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.

Standout Story

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

I would put it at the top of the list of good listening, and well read.

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

The beginning of understanding of her giftings and abilities.

What does Jennifer Van Dyck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good pacing of audible content. Able to do slight changes in accent to differentiate between characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found it a very moving book (series) with interesting concepts. I have read and listened to it many times.

Any additional comments?

Difficult to put down any time I started it.

Solid Military Fantasy Story

This was an interesting start to a series that makes me curious to read more. It does a very good job with the details of being in a mercenary army.

Exactly what I was looking for.

I love books with bad-ass warrior women, big fantasy battles and sprawling worlds that open up gradually to show us more of the world the more the main becomes importantly the plot. This book has this all in spades. I look forward to listening to the next book.

One of my favorite works of fiction!

Elizabeth Moon's ability to tell a tale in great detail, without entering into the realms of tedium, is all but unique amongst authors of fiction. Her works read like a soldier's debriefing and an epic saga, all in one. They say, "write what you know." Well, Elizabeth Moon's experience as a military veteran would certainly seem to have lent this story it's strength, and a sense of immersion that's more than rare.

While the narrator does well, I do much prefer a full cast.. But I suppose I should be thankful that it's been recorded as an audio book at all!

Still, I strongly recommend this audio book!

Slow burn but worth it

So I felt like this book started off slow, but the world building was good, and where the story went was enjoyable. It is worth sticking out the first few chapters

Great book but it gets a little gory..

This book has some extreme depictions of violence. However, it is not done in a 'cheap thrills' manner. At first, I found myself flinching away from the needless violence but eventually I built up some trust in the authors decision to portray the cost of war in such a way. It gets heavy... a strong suggestion of rape, innocent children violently killed, people are tortured, and a man's glands are separated from his body. It is ruff.. and I suppose so is war.

Great story

A little jilted in speech but great story overall. Too bad the story is broken up and not all one book

Enjoyable Listen!

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It was an unusual book for me - I am not accustomed to reading about a female military heroine - even so, I was not disappointed. After reading this book, I had to find out what happened and eventually finished listening to the series. I was not disappointed I did that.

If you are looking for a new series, this might interest you.

Other books you may like: The Chronicles of Amber (apparently an old series, but I just read it for the first time and loved it), the Riftwar saga by Raymond E. Feist (not on Audible yet, but worth reading), and Trudi Canavan's Black Magician series.

This is assuming you have already read Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series, his Elantris stand alone book, The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, and G. R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series (Beware - no one is sure when this series will be completed). If you haven't read this list, start with these ones.

If you have completed the above list, you might like Peter V Brett's Painted Man/Warded Man series, the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks, Robin Hobb's Soldier Son trilogy, her Tawny man Series, or her Farseer trilogy.

I enjoyed all of the above series. Some of them were more enjoyable that others, so, please read other reviewers to see if they would be a good fit for you.

If there was a series you enjoyed, please share it. Thanks.

Fantasy with a female heroine

This is a solid fantasy with a female heroine. Paks, the main hero of the story, is literally just a sheepfarmers daughter, however, she has the heart of a warrior and the author gifts us with the chance to see her shine. It is a worthy read,

Bravo

This is the first book in a trilogy, that when you have finished reading you wish you had found much sooner, or even better never remember reading so you can read it anew again.