Kinsman's Oath

Wow! I am blown away! Excellent book! Susan Krinard has created a vivid and compelling futuristic world with fascinating and belivably complex societies. Each planet -- even the ones that belong to the same unifiying government -- has its own unique personality, flavor, and society. They all feel organic and real, as well as being original and unique. The alien culture of the Shaauri is fascinating too, as well as feeling convincingly alien. Krinard does not fall prey to the same trap many science fiction writers find themselves in -- the Shaauri are original and new and truly alien; they aren't simply a human culture reworked with new names. Really amazing world-building here. The characters too were complex individuals, with a psychological complexity and depth that made them all a joy to read about. These were real, three-dimensional people, in all their contradictory human (or alien, as the case may be) glory. The plot was also fabulous, a complicated blend of action, intrigue, and politics that kept me turning the pages furiously! Kinsman's Oath was complex, thought-provoking, and deep, dealing with issues of self-identity and the way one's sense of self is influenced by one's culture, one's memory, and one's family -- and the way all of these things can be manipulated when you live in a world peopled with telepaths. All in all, this was a marvelous book! A great read! I'm going to look for Krinard's other novels; she has just gained a new fan!

A hallmark of Susan Krinard's writing is a significantly deeper level of psychological exploration than the typical escape novelist offers. Kinsman's Oath provides an abundance of psychological exploration. The role of a telepath, seen particularly in the two lead characters, stems from more than the desire for mental connection that many people seek. Three psychological issues that Krinard explores are self-identity, manipulation of memory, and cultural conditioning. Some issues are explored more skillfully than others. In addition to the psychological issues mentioned, many additional themes are entwined throughout the story. Being classified as a romance novel, love is one of the additional themes. If you're looking to escape into a simple, rather superficial story that doesn't require much thought, the choices are bountiful, and Kinsman's Oath might not be what you're looking for. If you enjoy reading high quality fiction / literature, yet wish to escape every so often without sacrificing intelligence, then you may find Kinsman's Oath to be an enjoyable reading experience.

I read Susan's story Kinsman in the "Out Of This World" anthology. When I heard she was putting out a full novel along the same vein, I rushed to order it. I was not disappointed. Susan builds an immense and colorful world in her tale of the shaauri and humans. The suspense and intrigue keep you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think you have a handle on what is going on in the story, she throws a curve ball at you out of left field that you never saw coming. The building romance and tension between Ronan and Cynara balances out the action, adventure and suspense. Complex and enthralling saga. Albeit a reader might be slightly lost in the beginning had they not read her first story, they will catch up with out any problems.

Two decades ago, war between humanity and the Shaauri broke out. Most of the Kinsmen, humans with telepathic abilities, supported the Shaauri against their own kind. Abductions were not uncommon and a young Ronan velKalevi was taken as a lad by the Shaauri during the early days of the conflictNow Ronan tries to escape from his captivity. Blockade runner Captain Cynara D'Accorso of the Pegasus sees Ronan flee a Shaauri warship, but though her better judgment says to stay out of this potentially dangerous scenario, she rescues him. When she realizes he is telepathic she becomes concerned because many of those with that skill joined the enemy. Though extremely attracted to him, she wonders if he is a mole sent out to stop activities like hers. Ronan, unused to human contact finds himself in love with his rescuer, but is not sure how to prove he wants to be on her side.Returning to the "Kinsman" universe that she first described in an OUT OF THIS WORLD novella, Susan Krinard furbishes science fiction romance readers with a wonderful tale of a future in space marred by armed conflict. The delightful story line hooks readers of both genres with its descriptive insight into a galaxy under siege while also providing two wonderful characters wondering whether they should be loving partners or disillusioned antagonists. Fans of the author will appreciate this fine futuristic adventure tale though there is not a werewolf within a zillion light-years of this novel.Harriet Klausner