Oath Sworn


Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
354 Pages
Reviewed on 04/13/2021
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

When a werecat swears an oath to protect the human daughter of an Alpha werewolf, she and her charge become the target of a band of bloodthirsty werewolves in the spectacular urban fantasy, Oath Sworn (A Jacky Leon Novel: Book 1) by K.N. Banet. As a werecat, Jacky Leon is content with her solitary life as the owner of a bar outside of Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. A hostile takeover of a werewolf pack is causing panic in the city, and Jacky is hoping she is far enough away from the chaos to stay out of trouble. When the eleven-year-old daughter of the deposed Alpha werewolf appears at her door and requests protection, Jacky is duty-bound to help her. Determined to stay out of the werewolf fight, Jacky reluctantly assumes guardianship. However, when a rogue group of werewolves oversteps their boundaries with the intent to harm her charge, Jacky ignores the law and seeks vengeance.

Fabulously executed, Oath Sworn by K.N. Banet is a phenomenal urban fantasy featuring werewolves, werecats, and other fascinating supernatural beings. The engaging characters, a dynamic plot, and a fast-moving storyline create a riveting tale that held me on the edge of my seat from the intriguing first page until the last; I stayed up all night to read it. All of the characters are skillfully written, including the villains. I admired Jacky and enjoyed her character's progression from a loner to a team fighter. It was heart-warming to witness her expand her personal boundaries and become part of a community, even if she opted to stay on the fringes. Containing action-packed scenes, a feisty protagonist, and a deadly conflict, it is a spellbinding novel that promises to enthrall urban fantasy fans who are shapeshifting story enthusiasts!

Romuald Dzemo

Oath Sworn is a compelling urban fantasy written by Kristen Banet, a story that follows an elaborately developed female protagonist in a world inhabited by werecats, werewolves, shapeshifters, and other supernatural creatures. Jacky Leon is a werecat who is content in running her bar and staying out of trouble. But a mess in a nearby city that is run by werewolves forces her to get involved in a fight to protect Carey Everson, the human daughter of a werewolf Alpha. Carey is hunted by her father’s enemies and Jacky can’t leave her alone. It is time to uphold an oath she made. Follow her in this action-packed story that features characters anyone will adore, a lot of fun and adventure.

There is so much to love and enjoy in Kristen Banet’s novel, starting with world-building. When Jacky describes her world from the start of the story — and she is a narrator with an irresistible voice — it feels real. It is like readers can see the places in their mind’s eyes. The locales are gorgeously described and the author writes interesting details into them. The world the author creates for the supernatural characters has its own laws and customs and there is a lot of originality in the work, including coexistence between the different kinds of shifters. The relationships between the characters are well-developed, especially the one between Jacky and Carey and how it pulls Jacky into a conflict she never bargained for. The writing is impeccable, with timely paragraph breaks that accentuate the drama that punctuates the entire story. Oath Sworn is fast-paced, emotionally engaging, and written with a satisfying ending.

Pikasho Deka

Oath Sworn is a supernatural thriller written by K.N. Banet. Jacqueline Leon feels content with her solitary life as a bar owner, living just outside the small town of Jacksonville, East Texas. Unbeknownst to the patrons of her bar, Jacky's true identity is that of a werecat. Trouble ensues when eleven-year-old Carey Everson -- daughter of the Alpha of a pack of werewolves -- comes knocking on Jacky's door seeking sanctuary and protection from her father's enemies. Due to an ancient governing Law of the supernatural community, Jacky feels honor-bound to uphold her sacred Duty and defend her charge with fangs and claws. But her commitment to her Duty plunges her deep into the midst of an ongoing turf war of the werewolves, and Jacky risks facing the wrath of the supernatural community.

Fast-paced, action-packed, and wildly entertaining, K.N. Banet's Oath Sworn digs its sharp claws into you from the get-go and refuses to let go without making an impact. Oath Sworn is an exceedingly absorbing thriller bound to entertain fans of supernatural novels involving creatures such as werecats, werewolves, vampires, and many more. I found Jacky Leon to be a very compelling protagonist and a fascinating character with an unwavering determination to uphold her oath even at the cost of personal harm. The action scenes are raw and visceral, and K.N. Banet describes them in vivid detail to create an immersive narrative filled with tension. Oath Sworn is one the most original works I've come across involving werecats and werewolves, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Foluso Falaye

In Oath Sworn by K.N. Banet, the werewolves fail to understand that "just because humans know about them, they can’t run off and start small wars in the middle of big cities." In contrast, Jacky Leon, as a werecat, cannot afford to be seen as any cats that resemble her species were long extinct, and even the werecats once faced the threat of extinction due to war. Jacky does not want history to repeat itself, but when she decides to protect the daughter of a deposed Alpha of the Dallas Fort Worth werewolf pack, she risks upsetting the peace that has been maintained for over eight hundred years. Does Jacky have what it takes to fight off a thousand werewolves, who don't play by the rules and are bent on kidnapping and using her protectee to flush out her deposed father?

K.N. Banet's book had me immersed in action-packed scenes filled with the hair-raising growls and aggression of supernatural beings as they face off and act to dominate each other. Warning! The werewolves are wild and out to eliminate their opponents, so prepare for graphic scenes and language usage. Oath Sworn depicts its protagonist as a strong and compassionate heroic character who fights for what is right. The magical theme is colorfully represented with several exciting characters, like witches, fae, vampires, and more. Jacky's character felt so clear and realistic it was like I was seeing her next to me; she thinks and speaks matter-of-factly, with a mixture of irony, empathy, and a cat-like ferocity. I strongly recommend the book to fans of fantasy and werewolf narratives that portray pack rivalry and non-stop action!

Tammy Ruggles

Oath Sworn by K.N. Banet is a piercing urban fantasy ride amongst werewolves that you won't ever forget. Thanks to the dynamic writing of Banet, this otherworldly drama gets to the hearts, fears, and imaginations of the characters and the reading audience, pulling you in and not letting you go until it's over. Lead character Jacky is full of punch, heart, and some secrets. But she basically minds her own business doing what she loves best--running her own bar and wishing she wasn't a werecat. She has an obligation to defend an old treaty and gets sucked into the midst of a coup orchestrated by a werewolf pack. But above all her tenacity, she is loyal, and when Carey, the human daughter of werewolf Alpha, is being pursued by those with bad intent, Jacky wants to help her and may be her last hope. Jacky vows to protect her, even if it means risking her life, and that could mean upsetting the rules holding sway over the supernatural world. Jacky's word is her oath, and she plans to see it through, regardless of the cost.

Jacky Leon is what heroes are made of. This character-driven novel is helmed by the talented Banet, who knows just how to draw the right characters, settings, backstory, and fantasy world. The first hurdle is making you believe in Jacky's world, and the author does this handsomely, beginning with the first page. We are gradually but deliberately led through the character's qualities, her interactions, motives, and voice. She is someone you want on your side, and Carey Everson is lucky to have her. What I like in this novel is the way the author is sold on her characters and plot, which makes us sold on it too. Banet has created a world with people and creatures of the night that are truly convincing. Jeopardy and action abound, the chemistry between the leads is great, and you'll be hooked all the way through. If you're looking for a high-octane werewolf story, you'll definitely find it in Oath Sworn by K.N. Banet.