Blog Tour stop for this suspense filled, utterly enthralling and yet disturbing read
" THREE JUNIORS, A BLOOD OATH, A DEADLY OUTCOME"
Synopsis
1955. The polished veneer of a boys’ boarding school in Northern England masks a cadre of wickedness.
Seniors viciously torment any junior they deem unfit.
Jonathan Simon, in his first term is warned that there are three monsters in his dorm; seniors Flicker, Sleeth and Tunk, and that the code of conduct mandates no snitching.
Simon befriends two other juniors; pixie-faced Ian Gracey and witty, grossly overweight Arthur Crown. During a cross-country run, the three friends take a short cut and stumble into the cadet rifle range.
Corps Sergeant Sleeth puts them through a degrading punishment using human excrement. The three juniors swear a blood oath never to allow another bully to abuse them.
Will this oath be their downfall, or will they make it through the school year? Snitching could have serious consequences but keeping silent will break their blood oath.
As Simon, Gracey and Crown try to survive this perilous journey, the constant threat of harm brings their friendship ever closer...
My Review
This was a suspense filled, utterly enthralling and yet disturbing read set in a all boys boarding school in the UK during the 1950's.
We meet Arthur, Johnathan and Ian who are starting out at the school and enter into the school and are placed in house Trafalgar, a house which its literary horrifying in it actions of bullying and the system they use, no one snitches no one tells and discipline is giving by the older boys in the house.
The book peeked my interest not only in the subject matter, we all have I am sure thought of the persevered joys and boarding may be fun after reading tales in childhood such as Harry Potter and the Malory tales, but also the mystery behind such institutions which all together make this story very interesting.
The characters are very believable I was cheering in part all the way for the trio to succeed and get through the year and the things they have to endure and become involved in, so I became very invested in their story.
It was also written in a great way in that we move in time through the school year yet focus on each of the trio individually so really get an insight in to what they think.
It's hard to say much on the plot as this is a spoiler free blog and to say anymore than really the blurb gives would be too much but I was invested and involved in every moment of reading this story!
Obviously the read has triggers in the story, bullying on a huge scale, suicide but we also have positive quite inspiring moments relating to sex, homosexuality and growing up.
I would recommend this read not only to those who enjoy thriller and suspense but also teen and YA readers for the real underlying morals of this tale routed in forgiveness.
Author Bio
Michael L. Lewis was born and raised in England. After preparatory school in London, he was educated at Stowe School, Buckingham. Michael now lives in Los Angeles, California, has a law degree, and writes full-time. He was on the Board of Trustees for several schools and has been a member of the same book club for twenty-five years.
Purchase Links
Blackwell’s: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Oath-by-Michael-L-Lewis-author/9781912575862
Book Depository (Free Worldwide Shipping): https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Oath-Michael-L-Lewis/9781912575862
Social media links
Giveaway
Giveaway to Win 3 x Paperback copies of The Oath by Michael L. Lewis (UK Only)
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Blog Tour
Thank you to the Publisher and Author for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel and for the opportunity to review these works.
All reviews are my own unbiased opinion.