Paladin of Souls

by Lois McMaster Bujold

Other authorsDavid Bowers (Cover artist), Ervin Serrano (Cover designer), Adrian Leichter (Designer)
Hardcover, 2003

Status

Available

Call number

PS3552.U397 P355

Publication

Eos (New York, 2003), 1st edition, 1st printing. 464 pages. $24.95.

Description

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

LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I loved this even more than the first book in this world, The Curse of Chalion--and I loved Chalion a lot, which was my first book by Lois McMaster Bujold. Bujold was well known before these high fantasy works for a science fiction series, the Vorkosigan Saga. And after her fantasy I turned to
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those and loved them, but Chalion was first, and she wrote there as if high fantasy was her first language. She had a gift for creating a world that didn't feel off the shelf. Her deities feel like they have a point, and aren't a retread of the Greek Pantheon. It feels a mix of paganism and Christianity in fact. But her greatest gift is for creating characters you care about. And I care a great deal for Ista, a minor character in Chalion who comes into her own in this novel.

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.
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LibraryThing member andreablythe
I LOVE THIS BOOK! Let me count the ways!

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
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patronized and treated like a child. She’s hard on herself and bitter about her past mistakes. Ista longs only to escape the bounds of her past and of her claustrophobic present life, and so enacts a plan to venture forth on pilgrimage, even though she doesn’t feel slightly pious. Along the way, she curses the gods for the burdens they once placed on her and her failure to carry those burdens. Despite all her hard edges, she’s compassionate toward most people, hoping to do as little harm as possible as she seeks her own freedom.

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).
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LibraryThing member Black_samvara
I think I liked this even more than The Curse of Chalion. Ista works for me as a heroine; older, resentful of the gods and trying to find a place in her life that feels less uncomfortable. Alas for her the gods have very definite plans and aren’t shy about letting her know.

Heroic deeds! Sorcery!
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Saddle sores! Attractive men with [cough] drawbacks!
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LibraryThing member clong
Another deeply satisfying read from Bujold, featuring another completely atypical fantasy protagonist, in this case a forty year old widow who for years has been thought crazy by everyone around her. Ista undertakes a journey thinking only of escape, but gradually sees and finally accepts a calling
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to serve.

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.
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LibraryThing member storyjunkie
Dowager Royina (Queen Mother) Ista is a prisoner of her position and past. Driven mad by desperation and the Gods, Ista regained herself as the result of events in a previous book. There are only subtle indications that there is a whole other novel preceding this one - the exposition of the
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necessary events is handled very, very well.

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.
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LibraryThing member surreality
Plot: A more small-scale plot than in Curse of Chalion that is less about threats to a realm - though those are there too - and more about individuals' problems and developments. Well-paced, with a good ending and a surprisingly quick beginning.

Characters: You just have to appreciate an author who
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dares to make the heroine a 40-year-old reluctant widow with plenty of imperfections. Side characters are well-drawn, with lots of character development overall. Motives are usually clear, and occasionally work in interesting ways.

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.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
The 2nd part of the Chalion series, events transpire directly after the end of Curse, which isn't required to have been read before, but will be of benefit. The story comes to a complete end here, the third part of hte series hallowed hunt, does not feature any of the characters from the first or
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2nd.

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.
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LibraryThing member humouress
This is the second book in the 'Chalion' trilogy, taking place three years after 'The Curse of Chalion' and continuing the story of Ista, Iselle's mother. Ista decides to escape from her home on the pretext of conducting a pilgrimage to various shrines of the five gods, and is detained at a border
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castle, where - despite her antipathy towards those gods - she has to puzzle her way through the theological maze that she finds there.

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.
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LibraryThing member hjjugovic
Wow, well, Ista wasn't my favorite character from the first book in this increasingly excellent series, but I adore her now. I love her irreverent attitude toward the gods, as well as the contrast between her and Joen, who both have lived constrained lives but responded very differently in their
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quest to take control of their destiny. In this book, the curse has been lifted but Ista's life is still bogged down. She escapes her suffocating life in Valenda by going on a fake pillgrammage. Her plans are violently interrupted as she finds herself in the middle of a war and a very strange demon-ridden palace. Ista solves the mystery of two brothers who are sharing the same life force, discovers her destiny, and finds she is much better suited to serve the Bastard than the Mother.
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LibraryThing member jadelennox
When Curse of Chalion came out, I thought, "You know, I adore Bujold's old and disabled heroes, but can we have an old and/or disabled heroine for once? And maybe a heroine who's not the youn, beautiful consort to the unconventionally apealling hero?"

Oh, Lois. *hearts*

This book, is, unbelievably,
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better than its predecessor. Ista's relationship with The Bastard is so believable, and so much *funnier* than Cazaril's with The Daughter.

The Canterbury Tales theme is brief but amusing.
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LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
I was terribly grateful that the sequel to The Curse of Chalion didn't feature the now all-wise martyr main character from the last book. That would have been terribly dull. As it is, the formerly-crazy, still-bitter main character is much more interesting. Bujold does strong women well. The plot
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here is increasingly fascinating, and the portrayal of the gods much more intimate - and funnier - than the previous book. How do you draw a woman legitimately screwed over by the gods back into the fold? Send the dirty-joke-cracking bastard brother god to annoy her until she gives in!
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LibraryThing member SaintBrevity
A sequel to The Curse of Chalion, this book focuses on the dowager Ista, no longer mad and left at loose ends after the death of her mother. In many ways it's a coming of age story, despite the protagonist being over forty, and reads like one as well, with quite a bit more thought and care put into
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than one may expect.

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.
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LibraryThing member RaceBannon42
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold is the second book in her Chalion series. It won the Hugo award for best novel in 2004. While I enjoyed the book, I think there were probably some better choices out there.

The story takes up where the Curse of Chalion left off. If you havent read the first
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book and don't want to be spoiled skip to the end of the review.

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
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LibraryThing member Coruca
Medieval fantasies are a mix of pleasure and pain these days: there is so much dreck out there that a good piece seems an anomaly. And when you get a series, the story just seems to go on and on and on ... But there is a reason this genre is so popular, as well written fantasy is more than swords
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and sorcery: it combines fantastic worlds and magic with believable characters and complex plots. This is just what Lois McMaster Bujold has done in her Hugo-winning novel Paladin of Souls, taking us again to the world of The Curse of Chalion but giving us a new view and quite different story, as a royal lady’s attempt to hide from the past takes some unexpected turns.

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.
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LibraryThing member soliloquies
A sequel of sorts to "The Curse of Chalion", with Royina Ista this time the central character. Now the curse has been lifted, Ista can begin to live her life but finds herself still labelled as 'mad' so she goes on a pilgrimage - which has unexpected occurrences.
The writing is as strong as ever,
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with this minor character fleshed out and made into a realistic woman. Quite a complex plot involving demons and the Gods entwine around what is essentially a love story. If you loved the first book this one will appeal just as much. It would also work as a standalone read.
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LibraryThing member iayork
Another great Bujold book: From some of the early reviews mentioning that this diverted from most of the characters in "The Curse of Chalion" I was prepared to be a little disappointed since I enjoyed "The Curse of Chalion" so much... however, this has the same quality of writing, characters and
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plot twists as the other. One thing I enjoy about her writing is that they're never predictable. You can't guess where the plot will be going next. (though it works - she doesn't go off in the weeds just to be unpredictable)
I really enjoyed it and I'd highly recommend it to others who enjoy Bujold books.
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LibraryThing member amf0001
This is a definite keeper and a frequent reread. I oscillate between loving this or the first book of the series more (the Curse of Challion) The Curse had a wonderful male hero, but Paladin has a complex, older, female heroine, struggling with self definition as much as anything else, within this
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fantastic realm. it's a wonderful book, and each time I read it, different parts appeal. Well worth exploring.
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LibraryThing member ragwaine
Beautiful writing, great realistic world building and religions. Cool use of demons and terminology. Have to make this plot into a D&D adventure.
LibraryThing member bluerose
The first book in the series [Curse of Chalion] grows more and more on me each time I read it. Paladin had me hooked from the beginning and continues to delight, its now becoming one of favourite comfort reads.

Ista is an unwilling agent of the gods, they have already cost her the life she once had,
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her husband and son, and nearly destroyed the kingdom. She wants only to be left alone and learn to be herself again. Towards this end she goes on pilgramige, ostensibly to pray for a male heir to the kingdom, but really, as a 40+ widow left alone in the world, its really about finding herself.

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...
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LibraryThing member ShiraC
Weakest story in this series, in my opiniion. Somewhat enlivened by some divine humor at the end.
LibraryThing member SimonW11
This is the second book Lois McMaster Bujold has set in this world. The protagonist in this one having a minor role in the last. I found that I had forgotten the events of the first but The author was skill full in providing just enough background without retelling 5the tale.
Our Heroine recently
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recovered from twenty years of guilt induced madness after a disasterous and deadly, god-inspired attempt to lift a curse. pretends a pious wish for pilgrimage to escape her anxious guardians. In truth She has had enough of gods.
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.
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LibraryThing member Vilakins
I liked this even more than 'Curse of Chalion'. It takes a fairly minor character and damaged character from that book, one that I didn't even like much, and makes her the centre of this one. I especially like that Ista is middle-aged and one might think that her life is over, but she leaves her
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stifling home and sets off and has adventures. Her personal god in Chalion's intriguing theology is the Bastard, and she travels with one of his priests, a character I grew to love almost as much as Ista.
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LibraryThing member DNWilliams
The second novel in the Chalion series. Not as compelling as the 'Curse of Chalion', but just as thought provoking as 'Curse'. Bujold ties up a few loose ends and provides a reconciliation to Royina Ista's story. The ability to see spirits is rare and the gods of Chalion are particular about the
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people they choose to 'bless', if you will, with the ability. Ista is determined to distance herself from the capital and the ghosts, both literal and figurative, that plague her life there. Her hopes to leave the gods behind and live her own life are foiled and, of course, she must save the Empire even if she doesn't want to.
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LibraryThing member librisissimo
Not as gripping as "The Curse of Chalion" but a good exploration of the psyche of a middle-aged woman recovering her true self after traumatic events.
LibraryThing member mircealungu
The book creates a pretty credible universe with five gods, demons, sorcerers and armies. I liked the idea that the gods could not actually affect the material world, but instead they would need to convince humans to do their will. by sending disturibing dreams for example.

Awards

Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 2004)
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novel — 2004)
Locus Award (Finalist — Fantasy Novel — 2004)
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award (Winner — Fantasy Novel — 2003)
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2004)
Italia Award (Finalist — 2005)
Minnesota Book Awards (Finalist — Popular Fiction — 2004)

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2003-10

Physical description

464 p.; 6 inches

ISBN

0380979020 / 9780380979028
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