Oath of Fealty

Written by Elizabeth Moon

Narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck

Elizabeth Moon's bestselling science fiction novels featuring Kylara Vatta have earned her rave reviews and comparison to such giants as Robert Heinlein and Lois McMaster Bujold. But as Moon's devoted fans know, she started her career as a fantasy writer. The superb trilogy known as The Deed of Paksenarrion is widely judged to be one of the great post-Tolkien fantasies, a masterpiece of sustained world-building and realistic military action. Now Moon returns to this thrilling realm for the first time in nearly twenty years. The result: another classic in the making.

Thanks to Paks's courage and sacrifice, the long-vanished heir to the half-elven kingdom of Lyonya has been revealed as Kieri Phelan, a formidable mercenary captain who earned a title—and enemies—in the neighboring kingdom of Tsaia. Now, as Kieri ascends a throne he never sought, he must come to terms with his own half-elven heritage while protecting his new kingdom from his old enemies—and those he has not yet discovered.

Meanwhile, in Tsaia, Prince Mikeli prepares for his own coronation. But when an assassination attempt nearly succeeds, Mikeli suddenly faces the threat of a coup. Acting swiftly, Mikeli strikes at the powerful family behind the attack: the Verrakaien, magelords possessing ancient sorcery, steeped in death and evil. Mikeli's survival—and that of Tsaia—depend on the only Verrakai whose magery is not tainted with innocent blood. Two kings stand at a pivotal point in the history of their worlds. For dark forces are gathering against them, knit in a secret conspiracy more sinister—and far more ancient—than they can imagine. And even Paks may find her gods-given magic and peerless fighting skills stretched to the limit—and beyond.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Mar 16, 2010
• ISBN: 9781441839053

Elizabeth Moon

Former Marine Elizabeth Moon is the author of many novels, including Echoes of Betrayal, Kings of the North, Oath of Fealty, the Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy, Victory Conditions, Command Decision, Engaging the Enemy, Marque and Reprisal, Trading in Danger, the Nebula Award winner The Speed of Dark, and Remnant Population, a Hugo Award finalist. After earning a degree in history from Rice University, Moon went on to obtain a degree in biology from the University of Texas, Austin. She lives in Florence, Texas.

Reviews for Oath of Fealty

[jppoetryreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I hadn't read the Paksenarrion trilogy that preceded this but I didn't find that a problem. I enjoyed this world and its characters even though I'm not much for books that concentrate on military actions and court intrigues. What kept me reading was the different magics and how they were interacting. Many things are shifting and changing throughout this book. People who hadn't looked for political power find themselves needing to wield it. The same is true of magical powers. This book focuses on Dorrin Verrakia, her new assignment as duke, the release of her power and her learning to handle it. Though Dorrin is the first female duke, women hold many untraditional positions in this book, especially as soldiers and religious leaders. I went on to read the next book in this series and look forward to the release of another.

[wunder-62679 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is hard to describe how gently wonderful this book (and the rest of the series) is. Striding into the miasma of elves, dwarves, knights, magic, and battle, this is grounded in everyday action by real people. They sweat, they have to learn other languages, they get stuck in mud, and above all, they have to practice. No super kung fu without daily kata. On top of that, no padding, no hundreds of pages of description and clumsy exposition. The story flows and grows. This the work of a mature master.

[smbass-223073 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Better written than the earlier books, but really just an intro to what is coming.

[elenaj-147457 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book has an unusual structure - multiple POVs, where we have sometimes 50 or 100 pages from one POV, and then 50 or 100 pages from another character's POV. It's more like reading a series of connected novellas than like reading one novel. And none of those novellas feel quite finished - they're all like the first 100 pages of a book, establishing the characters and the situations - which of course means that I am now quite eager to read the second book in the series.

[threadnsong · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After some fairly clunky writing in the beginning, to bring readers of the earlier series up to speed, Moon gets to her story and the explanations fall into place. This is an outstanding novel (coming from someone who did not read the original series) that deals with Change. And not change as in "change is inevitable" but Change as in "My life as I thought it was going to be has now become something I didn't expect, and what do I do with this Change?" The characters are very, very well-built and dealing with real issues. The maps definitely need work (although from the author's page that's because she's busy writing), but the believability is great, the world-building is good and brief and just what it needs to be, and overall this is a terrific book. I've already started the second one.

[altheaann · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Somewhere, in the boxes upstairs, I have the books of the Deed of Paksennarion, which directly precedes the story related in 'Oath of Fealty' and 'Kings of the North'. (I'm going to talk about 'Oath' and 'Kings' together, since they're not particularly separate entities.)
Moon's introduction specifies that she considers these to be independent of the previous trilogy, and that a reader can start here.
However, I did wish I'd read the earlier books first. They apparently contain many of the same characters, and I really felt I'd have gotten into the story and felt connected with the characters a lot faster if I'd already known their background.
That said, these are very well-done books. They take place in a familiar European-based fantasy world, but the scenarios and characters are realistic, believable and well-drawn. Moon is well-known as a writer of military fiction from a woman's perspective, and that's what we get here. It's not all women, but my favorite character was probably Dorrin - a somewhat-older, capable veteran who happens to be a woman.
The hierarchical social system accepted in this world isn't one I'd particularly want to live in, but the story isn't about ideal worlds; it's about people trying to do their best in the world they've got.
My one issue with it was probably the absolutes of good and evil - one of the major plot points is that an entire family is Pure Evil and must be eradicated. Probably to balance this, there was a sub-plot about one culture thinking that another is evil due to cultural misunderstandings, but I would have liked to at least have seen the perspective of someone within the family of Evil Sorcerers.
It's also not a particularly tightly plotted or suspenseful story - it's more about enjoying the twists and turns of the complex politics and personal maneuvering of the characters. Like real life, more things keep happening... and I liked following them.

[isisunit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Elizabeth Moon’s bestselling science fiction novels featuring Kylara Vatta have earned her rave reviews and comparison to such giants as Robert Heinlein and Lois McMaster Bujold. But as Moon’s devoted fans know, she started her career as a fantasy writer. The superb trilogy known as The Deed of Paksenarrion is widely judged to be one of the great post-Tolkien fantasies, a masterpiece of sustained world-building and realistic military action. Now Moon returns to this thrilling realm for the first time in nearly twenty years. The result: another classic in the making.Thanks to Paks’s courage and sacrifice, the long-vanished heir to the half-elven kingdom of Lyonya has been revealed as Kieri Phelan, a formidable mercenary captain who earned a title - and enemies - in the neighboring kingdom of Tsaia. Now, as Kieri ascends a throne he never sought, he must come to terms with his own half-elven heritage while protecting his new kingdom from his old enemies - and those he has not yet discovered.Meanwhile, in Tsaia, Prince Mikeli prepares for his own coronation. But when an assassination attempt nearly succeeds, Mikeli suddenly faces the threat of a coup. Acting swiftly, Mikeli strikes at the powerful family behind the attack: the Verrakaien, magelords possessing ancient sorcery, steeped in death and evil. Mikeli’s survival - and that of Tsaia - depend on the only Verrakai whose magery is not tainted with innocent blood. Two kings stand at a pivotal point in the history of their worlds. For dark forces are gathering against them, knit in a secret conspiracy more sinister - and far more ancient - than they can imagine. And even Paks may find her gods-given magic and peerless fighting skills stretched to the limit - and beyond.After a twenty-odd-year pause, acclaimed author Elizabeth Moon has returned to the Paksenarrion universe, which she first introduced in the Sheepfarmer's Daughter. This time however, the focus is not on the bard-worthy exploits of Paks, but rather on the stories of the recently discovered king of Lyonya, the new Duke of Verrakai, the new Lord of North Marches, and the crown prince of Tsaia. Many new and interesting characters are introduced, along with the return of old friends, including cameos from Paks.This story is a bit different than Paks, as it follows several principal characters, and therefore is more clearly split into segments. There are whole sections covering former Duke Kieri Phelan's preparations and ultimate coronation as the new king of Lyonya, including his personal and political challenges, not to mention all the young women paraded past him as potential wives. Given the amount of disarray the country fell into when the prior king died without an heir there is no subtlety in the process, much to Kieri's dismay.Captain Dorrin's sudden elevation from mercenary captain under Duke Phelan's command to Duke Verrakai is both a shock and personal challenge of tremendous proportions. Dorrin has numerous good reasons for wanting to turn down the prince's request, yet she is unable to deny her prince, nor the repressed people of Verrakai, especially as she is truly the only person she knows of with the ability stand against her evil family.Captain Arcolin, freshly named Lord of the North Marches, has inherited everything that the newly crowned King of Lyonya built over the years. He questions himself and his ability to fill the shoes of the man the went before him, a man that the entire Company respected beyond measure.Nor is the crown prince of Tsaia, Mikeli Mahieran, exempt from the intrigue and excitement reignited in this new series. Just as those listed above, he too is tested, challenged, and slowly tempered like a blade in the forge. There are puzzles to be solved, and traps negotiated, if he is to survive the long laid plans that are coming to light. Though raised to know his duty, he too questions his fitness for his role, particularly after a specific incident.So each of these stories has begun, picking up the tale right where it left off at the end of the Oath of Gold. Public and private challenges are faced, entwined relationships explored, and individual stories braided together, creating a smooth arc for one richly complex storyline. In doing so, Ms. Moon has deftly set into motion the beginnings of what looks to be yet another stellar epic fantasy.

[guide2_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well written tale, but as often is the case with magic, the system seems too simple and everything is determined by the "strongest" magician which is always a problem for the story.

[bgknighton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I just remembered how much I liked the Paksenarrion series! This should be just as good. Well-written, nicely paced, likeable characters. I especially like how the storylines are kept clear and parallel so that you can actually follow them without getting confused. Paks is just a side note in this series.

[bell7_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kieri Phelan, the former Duke and soon to be crowned King of Lyonya, has a new challenge in ruling a human and elven kingdom and convincing his Council that they need to have a protective army for defense. His former captains, Arcolin and Dorrin Verrakai, have challenges of their own as Arcolin takes over the Duke's mercenary company and Dorrin returns to her estranged family's holding as the new Duke Verrakai.Though Oath of Fealty begins with events soon after the end of Oath of Gold in Paksennarion's trilogy, this book could also be read as a standalone and the beginning of the new series less focused on Paks (though she's still a character) than on Phelan, Arcolin, and Dorrin as well as political events between Tsaia, Lyonya, and Pargun. The seemingly unconnected events involving the Verrakai betrayal and companies of bandits clearly have an underlying link that apparently have some connection to the former pirate, Alured, a much bigger conspiracy than anyone first guessed. I really enjoyed returning to Paks' world, and enjoyed getting to know some of the characters better who had been more minor, especially Dorrin. She's the one good out of a pretty rotten family, and often questions herself and her motives while she tries her best, very believably a mix of doubt and action. I won't wait so long before reading the next book in the series.

[sprite_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good start to a series. In every viewpoint someone is stepping into a leadership role they hadn't dreamed of [ironic, I was taking a break from leadership-type books.]

[romsfuulynn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazon preorder

Wish there was more of this and more of each story - but I'm absolutely confident that Moon will bring all of these stories along in further books.

We mostly see three characters from the Deed of Paksenarrion:

Dorrin has become a Duke because her entire family has turned out to be both traitors and corruptly evil in one country and she is attempting to clean up the evil and mess left behind by the family that disowned her and that she fled.

Arcolin has ended up with the company of mercenaries and is growing into his new responsibilities.

And Kieri, of course who had become a king after growing into his fifties knowing nothing of his heritage.

We some of Paks, but not from her viewpoint, and what we see is an engaging view of the hero from the outside, but who is very practical.

Off before too long to reread the Deed.

[jeremypreacher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have had a mixed experience with the Paks books - liked the original trilogy rather a lot, disliked Surrender None, loathed Liar's Oath - so I approached this with a little trepidation.

But it's good! Maybe even better than the original books, if only because Moon has developed so much as a writer in the last twenty years. Paks herself is now a bit character, but her adventures are the foundation of the plot, and the three main characters in this series are all engaging and sympathetic. I can even see where the Gird/Luap books add something in terms of backstory (although my opinion that they were shitty novels hasn't changed.)

I would heartily recommend this series to fans of the Deed of Paksenarrion. Totally worth it.

[eleanor_eader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two neighbouring kingdoms, two kings both new to rule… the former mercenary leader, Duke Phelan, takes the Lyonyan throne to which he has been revealed the half-elven heir by the paladin, Paksannarion, while in Tsaia, crown prince Mikeli prepares for his own coronation; even before he is crowned, a coup is attempted and a threat to the entire realm’s stability is uncovered. Forced to place the entire Verrakai nobility under arrest for treason, his best choice to bring their lands under quick control is to appoint as the new duke, the only Verrakai family member he can trust; Phelan’s former Captain, Dorrin, an outcast Verrakai, reviled by her family for cowardice and weakness, after turning her back on their evil magery. She retains her own cohort for protection, while the rest of the former Duke’s mercenary army is signed over to Arculin, another familiar character with new power and fresh uncertainties in the face of their leader’s new loyalties; a contract to clear brigands from the countryside quickly seems to have a deeper and more menacing threat behind it.I enjoyed this detailed set up to the trilogy’s story arc, much as I did with The Deed of Paksennarion trilogy, from which this stems… for the first half of the book, characters are becoming accustomed to their new positions and status, discovering their strengths, those around them on whom they can rely, and the dangers that surround them; the pace – far from slow, but not plunging dervishly ahead, either – brings a sense of realism that those fantasy sagas which insist on peril or battle on every page simply don’t convey. Moon’s characters have jobs to do, and can’t be entertaining us all the damn time. I find the minutiae makes for engrossing reading, because the story is woven through it, emerging a little at a time, and the conjunction of all the main characters having new and important roles to play was a nicely balanced touch.This isn’t a stand-alone book; the story arc is clearly set up to play out over the three books, but already the tale is bubbling with honour, evil, magic, trials and temptations. I love Moon’s storytelling style, and can’t wait to read the next instalment.

[queensowntalia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

With the long-awaited 'Oath of Fealty,' Elizabeth Moon returns us to the world of Paksenarrion the Paladin, a most welcome revisiting. Rather than a tale of the paladin herself, 'Oath' instead fills us in on the doings of some of Paks' companions from the previous books. Set approximately in conjunction with the end of the previous trilogy, the book goes on to reveal what happened to several major side characters from Paks' story, with the periodic appearance of the paladin herself. As Moon puts it in the intro, this isn't so much a direct sequel as an alternate entry point to the story. At first I was vaguely disappointed the book wasn't more about Paks, but ultimately I found the flushing out of these characters most rewarding. Some of them find themselves in surprising positions indeed. Others face terrible, heartbreaking challenges. And by the end of the book, all of them are much more real, more developed and interesting, then they had been.The only downside I can point out is Moon spends a bit of time here and there getting more into military strategy and such, which always bores me personally. But otherwise, a most rewarding book, particularly for those who enjoyed the earlier Paksenarrion novels.

[newcombeja · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The superb trilogy known as The Deed of Paksenarrion is widely judged to be one of the great post-Tolkien fantasies, a masterpiece of sustained world-building and realistic military action. Now Moon returns to this thrilling realm for the first time in nearly twenty years. The result: another classic in the making. Thanks to Paks's courage and sacrifice, the long-vanished heir to the half-elven kingdom of Lyonya has been revealed as Kieri Phelan, a formidable mercenary captain who earned a title--and enemies--in the neighboring kingdom of Tsaia. Now, as Kieri ascends a throne he never sought, he must come to terms with his own half-elven heritage while protecting his new kingdom from his old enemies--and those he has not yet discovered.(review, courtesy of Sony Reader Store" A great story!

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So what happened after Paks in the last book, and what happened to the characters who were with her? Kieri is now King of Lyona, and will have to come to terms with his Elvish background and the issue of heirs. Dorrin, the only Verrakai that Kieri that anyone thinks they can trust is going to have to come to terms with her legacies and the magic that flows in her veins.Yeah, the comments made by some that you can almost hear the dice roll is quite true but also these are really well thought out characters, full of flaws and reality, issues and experiences who often have to face up to a bad situation and choose between a rock and a hard place.We don't see much of Paks, but I really wished I had read this closer to the rest of the series, ah well, back to reading it I suppose.

[cajela_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What happens AFTER the paladin's quest and the magic sword reveal the long lost heir to the kingdom? How will the kingdom take to him? What will happen to his old friends and companions? And what becomes of the enemy who tried to prevent him gaining the throne? This return to Paksenarrion's world answers those questions, at least in part. It's the first of a long overdue followup trilogy, and Moon is back on form with this after the rather insipid Vatta's War series. Warning: it's essential to read the Paksenarrion books first. It's a D&D-like world, with clerics and mages and paladins. You can almost hear the dice rattling at times, especially in the early books. But Moon's pragmatism tones down the romance of fantasy, and so makes it much more engaging. I love it when the new recruit has to dig a lot of toilet trenches and march though a lot of mud before turning into a paladin on a white horse.

[ceysa_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This books continues the story of others after Paksennarion's path. The book is an intersting continuation of the story and the people and places introduced in the Paksennarion series. We see the captians that once worked for Phelan now strike out on their own. And two kings have to deal with danger in their own courts and lands. And a great evil that has been brewing in many generations threaten to strike out enemies in many ways. And good has to overcome evil of generations. A good read, that makes me want to read even more. I can't wait to read the next installment in the saga.

[ladycato · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This brand new book in the Paksennarion series takes place where Oath of Gold left off. Unlike the previous books, this one does not focus on Paks; instead, we follow several familiar characters as their lives take unexpected turns. Kieri Phelan leaves behind his mercenary company and delves into the truth of his half-elven heritage as he nears his coronation as king of Lyonya. Meanwhile, dark magic lurks in Tsaia. The Verrakaien magelords are held responsible, and all their kin are stripped of land and title--all except for Dorrin Verrakai, one of Phelan's mercenary captains and long estranged from her family. Dorrin must face the darkness of her past and utilize her own untrained magic if she's to cleanse her family's land of taint.At 500 pages, this book was a fast and enjoyable read. I'm a big fan of Moon's books; I read the original Paks and Gird books last year, and then her scifi Vatta's War series a few months ago. Moon's writing skill has increased since she first created Paks' world twenty years ago. Oath of Fealty features the interwoven threads and political intrigue like her Vatta's War books, but in a fantasy setting. That's not a complaint.Reading this felt like sitting down to talk with friends I haven't seen in a long time. I look forward to the release of the next book.

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The start of a new sequence in the Paksennarion universe, this is an alternate entry-point into the series. Much has changed and various people are growing into new responsibilities. Politics, magery, and some small-scale military action punctuate this absorbing tale.

[paulfaustin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent return to Paksworld. Moon increases the level of detail and complexity in her world and the story line looks like it will lead very interesting places

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh, I _like_. The story picks up right from the end of Paks' trilogy - with various people getting the news about the attack on Kieri. Like the trilogy, it's as concerned with the minutia as with the big stuff - a lot of how Arcolin handles the news is dealing with paperwork and the new responsibilities he's carrying. On the other hand, there's a lot more magic being used and encountered than there was until the middle or last book of Paks' trilogy - elf magic, the magic of the human population of Lyonya, magery, more dark stuff in the South. Everyone - all four groups we follow in this book - run into trouble (frequently dark magic) that could not be handled without magic - Gird's, or Falk's, or magery used for good. The swords are clearly darker than anything Phelan's troops encountered during the battle against Sinavia, for instance. It's a little odd how magic-drenched Paks' world seems to be now - without losing any of the detail and every-day-ness that made Paks' trilogy such a rare treasure. Paks is here and taking (a sometimes important) part in the story, but she's not a viewpoint character at all. And even more than in Paks' trilogy, the books are really one story in three volumes. This one ends with some of the immediate problems handled, a lot of things begun but a long way from finished, and more looming on the horizon. Oh, the agony - a year or more until the next one!

[lewispike · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book takes a little while to find it's stride in my opinion. That is because the story picks up basically the next day to the ending of the former series, but it is written 20 years later and the style and writing experience of the author shows through. It's a bit like going back to your school reunion but instead of finding everyone is 20 years older, they're all the same still.Once that has settled down - and it doesn't take that long, it's a nice transition into a new series, told from outside Paks' eyes (although she's still around at various times) as Phelan turns into King of Lyona, Dorrin fights against her traitorous family and so much more.It's a good old fantasy romp, unusually for book 1 in a series with several different voices and quite a lot of action and travel. Looking forward to more stories, especially with the various elements that have been set up for the books to come.