Years later, Vespera is a young initiate at the prestigious (and dangerous) war college of Valedor, preparing for the first of seven magical Trials. Each Trial demands a sacrifice of memory-participants must trade their own lived experiences to unlock magical power. The more you give, the more power you gain. But the more you forget, the more you become a weapon someone else can control.
Vespera offers up her first kiss during the Gate of Fire, and immediately loses all memory of the boy she once loved. What begins as a personal sacrifice spirals into a dangerous unraveling of truth: the Trials aren't just tests-they're tools of manipulation.
She is soon paired with a Guardian: Cassian, an Oathbreaker with secrets even he no longer remembers. Their bond is fraught with tension-unspoken emotions, flashes of shared past, and a haunting sense that they have loved before. But he doesn't remember her. Or does he?
Through each Trial-The Mirror's Voice, The Iron Spiral, Bloodsong-Vespera grows in power but bleeds her identity. As memories vanish, forbidden magic begins to stir, magic once carried by her brother Kael. Hidden truths emerge in the Library of Ash, and she uncovers that her family was not erased for rebellion-but for remembering something too powerful to remain buried.
As Vespera and Cassian delve deeper into the conspiracies behind the Trials, they discover that their bond is not accidental. It is tethered-a soul-deep connection that defies memory erasure and magically links their pain and power.
The Council, fearing what they might uncover, attempts to sever the bond in a public execution. Cassian is struck with a blade that doesn't wound his flesh-but his memory. Vespera, in an act of raw defiance, unleashes forbidden tether-magic, revealing herself as Oathbound, the last living bearer of the First Flame-an ancient line tasked with preserving memory through fire.
Together, they spark a rebellion-not of swords, but of remembrance.
About the Author :
Claire Smith is a Nigerian-born fantasy author whose storytelling is rooted in emotional depth, lyrical prose, and worldbuilding that feels both ancient and urgent. With a voice shaped by her love for mythology, memory, and the magic of quiet resilience, she writes stories that explore the tension between destiny and choice, pain and hope, love and sacrifice.Claire believes that the most powerful fantasies are those that reflect the real struggles we carry-identity, loyalty, loss-and through her characters, she invites readers to walk the line between heartbreak and wonder.Oathbound is her debut novel, but her voice is already unmistakable: intimate, cinematic, and unforgettable. When she's not writing, she enjoys collecting fantasy art, dreaming up new worlds, and rereading her favorite books under the stars.
