Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
The Hallowed Hunt is set in the same world as the other two Chalion books, but in a different country: the Weald, conquered by the Darthacans years ago and still affected by the conquest even after throwing off the invaders. Lord Ingrey kin Wolfcliff is sent to arrest Lady Ijada, who killed the dying Hallow King's younger son under mysterious circumstances. Soon Ingrey and Ijada are tangled up in a scheme involving animal spirits, warrior ghosts, and the Weald's hallow kingship.
I wasn't quite as enthralled by The Hallowed Hunt as by [b:Paladin of Souls|61904|Paladin of Souls (Chalion, #2)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388350884s/61904.jpg|819610] -- the plot dragged a little in the middle, and although I liked Ingrey very much, Ijada wasn't as engaging as Ista of Paladin of Souls -- but it's still an excellent addition to a wonderful series. [ETA: And upon third reading, I've upped it to four stars.]
I wasn't quite as enthralled by The Hallowed Hunt as by [b:Paladin of Souls|61904|Paladin of Souls (Chalion, #2)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388350884s/61904.jpg|819610] -- the plot dragged a little in the middle, and although I liked Ingrey very much, Ijada wasn't as engaging as Ista of Paladin of Souls -- but it's still an excellent addition to a wonderful series. [ETA: And upon third reading, I've upped it to four stars.]
I LOVED the first two books in this series. Like, five stars, MUST READ, loved. I had extremely high hopes for this one, but it just didn't feel very connected to the other two. The plot was pretty stand alone from the previous, and seemed really exposition-y with the animals spirits, taking place in a different region, different characters etc. It started off well but just led to me skipping a lot to the end. I'm not sure what happened, I love this author but would probably recommend sticking to the first two of this series. Hoping she goes back to the series roots with the subsequent books. BIG FAN.
I delayed reading this one for a long time, despite my interest. After the sheer and vital brilliance of The Curse of Challion and Paladin of Souls, which not only developed surprisingly charismatic central characters but also inhabited a remarkably full world, I found the six or so Penric novellas cloying and underwritten. Penric's twee adventures were so insubstantial that they diminished the allure of Bujold's world. Added to that, the fact that Hallowed Hunt seemed to be more associated with Penric, given its chronological associations within Bujold's worldstory, was -almost - the final nail in the proverbial coffin for my interest in this one.
But then I remembered just how good Bujold's longform novels are, and I gave it a try.
Reader: do not be like me and hesitate. This is a brutal epic and a remarkable achievement in its own right, in part because of (and not in spite of) Bujold's decision to shift her focus from the mock medieval Hispanic peninsula to a more Celtic (and more tragic) themed part of her glorious and richly imagined world. There are real stakes, real threats, and real characters here, and I was blown away.
Here's hoping for another real novel in Bujold's world of the five gods!
But then I remembered just how good Bujold's longform novels are, and I gave it a try.
Reader: do not be like me and hesitate. This is a brutal epic and a remarkable achievement in its own right, in part because of (and not in spite of) Bujold's decision to shift her focus from the mock medieval Hispanic peninsula to a more Celtic (and more tragic) themed part of her glorious and richly imagined world. There are real stakes, real threats, and real characters here, and I was blown away.
Here's hoping for another real novel in Bujold's world of the five gods!
I wept on the train to work and again in the office. Quite a wonderful book.
Not linked to the first two books and I really struggled to care about the new characters.
The Hallowed Hunt was slower to pick up and denser to untangle than the two previous books in the Chalion (and surrounding lands) series, but when it got going it was unstoppable.
The story follows Ingrey kin Wulfcliff, a retainer assigned to look into the death of the possibly mad Prince Boleso. This unwelcome development occurs at a politically difficult time for the Wealds, who are on the cusp of electing a new Hallow King. In a way that only Bujold has, we (and Ingrey) slowly unravel the mysteries surrounding the kingship, the events of Boleso's death, and the events hundreds and possibly thousands of years in the past whose outcomes somehow hinge on the realities of the here and now. I am always reminded of the line from the first Chalion book when I read new ones... How many Cazarils, or in this case, Ingreys, were sent down the road and turned aside before the Wealds could be at peace?
I will say this book was not perhaps what I initially hoped for. I wanted another sideways look into Chalion, and this was a new and entirely unrelated adventure in the same world. But when I stopped looking for that, I found a new and exquisitely crafted adventure that was in some ways more soul-satisfying. Although, true to the double edged sword (pen?) she tends to employ, it was also harder to finish.
More than anything, I love the theology of the Quintarian universe she has created. In so many ways it rings true to the questions we ask ourselves in this infinitely more ordinary universe.
This book could have used better pacing, I think; Chalion books do have a way of sort of crashing headlong into a breathtaking finish, but the pacing was agonizingly slow at the beginning. On one hand, this was good--you are as hungry for answers as Ingrey, and you never know or guess much more than he does--but on the other, it is difficult to keep going when you keep imagining the absolute worst happening in the meantime. Plus, if I weren't already invested in the universe and trustful of Bujold's intentions to take me someplace worthwhile, I might have given up before it got really excellent.
I recommend this book to lovers of Chalion, adventure, fantasy, romance, political intrigue, or deeply unsettling philosophical questions. It is slow to begin with (it truly gets going about halfway through), but it is worth the wait.
The story follows Ingrey kin Wulfcliff, a retainer assigned to look into the death of the possibly mad Prince Boleso. This unwelcome development occurs at a politically difficult time for the Wealds, who are on the cusp of electing a new Hallow King. In a way that only Bujold has, we (and Ingrey) slowly unravel the mysteries surrounding the kingship, the events of Boleso's death, and the events hundreds and possibly thousands of years in the past whose outcomes somehow hinge on the realities of the here and now. I am always reminded of the line from the first Chalion book when I read new ones... How many Cazarils, or in this case, Ingreys, were sent down the road and turned aside before the Wealds could be at peace?
I will say this book was not perhaps what I initially hoped for. I wanted another sideways look into Chalion, and this was a new and entirely unrelated adventure in the same world. But when I stopped looking for that, I found a new and exquisitely crafted adventure that was in some ways more soul-satisfying. Although, true to the double edged sword (pen?) she tends to employ, it was also harder to finish.
More than anything, I love the theology of the Quintarian universe she has created. In so many ways it rings true to the questions we ask ourselves in this infinitely more ordinary universe.
This book could have used better pacing, I think; Chalion books do have a way of sort of crashing headlong into a breathtaking finish, but the pacing was agonizingly slow at the beginning. On one hand, this was good--you are as hungry for answers as Ingrey, and you never know or guess much more than he does--but on the other, it is difficult to keep going when you keep imagining the absolute worst happening in the meantime. Plus, if I weren't already invested in the universe and trustful of Bujold's intentions to take me someplace worthwhile, I might have given up before it got really excellent.
I recommend this book to lovers of Chalion, adventure, fantasy, romance, political intrigue, or deeply unsettling philosophical questions. It is slow to begin with (it truly gets going about halfway through), but it is worth the wait.
My least fav of the three, I just didn't draw me in, not sure why.
adventurous
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix