A review by jamesnotlatimer
Oathblood by Mercedes Lackey

4.0

This was, somewhat randomly, my first Lackey, and therefore my first of the series. However, as it includes the origin story in amongst the 11 short stories. Most are good sword-and-sorcery fare, with the unusual attraction, as the intro points out, of a pair of women in the comrades-in-arms roles mostly assigned to men. They are a good pair, if a little too flawless at times, but these are not dark or particularly dangerous stories (their gruesome origin aside). The earlier (published and set) ones are better, focusing on the two alone against the odds a bit more. The longer story that finishes and names the book starts slowly and domestically, but has a fun finish. The writing is less atmospheric than some S&S, but full of thoughtful details and well-plotted. The main characters are fun to follow, though in short form it wasn't always easy to tell them apart, as they both think alike, and generally out-think rather than out-fight or -magic their opponents. I'd definitely try the other books in is series, though I've never been too interested in Valdemar (and I can't say that's changed).