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mbenzz's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book! It was so original (at least to me) and so different from anything else I've read lately. I love the idea of the four towns, and what they each represent...
Oath = Grief
Word = Creativity
Bond = Children
Pledge = Passion
I really can't explain too much about this book without feeling like I'm giving something away, but I recently finished "Elsewhere" by Gabrielle Zevin, and it really reminded me of that book. Completely different story and completely different vision, but the subject matter was similar (if that makes any sense).
Overall, I definitely, definitely recommend this book. It's a super quick read, and I loved every page of it.
Oath = Grief
Word = Creativity
Bond = Children
Pledge = Passion
I really can't explain too much about this book without feeling like I'm giving something away, but I recently finished "Elsewhere" by Gabrielle Zevin, and it really reminded me of that book. Completely different story and completely different vision, but the subject matter was similar (if that makes any sense).
Overall, I definitely, definitely recommend this book. It's a super quick read, and I loved every page of it.
srwestvik's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Down to Oath by Tyrolin Puxty is a book that asks a lot of questions we all hold inside ourselves, provides answers that both provoke and comfort, and yet falls short through offbeat narration that is not always endearing and a somewhat meandering plot. It recounts the story of Codi, a creative misfit in the bland, conformist town of Oath, who encounters a child in the disused library and a parallel town in the mist that surrounds her own, and embarks on an adventure of self-discovery, self-assurance, and self-acceptance.
The Story and World
One thing that struck me immediately – in particular from the narration – was that despite hints at social and existential questions, the book did not take itself too seriously. That was a welcome change from a lot of the dark, jaded YA fiction I’ve been exposed to lately. The world building was acutely fantasy-lite but honestly, I didn’t have as much of a problem with that as I expected I would (the moment I realised it). The absurdity of many elements made it clear that the book was going to ask some serious questions about identity, and that’s where the focus would be. The concepts of the world explored were what was interesting, more so than the actual environment. My favourite parts were whenever questions were asked about the world we live in, internally and externally, the meanings of the lives we lead, the walls we put up within ourselves, and the ways we can learn to smash them down.
While I enjoyed the turns that the story took, and the revelations regarding Codi and the supporting characters and their roles in Oath and the parallel towns, I felt that the plot itself was not as driven as it could be. The lack of the antagonist’s presence for a large part of the story probably contributed to that – I didn’t feel he was established clearly as the antagonist at the start, and so when he started chasing Codi, it was less a moment of panic and more a moment of “oh, he’s the bad guy”. There was also a touch of deus ex machina in the final act that drained some of the tension from it, but this was at least counteracted by better time spent exploring the characters and a better exploration of the stakes.
The Characters
“You know what? Screw what Oath says. I’m going to learn how to make fireworks.”
At the risk of revealing the crux of the tale, this story is about the character of Codi, nothing more and nothing less. A large part of it centres on Codi questioning herself and learning to live with herself. I did like her by the end of it! At first I couldn’t get an inkling of who she was, and what made her tick. But – again at the risk of spoilers – we come to learn a great deal about everything that makes up who Codi is. The parts she knows, the parts she doesn’t, the parts she sacrifices. I really can’t say more without spoiling, except that she ends up being more complicated of a person than we may first expect.
In terms of secondary characters, they were, for the most part, exceptionally flat. There are obvious in-world reasons for this – but I still felt that lacking, and I wish they could have been more compelling while accommodating those reasons. Nevertheless, I’d say Thorn was my favourite. She was tough and uncompromising, a warrior, but a warrior for those who could never be one. Brutal for noble reasons. Little Codi was just a brat honestly, and I greatly disliked her.
The Writing
I think this was my biggest problem with the story, and the reason why I just couldn’t bump it up to four stars. It’s relatively good, with nothing particularly of note – except when there is, for the wrong reasons. While I understand the need to establish Codi’s voice, the narration often comes off as forcibly juvenile. I cringed one too many times. Even moments fraught with peril lost all their gravity because of clever comments thrown in at the wrong time. Levity is nice, but sometimes it needs to be tempered with the context.
Final Thoughts
I did enjoy Down to Oath, and I think Puxty has crafted a story that really hones in on what makes a person a person. A lot of questions that were raised have definitely stuck with me. Still, I believe it could have been improved by better writing, less one-dimensional characters, and a plot with clearer stakes. Perhaps even a touch of foreshadowing, to counteract some of these flaws. In the end I’d recommend this for younger readers, or readers who don’t demand too much from their stories.
“Life isn’t meant to be easy. It’s just the experience, Codi. There’s still so much we do not understand – and perhaps never will.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Curiosity Quills Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Story and World
One thing that struck me immediately – in particular from the narration – was that despite hints at social and existential questions, the book did not take itself too seriously. That was a welcome change from a lot of the dark, jaded YA fiction I’ve been exposed to lately. The world building was acutely fantasy-lite but honestly, I didn’t have as much of a problem with that as I expected I would (the moment I realised it). The absurdity of many elements made it clear that the book was going to ask some serious questions about identity, and that’s where the focus would be. The concepts of the world explored were what was interesting, more so than the actual environment. My favourite parts were whenever questions were asked about the world we live in, internally and externally, the meanings of the lives we lead, the walls we put up within ourselves, and the ways we can learn to smash them down.
While I enjoyed the turns that the story took, and the revelations regarding Codi and the supporting characters and their roles in Oath and the parallel towns, I felt that the plot itself was not as driven as it could be. The lack of the antagonist’s presence for a large part of the story probably contributed to that – I didn’t feel he was established clearly as the antagonist at the start, and so when he started chasing Codi, it was less a moment of panic and more a moment of “oh, he’s the bad guy”. There was also a touch of deus ex machina in the final act that drained some of the tension from it, but this was at least counteracted by better time spent exploring the characters and a better exploration of the stakes.
The Characters
“You know what? Screw what Oath says. I’m going to learn how to make fireworks.”
At the risk of revealing the crux of the tale, this story is about the character of Codi, nothing more and nothing less. A large part of it centres on Codi questioning herself and learning to live with herself. I did like her by the end of it! At first I couldn’t get an inkling of who she was, and what made her tick. But – again at the risk of spoilers – we come to learn a great deal about everything that makes up who Codi is. The parts she knows, the parts she doesn’t, the parts she sacrifices. I really can’t say more without spoiling, except that she ends up being more complicated of a person than we may first expect.
In terms of secondary characters, they were, for the most part, exceptionally flat. There are obvious in-world reasons for this – but I still felt that lacking, and I wish they could have been more compelling while accommodating those reasons. Nevertheless, I’d say Thorn was my favourite. She was tough and uncompromising, a warrior, but a warrior for those who could never be one. Brutal for noble reasons. Little Codi was just a brat honestly, and I greatly disliked her.
The Writing
I think this was my biggest problem with the story, and the reason why I just couldn’t bump it up to four stars. It’s relatively good, with nothing particularly of note – except when there is, for the wrong reasons. While I understand the need to establish Codi’s voice, the narration often comes off as forcibly juvenile. I cringed one too many times. Even moments fraught with peril lost all their gravity because of clever comments thrown in at the wrong time. Levity is nice, but sometimes it needs to be tempered with the context.
Final Thoughts
I did enjoy Down to Oath, and I think Puxty has crafted a story that really hones in on what makes a person a person. A lot of questions that were raised have definitely stuck with me. Still, I believe it could have been improved by better writing, less one-dimensional characters, and a plot with clearer stakes. Perhaps even a touch of foreshadowing, to counteract some of these flaws. In the end I’d recommend this for younger readers, or readers who don’t demand too much from their stories.
“Life isn’t meant to be easy. It’s just the experience, Codi. There’s still so much we do not understand – and perhaps never will.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Curiosity Quills Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
thereadingknitter's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Weird but good. It took me a while to get into it but once I did I wanted to know what was up with all the characters. Even up to the end this book kept me guessing.
Weird but good. It took me a while to get into it but once I did I wanted to know what was up with all the characters. Even up to the end this book kept me guessing.
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