At the time I first read it, this was the first Mercedes Lackey book set on Velgarth I'd come across. I would later pick up Arrows of the Queen, but at that point all I'd read of her work was the Bardic Voices series - which I'd quite enjoyed.As introductions to fantasy worlds go, this is by and large a good one. The characters of Tarma and Kethry remain some of my favorites in any Lackey book. (Kethry's granddaughter Kerowyn is probably my ultimate fave.) They're dynamic and engaging, have an interesting relationship and compelling conflicts, and are exactly the kind of heroes I love rooting for in classic sword-and-sorcery tales. (Given that they got their start in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress anthologies, this is little surprise.)There were a couple of things I'd forgotten between that first readthrough and this second. First was the fact that the first T&K story isn't included in this volume. It was later published in the 'third' book of the series, Oathblood - which is really just a collection of missing stories, not a whole narrative in and of itself - and I've read it once there and once in the S&S volume where it was originally published, but it's been a long time since either and I was somewhat thrown off by the missing information.The second thing that I'd forgotten is that this book, for all that it's somewhat disjointed, actually has a coherent overall arc in the development of Tarma and Kethry's relationship. They're still very new to their partnership and each other, and they spend the entire book working out problems so that they can function together better. It's gratifying to read, because I feel like this kind of complex relationship progression is... well, not exactly a hallmark of the sword and sorcery subgenre, as well as because it makes both of them much more realistic, sympathetic characters.The third thing I'd forgotten was... less pleasant. The last third or so of the book follows a chain of events starting with bandit attacks on trading caravans and ending in a much larger confrontation. Near the beginning, Tarma and Kethry do something very out of character, and it just goes downhill from there. Trigger warning for rape in the spoilers that follow. (view spoiler)[Kethry 'punishes' the bandit leader by laying an illusion over him that makes him look like a frail young woman, then ties him to his own horse and sends him back to his camp, in full knowledge and expectation that he will be gang-raped. In fact, she seems to expect him to be raped and then murdered. This is out of character in several ways - for one, she and Tarma could have followed the horse back to camp and captured those remaining bandits and brought them in for trial; for another, I don't think it takes much elaboration to explain how illogical it is for someone who is geas-bound to protect women to use femininity as a punishment and deliberately send someone to be raped.The bandit, however, survives, and eventually makes a deal with a demon who has a grudge against T&K. This leads to the revelation that the bandit enjoyed being assaulted - really, the whole scenario just gets grosser and grosser. Not one female or female-appearing character makes it out of this part of the story without being assaulted. The demon is eventually punished by being locked in the same frail female form as the bandit - meaning that Lackey has used femininity as retribution not once but twice here. It's revolting from top to bottom, completely out of place in the book, completely out of character, and just generally an embarrassment and a disgrace.(there's also the comparatively minor writing foible of the complete deus ex machina that ends the tale. Really, this book should be reissued without the whole sequence.) (hide spoiler)]
Trigger Warning: There are mentions of one of the characters rape that takes place in her past. Nothing too graphic, but there are no warnings for it in any of the blurbs I've seen. It's best for people to be prepared. Note: This books is a bunch of loosely connected short stories collected into one book. It does not contain the story of Tarma and Kethry's first meeting, Sword Sworn published in the Sword and Sorceresses III Anthology. While this book takes place in the same universe as Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, it takes place in a different region of the world (the Southern lands). They are just as magical, but we do not encounter any characters from the other series and the tone of these books are different. Review proper:This books is a fantastic fun read. I highly recommend it to any fans of fantasy, especially if they are looking for female centric stories with humor and intricate world building on par of Tolkien and GRRM. Though I would hesitate to call this epic fantasy, because it's really more about the story of two women, who are best friends and warriors. I first read these book as a teenager, after unsuccessfully attempting to slog my way through various high fantasy series. As a teenage girl, and woman of color, I was longing to read about someone like me, while still exploring the concepts and world building of the fantasy genre. In other words, I was bored to death of white man fantasy. Where women were relegated to damsels, canon fodder or sexist jokes. Where there wasn't a single ethnic character, or the supernatural creatures were thinly veiled racist stereotypes ala JarJar Binks. Enter my foster mother who was tired of my bitching. She slapped down her well worn copies of The Oathbound and Oathbreakers, telling me to shut up and read. To this day I'm so grateful to her for giving me the gift of Mercedes Lackey's books. Even though it has been two decades since I first read these books they still stand as some of the most entertaining and endearing of all the books I own. If you're looking for books with a woman of color in a lead role, where a female friendship is set center stage and that has a of cheeky sense of humor these books are for you. This book also has one of the most positive representations of an asexual character I've ever read. The world has gay and lesbian characters who are viewed in a positive light. (In fact, Lackey has a prequel series set in this world, north in the kingdom of Valdemer about a gay man called Valdemar: The Last Herald Mage. Which I highly recommend too). This is fantasy with a female voice, written to entertain and amuse and it does.
Do You like book The Oathbound (1988)?
While it is rare for a Valdemar novel, the magically bound best friends in this book are both human. Yes, there is a magically talking dog, but he's completely tertiary, and the horses can't talk at all. This trilogy follows the adventures of a mage and a nomadic warrior--both women who've been done wrong by the world--as they right wrongs and fight demons. This book was actually a little less girl-powerful than I was expecting. Tarma--the nomadic swordswoman--is taught by spirits who seem to be almost entirely men for all that her Goddess is a woman. Moreover, every victim we actually meet in this book is a woman--usually one that has been raped horribly. Worst of all, the greatest punishment that anyone can devise is to trap the men in illusionary female bodies. The first time Kethry--the mage--uses this punishment is poetic enough, sending the rapist bandit leader back to his gang-banging-band, but the subsequent repetition of this punishment as completely torturous through the rest of the novel leaves me cold. Usually, Lackey is considerably better with sexual politics. Overall, however, I like exploring outside of Valdemar, in what we might call the less perfect lands.
—Kathleen
The Swordswoman: She was Tarma. Born to the Clan of the Hawk of the nomadic Shin'a'in people she saw her entire clan slain by brigands. Vowing blood revenge upon the murderers, she became one of the sword-sworn, the most elite of all warriors. And trained in all forms of death-dealing combat, she took the road in search of her enemies.... And the Sorceress: She was Kethry. Born to a noble house, sold into a hateful "marriage," she fled life's harshness for the sanctuary of the White Winds, a powerful school of sorcery. Becoming an adept, she pledged to use her talents for the greatest good. Yet unlike other sorcerers, Kethry could use worldly weapons as well as magical skills. When she became the bearer of a uniquely magical sword which drew her to those in need, Kethry was led to a fateful meeting with Tarma. The Oathbound: United by sword-spell and the will of the Goddess, Tarma and Kethry swore a blood oath to carry on their mutual fight against evil. And together, swordmaster and sorceress set forth to fulfill their destiny....
—Ward Bond
After a re-read many years following my first foray into this series, Tarma and Kethry still hold up. While their story isn't anything new or innovative in terms of the fantasy genre, their relationship certainly is. Tarma and Kethry's partnership is a constant undercurrent, from their disagreements to their brilliant moments of cooperation, and it's really that which makes this book satisfying. Kethry, a physically beautiful, gently born Mage-in-training is the antithesis of Tarma - a strong swordswoman rendered asexual by her bond with her deity. Despite this, their personalities hinge very well, and their differences are played with more subtlety than I'd expect from an author that tended to rely on stereotyping and exaggerated personality traits in her earlier work. The book reads like the adventures of a tabletop RPG with a very good, rather devious GM. I could see plot devices coming a mile away, but that was actually all right. I was a bit disappointed to see that both the characters' backstories and the recurring plot through the series employed themes of rape, only because that theme has been overused in fantasy books featuring strong female characters. While it's always a valid source of conflict, there's certainly more plots in the sea. Still, the ladies manage to get themselves into - and out of - a fair amount of interesting scrapes, including at least one they essentially engineered for themselves, and made for an easy, entertaining read. The writing itself is fair quality, but could use the hand of an editor or proofreader - I'm increasingly convinced that fantasy books are lucky if they get a proper spellcheck, let alone a read-through by someone other than the author prior to print. I'll definitely reread it again, the series is a great antidote to a chilly winter night.
—Jennifer
