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ktaylor1164's review against another edition
4.0
Although I agree with other reviewers that this third in the series is not as strong as the previous two, I can't bump it down to three stars. It's 3.5, rounding up to 4 for me due to Bujold's consistently strong writing and world-building.
melodyharmon's review against another edition
1.0
I was disappointed. I loved the first two books but I was unable to get into this one. I ended up halfway through and decided to quit reading and move onto something else.
suzemo's review against another edition
4.0
Another foray into the world of the Five Gods by Bujold. This book centers on the Son aspect of the five gods. It takes place, not in Chalion, or nearby, but a distant land, and (as far as I can tell), in the distant past as well.
I think it was interesting and solid. I think it gets a lot of negative reviews because it is decidedly not in the same vein as the first two Chalion books, and is very different. As a stand alone, it's perfectly fine, though the characters are not quite as compelling, but it's still solid.
This book also brings in a different magical system (from the demons that we've seen before). This story involves a land of people who have used/carry animal spirits with them and use them for wisdom/fighting/ruling. Now, this system has been stomped out by oppressors, so we get characters involved with these spirit animals who are not as versed in how it works and get to learn along the way.
I think it was interesting and solid. I think it gets a lot of negative reviews because it is decidedly not in the same vein as the first two Chalion books, and is very different. As a stand alone, it's perfectly fine, though the characters are not quite as compelling, but it's still solid.
This book also brings in a different magical system (from the demons that we've seen before). This story involves a land of people who have used/carry animal spirits with them and use them for wisdom/fighting/ruling. Now, this system has been stomped out by oppressors, so we get characters involved with these spirit animals who are not as versed in how it works and get to learn along the way.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as the second Chalion book (and actually not about Chalion at all--same world, but different country and people and the only real connection is the Quintarian religion), but I liked it better than "The Curse of Chalion". The first half of this was a little annoying, but it got much better in the second half, and I quite enjoyed it by the end.
crimsonsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
A slow start and a strange tale, but a good old-fashioned fantasy.
I understand this is the 3rd book in a loose series but very different and detached from its predecessors. This worked in its favor from my perspective - I couldn't get through the long-winded, painfully slow, and seemingly inane beginning to book one. This was a much more palatable read.
I understand this is the 3rd book in a loose series but very different and detached from its predecessors. This worked in its favor from my perspective - I couldn't get through the long-winded, painfully slow, and seemingly inane beginning to book one. This was a much more palatable read.
matthewbrand's review against another edition
3.0
I lost the thread a bit on how the whole magic worked which lead to a bit of confusion. But, I ended up just accepting that it made sense in the world and was fine. It was a fun book, nothing remarkable.
annwfyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
winterreader40's review against another edition
4.0
Ijada has killed the half mad prince Boleso before he could rape and kill her a bizarre ritual meant to bind an animals soul to him. Ingrey who is bound to a wolf(and has special dispensation from the church so he isn't killed for it) is sent to bring the prince's body and his murderer home.
On the way he keeps trying to kill her and he doesn't know why, he doesn't want her dead he actually kind of likes her, until they meet up with a divine on the journey home and then many things are unleashed, secrets, magical bindings, animal spirits, ghosts, oh my....
This was an oddly sedate book that still manages to hold your attention, this is my least favorite of this trilogy but it's still a good story with interesting characters, I just wasn't vibing much with the animal possession part of the story.
On the way he keeps trying to kill her and he doesn't know why, he doesn't want her dead he actually kind of likes her, until they meet up with a divine on the journey home and then many things are unleashed, secrets, magical bindings, animal spirits, ghosts, oh my....
This was an oddly sedate book that still manages to hold your attention, this is my least favorite of this trilogy but it's still a good story with interesting characters, I just wasn't vibing much with the animal possession part of the story.
annika2304's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thebrianbug's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fairly different addition to the first two books in this world. I found it overall to be well done, though I have to admit I'm beginning to loose interest in Bujold's signature fix-all-Dies-Ex-Machina-style endings.