Oath of Swords

Bahzell is a prince of the Hradni, a race of oversized humanoids who are prone to berserk rages. Circumstances beyond his control leave him obliged to leave his own people and flee into the lands of ordinary humans, where Hradni are not welcome.

He does not travel alone. Bahzell and his companion move through a series of adventures in those human lands, and the trouble they meet comes from the fact that he is exactly what the locals distrust.

This is epic fantasy from an author better known for a science fiction series, and it is an action story at heart. The pace is brisk. The world is built with careful attention to detail and a good grounding in history, and a thread of wit runs through the telling, so the tone stays lively rather than grim.

The book reaches a real ending. It leaves room for a sequel without depending on one, so a reader can take it as a complete adventure.