Bujold, Lois McMaster: Paladin of Souls

[calico_reaction]

Comments

[thebluerose]

WIKTORY!!! I was definately one of the people saying read this, its by far and away my favorite of her fantasy books (tho Chalion improved significantly the third time I read it, its so complex I think you need several goes at it)

I love love love Ista, I adore the wry dry wit, the banter between her and the men, and Liss, the lovely complex relationships that evolve and change. Showing how people make choices, and why they make them even in the most dire of circumstances.

This is a fabulous fantasy in its own right, makes a wonderful job of a fantasy romance and I absolutely love it to pieces. Possibly my No#2 Fave book of all time :)

So very glad you did read this, and love it!

(you and I are twins separated somehow, our reading preferences overlap so much, its why I follow your blog and take part in the challenges :))

[calico_reaction]

I definitely see this as a series to read and re-read over again. I'm so glad I gave #2 a shot!

[shel99]

Yay! I'm so glad you loved it as much as I did.

I haven't read the third book yet, either.

[calico_reaction]

I think I'll get around to it this time next year. :)

[celestialgldfsh]

Ah, I loved this book so much. The third book, however, was a big disappointment.

[calico_reaction]

How long did you wait to read book three after you read book two, out of curiosity?

[celestialgldfsh]

I finished Chalion at the end of December 2010, then read 2 & 3 back to back at the end of January 2011.

[calico_reaction]

Yeah, I was warned against doing that. Many people tell me book three is a good book, only you have to take it more as a stand-alone, rather than a sequel. So I figure waiting a year or so before reading it will give me enough distance to temper my expectations. :)

[ext_463379]

I liked Chalion, but I think Paladin of Souls is probably my favorite Bujold book to date (I haven't read a good chunk of the Vorkosigan Saga yet, though). I thought Ista was a very interesting character back in "Chalion", so I was really happy to see her taking the heroine role here.

"The role of women in this book is fascinating. We see quite the spectrum of human nature, and that I appreciate."

I completely agree with this. I felt like the women in this book had an especially wide range of characterization. Cattilara was really frustrating sometimes, but I appreciated that she was shown to be very strong in her own way.

[calico_reaction]

I've only read Cordelia's Honor in the Vorkosigan saga, but I hope to work my way through it.

[comrade_cat]

I loved Curse of Chalion, but Paladin of Souls has a special place in my heart.

[calico_reaction]

I look forward to re-reading CURSE one day. I liked it okay when I read it the first time, but now that I've read PALADIN and I'm more ensconced in the world-building, I think I'll get more out of CURSE.