Paladin of Souls
May. 26th, 2016 08:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alobearThis is the second Challion book by Lois McMaster Bujold. The first book was very good, but I thought this second one was truly excellent - and, interestingly, I have identified the difference as me.
The first book had really good main characters - a man in his 30s, who had suffered terribly and was now trying to protect his charge under very difficult circumstances, and a young princess trying to make an impact in a society that wanted her to get married and shut up. I liked both of them and found their story engaging.
The second book, however, focuses entirely on a woman of 39, who desperately wants her life to open up, rather than closing down, and who is battling the expectations of those around her, in order to find purpose. Her inner voice is beautifully written, and her struggles resonated with me deeply. Plus, much as I hate to admit it, I will be turning 40 next year and am very definitely starting to relate to the older characters in things, rather than the youngsters.
The story was fascinating, the peripheral characters were all well-drawn and enjoyable, and the suspense was rife - but it was my connection to Ista that made the book so truly excellent for me.
The first book had really good main characters - a man in his 30s, who had suffered terribly and was now trying to protect his charge under very difficult circumstances, and a young princess trying to make an impact in a society that wanted her to get married and shut up. I liked both of them and found their story engaging.
The second book, however, focuses entirely on a woman of 39, who desperately wants her life to open up, rather than closing down, and who is battling the expectations of those around her, in order to find purpose. Her inner voice is beautifully written, and her struggles resonated with me deeply. Plus, much as I hate to admit it, I will be turning 40 next year and am very definitely starting to relate to the older characters in things, rather than the youngsters.
The story was fascinating, the peripheral characters were all well-drawn and enjoyable, and the suspense was rife - but it was my connection to Ista that made the book so truly excellent for me.
