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Stephanie Burgis Samphire

This has been one of my very favorite novels ever for a very long time (ever since ...

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2016

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This has been one of my very favorite novels ever for a very long time (ever since my first reading of it when it was first published in 2003). I just re-read it for the - 4th? or maybe the 5th? - time, and I loved it more than ever.

I don't know that it would work for anyone who hasn't first read The Curse of Chalion (which was Book 1 in this series, and which is tightly connected to Paladin of Souls) - but luckily The Curse of Chalion is wonderful too. (That one has a slow start but then becomes INCREDIBLY tense and absorbing and fantastic. It was my favorite historically-based fantasy I'd ever read up until Paladin of Souls was published.)

I love the heroine, Ista, a disillusioned 40-year-old woman and mother of grown children who thinks her life is over only to find a new calling, great and frightening power, and love; I love the whole varied cast of characters around her; I love the wry humor, and the magic, and the deep compassion that run throughout this book. It's an *enriching* book to read. I feel better every time I re-read it.

Mary Soon LeeTop Contributor: Fantasy Books

How pleasing to have an irreverent, intelligent, forty-year-old heroine in a fantasy epic.

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2017

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This Hugo and Nebula-award winning novel is the second book in Bujold’s World of the Five Gods trilogy, a world that includes demons in addition to the eponymous five gods. The tale picks up a few years after the opening volume, The Curse of Chalion, which I loved. This time, the story centers on Ista, who appeared in the previous installment in a more minor role as a royal widow, generally thought to be mad. In this book, Ista comes into her own, and there is something very satisfying about having an intelligent, irreverent forty-year-old woman finding adventures and purpose. I enjoyed the book considerably. Perhaps the start was marginally long-winded, perhaps the romance elements were marginally too perfect, but no matter. I note that I particularly like the Bastard God. As I particularly like the moments of wit. I look forward to the third book.

Buffalo Gap Bill

Even better than Chalion's Curse

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2019

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This book is a continuation of the first. (Duh!). There are some familiar characters, but many new ones. As ive come to expect from LMMB's works, this a case of transformation and reclamation. Well that's not quite the word I want... The central character is the Dowger Royisa Ista, once thought mad. Half sister to the dead Royia Orico (?) And mother of the current Roisa...Issed <.pardon the misspellings but I don't care to take the time to go back for the correct spellings, As I have explained before, I don't do book reports anymore>.

Once God-touched, and a saint believed quite mad, Ista decides first to runaway from her childhood home,. Before being caught and returned, she comes on a group of religious pilgrims and decides THAT is the way to leave the constraints of an over-zealous uncle and elderly lady in waiting.. She soon learns that the God's are not through with her as her pilgrimage becomes involved in a foreign invasion. Taken prisoner/hostage then rescued...it's a great romp of heroes, victims and intrigue.

Read the book. Learn more about the 5 God's of this world and how they interact with people. I look forward to book 3. Again, I've stayed awake until 04:00 to finish the book and write the report. Enjoy!

Caotico09

Decent Followup. Slow Second Half.

Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2019

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A decent followup, the Paladin of Souls follows Ista- an interesting protagonist. A middle-aged woman who gets saddle sores from riding for one day, she is not your typical hero. In a bid to get away from her claustrophobic life, Ista goes on a spiritual retreat and through a series of misfortunes (or Godly interventions?) Ista is led to a border fortress.

This first act of the book, described above, is great- and definitely five star worthy. Throughout this journey the reader is given a more indepth look at the Gods then in the first book and introduced to demons. However, as the book pivots to its second act the action slows down.

Upon arrival at the fortress, Ista soon comes to realize that everything is not what it seems and puts her mind to solving the puzzle. This portion of the book resorts more to a mystery and the pacing slows down.

Positives:
+ Unique POV character, and her characterization.
+ Unique plot, with a completely different issues then the first book, i was pleasently surprised at the minimum amount of material that was reused.

Negatives:
- Other characters and their actions.
- Some weird plot miscues? (Ie: Why is the bear/horse different then any other demons?)

Barry Melius

A genteel prison fails to keep the world safe from this charming mad woman and her companions

Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2019

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This is the second entry of the Chalion series but features a fresh set of main characters, so one can certainly do this as a stand alone read. The story is set in a fairly standard fantasy/sword and sorcery, medieval society replete with magic, castles, knights and royalty all in a pre-gunpowder era not unlike Europe circa 1250 C.E. Our lead character, Ista, has seemingly been broken by her past, curses, demons and death have plagued her and those close to her until she could pass for insane. Cosseted as only a crazy past queen and mother of the country's present ruler could be she is stifled to the point where she makes an effort to break free of the silken bonds of well meaning isolation with her many concerned attendants separating her from the world and a life with little meaning. Luck and the gods conspire to allow her to take a would be sedate religious pilgrimage meant to wander from shrine to holy temple to monastery and then unfortunately back home to the suffocating life she had come to abhor. More good fortune falls her way as chance delivers delightful and very useful companions for her trip in quick order. One things leads to another and a pleasant sojourn cascades into a desperate bid for their very survival and that of her country and its freedom. There is a stretch of mild boredom contained in the middle passages of this long novel but the first third of the book is some of Bujold's best work and the last chapter is my nominee for her finest moment in writing. It's no mistake this won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Fantasy Awards in 2004. Appealing characters, adventure, and great heart combine to make this a novel that has earned its place well up in my rereads pile.

Top reviews from other countries

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VonRichtoven

Bujold is a master: Clever, imaginative, deep

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2019

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Sequel to 'Curse of Chalion' (which stands alone well but is so good that you NEED more). It is weaker than its prequel but still gripping and satisfying.

Unrelated to this 2 book series but of the same world (also BRILLIANT) are 'Hallowed Hunt' and 'Penric's Demon'

The book is focused on a less tidy plot line and hero, the Dowager. Unexpected and all the more rich for developing this unexpected and original line. It becomes quickly exciting and is well p[aced and richly drawn. The characters are a deep mature and credible as all Bujolds works. Many loose ends are tied up and a satisfying conclusion achieved, with greast effort and loss.

Another triumph - Recommended

A. Jones

Excellent sequel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2011

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A worthy follow on from Curse of Chalion. Ista goes on a pilgrimage that turns into a dangerous adventure with demons, walking dead men and invading Roknari. The characters and plot are again suberb and the pace keeps you going along at a fine pace. Further sequel please!

Mina

"Solemn Ista, angry Ista, iron Ista" - Ista is an awesome heroine on her epic journey in the realm of Chalion

Reviewed in Germany on June 21, 2015

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Note: although the book can be read without knowledge of the events in the prior book in the 'Chalion' high fantasy trilogy, I don't recommend it. Knowing the events leading to Ista's journey allow to appreciate what happens here better.

Review

This is Ista's book in the 'Chalion'-trilogy and before telling you about the events, I need to say that for me, Ista is one of the most admirable heroines to be found in any fantasy book. She is as stunning, as she is unlikely. The story starts a few years after the events in 'The Curse of Chalion': the curse is broken, Ista's dauther Iselles is ruling Royina of Chalion and the Provincara, Ista's mother did just die of old age. After the curse had been lifted, Ista's troubles with the effects of being god-touched vanished, but the people around Ista still treat her as if she were still touched by madness and acting all weird.

So Ista, a 40-year old, very intelligent woman is kind of handled like a witless child and penned up in her late mother's castle. A chance meeting inspires her to go an a faux pilgrimage, although she detests all of the five gods for what they made her suffer, just to convince her brother, the castle's seneschal and her ladies in waiting to let her go. But Ista soon discovers that the gods are not yet finished with her and that there are several challenges for her to master and an overall quest in store for her still.

I won't spoil how the events unfold, but there is stuff happening, I did so not see coming ' Ista is in deadly peril more than once, encounters lots of demons [some of them in unlikely places], meets two gods in the flesh and ends up with a all new and shiny job at the end of the book. Oh and I was happy to see even a bit of romance for the woman, after all she suffered through in her nearly wasted life. The plot is ingeniously wrought and things come together in a fabulous way, but the most stunning thing is Ista's development: from the nearly wooden woman to a true heroine with the most incredibly dry humor ever. I didn't think it possible, but the book is even better than its predecessor and one of the best character driven high fantasy installments ever. I really wished to read more about what awaits her in her new calling, because I think she'll be great as her new and improved self, who is not hemmed in by expectations, her own and others', any more.

schwups

Tiefere Einblicke in die Götterwelt von Chalion

Reviewed in Germany on March 26, 2007

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gewinnt man in diesem Buch. Es spielt ein paar Jahre nach "Curse of Chalion" und nicht mehr Caz spielt die Hauptrolle, sondern die "verrückte" Ista. Von Caz hört man zwar nur in ein paar Briefen, aber Ista ist genauso ein interessanter und sympathischer Charakter wie Caz. Sie hat keine Lust mehr in eingesperrt und für verrückt erklärt in ihrer Burg zu sitzen, nichts zu tun und sich zu langweilen. Sie beschließt eine Reise zu unternehmen. Doch für Frauen ist es in Chalion nicht so einfach einfach zu verreisen. Die einzige Möglichkeit, die sie hat, ist eine Pilgerreise zu unternehmen. Schnell findet sich eine kleine reisegruppe und sie schafft es gerade so ihrer nervtötenden Damen zu entkommen. In der Gegend, die sie bereist, spielen sich merkwürdige Dinge ab: Die Zahl der gesichteten Dämonen ist in letzter Zeit rapide angestiegen und Ista wird durch "echte" Träume heimgesucht. Die Götter haben irgendetwas mit ihr vor...

Das Buch ist sehr spannend und Ista gibt eine tolle Heldin ab. Sie ist so ein interessanter Charakter, dass man Caz schnell vergisst. Man kann dieses Buch übrigens eigentlich lesen, ohne "Curse of Chalion" gelesen zu haben. Man sollte es aber meiner Meinung doch tun, um mehr Hintergrundwissen zu haben und sich ein späteres Lesen von "Curse of Chalion" nicht zu vermiesen (denn dann würde man schließlich das Ende schon kennen).

Feco

Buen libro

Reviewed in Mexico on February 18, 2017

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Este es un libro que inicia con un Quest. Una aventura. Pero no es una típica configuración de una aventura. Es un viaje en el que hay muchas mas cosas que no se saben o que proceden de otro libro previo. Bien escrito, bien contado. Buena edición. Buena historia. Por algo ganó premios.

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