Grudgebearer (The Grudgebearer Trilogy #1) by J. F. Lewis

Cover illustration © Todd Lockwood Design by Jacqueline Nasso Cooke

The Aern were created by the Eldrennai, their main purpose was to battle the Zaur, a race of lizard-like beings who are resistant to Eldrennai magic. The Aern, warrior-slaves nearly impossible to kill, cannot break an oath without losing their connection to each other and becoming Forsworn. For thousands of years they fought for the Eldrennai, until the Sundering, when the Aern were freed. Now the three races - the Eldrennai, the Vael, and the Aern - must come together once every hundred years to reestablish a truce, which if broken would mean the death of the Eldrennai.
Nearly six hundred years after the Aern went into exile, a foolish, young Eldrennai prince breaks the truce by removing some of the Aern armor. Kholster, leader of the Aern, bound by his oaths, must find a way to uphold them and protect his people. He travels with his daughter Rae’en to the hundred year conjunction while his troops prepare for battle against the Eldrennai.
However, a new threat has arose and Kholster and Rae’en must find a way to overcome the past, battle the creatures they were created to destroy, and uphold the oaths they have made.
This was a very interesting read, and nothing like I expected it to be. Full of multiple races, unique characters, intriguing settings, and a riveting storyline, this novel was captivating and mysterious.
The characters in this novel are completely unique and unlike anything I have read before. The storyline focuses on a couple of characters from multiple races - the Aern, the Eldrennai, the Vael, the Zaur, the Dwarves, and the humans - and the conflicts between the races. Their past issues continue to emerge due to differences of opinion and the grudges they hold against one another.
I found this novel to be more violent than I originally thought it would be. However, considering the hatred and the war looming before them, I probably should have expected it.
I enjoyed this novel, and I was so shocked by the ending that I know I will be trying to read book two sooner rather than later.
I would recommend this novel to fans of David Gemmell or George R. R. Martin.
I won my copy of this novel from Goodreads Firstreads and have permission from the publishers at Pyr to use an image of the cover artwork featured above. 

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