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Fantasy. Fiction. HTML: Follow Lois McMaster Bujold, one of the most honored authors in the field of fantasy and science fiction, to a land threatened by treacherous war and beset by demons. Three years have passed since the widowed Dowager Royina Ista found release from the curse of madness that kept her imprisoned in her family's castle at Valenda. Yet her newfound freedom is bittersweet, and so the road, and escape, beckons. As Ista and her little party of pilgrims wander at will, they are unexpectedly set upon. But a mysterious ally appears, a warrior nobleman who fights like a berserker. The temporary safety of her enigmatic champion's castle cannot ease Ista's mounting dread, however, when she finds his dark secrets are entangled with hers in a net of the gods' own weaving. What the inscrutable gods commanded of her in the past brought her land to the brink of devastation. Now, once again, they have chosen Ista as their instrument. And again, for good or for ill, she must comply..… (more)
User reviews
I love that she's no young sweet thing but a mature woman with miles on her and plenty of damage. She's a complex strong heroine and this book even passes the Bechdel Test (Two or more woman appear in at least one scene where they talk about something other than men.) In other words, there are interesting secondary women characters too. A fantasy book I consider more than comfort food; it's chicken soup for the soul.
1. It’s so refreshing to have a female main character who is middle aged. At 40 years old, Rowena Ista dy Chalion is free of her past madness and tucked away into a safe, little town away from the demands of the central government. She is coddled and
2. Challion is a well imagined high fantasy setting. The back of the book described it as medieval, but I would more visualize it as similar to 16th century Italy or France. Without overwhelming the reader with details, Bujold presents the society along with its government and religions in a way that rather specific to this world.
3. I love that there clear magical rules and limitations with power sourced either from the gods or demons. The rule provide just enough leeway for mystery to still be possible, although it’s clear that while these rules can be bent, they cannot be outright broken.
3. The fifth god in Challion’s religion is The Bastard, who is less holy than the other gods, enjoys playing tricks, and has a delightfully crude sense of humor.
5. Liss is a courier, who becomes Ista’s lady in waiting on the road. She’s a rough and straightforward girl from a common family, who unabashedly rides faster than any man on the field. I love her.
6. Illvin makes me swoon.
7. The writing is wonderfully vivid, drawing me in so that I can hear the buzzing of green flies or the see the glint of a man’s armor.
8. Though it’s the second book in the series, it stands on its own feeling complete in and of itself. This book is just about perfect for me and my tastes, so much so that I almost don’t want to read the first or third books and risk marring the experience (though I’m sure I’ll read them eventually after some of the shine wears off in my memory).
Heroic deeds! Sorcery!
Like the first book of the series, this is very much character driven fantasy, which is not to say that it doesn’t feature plenty of action, moments of tension alternating with moments of humor, and an understated but compelling romantic angle. The gods of the world of Chalion seem a bit less enigmatic than in the first book. And the supporting cast seemed a bit better fleshed out (with many sympathetic and likable characters).
I found it marginally less enjoyable that The Curse of Chalion, but still a refreshing and satisfying book. I look forward to picking up The Hallowed Hunt to finish off the series.
Ista seizes her chance at a semblance of freedom by traveling under the guise of a pilgrimage, though she's not fooling everyone. On the way, she once again finds her situation being manipulated by the Divine. Now, she must choose between the good of her people and her desire to get out of the affairs of gods. It turns out to not be that hard a decision, just a hard one to live with.
Ista is a very engaging protagonist, with her rage at the gods, rage at not being able to control her own destiny, and intense desire to just live her life damn-it. She moves from her sense of imprisonment to her sense of unwelcome destiny, to peace with herself in a bumpy, contentious, organic fashion.
Ista's story functions within an occult and geopolitical plot, weaving the whole into a more-complex-than-usual quest/adventure fantasy, as her pilgrimage is interrupted by a raid from a neighboring country, in which she is captured, and an increase in demonic presence. The usual magic powers, fate-of-the-kingdom fantasy plot is rendered something more layered than that by the fully-fleshed characters, interesting sub-plots (doomed!romance, and not Ista's), the divinity in question (or several of them), and the interaction of all these.
The cast of Divine characters is particularly interesting, especially with the creation of The Bastard. He walks on, He walks off, He laughs and enjoys Ista's rage at Him and His interference. Besides playing an active role in the primary plot, The Bastard acts as thematic touchstone and bratty superior.
And besides, how many middle-aged, female, adventure protagonists do we usually get? And one that has agency,besides? Ista is fed-up, not gonna take it anymore, and she's a joy to read.
Characters: You just have to appreciate an author who
Style: Very readable prose, with pinches of humour. Occasionally dialogue gets a little stilted, but it's still within acceptable levels. Good theological ideas that work out quite well; the politics and geography are a bit trickier and could have used a little more space. Not a problem if you've read Curse of Chalion, though.
Plus: It's a book about big and small problems, with the small problems sometimes being the more important ones. Great central character.
Minus: Dialogue is formal enough to throw you a little a few times, without apparent reason. Not quite a standalone, too much repetition for a series.
Summary: A very satisfying read, with some aspects that are rare to find in fantasy.
An unusual character is chosen for our heroine - middle aged, widowed, female, and recently berieved of her son as well, - perhaps suitable for a piece of literary fiction in human angst, but seldom the choice of fantasy writers. However Lady Ista is who we have got, and she has a suddenly strong character, now that her 'madness' has passed. Irreverant, she curses the day the Gods involved themselves in her life, but determines nevertheless, that a pilgramidge around some of Chalion is a suitable excuse to relieve the tedium of life in a castle. In this she is inspired by the courier Liss who seems to Ista to have a carefree life of freedom. All proceeds dully with Ista paying scant attention to her travelling Divine's rote sermons until the party is captured by a roving warband from the neighbouring country. Here Ista learns firsthand the perils of war, and once again comes face to face with a God.
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as either the preceeding or following works. Somehow the language isn't light, and Ista just doesn't have the same banter about her that the other protagonists carry off. It's all understandable given the characters involved, but a shame. There are some great lines, but not as many.
The setting is somehow slightly less belivable too. I wasn't convinced by the explanation for the prevalence of demons, nor the motivations of many of the 'enemy'. There is distinctly more romance involved, which is handled well. Marred only slightly be the comedy zombies.
Not as good as the others but enjoyable.
I really liked this story; I'd give it 6 stars, if I could.
There is mystery and intrigue as well as action, tragedy, courage and chivalry, and it is very well written, with a subtle dose of humour - which I love. This story clarifies the theology of the world of Chalion and explains a bit more about the curse of Chalion (of the first book) and Ista's involvement in it. The characters are well drawn; Ista is a feisty heroine, even if she is no longer in the prime of her life, and I liked the interplay between brothers which highlights rather than hides their strong attachments. I also appreciated those touches where characters took thought for others' souls and future peace of mind. And - it is nice to know that, despite Ista's advanced age of 40, she is still entitled to romance!
I could go on ... but just read the book.
Oh, Lois. *hearts*
This book, is, unbelievably,
The Canterbury Tales theme is brief but amusing.
Starting roughly at the halfway point of the book I became anxious for the resolution of the plot and puzzles, but felt that it took considerably more time to get through the second half than the first. I am unsure how to address this--is it a pacing issue? a plotting issue? a problem with the reviewer being a member of the internet and thus must have it now generation?
The world may never know. The book is pretty good, though. It benefits slightly from reading the prequel, but is not tightly bound to it, and would stand well on its own.
The story takes up where the Curse of Chalion left off. If you havent read the first
The curse of the golden general has been lifted, and Caz and Iselle have settled in to their new roles as Queen and Chancelor. For Dowager Royina Ista though, things have changed. With the curse lifted so has her madness, or so she hopes. In order to gain some freedom she sets off on a pilgrimage with some old friends and some new.
Along her journey she discovers that there are demons loose in the land. Not only that but there are new tensions along the border of Jokarna. More troubling yet, are her dreams. Is her madness truly gone?
The book clocks in at just under 500 pages. It probably could have been been shrunk to two thirds that side without much trouble. I felt there was too much exposition, and that too much of it was repeated. I read the first book. I know the story of Lord dy Lutez. I can deal with hearing it retold once, but two or three times, is too much. There wasnt anything groundbreaking in this book, but it was still a good story worth the read.
7 out of 10
For the three years since the curse was lifted and her madness removed Dowager Royina Ista has been taking care of her aged mother. When the Provincara finally passes away, Ista feels trapped in Baocia by both her title and those who fear a return of her melancholy. After a chance meeting with a band of pilgrims, Ista is inspired to take her own journey to various religious sites, supposedly to pray for a grandson. In reality, Ista wants to go somewhere that has no memories for her and to leave the ghosts of her past behind. This includes leaving behind her current court, which she replaces with a divine of the Bastard, a troop of soldiers dedicated to the Daughter, and a farm-girl-turned courier as her lady-in-waiting. Traveling incognito as the widow of a minor lord, Ista seeks to leave her troubles behind, with no reminders of her life at court or of her part in a murder, nor of her time as a saint, a person touched by one of the five gods. For a while, Ista does find some relief, but soon she is plagued by dreams, ones that could be a portend of a dark future. When her company is overtaken by a band of raiding soldiers from Jokona, Ista finds that she is not as in control of her live as she hoped and that once again she is a tool of a god.
Paladin of Souls gives us a deeper look at the religion of Chalion and the pantheon of five gods whose gifts are often seen as having barbs in them. In the past, Ista was “blessed” with the attentions of the Mother, but now the Bastard finds her interesting. This god is the son of a demon and has a greater sense of humor than the Mother, one that Ista often finds annoying, especially as she seems to be the brunt of the joke. Bujold also gives us more insights into the workings of the religious military units through Ferda and Foix dy Gura, soldiers in service to the Daughter who appeared in the previous book. The introduction of Liss, once a message courier but now the rough-around-the-edges handmaiden to Ista, reveals more of the lives of the common people, such as farmers and servants.
Ista’s capture by enemy forces and rescue by a border lord brings out not only the clash between countries and religions, as the Jokona’s consider the Bastard a heresy punishable by death, but also a mystery. There is definitely something wrong at Castle Porifors, something that circles around the Lord, his wife and his half-brother. As Ista slowing unwinds the riddles that hold two men barely alive, she discovers an evil that goes back to the time of the Golden General of Jokona, an evil that the Bastard has chosen her to erase.
There is plenty of fun and romance in this book, with a remorseful but vigorous Ista trying to reach beyond the errors of her past to a happier future. You need not read The Curse of Chalion to enjoy this title, as the stories are only loosely linked. It is not surprising this won a Hugo, as Bujold gives us a story that has meat on its bones and a page-turning plot is sure to satisfy those cravings for a good medieval fantasy. So next time that hunger hits you, pick up Paladin of Souls; you will find it well worth the time.
Originally published in The Alexiad: contact jtmajor[at]iglou.com for more information.
The writing is as strong as ever,
I really enjoyed it and I'd highly recommend it to others who enjoy Bujold books.
Ista is an unwilling agent of the gods, they have already cost her the life she once had,
Except, she finds a lot more than she bargains for, by running across a group of enemy soldiers in the wrong place at the wrong time, finds a dead man alive, and an alive man dead, and a demon embedded in a wife who is causing the problem.
And the fifth god (known as The Bastard) comes knocking, asking for her help in the mortal plane...
Our Heroine recently
They however have not had enough of her. They start encountering the demon possessed. What exactly do they want her to do about it and will she.
I like the limited, somewhat Loa like, nature of the gods in this High Feudal fantasy world.Its easily differentiated, likabe characters. and slow building but original plotting. but it lacks the emotional involvement she is capasble of in her best work.