Dark Vow by Shona Husk Review

January 19, 2012 |

Author Jessica

Jaines Cord helped craft the gun that killed her husband, at his funeral she vowed to kill the man who killed him with it. In Dark Vow by Shona Husk Jaines lives in a world where the magical Arcane society rules most things including the inability of women to be members of a guild and practice any trades. With the death of her husband, Jaines is forced to close down the smithy because the penalty for women practicing trade is the loss of fingers. Jaines sets off on a journey to track down the killer with very little money and only a small idea of how to track him down until she meets up with Obsidian.

Obsidian is a man with secrets. Having been cursed by a mage, he is slowly turning to stone and needs to Jaines help to break the curse. Obsidian is attracted to the strong-willed Jaines but worries that their current plan of action of will get them killed.

Dark Vow is a fantasy novel with a very set magical society. Several of the Carina Press titles I have read and reviewed have been first person, I find this refreshing and really enjoy the personal experience first person point of view gives to the novel. I have to admit I struggled with the beginning of Dark Vow because it begins with the death of Jaines’ husband Lance but the premise of the novel was intriguing so I kept reading. The world Shona Husk has created is complex with a clearly defined society and roles. Jaines’ character was strong and the more I got to know Obsidian the more I liked him. Dark Vow reads more like a fantasy novel then a traditional romance novel, the magic and complex society with the fantastical elements made for a great read once I really got into the story.

You can read an excerpt here.

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