“Only through death may I leave the Black Diamond’s side…”

Tired of scraping for food in her war-torn homeland, Colette sneaks aboard a ship to Ranigh, the prosperous Empire capital, to seek her fortune. When she’s caught stealing, she is forced to pledge an Oath to a life of assassinhood.

When she’s bid to kill someone she cares for, what will Colette choose?

Obedience or love?

Title: Oath: A Black Diamond Novel

Author: Poppy Kuroki

Pages:

My review

Oath: A Black diamond novel by Poppy Kuroki is a dark fantasy-themed story. The plot is revolving around the strong female protagonist, Colette. This is her journey for survival and a better life. The whole story is narrated in a very unique manner. Whenever Colette’s journey hit a dead end, the plot is twisted and she unwillingly lands on entirely different circumstances. Her helplessness in these situations was heartbreaking. Hope is the only thing that gives her the strength to overcome these situations. She undergoes many transformations throughout the story. They all are for survival. But she remains true to her character. The climax underlines her character and it was satisfying from a reader’s point of view.

Strong female characters are one of the unique features of Ms Kuroki’s book. Another recurring theme I found was the sisterhood. The depth of human relationships is tested in her novels. She delves into the deepest human emotions and mold her characters with a touch of charisma. These characters are relatable and realistic. The portrayal of hunger was raw and convincing. No matter how the world progress, greed, and war remain so is poverty.

These strong themes are projected with clarity in the story. The female protagonist in the world ruled by females is a strong perspective. People bend rules for their advantages. Surviving in this world is difficult. But one must overcome every difficulty to realize our true character and destiny.