Review: Sworn to Conflict by Terah Edun

The latest release in the high fantasy series which has drawn comparisons to Kushiel's Dart, Graceling, and the epic world of Tamora Pierce.

Ciardis Weathervane fought for the living dead and won. But worse than taking on a mass murderer, was her discovery that she had been deceived by her friends. Now she needs to not only fight a war in the North and survive, but also decide where she stands in the midst of competing sides.

A threat to all she holds dear lies in the North and her heart is not the only thing she might lose. A massive army awaits in the mountain pass, surging closer to the gates of the southern lands. Nothing the Algardis army has done so far has dissuaded their march forward and Ciardis finds out that her powers to enhance are needed now more than ever.

As she faces her greatest fears on the battlefields and her heart is torn between her love of Sebastian and loyalty to her family, Ciardis must choose her fate carefully. For in her path, lies the destiny of the empire.

This third novel continues the story of Ciardis Weathervane from Sworn To Transfer.

So much is happening in Sworn to Conflict! The third book in the Courtlight series by Terah Edun takes us on another wild trip. This is the third book in the Courtlight series. If you haven’t read any of the books, check out my review of the first books Sworn to Raise. Some minor spoilers of the previous books might be in this review.

This time Ciardis finds herself in the warzone in the North. Ciardis is reunited with an old acquaintance, General Barnaren. His interest in Ciardis to be his companion or wife hasn’t been subdued by the interest of the prince.

What I like about the series so far, is that each book shows a different area. The war zone in the North is anything but safe, and it’s not only the enemy soldiers. Nature is wild and will swallow you whole if you don’t watch out. Danger is everywhere, even in their own camp. Ciardis is wrapped up in a twisted game of politics that uses innocent lives for power.

Edun deepens the story for the world with each book and makes sure that each book is a complete story in itself. Each character has their own story to tell and all of them show growth throughout the book. She has done well to give each character a distinct voice and I think the success of her series is the diverse cast of characters.

The stakes are high, as they were in Sworn to Transfer. And with the story continuing right after the previous ended, it feels like too much for a person to bare. Ciardis just survived a necromancer and now has to deal with more life-threatening powers. Just give her a break and let her enjoy a hot bath. Give her a day or so with Sebastian without someone trying to kill her. High stakes are good to keep the action going and tension high, but I don’t think that having these high stakes in every book in a series is a good thing.

The one thing I hate about this series (and this may be a good thing) is the cliffhangers. Sworn to Conflict begins right after the epic cliffhanger in Sworn to Transfer and it ends with another cliffhanger. I’m glad that the Courtlight series has most of its books out already and I can buy the next books in bundles of three. These are the kinds of books that you want to finish in one go and just devour one after another.

Sworn to Conflict has earned four stars. It has its flaws, but there’s still so much goodness in there. I do recommend buying the bundles since you’ll want to keep reading. It’s an entertaining fantasy series with great characters and a world that feels alive.