Bard's Oath

Bard's Oath is the third installment in Joanne Bertin's Dragonlord series, set in a realm where humans coexist with dragons and dragonlords - unique beings who possess both human and dragon souls. The story centers around the prestigious Balyaranna Fair, a renowned horse festival that draws visitors from across the Five Kingdoms. The narrative follows two main characters: Raven Redhawkson, attending the fair for horse trading, and Bard Leet, who arrives seeking revenge for a family death. Their paths intersect at the festival, where several dragonlords are also present, including Maurynna Kyrissean, Linden Rathan, and the newly-transformed Shima Ilyathan. A parallel storyline emerges in the distant wilderness, where a Beast Healer discovers an ancient secret that could have significant consequences for the events unfolding at the fair. The story explores themes of vengeance, justice, and the complex relationships between different species in this fantasy world.

Many readers found Bard's Oath disappointing after the 14-year wait following The Last Dragonlord. Common complaints focus on the slow pacing, lack of character development, and convoluted plot that was hard to follow. What readers liked: - Return to the established fantasy world - Continued storylines from previous books - Writing style maintains consistency with series What readers disliked: - Plot moves too slowly with limited action - Characters feel flat compared to previous books - Hard to follow multiple converging plotlines - Ending feels rushed and unsatisfying Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (182 ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (22 reviews) Reader quotes: "The story dragged and I found myself skimming" - Goodreads reviewer "Not worth the decade-plus wait" - Amazon reviewer "Confusing plot that goes nowhere" - Fantasy Fiction forum member "Characters lost their depth and charm" - LibraryThing review The book received lower ratings than previous entries in the series (The Last Dragonlord: 4.0/5, Dragon and Phoenix: 4.1/5).

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🔹 Joanne Bertin worked as a registered nurse before becoming a full-time fantasy author, bringing her understanding of human nature to her character development 🔹 The Balyaranna Fair featured in the book is inspired by medieval horse fairs, particularly the famous Appleby Horse Fair in England, which has been running since 1775 🔹 The concept of dragonlords as dual-souled beings (both human and dragon) is unique in dragon fantasy literature, differing from traditional dragon-rider narratives 🔹 "Bard's Oath" was published in 2012, marking a 13-year gap since the previous book in the series, "Dragon and Phoenix" (1999) 🔹 The series incorporates elements of Celtic mythology, particularly in its portrayal of bards as powerful wielders of magic through music and storytelling