Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold

Read for the Once Upon a Time VII Reading Challenge.

Ista has spent most of her life under the shadow of a curse on her family, but when her daughter (see The Curse of Chalion) is finally able to lift it, Ista is released from her madness.    And suddenly doesn’t know what she should do.    She is the dowager royina of the kingdom, but is not needed at court, and her mother has passed away, leaving her without that strong, guiding presence.

On a whim, Ista decides to make a pilgrimage, and with a priest, a few warriors, and a courier as serving woman, she sets out to visit some holy sites as far away in Chalion as she can possibly be from her old life.    On the borders with Jokana, she finds herself in the middle of a war, one with implications for all of Chalion.    Ista had been touched by the gods once, and never wanted to be again, but before her lies a path where she may have to surrender to that power to save the entire realm.

I loved The Curse of Chalion, and I’ll admit I was wondering exactly what Bujold was going to do with a relatively minor character from that story.    Can I just say, Wow.    Ista’s journey is so compelling, just so real.     I loved this book – finished it as fast as I possibly could.    I’m starting to get a little irked with myself for not having picked up some Bujold earlier…