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)

Splendid

Splendid. It is evem better than the first time I read it.. Improves like wine.

Beautiful story - beautiful characters

I just love this story. Ista is a great heroine - getting to follow a woman who has lost her sense of purpose and sense of self, distrusting her value and worth and abilities, and getting to watch her discover ( for the first time) passion, meaning, and self- assurance - is very empowering. Watching her true self grate against the perceptions others have of her is an exciting and freeing celebration of personal renaissance . A beautiful thing to experience - and inspiring. Great VO artist!!

Excellent Sequel

This is a first class sequel to a first class story (The Curse of Chalion). One could listen to them out of order but would miss a lot, because the author spends a lot of words in the first book creating a unique theology that provides the fantastic aspects of the story.

The plot is a standard "quest", set in a preindustrial world organized along feudal lines, but the characters are likable, and this writer is as good at involving the reader in the story as any writer I've encountered (check out her Miles Vorkosigan adventures). The main character (like the author) is female, and to my (male) mind, she is a believable heroine who succeeds in her quest in a way that would not make you think of Sir Galahad (or Gandalf for that matter.

If you like fantasy, you'll love this

Brilliant

This is one of my favorite Lois McMaster Bujold novels--which is high praise, since her body of work is so fine.

The reader is marvelous. Each character has a distinct "voice," creating nearly an audio play for the listener. When I re-read the novel, it is now Kate Reading's voice I hear. Her voicing of the main character is particularly fine.

Fantasy and Science Fiction are my favorite genres, and I've read widely, so I know all too well that the bookstores and library shelves are jam-packed with beautiful heroines...aged 18 or so. As a reader in my forties, this makes me a little wistful, so reading Ista's story was a delight. There are few compelling "mature" female lead characters in fantasy literature. If it weren't for Ista and Granny Weatherwax, I'd just have to start reading--gasp--REALISTIC fiction. Though Bujold's richly imagined worlds are real enough to the reader.

Women characters who THINK! Woohoo!

Entertaining

I will agree with some previous reviews, the book does drag in a few parts. However, if you enjoyed the first book you will enjoy the sequel. It can also be a stand alone if you have not read the first novel.

The narator is great, she does a great job is articulating the different characters..and who doesn't love a British narator. Ista also seems to be well suited for a British accent.

There are parts that will just make you laugh and overall it is a good listen.

Great narration

I really enjoyed the narrator of this story. She really drew me into the plot and made me really care about the characters. I actually think I liked this book better than the Curse of Challion, I liked the religious theme and the struggle Lady Ista went through to reluctantly accept her "calling."

I would listen to Anything Kate Reading narrated

Would you consider the audio edition of Paladin of Souls to be better than the print version?

YES! Kate Reading is the master of all narrators!

Any additional comments?

I didn't LOVE The Curse of Chalion so I almost didn't even check out Paladin of Souls. When I saw Kate Reading was the narrator I JUMPED on it! If I had a soundtrack of life running in my head continuously Kate would be the narrator. I would listen to her read the phone book. She made this book come to life for me.

I will say this is a good book, but it is a truly deep and thoughtful book. It is not a mindless listen. It is so different than I expected. Very slow start but the end was worth it although don't expect too much! I am glad I listened, but since Kate doesn't narrate the last book in the trilogy I don't think I will venture into that one.

One of my favorite books!

Well thought out story. And developed caricature's. Engaging from beginning to end. I recommend the two other in this series.

Best Narration for the Five Gods series so far

Bujold’s writing deserves all of the awards it has won. Her heroines are incredibly well-developed, wise, and allowed to grow in their wisdom over the course of the book. Her flashes of dark humor are hilarious and welcome. Many narrators fail to appreciate them.

Kate Reading is the best narrator so far of the three I’ve listened to. She captures the nuances of Bujold’s wit and wry tones, While giving each person their own voice and characteristics. I plan to look for other works she has read.

Good Story, Great Narrator

Not only is this story better, this narrator also captures the characters. More up to this wonderful authors standard. This story doesn’t have the humor of Bujold’s other works, but still good.