari”), a dark fae necromancer—adds layers of complexity to the narrative.
The world-building, as I mentioned, is fantastic, with a rich, immersive world where dragons soar and magic pulses with life as dark forces stir while the kingdoms’ defenses fall apart. The inclusion of Slavic mythology, as always, is particularly refreshing, adding a distinctive cultural texture that sets this book apart from other fantasy novels. The “why choose” romance also is handled with finesse, balancing the relationships between Ani, Orm, and Ari in a way that feels organic and authentic.
Orm’s character is a delightful mix of strength and tenderness, his protective nature offset by moments of vulnerability that make him completely endearing (the man is a total cinnamon roll), on top of just being a hottie. On the other hand, Ari’s dark and brooding persona is closely explored, giving readers insight into the motivations behind the actions of yet another beautiful, conflicted man. The interactions between these two and their developing bond with Ani are both intense and heartwarming.
The supporting characters are equally memorable, with characters like Vahin (Orm’s dragon) and the various friends Ani makes along the way, each adding depth to the story. I particularly enjoyed Katja, a down-to-earth, no-nonsense herbalist; Bryna, a half-orc, promiscuous, and hilarious blacksmith; and Ian, an injured ex-dragon rider who serves as a barkeeper—though no one compares to Vahin (total Tarin vibes for those who’ve read Fourth Wing, he’s everything and I refuse to accept any other answer).
Finally, Nikitin skillfully handles the grim aspects of the tale (see list of content warnings below) with moments of levity and camaraderie, making for a well-rounded reading experience. And while the romance is a bit of a slow burn, the tension is palpable, making the spicy scenes worth the wait! The cliffhanger ending leaves you eager for the next installment, promising even more excitement and drama to come.
Overall, Oath of Betrayal is a must-read for fans of high fantasy and fantasy romance … almost like a Sanderson novel with just a bit of *spice* added to it. Olena Nikitin has crafted a tale that is both epic and intimate, filled with heartache, passion, and the promise of redemption. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
Content warnings include death, violence, domestic abuse, torture, the threat of war, and grief.
PLEASE NOTE: I am the editor of Oath and Betrayal. As such, I acknowledge my bias but have made every effort to remain objective in this review.
Expected publication date is 12 September 2024.
Author Profile
Olena Nikitin is the pen name of a writing power couple who share a love of fantasy; paranormal romance; rich, vivid worlds; and exciting storylines. In their books and out, they love down-to-earth humour, a visceral approach to life, striving to write realistic romances filled with the passion and steam people always dream of experiencing.
Meet the two halves of this Truro UK-based dynamic duo!
Olga, a Polish woman, has a wicked sense of humour with a dash of Slavic pessimism. She’s been writing since she was a small child, but life led her to work as an emergency physician. While this work means she always has stories to share, it often means she’s too busy to actually write. She’s proud to be a crazy cat lady, and together with Mark, they have five cats.
Mark, a typical English gentleman, radiates charm, sophistication, and an undeniable sex appeal. At least, he’s reasonably certain that’s what convinced Olga to fly across the sea into his arms. He’s an incredibly intelligent man with a knack for fixing things, including Polish syntax in English writing. If you give him good whiskey, he might even regale you with his Gulf War story of how he got shot.
Olena Nikitin loves hearing from their fans and critics alike and welcomes communication via any platform!
TL;DR
- Rating: 4.5 stars | Genre: High Fantasy, Fantasy Romance | Pages: 456
- Book 1 of The Cursed Bonds duology
- Epic world-building with dragons, a unique magic system, and Slavic mythology
- “Why choose” slow-burn romance; forced proximity; touch her and die; cinnamon roll MMC; angsty, beautiful MMC
- Wonderful supporting characters
- Cliffhanger ending
- CWs: death, violence, domestic abuse, torture, the threat of war, and grief
Want more?
See my review of Book 1 of Olena’s Amber Legends series, Magic and Medicine, HERE!
