Paladin of Souls

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Three years have passed since the widowed Dowager Royina Ista found release from the curse of madness that kept her imprisoned in her family's castle of Valenda. Her newfound freedom is costly, bittersweet with memories, regrets, and guilty secrets, for she knows the truth of what brought her land to the brink of destruction. And now the road, escape, beckons...A simple pilgrimage, perhaps. Quite fitting for the Dowager Royina of Chalion.

Yet something else is free, too, something beyond deadly. To the north lies the vital border fortress of Porifors. Memories linger there as well, of wars and invasions and the mighty Golden General of Jokona. And someone, something, watches from across that border: humans, demons, gods.

Ista thinks her little party of pilgrims wanders at will, but whose? When Ista's retinue is unexpectedly set upon not long into its travels, a mysterious ally appears, a warrior nobleman who fights like a berserker. The temporary safety of her enigmatic champion's castle cannot ease Ista's mounting dread, however, when she finds his dark secrets are entangled with hers in a net of the gods' own weaving.

In her dreams, the threads are already drawing her to unforseen chances, fateful meetings, fearsome choices. What the inscrutable gods commanded of her in the past brought her land to the brink of devastation. Now, once again, they have chosen Ista as their instrument. And again, for good or for ill, she must comply.

Don't miss Lois McMaster Bujold's first book about Chalion, The Curse of Chalion.

©2003 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

• Romantic Times Award Winner - Best Fantasy Novel, 2003
• Hugo Award Winner, Best Novel, 2004
• Nebula Award Winner, Best Novel, 2004

" "Rich in sumptuous detail and speculative theology....This engaging installment of Chalion's mythical history whets the appetite for new marvels yet to come." (Publishers Weekly)
"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." (Booklist)

A great story - well written and perfectly read

Kate Redding is the perfect reader for this well-written novel. She conveys so much extra meaning and perfectly captures the essence of Ista.
I'm a big fan of the Chalion books, and audio versions are all well read. I was a bit worried when a new reader was introduced, but they couldn't have chosen better for this one, set from the point of view of a mature woman.

Lois McMaster Bujold is my favourite author. it's a pleasure to read or hear her well-turned phrases. Her stories go in unexpected directions and she finds new stories to tell, when you think every possible story has been written.

This novel is a bit more of a romance, but with all the interesting twists and turns that come with tales of the World of the Five Gods.

20 times? 30? I've lost count

of rhebtimes I have listened to this book and the Curse of Chalion. Wonderful story, wonderful writing, terrific narrator. What more can I say? I have this in paperback, too, but the reader is so good I always end up back on audible.

Wonderful all the way through.

I’m a big Bujold fan, but the voice actor puts this one well above many of her other novels. It’s a really wonderful performance that perfectly matches my imagined voice for Ista.

Slow start, but finishes with an original bang

This sequel stands alone, with the main characters from the previous book mentioned mainly in passing, and the necessary background is recapped for the reader. Three of the secondary characters from that book become the main protagonists from this one.

Right from the beginning, the story is unusual. The narrator is female, and the protagonist is a middle-aged female. Her plight is actually rather mundane and so is her solution to it. For a long time, not much happens. I would have found it dull if it wasn't for the excellent narrative and dialogue. There is an small hint early on that there are bigger events to come, but it really is small.

Events do start to pick up eventually, and then start going in wholly unexpected directions. Toward the end I was eagerly awaiting what happened next. As in the previous book, Bujold has come up with a story more original than any I have read in a while. The protagonist is likeable but not as much as in the previous book.

The narrator is excellent. Her voice is deep and rich and she has a wide range of voices.

Quality Fun

Lois McMaster Bujold is a name I heard alot of over the past 4 years from a friend of mine. I never read any of her work. What a moron I was. The Curse of Chalion was exceptional and very engaging fantasy fare. Bujold stole my heart away with that tale and made me easily get deeply involved with her characters and their fates. Paladin of Souls returns to that coffer of magic and gives us all another excellent journey. Bujold's strengths are most evident here. Sharp witted characters, soulful ponderings, a mysterious journey. Man, did I have fun with this one. You will too. But listen to The Curse of Chalion first because you will miss out on many continuities within the growing world of Chalion. Noone should deny themselves that amazing book anyway. Kate Reading does a superb job with the narration/characterization. Her work on Jordan's Wheel of Time series had made me a fan long ago, but I was surprised by her british accent during this read. It seems she has successfully masked it for the Jordan books (understandably) but it is a joy to hear in Paladin of Souls.

A wonderful book

Paladin of Souls was a great book. There were bits of dialog that stopped me dead in my tracks because they made me THINK. When a fantasy story can make a point about life that applies to the real world, it has accomplished more than entertainment. I liked the fact that the main character in this book was a supporting character from Curse of Chalion even though the two books were mostly independent of each other. This book was my favorite of the three I have listened to so far.

Excellent!

I have loved Ms Bujold's writings for years. This was a most enjoyable experience! Kate Reading does this story justice, indeed! I look forward to the next story in this world! And I also look forward to hunting down more readings by Kate!

a favourite

a wonderful combination of excellent narration and intriguing srory. I've listened to it countless times now and it always cheers me.

For fans of Lois McMaster Bujold

I loved it! I really enjoyed the narration. It made each character unique. I really enjoyed the melancholy tinge of Ista's characterization.

Awesome

Lois delivers once again. I know she has written more in this universe. I wish she would continue with these characters.