Reviewed by Mal
TITLE: First Oaths
SERIES: The Bone Man #1
AUTHOR: C.J Tuma & Quinn Cameron
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 370 Pages
RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2025
BLURB:
“We weren’t meant to burn our dead.”
After escaping the cult that nearly destroyed him, Kit Mosel has built a new life. He’s sure that no one in town knows his real name or what he did, until Penwell Oliver appears, desperate for help retrieving his father’s stolen remains from the very cult Kit fled.
Kit knows he should say no, but there’s something about Penny he can’t refuse.
Together, Penny and Kit plan to infiltrate the cult and earn their trust. Kit knows how to blend in and play their games, but Penny isn’t like him; he’s always been too soft. Too quick to trust. Worse, Penny draws attention from people who would gladly hurt him just to punish Kit.
The deeper they go, the more Kit unravels. Penny isn’t just a liability—he’s a temptation. A reminder of everything Kit thought he didn’t deserve. And in a place where weakness is punished and love is weaponized, wanting each other could cost them both everything.
REVIEW:
This was an EPIC read! Wow, I don’t know where the time went, I spent the whole day reading this and I was completely immersed. Fantastic world building, everything is perfectly paced, introduced to add layers to the myth and lore of the characters lives and the legends of the Bone Men. The story is full of adventure, a righteous quest, heroes a tad worn maybe not perfect, battling the burdens of their pasts, their families curses but with enough resilience and fire to right the wrongs they see. You want to rally with them.. goosebumps
I loved Kit and Penny, epitome of grumpy sunshine, soft and prickly, even and hot tempered. They are characters that truly invite you along, characters that make you curious to want to know them.
I also loved Sayla and Rosie, Thom and Redington and even Levitt, I’m not sure how I feel about Violette but I do sincerely hate Merrick, I hope the fates heap misfortune on him!!!
What he did is untenable and I would love to say more but it would definitely ruin and spoil the book.
The writing is smooth, gentle yet gripping. Penny’s and Kit’s adventure allows us to Expect a lot of twists and turns, reveals and surprises as you read this story. I think this is a 4 book series so the authors have a tale to weave yet for us. I think they are building up to something and I for one can’t wait for what’s to come.
I was dreading the cliffhanger but it isn’t bad at all, sort of a sweet pause in the story which is a slow slow burn the romance builds very gently in this one. I am dying for the next book to see where these two go in the dynamic now and also the overall plot.
RATING: 
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