Oathbound | Book 3
Before Starting..
I just learned there's going to be a fourth book after this, which makes me really happy & far less stressed about characters fates. I know 500+ pages covers a lot but the way book 2 ended, I think the series needs at least another book to properly explore, & resolve things without feeling rushed—but that's my opinion as of right now.
I don't know when the release of book 4 will be—I read books 1 & 2 in quick succession so after I finish book 3 I'm likely gonna feel like an addict going cold turkey, heh...
▪︎Edit: since this book does seem to have different pov chapters, I'm going to section/label them if they're not from Bree's pov
Thoughts from 1% - 20%
I'm under the impression we won't get to see many, if any, reoccurring characters from Bree's POV while she's with The Shadow King.. So I'm hoping this book does POV switch's to show how everyone else's journeys are going—Selwyn's, & the Legendborn in particular.
Bree and Selwyn disappeared relatively at the same time, & same way.. Bree striking a bargain with a powerful being who bloodmarked her is the natural conclusion. Anyone with at least 2 brain cells can come to that conclusion—Come on now Shadow King😂
I gotta admit. Villains & Protagonists working together, no matter how or why, is my top 3 favorite trope ever. That dynamic is just soooo fascinating. The entire book could be ONLY THIS and I'd be SAT.
Thank you Arthur for making Bree ambidextrous. That's useful at least.
All events happened just within a span of THREE MONTHS?!..😳..that's wild to think about.
Bree taunting these twin demons is great😂
"A full demon strong enough to bear the searing pain of the mark would gain unimaginable power." ....hmmm... I'm gonna keep this information in mind. Is this foreshadowing a certain someone overcoming bloodlust.... Selwyn?.. I dont think he's full demon but he has "ingested" Bree's power a couple times & is still kicking.. not to mention how intricate his object manifestations are.... 🤔😑🤨..
The Shadow King insists Sel is gone, therefore I believe the opposite even more so. I will levitate when he's proved wrong😌
The Shadow King has been around since the beginning of time, with incredible power, and yet he lives out in the middle of the woods teaching/parenting an emotionally unstable teenager, and two incompetent, immature demons....Hilarious😂
DID THJS FUCKER WIPE BREES MEMORIES!!??? That broke me just now.. oh my god😭😭...
At least Bree knows she was mesmered... Still doesn't help my crying like a baby right now😭 She doesnt remember a single person— just faceless shadows with vague emotions, and memories attached... FUCK😭
Throw the whole series away,, I'm in emotional agony rn.
So she made an oath to herself and that's why her memories are gone.. okay, those can be reversed. I feel slightly better😅
It just hit me. Bree AND Sel are both not fully themselves rn... Parallels😓
☆ 6 Seconds After Bree Disappeared ☆ ▪︎William POV ▪︎
The chapter names!😭 I'm getting what I asked for (Different POV's) but now that Bree doesn't remember anyone, I DONT WANT IT! I dont want to read anymore..
It just dawned on me, William is the ONLY ONE there at the northern chapter that knows everything that went down, & who's behind it all. Alice is in a coma, Sel is with his mom mostly out of his mind, & Bree is with The Shadow King, now WITHOUT her HFJVKU MEMORIES!...... This book is going to be emotionally HEAVY for me... I wasn't prepared to cry so much.
I give these kids too much credit— SEL AND BREE. LEFT WITH A SHADOWBORN... THINK!... WHAT COULD THE REASON BE?! CALL VALEC, WILLIAM!
Everyone arguing, poorly trying to figure this out ME: 😑🙄😴
Has Selwyn's mom started helping him already? Nick is experiencing a bunch of feelings..
Now why on earth would we be calling ANY Regents for help?!😑 The figuring out part is gonna be very drawn out, & done in a round about way isn't it?... Probably a good thing I guess—gives Selwyn & Bree enough time to get strong & back to being themselves before anyone from the order finds them..
Nick purposefully getting himself arrested? The trio can't help but to consciously & subconsciously copy eachother... and yet Nick is absolutely clueless😂🥴
☆ 24 Hrs After Bree Disappeared ☆ ▪︎William POV▪︎
"What has it come to that I can imagine our enemies treating our king better than our leadership would?"
They think the demon will return for Nick?.. so when he doesn't—because he's not the Shadow King's focus—they'll realize it was ALL solely about getting Bree & Sel.... pfftt, that means time has to be spent for them to realize the truth, and then finally start going about finding them..
The next chapter is Mariah's POV after William asked Samira for a favor... does this mean Will is finally doing what I was screaming at my phone for him to do?😅 (fingers crossed!)
☆ 62 Hrs after Bree Disappeared ☆ ▪︎Mariah POV▪︎
Mariah, Valec & Lu have been updated. So they were called? either way:👍
Why were they driving for 6 hours, and searching the woods at night? They can't have already found Erebus's (The Shadow King's) cabin..
They went to meet William! FUCK YEAH!
WILLIAM DIDNT TELL THEM ABOUT SEL BEING GONE TOO?! .... slowly bangs head against wall
Valec knows what's up!! Selwyn disappearing along with Bree is the key unusual part to get them on the right track. He knows about Bree & Sel's relationship, he'd be the one to point out truths!
"Wait.. Wait... why didn't I think of this before?" WILLIAM IS FINALLY ASKING HIMSELF THE SAME QUESTION I WAS BEGGING HIM TO IMMEDIATELY THINK OF— 😫😤🥴🤣
Did Valec just?— slams desk hard with fist Idk if he did that for everyone's safety sake, or because he knows the Shadow King would train Bree and she needs time..????... But hey, bright side— at least Valec, Lu & Mariah know the Hunter is involved in Selwyn & Bree's disappearance. If & when the need arises, they'll help.
Not Lark & William bickering like Sel & Bree🤣
Mariah was the one to point out the bargain Bree made. I honestly thought Valec would've since he's seen the relationship ups and downs for a bit.
Valec MVP award #2 incoming?? Is he gonna be who gets Selwyn &/or Bree back? The problem is Sel doesn't need to be rescued,, but I think he'll be who Valec goes to find first.
🤯😭 YESS! WE GET NATASIA POV!!! but I'm not ready..
☆ 48 Hrs After Selwyn Appeared ☆ ▪︎Natasia POV▪︎
oh. audio log transcripts? ..just stab me instead.
Even Natasia knows Sel is powerful and she just met him, hasnt seen his castings or aether work, or even properly SPOKEN with him yet😭... THIS is how she meets her child again....
"Does he have a partner?" He has a surprise to share with you when he wakes up, Natasia. You'll never guess who😅
"I do not know Erebus's reasoning for giving that precise warning to me, and I do not care—without hesitation I made my position clear. Selwyn is my son, Erubus. It is never too late!" I love Natasia an unfathomable amount! She's SUCH a badass! All of Sel's great qualities come from her! God I'm begging for Bree to properly meet her😭
☆ 72 Hrs After Bree Disappeared ☆ ▪︎William POV▪︎
"Did you know when Bree first entered the scoures tournament,— Nick told Bree she could call a Curia?" Back when things were far simpler😓.. A Curia is for information & actionable requests if I remember correctly. So Nick is either going to ask to start a search party, cause a distraction, or ask for information.
WAIT! I FORGOT!.... Nick knows of The Shadow King from the bloodwalk with Bree & Sel!!...or am I giving these kids' memories too much credit again?😂 Idk if Nick would forget that info tho, his 2 favorite people were there. I really don't want Nick to cause the deaths of rootcrafters if he does bring the Regents into this... I'm intrigued what his plan is.
Erebus is there?!!.... Nick is so calling to attack The Shadow King. Please let me be wrong again.
HELL YEAH WILLIAM. YOU TELL THE REGENTS WHATS WHAT!
William is being threatened by The Shadow King and he doesn't even know it😳😳
Nick is getting the Morgaines involved to help take down The Shadow Knight like the memory he saw... clever Nick, clever😏
Thoughts from 21% - 41%
☆ 2 Weeks After Selwyn Appeared ☆ ▪︎Natasia POV▪︎
Selwyn spoke a sentence to Bree before The Shadow King took him to his mom, so he's not incapable of talking, and he's not THAT far gone thankfully.
"In all of this I can at least find some solace in knowing that Bree Matthews will be free to live her life without the chaos we call the order." soooo uuhhhhhmmm... about that..
☆ Two Months After Bree Disappeared ☆ ▪︎ Mariah POV ▪︎
I'm placing my bets now on how long it'll be before Bree & Selwyn are found, or return. My guess is 8-10 months.
You know what'd be interesting now that Mariah is seeing these events from a different pov. If she sees remnants of black aether around Erebus.. Because atm, nobody knows the Hunter poses as him "during the day".
Erebus not being affected by the Merlin sound blast machine didnt raise any flags with Mariah?.. or anyone for that matter?
"Bree Matthew's doesnt wait until she's ready to act–" That's part of the issue too, she still sometimes doesn't think things through, like Sel told her. She's also 17 years old so that makes complete sense for her age.
☆ 2 Months After Selwyn Appeared ☆ ▪︎Natasia POV▪︎
It's really irritating me I cant come up with any ideas as to how Natasia overcame it. All I come up with is an extremely vague; counterbalance his humanity back.. like yeah no shit Val, but how? be more specific😂
Viewing succumbing to demonia as an evolution or transition instead is really interesting,, I didnt think of that. Not all transitions look good, sometimes they're painful but necessary.
Selwyn's reaction to a non-mention of Bree, and Natasia wondering if it's love, hunger, or protectiveness on his face😭
And now we're finally back to Bree! That felt like forever.
She's remembering Sel killing a demon in front of her while she hid behind a tree,, BUT SHE STILL CANT PUT FACES OR NAMES TO IT💀
This series really has become the Selwyn & Bree show. The narrative has this massive vortex around their growth & rescue. I love it! I don't know why I panicked so much that their dynamic would disappear.. knock on wood
Bree is reminding me of book 1 Selwyn, with that "rude" sass, & sarcasm right now😅
"Human beings deny other human beings humanity and call that power." Holy Nuclear Truth bomb🔥
He's gonna use Bree to get the crown back isn't he??!!—THATS THE OTHER THING HE ADDRESSED WHEN THEY MADE THEIR DEAL BUT DIDNT SAY!!!
She remembers the passionate make out sesh with "the Merlin boy" at the worst possible time—talking with the Shadow King. This is like a parent talking to their child about safe sex. I AM GONE🤣🤣
Shadow King doesnt want/like those two together probably because Arthur and Merlin were WHY he was de-powered & almost killed.. I gotta imagine the history has to come back into play on how they defeat him, or trap him.
☆ 3 Months After Selwyn Appeared ☆ ▪︎Natasia POV▪︎
Why on earth is this chapter so damn short for?!😥
Did she just hint at Selwyn being more powerful than her now?!..😱🤯 SEE SHADOW KING! I FUCKING TOLD YOU! EAT SHIT!😅😝
Red and black blood that is not his own? is HE the one killing merlins?.... No. That doesnt make sense would it?... 👀
☆ 3 Months After Bree Disappeared ☆ ▪︎ William POV▪︎
Throwing this out there and seeing what sticks. Are Nick, William & Lark going to run into Bree & the twins because they're all headed to "see" a morgaine? Is Bree's defiance part of the Shadows Kings plan? To take out the "competition"?...🤔
William's POV flashback sequence shows just how protective & gentle he views Selwyn to be with Bree & Nick🥺
DNF ** This is NOT because I disliked it. This book made me more emotional than the previous 2 books, and had a very intriguing protagonist & antagonist dynamic. I just got spoiled on the love triangle aspect of this book and that's what made me lose my interest to read on, which was my fear..
I'm gonna wait for book 4 to release to revisit & continue IF there's hope for my Selwyn & Bree.. I looove angst & hopeless slow-burn ships, but I have my limits. Besides my disinterest & grudge with Nick, I really Love this series dearly!