Defending Lian against soulless assassins is not what Aralt “Wolf” syr Tremayne agreed to.

Nor did he agree to be the guardian of an irrational teenaged Keeper of the Faith.

And he certainly did not plan on sky pirates or cannibals.

Aralt has his hands full. The Grand Meeting of the Northern Alliance is mere days away and Lian Kynsei, last of the soul-touched and missing for three years, turns up on his doorstep. A noble man of his word, Aralt has every intention of protecting his ward, but did he have to show up now? What’s worse, the more they get reacquainted, the less Aralt likes him. He’s reckless, emotional, and when he’s angry even the weather changes. This is the hope of a nation?

Armed with the Tuned sword that is all he has left of his murdered brother, Aralt endeavors to secure a sanctuary for a reluctant heir-apparent who never anticipated his elevated status. But sanctuary proves elusive, every step bringing them closer to danger–and closer to revealing secrets neither wishes to share. The enemy has made the skies their own and unleashed a scourge intent on killing Lian–or worse. Death, Aralt realizes, might be the greater mercy.

Book 1 of the Wolf’s Oath Trilogy series.

The more things change, the more difficult our challenge to adapt to those changes, especially when they involve people and failed responsibilities. While there’s plenty of aerial swashbuckling and adventure and even political sparring in Meg MacDonald’s Oath Sworn, the central conflict unfolds between two people—a young boy who’s something of a priest, and the man who swore to be his guardian but couldn’t prevent him from going missing. When the boy suddenly returns, launching a flotilla of political and religious ramifications for several kingdoms, his friendship with his guardian grows strained under the weight of secrets left unspoken. Strange concepts and tumultuous dialogue can soar over the reader’s head, but this narrative moves at a riveting clip.

Best for: Adult readers.

Discern: Some stronger language might discomfit some Christian readers; vague references to abuses that a certain enemy inflicted on both heroes.