Last year, we at Fantasy-Faction had the privilege to reveal the cover to a book that we rightly predicted to be one of the best YA novels of 2012 – The City’s Son by Tom Pollock. So with that in mind, it’s with the greatest pleasure that we can exclusively reveal the cover for what we predict will be one of the hottest YA fantasy novels of 2013:

 The OathBreaker’s Shadow by debut Canadian fantasy author Amy McCulloch.

The synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world where you tie a knot for every promise that you make. Break that promise and you are scarred for life, and cast out into the desert.

Raim has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. No one knows where it came from, and which promise of his it symbolises, but he barely thinks about it at all – not since becoming the most promising young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard. But on the most important day of his life, when he binds his life to his best friend (and future king) Khareh, the string bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin.

Scarred now as an oath-breaker, Raim has two options: run, or be killed.

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I was intrigued from the moment I read the blurb and then when I saw the cover… Damn, I am so excited to read this series!

Check this out:

oathbreakers covertif

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Seriously, how gorgeous is that! I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover but that there is some sexy stuff, right?

Everything about this cover just screams magic and adventure! The rich, warm colours coupled with that swirling magic and the artsy style. I love it. Regarding the figure, there are obvious comparisons to be drawn with everyone’s favourite time-wielding Persian which is nothing but a great thing; in fact, I would even go as far as saying that Raim cuts a cooler figure than the prince himself. And what about that glowing, ghostly figure that looms in the background?  Is it a ghoul, a zombie or maybe a living shadow? I have no idea, but I certainly want to find out.

One thing I do know though, is that I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy.

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Do you fancy knowing a bit more about the author? …Of course you do! What a silly question.

Amy McCulloch photoHere you go:

Amy McCulloch is a Canadian living in London, who fits writing around work as a Commissioning Editor at one of the UK’s leading fantasy imprints. She was bitten by the travel bug at an early age while accompanying her parents on buying trips around the world for their oriental carpet business. It was this love of travel that inspired her to set a novel in a hot, desert location (moving to freezing Ottawa, Canada, where her first winter hit -40°C, might have had something to do with that too). She studied Medieval and Old English literature at the University of Toronto. 

Get in contact with Amy:

Twitter: @amymcculloch

Blog: http://amymcculloch.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/amymccullochbooks/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13643064-the-oathbreaker-s-shadow

The Oathbreaker’s Shadow is Amy’s debut book and is the first part in an exciting duology of gripping action and adventure YA fantasy. It will be published in the Spring 2013 by Random House Children’s Books with the sequel following a year later. The Canadian rights have been sold to Doubleday Canada.

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So what do you think of the cover to The Oathbreaker’s Shadow? Will you be grabbing a copy when it comes out?

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By Paul Wiseall

One day, Paul Wiseall intends on growing up and getting a real job as a superhero or a dinosaur but for the moment, he is quite happy with this writing malarkey as it is far too much fun. He does have a degree in History but please don’t judge him too harshly as he really isn’t that boring. Honest. For those who are interested, he is a film buff, a chronic comic collector and inhales anything written by Neil Gaiman, China Mieville and Terry Pratchett. Paul tends to live in his head more than anywhere else but his tangible self can often be found frequenting coffee shops or living behind a laptop somewhere in Italy.

29 thoughts on “The Oathbreaker’s Shadow Cover Reveal”
  1. Yes indeed, that is a nice cover. I love the richness of the color the most. It practically glows. That would certainly catch my eye on the book store shelves.

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