Ephemeral and Fleeting

The Oathtaker Series, Volume Three

Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
378 Pages
Reviewed on 03/27/2017
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Multi-award winning author Patricia Reding leads a double life. By day, she practices law. By night, she reads, reviews a wide variety of works, and writes fantasy. She lives on an island on the Mississippi with her husband and youngest daughter (her son and oldest daughter having already flown the nest), and Flynn Rider (an English Cream Golden Retriever). From there she seeks to create a world in which she can be in two places at once. She started writing The Oathtaker Series as a challenge, and re-discovered along the way, the joy of storytelling.

Oathtaker: The Oathtaker Series, Volume One, won the GOLD medal in the Literary Classics International Book Award Contest, won an Honorary Award in the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest, and was named a Finalist in the Beverly Hills International Book Award Contest. It was also chosen by WindDancer Films for further review.

Select: The Oathtaker Series, Volume Two, won a SILVER medal in the Literary Classics International Book Award Contest, and was awarded a Finalist Award in the Readers Favorite International Book Award Contest.

Both Oathtaker and Select have been awarded the Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the Readers' Favorite 5-star seal.

Ephemeral and Fleeting: The Oathtaker Series, Volume Three, has earned the Readers' Favorite 5-star seal.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

I missed the two previous books in The Oathtaker series by Patricia Reding, but Ephemeral and Fleeting tamed my heart and gave me a longing for more of this author’s work. Although this is the third volume in the thrilling epic fantasy, it reads beautifully as a standalone novel involving magic, supernatural powers, intrigue and betrayal, and the perennial war between good and evil. Readers are introduced to very interesting characters. Mara — and I love the sound of the name — is a gifted and wise woman with the ability to see into the future. She is responsible for Reigna and Eden, a set of magically gifted twins belonging to the first family of the Select. It’s because of their powers that they are moved to the City of Light where they undergo rigorous training with the Oathtaker forces who are dedicated to protecting the land from the evil Zarek, leader of the Chiran. When the twins under her charge are captured, Mara’s world comes crashing down. She discovers that she’s losing her own power and it’s just the beginning. Can they build up a strong enough resistance to stop the evil leader or could this be the end for them?

Ephemeral and Fleeting is a captivating tale, well developed in different layers and the author makes it irresistible with the masterful use of suspense which is built into the subplots. I was pulled into the story right from the very first page. The author doesn’t waste time in introducing the conflict to the reader and it escalates rapidly into a crisis. Readers who love extraordinary characters will adore Mara and the twins. Members of the Oathtaker forces are well thought-out, but it is the unforgiving villain that kept me turning the pages faster, just the way I did when I learned about Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter. From language to plot, to thematic and character development, Patricia Reding comes across as a master in the craft and the world she creates in this fantasy will certainly live in the minds of readers for a long time. It was a wonderful read and I will be looking forward to reading the entire series.

Kim Anisi

Ephemeral and Fleeting is the exciting third volume in Patricia Reding's Oathtaker series. Once more, readers will follow Mara, Dixon, and their charges from one adventure to the other. The group returns to the palace of the Select (not without problems) to train their forces to prepare them for the fight against Zarek, an evil leader. Unfortunately, there is a traitor amongst them. Mara and the twins are captured. Fortunately, there is a way for them to communicate - but getting help from the outside is unlikely. Dixon makes a rescue plan. Lucy tries to find the traitor, while also struggling with her emotions about a long-lost love that suddenly turned up in her life once more. In addition, the twins find out that they have unique gifts which give them the power over life and death - at a very high cost.

It had been a while since I read volume 1 and 2 of the series, but Ephemeral and Fleeting by Patricia Reding includes a summary of the plot if you need it. I didn't read the summary though, but still found it easy to dive right back into the world of Mara. Once more, the writing style makes it very easy for readers to be fully immersed in the fantasy world. You feel like you are returning to some friends you have not seen in a while - but the connection is still there and you just continue from where you left them. Mara and her friends have to go through some very difficult adventures, and they have to make some decisions that will have negative results, no matter what they do. Life and death, love and hate, peace and war: they always need to be balanced, and the ones who try to upset the balance will have to pay a price. Not only will this book entertain you for many hours, you will also get some lessons about life out of it. If you haven't read volume 1 and 2 already, I would recommend you to start there. Thanks to the summary you could forego this, but it would be an immense loss as the story is so well written! You wouldn't want to miss it if you love immersive fantasy novels!

Melinda Hills

As the Oathtakers and the Select they guard are preparing to leave the compound that has been home and sanctuary for roughly two decades, a tragedy occurs that brings about some important revelations. In Ephemeral and Fleeting by Patricia Reding, Lucy, leader of the Council of Oosa, divulges secrets about the powers the twins possess in this third volume of The Oathtaker Series. Moving the Select twins, Reigna and Eden, as well as a group of Oathtakers back to the Palace of Shimeron is a daunting task, but even more obstacles quickly stand in their way. News of their movements are getting back to Zarek, Emperor of Chiran, who is plotting to destroy Oosa and all followers of Ehyeh, the Good One. Zarek continually builds his forces with even more evil soldiers, and his efforts to infiltrate Oosa with children who can stir up trouble and orphans who need care spread the resources of the Council and warriors dangerously thin. As the Oathtakers try to perform their own incursions into Chiran, more and more problems arise as they are overtaken as soon as they arrive. This throws the leaders into a panic, not knowing who is acting as a spy, and time is running short to come up with solutions. The darker things look for those sworn to protect the Select, the more prophecies and dreams seem to provide clues. The question is if they can be interpreted in time to act, and what other surprises lie in store.

Patricia Reding has come up with another excellent book in The Oathtaker Series that moves the plot along at a steady pace while still providing plenty of new twists and turns. A cast of characters and brief synopses of both Volumes One and Two provide great reminders for readers who may have been away from the series for a bit. Ephemeral and Fleeting delves even deeper into the emotions, desires, disappointments and backgrounds of the characters while maintaining great action and well devised strategy. These characters truly demonstrate what it means to be dedicated to a cause and how to work through the direst of circumstances to stay true to the goal. Another hit! I truly admire the depth of the plot and the characters and can't wait to see what happens! Patricia Reding takes the story to a natural end, leaving you breathless for the next volume to see how good versus evil will ultimately play out.

T.Heinisch

INCREDIBLE!! When reading a sequel you never really know what you will get by book three. Ephemeral and Fleeting kept me turning the pages as if it were the first time I had ever read anything about these characters. Patrica Reding, has a unique ability to allow the reading to feel as if they are along for an epic journey. This is yet another book that is difficult to put down by Patricia Reding.