In the land of Darhan, promises are bound by magic, tied into knots, and worn with pride. Those who break them are physically scarred, cast out into the desert, and stalked by vengeful shadows of their treachery.
Fifteen-year-old Raim, the best young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard, has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. He doesn’t know where it came from and barely thinks about it at all. But on the most important day of his life, when Raim agrees to give his life as a warrior to the future king, that knot bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin.
Now scarred as an oathbreaker, Raim has two options: run or die.
Praise:
"An excellent choice for those looking for a compelling and detailed fantasy novel."
―SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Middle-school readers looking to get lost in another world will enjoy this adventure-packed read."―BOOKLIST
"An intriguing start to McCulloch's planned series."―PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"The most compelling new fantasy I've read in years."
―Jonathan Stroud, author of Lockwood & Co and the Bartimaeus books
“Brilliant. Absolutely gripping from the start, a complete joy and a great new voice.”―Conn Iggulden, author of the internationally bestselling Empire series
“The Oathbreaker’s Shadow is a very promising debut in what bodes to be an electrifying duology. Unusual magic set in an exotic location and nomadic culture lures the reader to total immersion in Raim’s world.”―Robin Hobb, internationally bestselling author of the Farseer trilogy
**
From School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world in which a promise is so binding that if it is broken, that promise leaves an irreversible stain on the oathbreaker, who is then cast out from the community and family for life. In Darhan, it is better to be dead than to be an oathbreaker. Raim has spent all of his life training to become an elite Yun warrior and guardian of his clan's future king, and coincidentally, best friend Kareh. On the night of his acceptance into the Yun Guard, Raim unknowingly breaks a mysterious oath he has been carrying since before he can remember. Raim is forced to flee before he is killed. He escapes into the desert in hopes of making it to the city of Lazar, where all the oathbreakers are forced to live. He barely survives his first day in the open before a fierce tribe of desert people, known as Alashan, find him and vow to take him to Lazar. The protagonist becomes embroiled in a conflict that, if not stopped, will endanger Darhan and all the people in it. The Oathbreaker's Shadow is easy to dive into and will keep readers engaged. Raim's character arc is full of palpable highs and lows as he uncovers the mystery behind his fate. The conclusion will leave teens wanting more, and is the perfect setup for a sequel. An excellent choice for those looking for a compelling and detailed fantasy novel.—Annalise Ammer, City of Rochester Public Libraries, NY
Review
Praise for Amy McCulloch:
• "Brilliant. Absolutely gripping from the start; a complete joy and a great new voice." --Conn Iggulden, author of The Dangerous Book for Boys and the Emperor Series
• "The Oathbreaker's Shadow is a very promising debut in what bodes to be an electrifying duology.Unusual magic set in an exotic location and nomadic culture lures the reader to total immersion in Raim's world. Questions of loyalty versus morality are fearlessly faced. When can friendship survive betrayal? --Robin Hobb
Description:
In the land of Darhan, promises are bound by magic, tied into knots, and worn with pride. Those who break them are physically scarred, cast out into the desert, and stalked by vengeful shadows of their treachery.
Fifteen-year-old Raim, the best young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard, has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. He doesn’t know where it came from and barely thinks about it at all. But on the most important day of his life, when Raim agrees to give his life as a warrior to the future king, that knot bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin.
Now scarred as an oathbreaker, Raim has two options: run or die.
Praise:
"An excellent choice for those looking for a compelling and detailed fantasy novel."
―SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Middle-school readers looking to get lost in another world will enjoy this adventure-packed read."―BOOKLIST
"An intriguing start to McCulloch's planned series."―PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"The most compelling new fantasy I've read in years."
―Jonathan Stroud, author of Lockwood & Co and the Bartimaeus books
“Brilliant. Absolutely gripping from the start, a complete joy and a great new voice.”―Conn Iggulden, author of the internationally bestselling Empire series
“The Oathbreaker’s Shadow is a very promising debut in what bodes to be an electrifying duology. Unusual magic set in an exotic location and nomadic culture lures the reader to total immersion in Raim’s world.”―Robin Hobb, internationally bestselling author of the Farseer trilogy
**
From School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world in which a promise is so binding that if it is broken, that promise leaves an irreversible stain on the oathbreaker, who is then cast out from the community and family for life. In Darhan, it is better to be dead than to be an oathbreaker. Raim has spent all of his life training to become an elite Yun warrior and guardian of his clan's future king, and coincidentally, best friend Kareh. On the night of his acceptance into the Yun Guard, Raim unknowingly breaks a mysterious oath he has been carrying since before he can remember. Raim is forced to flee before he is killed. He escapes into the desert in hopes of making it to the city of Lazar, where all the oathbreakers are forced to live. He barely survives his first day in the open before a fierce tribe of desert people, known as Alashan, find him and vow to take him to Lazar. The protagonist becomes embroiled in a conflict that, if not stopped, will endanger Darhan and all the people in it. The Oathbreaker's Shadow is easy to dive into and will keep readers engaged. Raim's character arc is full of palpable highs and lows as he uncovers the mystery behind his fate. The conclusion will leave teens wanting more, and is the perfect setup for a sequel. An excellent choice for those looking for a compelling and detailed fantasy novel.—Annalise Ammer, City of Rochester Public Libraries, NY
Review
Praise for Amy McCulloch:
• "Brilliant. Absolutely gripping from the start; a complete joy and a great new voice." --Conn Iggulden, author of The Dangerous Book for Boys and the Emperor Series
• "The Oathbreaker's Shadow is a very promising debut in what bodes to be an electrifying duology.Unusual magic set in an exotic location and nomadic culture lures the reader to total immersion in Raim's world. Questions of loyalty versus morality are fearlessly faced. When can friendship survive betrayal? --Robin Hobb