Sheepfarmer's Daughter

The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 1

By: Elizabeth Moon

Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck

Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Refusing to marry a pig farmer and joining the army, even if it means never seeing her family again, Paksenarrion begins an adventure that enables her to restore an overthrown ruler.

©1988 Elizabeth Moon (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Best Paladin Story Hands Down.

Where does Sheepfarmer's Daughter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I really did not like the narration. Sadly this puts it in the bottom of my lists for audio books.

What did you like best about this story?

I read this when it came out in the 1980s and the two following books that make up The Deed and this is hands down, almost universally accepted as, the BEST story of a Paladin in fantasy literature. Read or listen to all three books.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jennifer Van Dyck?

Anyone

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I will not answer this to avoid any kind of spoilers

Any additional comments?

The narrator reads this book like it is a tween or teen novel. After 4 season of war the narrator reads Paks as a soft spoken doe eyed bewildered recruit. I have stuck with the audio book hoping that the narrator would change with Paks as she changed (as this story is about Paks going from runaway sheep farmer to something else and the journey is what makes this story great. But the narration has not changed or grown and 75% through the narration Paks still responds and speaks like she never left the farm. I have all three books but its REALLY unlikely I will listen to the 2nd and 3rd as I would really just reread or not continue. This makes me very sad as this is in the Top 3 novel series on my shelves.

A good epic - an excellent introduction to fantasy

This was the first fantasy I read while growing up. It got me hooked on the genre. I just wish that other authors created main characters that were as likable as Paks. My only disappointment was that I felt the narrator didn't quite do the story justice. By the third book she'd grown on me but I didn't care for her rendition of one of my all time favorite fantasy epics. This is a classic story where the distinction between good and evil is clear and consistent.

Sheepfarmer's Daughter

My favorite series. I reread almost every year. The detail in battle is exceptional. Time to get the second one in audible. Truly enjoyed being read to.

Entertaining because it is different

I enjoyed the story being delivered from a female warrior perspective without large amounts of text focused on the actual battles. This is not a story about war, battles, and greed, although it does contain these elements. This is a follow-your-heart story; Paks follows her inner compass, knowing the path it leads her on will be challenging. Her self-integrity and dedication to her values drives her but does not come across as judgmental or self-righteous.

The narrator does an excellent job with the varying voices of so many characters - something I find many narrators are challenged with. She is consistent with each of the characters while delivering a performance that is perfectly paced and added interest to the story.

I look forward to listening to the rest of the trilogy.

great story horrible reading

but the pronunciation is horrible. I sure as heck hope her name is pronounced Pax and not Pox. sorry but it sounds super dumb. and Tyr should be pronounced Tear not Tur. ugh
and all her mail voices sound the same. really too bad the performance was so bleh because it's a fantastic story.

Great characters

One of the first things that made me love these books is the development of the characters. As a woman who served for 20 years in the military myself it is so refreshing to read a book where women serve in the military without being portrayed as victims or oddballs. It was absolutely no surprise to me when I finally looked up Elizabeth Moon online and found in her biography that she is a Marine. Semper Fi, sister!

Jennifer Van Dyck does a fantastic job narrating as well - none of those overbearing voices for either genders or ages, and no monotonous droning the way some do. Too often I steer clear of female narrators because they sometimes have a tendency to be overdramatic, but there is none of that here - just a pleasant and entertaining voice that knows when to pick up the speed a little and when to throttle back. Well done!

Good but slow

This was the first book I have read by Elizabeth Moon and her writing is very good especially knowing this was her first novel published in 1987. The Sheepfarmer's Daughter is told from the viewpoint of Paksenarrion — Paks for short, and Paks is a sheep farmer’s daughter who runs away from home at the age of 18 to become a soldier. Paks is an admirable and strong female character making her way through the junior ranks of being a soldier in a mercenary company. Elizabeth Moon’s real-world military experience and knowledge of military operations are evident in her writing.

If there is a detractor to this story is its pace. There is magic in this world but not much is revealed in this first book. The author limits the visibility of such things to the perspective of a recruit and then a junior enlisted soldier. Beyond possessing high moral character, the reader is made aware that there is definitely something special about Paks, but the writer has chosen to reveal this very slowly and spends most of this book dragging the reader through the mud and the junior ranks and duties of being a soldier and becoming a veteran in a Roman-like military campaign. I listened to the audible version of the narration by Jennifer Van Dyck was very good. If I could, I would give it a 3.5 rating. Good enough for me to start the next book in the series.

Stick with it!

Although the story occasionally lags as it goes into grueling detail at times, stick with it. Eventually you see the foundation that has been built to support the rest of the series.

Paksenarrion a hero of legend

Would you listen to Sheepfarmer's Daughter again? Why?

Very much so, I have read the Deed of Paksenarrion several times it is one of my most favorite novels. Being able to listen to someone else narrate the story gives that much more life to the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sheepfarmer's Daughter?

When Paks, Saben, and Canna made the dangerous journey south from Dwarfwatch to warn the Duke of Honey Cat's treachery.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Paks had finished her season with the Lyonyan rangers and and returned to Master Oakhallow the kuagannir and had set the sacred fire for her to place her hands in confirming her abilities as a paladin.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moment in Fin Panir following the expedition where Paks had to make the decision to allow the High Marshall to perform the procedure to root out the evil that had invaded mind.

A human heroine

I picked this up after reading other recommendations and all I can say is thank you to the folks that wrote those reviews. This is the best of the Deeds of Paksenarrion series and it can stand by itself quite nicely if you don't like series.