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From Publishers Weekly
In this sequel to The Curse of Chalion (2001), rich in sumptuous detail and speculative theology, dowager royina Ista Dy Baocia undertakes a pilgrimage to ease her soul-and finds instead that in Chalion, Bujold's handsomely crafted fantasy world ruled by Five Gods "just around some strange corner of perception," a more dangerous fate awaits than she could ever have imagined. Swordplay and sorcery sweep sensitive, sensible 40-year-old Ista into Chalion's border stronghold of Porifors, where enemy Roknari incursions and demons from the Fifth God's hell threaten Ista's realm, held precariously at bay by the charismatic Arhys dy Lutez. Ista's romantic quest to save Arhys and his magnetic half-brother, Illvin, teems with equal parts of unearthly magic and down-to-earth quasi-medieval lore. Despite an occasional lapse into adolescent angst and spurts of superficial dialogue, high fantasy fans should thrill at Ista's spiritual perils, while horse admirers of all ages should savor even Ista's saddle sores. This engaging installment of Chalion's mythical history whets the appetite for new marvels yet to come. FYI: Bujold has won both Hugo and Nebula awards.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
The eagerly awaited sequel to The Curse of Chalion (2001) continues the story of the world of Chalion, though not strictly of Chalion, after Iselle and Bergon have defeated one lot of enemies and celebrated their wedding. Paladin of Souls focuses, however, on Iselle's mother, Ista. Three years free of the madness that kept her imprisoned in her family's castle, Ista is finally released from her last remaining duties by the death of her mother. She undertakes a pilgrimage, but doesn't get far before she is overtaken by trouble, sorrow, need, and a host of other adversities. Chalion is in trouble again, thanks to the plots, counterplots, machinations, and follies of men and of gods, and Ista is perforce on the front lines. Bujold couldn't characterize badly if threatened with a firing squad, and what really keeps one turning the pages is the fascinating cast of characters--not that the plot is anything to sneeze at. Only dedicated addicts of Bujold's Vorkosigan saga will be miffed that she has given us this book rather than that sf series' next installment, for Bujold is also head and shoulders above the ruck of current fantasists as well as science-fictionists. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
ISTA LEANED FORWARD BETWEEN THE CRENELLATIONS ATOP THE gate tower, the stone gritty beneath her pale hands, and watched in numb exhaustion as the final mourning party cleared the castle gate below. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
ISTA LEANED FORWARD BETWEEN THE CRENELLATIONS ATOP THE gate tower, the stone gritty beneath her pale hands, and watched in numb exhaustion as the final mourning party cleared the castle gate below. Read the first page
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome Back to Chalion,
By
This review is from: Paladin of Souls (Hardcover)
This pleasant sequel to The Curse of Chalion contains all the hallmarks of the Lois McMaster Bujold style -- an underdog protagonist with unexpected strength, extremely engaging characters, three-dimensional villains, witty and epigram-laced writing so good you want to read it aloud to somebody, and clearly written action concerning a situation that starts out fairly complicated and gets a lot worse, and more complex, before it gets any better. As usual, Bujold is compulsively readable. I think if she wrote VCR owner's manuals, I'd stay up past midnight turning their pages.However, this is a lesser work than her previous novel in the same setting. I think this is the nature of the setting she picked. Readers of the past book have gotten the message, which was well-hidden until the end, that if you trust Chalion's gods and do what you know you ought to do, the gods will make sure things turn out okay in the end. Curse of Chalion contained mixed blessings that made the gods seem mysterious and mercurial, but here, the gods speak to the protagonist face to face and whenever she gets into too much trouble, they give her another superpower that can get her out. Also, readers of the previous book, knowing you get into more trouble ignoring the gods than taking their (admittedly oblique) advice, may be as miffed as I was at the protagonist for her perverse insistence on doing things the hard way no matter how many others suffer. Okay, I got that out of my system. Now, don't let it stop you from reading the book. This isn't the VCR manual I said I'd read if Bujold wrote it. It's a fine novel, one of the best you're likely to read this year, and a welcome return to a vivid and fascinating world. Just because it's not flawless (as Curse of Chalion is, or very nearly) doesn't make it not a gem.
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite Bujold, and that's saying something,
This review is from: Paladin of Souls (Mass Market Paperback)
I have read everything she has ever written, enjoyed most, loved many, but this is the one that stands out to me. Maybe because of the older female protagonist, but most likely because of Bujold's fantastic writing. I loved Curse of Chalion, and was initially disappointed that this wasn't about those characters, but that lasted for about three pages. She imbues every word with love for her characters, as flawed as they are. A compassionate, passionate, and thrilling story in every way. Wonderful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Characters that stand out...,
By Isabella (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Paladin of Souls (Mass Market Paperback)
Lois McMaster Bujold amazes me with her ability to write about such unique and unexpected characters. At first, the character of Royina Ista didn't strike me as someone I would want to read about. However, as I learnt more of her character throughout the novel, I became intrigued and quite drawn to the story.This is the second book, after the Curse of Chalion. However, I believe it would make a fine stand alone novel as well. The basic plotline is about the 40-some-year-old Royina Ista, who curses the gods for her misfortunes, escaping the restrictions of her home (where people mistake her for mad, and even suicidal) under the impression she is on a pilgrimage. However, on her journey, she is swept up by an unexpected invasion from the Roknari Isles. After that, she will find herself tightly woven into a puzzle she was sent to solve by the very gods she curses... The good: -The characters guarantee a unique read. -The novel itself is very satisfying. -The use of language is excellent; although I found myself hunting for a dictionary occasionally, it was a good experience! -An interesting and flowing plotline. -A great ending. The bad: To be honest, I can't really think of anything to put here... unless you have an aversion to long words or older characters, there's little you would dislike.
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