Oath of Servitude by C.E. WilsonMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
[Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.]
Firstly, my apologies to the author, who graciously sent me a copy of this book five or so months ago and I never got around to reading it. In truth, I started it right away but couldn't get into it. I decided to give it another go this week and finally it's finished.
For me, this book was only "OK." It needs some major proof reading considering the grammar and sentence structure are a bit messy. There is also soooooooo muuuuuuuuch repetition, in one page a character might say the same thing three or four times. It's not very realistic when you're thinking of the flow of a conversation.
The opening starts to bring up alcoholism, but it's never named and never really addressed. Teague's drinking is a huge factor in his actions, but no one ever brings up the fact that he's essentially turned himself into a raging alcoholic, and his father even provides the booze for him while at the same time asking him how long he plans on being an alcoholic. That part was unbelievable to me. Cailin's arrival seems to miraculously turn him around within days to the point where he only drinks once around her and immediately regrets it, and even agrees to go to therapy. I've never heard of an alcoholic behaving that way before. Again, not realistic.
It was pretty obvious from the start that Cailin and Teague would bond and eventually fall in love, but I thought it felt a bit rushed.
The last thing is, this book raises more questions than it answers. I am of the opinion that by the end of a book, at least some of the questions it has raised should have answers. At the end of this book, there are zero answers, and only more questions. What IS the Darkness? Why does Lennox hate the Willows? Why have Owen and Nolkrin remained friends so long? What are the secrets Nolkrin is keeping from his daughters? Why are the pixis so against doing anything even remotely logical? I mean, Rinoa gets arrested for planning a trip to make sure her sister is all right. Does that mean that it's illegal to leave the pixi settlement? Or that it's illegal to get near humans? Or that it's illegal to have secret meetings with friends? Cailin is sent away presumably (since this is the only explanation we ever get) because she wears different colored clothing than other pixis and isn't meek and submissive. Huh?
At only 157 pages of story, this is more of a novella than a book. But even novellas have the space to explain, and answer some of the lingering questions, or reveal some secrets, or something. I would like to see this go to a professional editor, and have some length added to it in order to make it feel more like a complete work. Unfortunately at this point, it's more of a work in progress.
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