A Poacher’s daughter, exiled from her home, finds common cause with the monster she found lurking in the woods. She promises the beast a herald, as the two traverse a country tumbling into war. A weary knight and his wilful squire seek a sword to save a kingdom, but with their prize comes sacrifice, suffering, and the awakening of forgotten horrors. And far across the sea, a Sell-Quill with a secret is spared the blade, on the promise of writing the legend of a crusading king seeking the demise of the Lord of Travesties. All of them will soon learn - mercy is a dangerous thing and treachery abounds, when savage oaths are made.
What is Savage Oaths?
The Savage Oaths Saga is a complete five-book fantasy series written by Andrew R Aston and set in the world of Guien, where humans, hobgoblins, and the scant remnants of the pre-Starfall races ‘born before the moon’, struggle and conspire to ensure their place in a world caught in a millennia-long feud between the stark, cold and stringently beautiful Aelf, and the nascent, distant forces of darkness cultivated by the Fleshless Prince, Lord Majestic of the Djinn.
A Hero's Journey:Bringing the main characters to life
The Devil is in the details, you often hear said, but so is the heart of the story. I couldn’t agree more. For me, the challenge is finding the right balance. I often spend more time taking details away than doing anything else.
Gulukh
The heavily scarred and sickly grey-green flesh of Gulukh tells a tale of a long and violent life lived all in the dark.
A cunning brute, savage warrior and natural born survivor, Gulukh has moved from one warband to another through the years, outwardly subservient, yet always managing to escape a death richly deserved.
His true motives he hides from his own kind. Perhaps even from himself…
Mallory
A poacher’s daughter, reviled and belittled by the so-called decent folk of her village, Mallory has made a living from defying the laws of her feudal lord.
Foul-mouthed and acerbic, there is only one person she loves in all of Guien. With a mind like a steel trap, Mallory is clever beyond the peasant bounds played upon her by the social norms of Katahia.
One day she will break those bonds, and go where she pleases. Little does she realise how soon that day will come, and the terrible cost she will pay for it.
Aethed
A knight of Katahia, and one of the King’s own chosen men.
Honour is a cage Aethed has proudly worn all his life. His fiefdom was earned by his father fighting for the old king Whinlan, and as such his line lacks the long and proud heritage of other noble families.
An unpretentious man, most of his ambition is focussed upon giving his wife a good life, and honouring the many oaths he has sworn to family, to king and to kingdom. This love and honour will drive an otherwise unremarkable knight from a minor household to feats none thought possible.
Yoland
Aethed’s cousin, and loyal squire.
Confident, handsome and charming where his cousin is abrasive, earnest and hard as a cliff face, the young nobleman’s life was destined for one of comfort and privilege.
With the male scion of House Sealance without an heir, he dreams of being the future of the House and siring heirs of his own. But Guien is not kind to those who presume their place within it, and one fateful decision will change his life forever after.
Rhana
Born in one of the ever-warring city states of Tibari, Rhana has known danger all his life.
Born a daughter of sorcerous exiles, he has spent many years developing his skills as a scholar for hire, phenomenally well-read, yet state-less and independent of outside influences.
But his independence will not last, as he is inevitably drawn into the court of the crusader king Aaren of Katahia. Not even the wildest histories read about in the grand libraries of Tibari can prepare him for the wonders and horrors he will encounter on his own journey into the wilderness.
The Hobgoblin's Herald: Illustrating the cover
Book One: The Hobgoblin’s Herald marks the beginning of the journey. I aimed to capture its essence in a single image. For me, quiet, reflective moments reveal the most about a character. Action scenes often feel chaotic, filled with fury and visual noise. However, in stillness, the true nature of a character becomes clear.
Creating the branding: Typography
Savage Oaths promises readers an epic journey to the farthest corners of Guien—a journey not for the faint of heart.
From the outset, the logo needed to reflect that sense of scale and intensity. I set out to find a typeface that could not only define Savage Oaths but anchor every title in the saga. After much exploration, we chose Aviano Flare—a typeface that is bold, refined, and full of character. With a few custom modifications to make it uniquely ours, everything fell into place.
For the final touch, I added the sword: Moontalon.
Moontalon lies at the heart of the saga, inspiring countless hours of discussion and lore. It felt only right to embed it within the title itself—a symbol of power, legacy, and the journey ahead.
An Old Map for an Old World
My involvement with Savage Oaths began when Andrew showed me a hand-drawn map he’d created to track the events and locations in his novel. I’m no cartographer, but I offered to redraw it—imagining how it should look.
I knew I had to take a traditional approach. What I didn’t anticipate was just how intricate the details would be—or how much my eyesight would protest! A magnifying glass quickly became my best friend (talk about feeling old!).
Right now, the map exists as line art, digitally aged to look weathered and worn. But I’d love to explore other styles down the line. I’ll come back to it later on.
Beware, for there are monsters in the woods… and not all of them are human…
Creative process and concepts
Andrew and I have been friends for a long time, collaborating on multiple projects over the years. But Savage Oaths is different—it’s a passion project, years in the making—a marathon, not a sprint. As the novel has evolved, so has my artwork, going through countless iterations.
One of the things Andrew and I share is a love for 2000 AD comics. Growing up on their bold colours, clean lines, and unapologetic storytelling greatly influenced my style. That DNA is woven into Savage Oaths, shaping its visual identity.
Would you like to commission an illustration?
It is a privilege to be chosen to bring someone’s precious vision to life. Get in touch and let’s talk about your project, I’ll do my best to help.