kgbooklog

Lois McMaster Bujold, Horizon
Eos (2009) ISBN: 978-0-06-137536-1
Score: 3

Conclusion of the Sharing Knife quartet, in which the characters begin to resolve the main conflict. And yes, it really is the end of the series; the main problem here was that the two races weren't talking to each other, and that's not something that can be quickly solved by killing monsters (though like the previous books, the author threw in some monsters anyway to keep the characters and readers from getting bored).

Next Book: Jonathan Stroud, Heroes of the Valley

Lois McMaster Bujold, Passage
Eos (2008) ISBN: 978-0-06-137533-0
Score: 2

Third book of the Sharing Knife series, in which Fawn and Dag take a long journey and try to find ways to promote understanding between farmers and lakewalkers. I found it odd how kept picking up companions along the way, but I liked seeing how difficult it is to do things that had never been done before.

Next Book: Charlaine Harris, From Dead to Worse

Lois McMaster Bujold, Legacy
Eos (2007) ISBN: 978-0-06-113905-5
Score: 2

Second volume of the Sharing Knife quartet, in which we spend some time among the Lakewalkers and learn a little more about sharing knives and malices. Still enjoyable and I wish I could say more without spoiling the previous book.

Lois McMaster Bujold, Beguilement
Eos (2006) ISBN: 0-06-113758-8
Score: 2

First half of the Sharing Knife, the first story in a (unnamed?) high fantasy series. This book was written specifically to be a Romance, so no real surprises in the plot and characterization. The premise, worldbuilding, and ending are good though, and I expect the second volume, Legacy, to be closer to an epic fantasy.

Lois McMaster Bujold, The Hallowed Hunt
Eos (2005) ISBN: 0-06-057462-3
Score: 2

Third Chalion book, though it takes place in a different country and likely a couple hundred years earlier. The hallow king (why is this never capitalized?) is dying, his son (who dabbled in the ancient arts of transferring animal souls to humans) has just been killed by a young woman he tried to force his attentions on, and Ingrey (who had a wolf soul forced on him in his youth) has been ordered resolve things "discretely". Then things get complicated. Can be read first, though the pantheon isn't expained very well. The plot has some similarities to Curse of Chalion, which I liked a little better.