Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Baen (1989), 501 pages
Description
Paksenarrion -- Paks for short -- was somebody special. Never could she have followed her father's orders and married the pig farmer down the road. Better a soldier's life than a pigfarmer's wife, and so, though she knew that she could never go home again, Paks ran away to be a soldier. And so began an adventure destined to transform a simple sheepfarmer's daughter into a hero fit to be chosen by the gods. Oath of Gold is the climactic final volume of the epic that Judith Tarr calls "the first work of high heroic fantasy I've seen that has taken the work of Tolkien, assimilated it totally and deeply and absolutely, and produced something altogether new and yet incontestably based on the master. . . .[Moon's] military knowledge is impressive, her picture of life in a mercenary company most convincing. I'm deeply impressed.""A tour de force . . ."--Jack McDevitt, Nebula Award Winning author"Brilliant . . . the excitement of high heroic adventure . . . superbly cast with protagonists and supporting characters that will enchant the reader."--Bookwatch… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member lewispike
Paks turns into a paladin and does all the hero stuff. It deals nicely with the nasty bits that go with being a hero too, and how the evil churches recruit and maintains the bitter-sweet tone of the series well despite being the heroic conclusion.
LibraryThing member ladycato
This book finishes up the original trilogy about Paks, a sheepfarmer's daughter turned soldier, then paladin-candidate. The end of book II left her in very dire condition, broken in body and mind. It was one of the most tragic ends to a middle fantasy book I've encountered, and it's driven me crazy
I won't give away the details (they make it fun) but Paks does recover. Sometimes a person must hit bottom before they can come back to the top, and Paks emerges stronger than before, knowing what it means to have everything - and then plummet into utter helplessness. In addition, new, amazing powers emerge, as it seems Paks didn't struggle alone through her time of darkness. She feels the urge to go on a quest, and returns to her old lord, Duke Phelan, as dark minions shadow her steps and seek to destroy her anew.
I loved this book. Paks is a wonderfully well-rounded heroine. These books explore the full character arc from nervous newbie recruit to seasoned soldier to halls of glory to being chased out of pig sties. I felt like cheering when she rediscovered her former glory, and more. I know there are a few more books set in this world, and that Elizabeth Moon is writing more. This series was delicious fun.
Show More
for the past few weeks. How does Paks recover? How broken is she?I won't give away the details (they make it fun) but Paks does recover. Sometimes a person must hit bottom before they can come back to the top, and Paks emerges stronger than before, knowing what it means to have everything - and then plummet into utter helplessness. In addition, new, amazing powers emerge, as it seems Paks didn't struggle alone through her time of darkness. She feels the urge to go on a quest, and returns to her old lord, Duke Phelan, as dark minions shadow her steps and seek to destroy her anew.
I loved this book. Paks is a wonderfully well-rounded heroine. These books explore the full character arc from nervous newbie recruit to seasoned soldier to halls of glory to being chased out of pig sties. I felt like cheering when she rediscovered her former glory, and more. I know there are a few more books set in this world, and that Elizabeth Moon is writing more. This series was delicious fun.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
As the third book in a trilogy, my review for this book necessarily has **spoilers** for the first two books, The Sheepfarmer's Daughter and Divided Allegiance.
After her capture by iynisin and subsequent debilitating fear, Paks has been wandering for some time when she finds herself back at
In many ways, the story begun in The Sheepfarmer's Daughter comes full circle in Oath of Gold. One of my worries reading the first two books was that the episodic style made it hard to see the overarching storyline, but this story ties up plot lines while bringing to light in the importance of earlier events in the larger scheme of things. Despite the battle scenes in the first book, this book had more disturbingly violent moments for me, sending me skimming through some passages. I had a moment, about 50 pages or so in the middle, where I got a little bored because someone's true identity was clear to me before it was to Paks, and even then it was a major plot point that made me wonder what could happen for the next 200 pages to keep my interest. But that was a bump in a generally enjoyable ride. Paks' character truly develops over the course of this novel, and it was fun to see her progression not only in this one book but in the trilogy as a whole.
After her capture by iynisin and subsequent debilitating fear, Paks has been wandering for some time when she finds herself back at
Show More
Brewersbridge. Not sure where to go, she seeks refuge with the Kuakgan. Can he heal her where Marshals of Gird failed? Can she be used for good in the land if courage fails her?In many ways, the story begun in The Sheepfarmer's Daughter comes full circle in Oath of Gold. One of my worries reading the first two books was that the episodic style made it hard to see the overarching storyline, but this story ties up plot lines while bringing to light in the importance of earlier events in the larger scheme of things. Despite the battle scenes in the first book, this book had more disturbingly violent moments for me, sending me skimming through some passages. I had a moment, about 50 pages or so in the middle, where I got a little bored because someone's true identity was clear to me before it was to Paks, and even then it was a major plot point that made me wonder what could happen for the next 200 pages to keep my interest. But that was a bump in a generally enjoyable ride. Paks' character truly develops over the course of this novel, and it was fun to see her progression not only in this one book but in the trilogy as a whole.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Karlstar
A fast paced, D&D-style fantasy about the trials and successes of the paladin Paksenarrion. Without giving a lot of the plot away, this follows her from her low point after leaving the followers of Gird, through great success, though the ending feels like there was much more to come. At times, this
Show More
book feels like the story of a Dungeons and Dragon character (old school!) that has been turned into a novel. That does not mean it is a D&D novel, and it is well done. Show Less
LibraryThing member DocWalt10
Fascinating series. Keeps your interest through the whole book.
LibraryThing member Narilka
Having lost all sense of her courage, Paks wanders the Eight Kingdoms lost and alone, a broken warrior scorned by the rest of society. Through her wandering she realizes she's ended back in Brewersbridge, a place where she did a great deed before. In her despair Paks visit's the Kuakgan's grove,
Oath of Gold is the third and final book of The Deed of Paksenarrion. It's a story about recovery, redemption and sacrifice. In this book we come full circle. It's great to see Paks realize just how far she's come when she revisits places she only knew as a recruit and to finally grow into her full potential.
While parts still feel somewhat like a D&D campaign, making the story predictable at times, Moon breaks away from this by the end. I was able to guess the big reveal and yet the story had enough surprises to keep it interesting.
It is a great ending to a great series. While I know Moon has written more books in the same world I hope some day she will continue Paksenarrion's story.
Show More
offering all of her meager worldly possessions in tribute. The Kuakgan sets himself the task to heal Paks' illness so he can get her back on the path of her true destiny.Oath of Gold is the third and final book of The Deed of Paksenarrion. It's a story about recovery, redemption and sacrifice. In this book we come full circle. It's great to see Paks realize just how far she's come when she revisits places she only knew as a recruit and to finally grow into her full potential.
While parts still feel somewhat like a D&D campaign, making the story predictable at times, Moon breaks away from this by the end. I was able to guess the big reveal and yet the story had enough surprises to keep it interesting.
It is a great ending to a great series. While I know Moon has written more books in the same world I hope some day she will continue Paksenarrion's story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Spurts
Paks is back in this one. Action progresses without all the murky D&D-ish running around blindly in underground passages or mountain trails that really plagued my last nerve in last book. Author's writing and the characters elevate it above some of the formula epic fantasy stuff. A little slow
Show More
considering all the heavyhanded foreshadowing to actually get to the ending I bet every reader saw coming. But a satisfying finish to the trilogy and one of author's first works. Show Less
LibraryThing member quondame
This is a quest story of the paladin Paksenarrion. It starts with her recovery from the damages done to her by both her enemies and allies and follows as she grows into her new being as an uncommon paladin. Yes, she survives and her quest succeeds and I don't recall it being any great surprise even
Show More
the first time I read it, but there is no telling after half a dozen reads. I still find the story compelling and interesting and the ideas worthy of expression. Show Less
LibraryThing member zeborah
A bit disappointing that we gloss over the winter Paks spends in the depths of despair and jump in as she stumbles across someone to heal her. Fair enough that she's not in a mental state to heal herself or even seek healing I guess -- but having her be told what she's learned from the ordeal
The final one of which dragged far too long: I guessed pretty much as soon as Paks was at the Lyonya court who their king was, and it was irritating that she was so slow on the uptake. It's different when you're living in the world, full of thousands of possibilities, rather than being fed the clues in a carefully edited trilogy, I admit. The author could have better simulated that though by feeding the clues more at the start of the trilogy rather than about three seconds before they became relevant.
Also the Passion of Paks was super heavy handed, I'm sorry but Jesus just ruined the trope for all future literature.
But I mean it's a very satisfyingly shaped, easy read, it's just that it was super predictable at almost every possible point. But sometimes that's what you want. (Just today it wasn't what I wanted is all.)
Show More
really felt a bit much: let her figure *something* out for herself! It felt a bit like the injury was put there to be a cliffhanger at the end of book 2, and resolved quickly in book 3 now that it was inconvenient to having adventures.The final one of which dragged far too long: I guessed pretty much as soon as Paks was at the Lyonya court who their king was, and it was irritating that she was so slow on the uptake. It's different when you're living in the world, full of thousands of possibilities, rather than being fed the clues in a carefully edited trilogy, I admit. The author could have better simulated that though by feeding the clues more at the start of the trilogy rather than about three seconds before they became relevant.
Also the Passion of Paks was super heavy handed, I'm sorry but Jesus just ruined the trope for all future literature.
But I mean it's a very satisfyingly shaped, easy read, it's just that it was super predictable at almost every possible point. But sometimes that's what you want. (Just today it wasn't what I wanted is all.)
Show Less
LibraryThing member threadnsong
Wow! What a fantastic book and the end to the first series. I can see now, having read the more recent books first, how they all fit into the world that she built when Paks was the main character. Again, there are instances where the geography takes a little bit of gliding over (I've always had to
Paks is recovering from a terrible set of experiences in the second book with the help of Master Oakhollow. He plays a very central role in her healing though he eases back in the character cast as Paks gains her strength. The relationship between her and Duke Phelan is much more fully explained, as is the tragedy that befell Tammarion and their children all those years ago. The military expeditions and fighting are, as can be expected with Elizabeth Moon, spot on; what fell apart for me was the reliance on invoking the names of dieties over and over again. "Gird's Grace" was used over and over again as a form of Deux ex Machina that seemed to be more of a way to move the action forward when little else would. But the set-up for future adventures by the additional characters, though unplanned 20 years ago, was all there, as was a fantastic series of books that were complete in themselves.
Show More
refer to maps in books) but her later books contain more complete maps so those helped me orient the events of this book.Paks is recovering from a terrible set of experiences in the second book with the help of Master Oakhollow. He plays a very central role in her healing though he eases back in the character cast as Paks gains her strength. The relationship between her and Duke Phelan is much more fully explained, as is the tragedy that befell Tammarion and their children all those years ago. The military expeditions and fighting are, as can be expected with Elizabeth Moon, spot on; what fell apart for me was the reliance on invoking the names of dieties over and over again. "Gird's Grace" was used over and over again as a form of Deux ex Machina that seemed to be more of a way to move the action forward when little else would. But the set-up for future adventures by the additional characters, though unplanned 20 years ago, was all there, as was a fantastic series of books that were complete in themselves.
Show Less
Subjects
Awards
IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award (Finalist — 1990)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1989-01
Physical description
501 p.; 4.19 inches
ISBN
0671697986 / 9780671697983