The Deed of Paksenarrion
by Elizabeth Moon
The Deed of Paksenarrion (Collections and Selections — Omnibus 1-3), Paksenarrion World - Series Order (Collections and Selections — Omnibus 6-8), Paksenarrion's World (Collections and Selections — Omnibus 03-05)
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Ignoring her father's plans for her, Paksenarrion leaves her family and sets off for the army, where her heroic restoration of a lost ruler to his throne will make her a legend.Tags
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I am rooting for Paks all the way!
This was a good epic fantasy journey. I have read the first book of the Paksenarrion trilogy, Sheepfarmer's Daughter, some years ago. I liked it, but for some reason I never read the rest. Having discovered an omnibus edition among our e-books, I thought I would tackle the thousand pages of the trilogy. I am glad I did!
The world is a more or less standard grim medieval place, with elves, orcs, dwarves, gnomes, monsters, evil gods, good gods, etc. It feels real, I liked the descriptions. The writing is very straightforward, but never simplistic, it pulls you into the book so well. It feels slow-paced, even when we go into “one more chapter” mode in books 2&3. I liked how the whole story was about the show more coming of age and growth of one character, through pain and adversity.
The author’s military background shows, there are nice tactics, logistics and details of military training in all three books. Considering that the first book was published in 1988, its treatment of abuse, SA, and the ace spectrum is very impressive. (This is also a fantasy world with birth control, just mentioned in passing.) Paksenarrion (Paks) is very obviously asexual, and how many other epic fantasy heroines can you think of that are the same?
I wanted to write about the three books in more detail:
Sheepfarmer’s Daughter
Paks is supposed to get married, but she is having none of it, so she runs away from home. She joins Duke Phelan’s mercenary company. I liked the parts about the training, learning to fight, making friends and enemies. (Paks is basically a weapons and fighting geek.)
”Your life will depend on the skill and courage of those beside you.”
The world building is dependent on the fact that Paks has not seen the world beyond her small village, and as a common soldier, she does not see the bigger picture. Other characters explain things from time to time. This is not my favourite kind of storytelling, but Paks, her courage, her moral core, and her adventures make up for it.
The plot is slightly meandering at times, with some false notes – campaign this, campaign that, lots of soldiers slogging through the mud, and then slogging through the mud again, and now let’s pile up the corpses of our enemies (ugh). I couldn’t tell some of the secondary characters apart. Yet there are magical mysteries around Paks, there is heartbreak when friends are lost - ”they marched with the ghosts of the slain”. It all makes for a good story of a very young person trying to find their place in the world. And what is Paks fighting for, exactly?
3.8 stars
Divided Allegiance
We are in the aftermath of a war of revenge. Duke Phelan’s company is allied with someone who is doing horrible things. Because politics. Paks is sickened and traumatized. She is conflicted, because she still admires her commander. A sergeant (I do like sergeants in this book) tells her ”Don’t stay in this until you can’t stand yourself, or the Duke either.”
So Paks journeys. We meet danger, adventure, strange magic, mysterious elven ruins, and untrustworthy travelling companions.
”But you’re so suspicious.”
”I’m alive,” said Paks. ”and I intend to stay that way.”
More adventures follow. I liked Paks’ interactions with everyone she meets. She is such a likable character. Paks’ dream seems to come true – she is accepted into knight training… and she is a paladin candidate. I liked the discussion about what being a paladin means - it’s not only about fighting, it’s about showing others that standing up to evil in all its forms is possible.
There is a first quest, and terrible things happen to Paks. She is rescued, but something is still very wrong. Oh, Paks… She fails and falls. I think it takes guts for an author to put your character in such a situation at the end of your book 2.
(Note to self: next time a bunch of medieval magicians with (probably) uncertain knowledge of brain anatomy offer to perform emergency magical brain surgery on me, I will think twice.)
4.3 stars.
Oath of Gold
Oh, Paks’ mind and soul are in such a dark place! But a chance brings her to an old friend. I loved Master Oakhallow the Kuakgan (a kind of ”one with nature” Druid/magician) and the way he helped Paksenarrion. Their talk about courage and what it is was wonderful – courage is not only about charging at your enemies waving a sword, it is about enduring and standing firm when things go dark. And so Paks is learning more about herself.
Of course she becomes a paladin, despite everything. Go, Paks! Your quest is awesome!
I loved how all the threads and hints from the books 1&2 converged here, and how nicely structured the whole trilogy turned out to be. Some plot twists I could see coming, but they were so well done that it didn’t matter. Familiar characters gained more substance.
Paks as a paladin is glorious! Glorious!
”Clearly he did not know how to argue with a paladin on a quest.”
When Paks travels with the kings’ squires in winter, in a snowstorm, I suddenly wanted Elizabeth Moon and Victoria Goddard to go to a pub together, with me just sitting in the corner, “don’t mind me, I’ll just listen to you talking about books”.
There is a lot of darkness towards the very end. Horrible, horrible things are done to Paks. They are described in detail, but as it should be done – breaking the readers’ hearts, making us say please stop because of shared pain, but not wallowing in violence. There are many trigger warnings in this chapter. Be careful. I felt exhausted after finishing the chapter. The way Paks finds strength is amazing. I think it was about understanding your fear and embracing it, and understanding who you are thereby.
The ending is splendid, if a bit rushed, with miracles and some deus ex machina. It felt right.
4.4 stars.
This is a fantasy classic for a reason. show less
This was a good epic fantasy journey. I have read the first book of the Paksenarrion trilogy, Sheepfarmer's Daughter, some years ago. I liked it, but for some reason I never read the rest. Having discovered an omnibus edition among our e-books, I thought I would tackle the thousand pages of the trilogy. I am glad I did!
The world is a more or less standard grim medieval place, with elves, orcs, dwarves, gnomes, monsters, evil gods, good gods, etc. It feels real, I liked the descriptions. The writing is very straightforward, but never simplistic, it pulls you into the book so well. It feels slow-paced, even when we go into “one more chapter” mode in books 2&3. I liked how the whole story was about the show more coming of age and growth of one character, through pain and adversity.
The author’s military background shows, there are nice tactics, logistics and details of military training in all three books. Considering that the first book was published in 1988, its treatment of abuse, SA, and the ace spectrum is very impressive. (This is also a fantasy world with birth control, just mentioned in passing.) Paksenarrion (Paks) is very obviously asexual, and how many other epic fantasy heroines can you think of that are the same?
I wanted to write about the three books in more detail:
Sheepfarmer’s Daughter
Paks is supposed to get married, but she is having none of it, so she runs away from home. She joins Duke Phelan’s mercenary company. I liked the parts about the training, learning to fight, making friends and enemies. (Paks is basically a weapons and fighting geek.)
”Your life will depend on the skill and courage of those beside you.”
The world building is dependent on the fact that Paks has not seen the world beyond her small village, and as a common soldier, she does not see the bigger picture. Other characters explain things from time to time. This is not my favourite kind of storytelling, but Paks, her courage, her moral core, and her adventures make up for it.
The plot is slightly meandering at times, with some false notes – campaign this, campaign that, lots of soldiers slogging through the mud, and then slogging through the mud again, and now let’s pile up the corpses of our enemies (ugh). I couldn’t tell some of the secondary characters apart. Yet there are magical mysteries around Paks, there is heartbreak when friends are lost - ”they marched with the ghosts of the slain”. It all makes for a good story of a very young person trying to find their place in the world. And what is Paks fighting for, exactly?
3.8 stars
Divided Allegiance
We are in the aftermath of a war of revenge. Duke Phelan’s company is allied with someone who is doing horrible things. Because politics. Paks is sickened and traumatized. She is conflicted, because she still admires her commander. A sergeant (I do like sergeants in this book) tells her ”Don’t stay in this until you can’t stand yourself, or the Duke either.”
So Paks journeys. We meet danger, adventure, strange magic, mysterious elven ruins, and untrustworthy travelling companions.
”But you’re so suspicious.”
”I’m alive,” said Paks. ”and I intend to stay that way.”
More adventures follow. I liked Paks’ interactions with everyone she meets. She is such a likable character. Paks’ dream seems to come true – she is accepted into knight training… and she is a paladin candidate. I liked the discussion about what being a paladin means - it’s not only about fighting, it’s about showing others that standing up to evil in all its forms is possible.
There is a first quest, and terrible things happen to Paks. She is rescued, but something is still very wrong. Oh, Paks… She fails and falls. I think it takes guts for an author to put your character in such a situation at the end of your book 2.
(Note to self: next time a bunch of medieval magicians with (probably) uncertain knowledge of brain anatomy offer to perform emergency magical brain surgery on me, I will think twice.)
4.3 stars.
Oath of Gold
Oh, Paks’ mind and soul are in such a dark place! But a chance brings her to an old friend. I loved Master Oakhallow the Kuakgan (a kind of ”one with nature” Druid/magician) and the way he helped Paksenarrion. Their talk about courage and what it is was wonderful – courage is not only about charging at your enemies waving a sword, it is about enduring and standing firm when things go dark. And so Paks is learning more about herself.
Of course she becomes a paladin, despite everything. Go, Paks! Your quest is awesome!
I loved how all the threads and hints from the books 1&2 converged here, and how nicely structured the whole trilogy turned out to be. Some plot twists I could see coming, but they were so well done that it didn’t matter. Familiar characters gained more substance.
Paks as a paladin is glorious! Glorious!
”Clearly he did not know how to argue with a paladin on a quest.”
When Paks travels with the kings’ squires in winter, in a snowstorm, I suddenly wanted Elizabeth Moon and Victoria Goddard to go to a pub together, with me just sitting in the corner, “don’t mind me, I’ll just listen to you talking about books”.
There is a lot of darkness towards the very end. Horrible, horrible things are done to Paks. They are described in detail, but as it should be done – breaking the readers’ hearts, making us say please stop because of shared pain, but not wallowing in violence. There are many trigger warnings in this chapter. Be careful. I felt exhausted after finishing the chapter. The way Paks finds strength is amazing. I think it was about understanding your fear and embracing it, and understanding who you are thereby.
The ending is splendid, if a bit rushed, with miracles and some deus ex machina. It felt right.
4.4 stars.
This is a fantasy classic for a reason. show less
This is the omnibus edition of the Paksennarion trilogy, and first of the ‘Paksworld’ series, a fairly hefty tome, yet I raced through it at speeds that would, if you compared it to a meal, have left me with fatal indigestion. What can I say; I’ve been starved of truly engaging reading material all year.
At first I didn’t even know if I was going to warm to it; Paks herself was a little too dutifully eager, the story and world a little too straightforward… other reviewers suggest a link to D&D rules which, as I’ve never played, I can’t comment on, but there’s a definite discipline going on, not just with Paks, but with the author too… her protagonist had to go through training as a recruit, innumerable marches, daily show more drills and the confusion of fighting as a private; and that, with some increasingly important battles towards the end, is the first book. At which point, Paks still isn’t even a veteran fighter, although she’s earned some respect and some responsibility. And I think it’s this realism that hooked me, that and the sense that her journey of discovery would be extended over the course of the three books and tightly woven into the plot.
The more that seemed ordinary about these books, the closer I started to look… firstly, although she’s a female protagonist who acquires skills and powers, written by a female author, Paks is no Mary Sue … why in the world would Elizabeth Moon need one? She’s a US marine with several other skill sets and a writing career under her belt. Paks is written entirely for the story, and the reader’s satisfaction, earning everything she gains. Secondly, there’s no romantic sub-plot; a strong loyalty to the Duke who first enlists her, a close friendship with another young private, but Paks states herself ‘not interested’ in bedding anyone from the company, and there it rests. No male crutch to hold her up in ‘weak’ moments (although she accepts help when she needs it) and no over-compensating by sleeping around casually as a sop to ‘equality’. Elizabeth Moon is going to the top of my ‘great writers of female characters’ list (which she was already on for Remnant Population). Then there’s the slow unfolding of Paks’ career… such focussed storytelling ought to have sent me to sleep, but it’s exciting… the reader gets caught up in Paks’ eagerness to fight and to learn, and most of what’s revealed about the world which she inhabits comes as she discovers it herself, slowly acquiring more than just a view of the enemy in front of her… by the end of the second book, it’s shaping up into a richly imagined landscape of allies and looming dangers, using every possible leeway and advantage in the ‘dwarves, elves, magical artefacts’ base-line; and by the end of the second book, Paks has met with real trouble.
This trouble is the catalyst for a series of hard life-lessons at the beginning of the third book, and it’s this balance that makes this trilogy of stories a great ‘omnibus’ collection, (although the series now extends beyond this trilogy, I don’t believe they follow Paks except as a recurring character)… read separately, I don’t think any of the stories would be as satisfying, but taken as one long series of adventures with a overreaching purpose, they work very well.
I’ve enjoyed Moon’s writing in the past, but on a sort of well, it’s there so I’ll read it basis, and never so thoroughly… I’m now going to have to find the rest of the ‘Paksworld’ books and dedicate myself to some prolonged fantasy-fiction immersion. show less
At first I didn’t even know if I was going to warm to it; Paks herself was a little too dutifully eager, the story and world a little too straightforward… other reviewers suggest a link to D&D rules which, as I’ve never played, I can’t comment on, but there’s a definite discipline going on, not just with Paks, but with the author too… her protagonist had to go through training as a recruit, innumerable marches, daily show more drills and the confusion of fighting as a private; and that, with some increasingly important battles towards the end, is the first book. At which point, Paks still isn’t even a veteran fighter, although she’s earned some respect and some responsibility. And I think it’s this realism that hooked me, that and the sense that her journey of discovery would be extended over the course of the three books and tightly woven into the plot.
The more that seemed ordinary about these books, the closer I started to look… firstly, although she’s a female protagonist who acquires skills and powers, written by a female author, Paks is no Mary Sue … why in the world would Elizabeth Moon need one? She’s a US marine with several other skill sets and a writing career under her belt. Paks is written entirely for the story, and the reader’s satisfaction, earning everything she gains. Secondly, there’s no romantic sub-plot; a strong loyalty to the Duke who first enlists her, a close friendship with another young private, but Paks states herself ‘not interested’ in bedding anyone from the company, and there it rests. No male crutch to hold her up in ‘weak’ moments (although she accepts help when she needs it) and no over-compensating by sleeping around casually as a sop to ‘equality’. Elizabeth Moon is going to the top of my ‘great writers of female characters’ list (which she was already on for Remnant Population). Then there’s the slow unfolding of Paks’ career… such focussed storytelling ought to have sent me to sleep, but it’s exciting… the reader gets caught up in Paks’ eagerness to fight and to learn, and most of what’s revealed about the world which she inhabits comes as she discovers it herself, slowly acquiring more than just a view of the enemy in front of her… by the end of the second book, it’s shaping up into a richly imagined landscape of allies and looming dangers, using every possible leeway and advantage in the ‘dwarves, elves, magical artefacts’ base-line; and by the end of the second book, Paks has met with real trouble.
This trouble is the catalyst for a series of hard life-lessons at the beginning of the third book, and it’s this balance that makes this trilogy of stories a great ‘omnibus’ collection, (although the series now extends beyond this trilogy, I don’t believe they follow Paks except as a recurring character)… read separately, I don’t think any of the stories would be as satisfying, but taken as one long series of adventures with a overreaching purpose, they work very well.
I’ve enjoyed Moon’s writing in the past, but on a sort of well, it’s there so I’ll read it basis, and never so thoroughly… I’m now going to have to find the rest of the ‘Paksworld’ books and dedicate myself to some prolonged fantasy-fiction immersion. show less
This is an omnibus edition of three novels, conceived as one story, dealing with the paladin Paksenarrion: Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold. I loved this book on first read, one of my favorite works of fantasy, and one that read quickly despite the doorstopper length. Reading over the reviews, I've been told the books strictly follow Dungeons and Dragons rules, and that this step-by-step follows "the Heroes Journey." Maybe I'm lucky I've never played the game nor read Campbell's The Hero With a Thousand Faces, because this story didn't ever feel formulaic to me. I had heard Moon had a military background--she was a United States Marine--and I could well believe it reading this book. The military details and show more training come through with a credibility I rarely see, especially when involving a female heroine. Those parts of the book never bored me, but rather fascinated me with their verisimilitude.
It's true that Paks is almost too good and earnest and pretty asexual. But it should be remembered Moon is telling the story not of an ordinary knight, but a paladin: originally meaning one of the 12 peers in the court of Charlemagne, but used in the fantasy role playing sense of "holy knight" imbued with godly powers. And in fact, I've read Paks was indeed inspired by Moon wanting to work through how such a figure out of the Dungeons and Dragons role play would really act (and with more than a bit of inspiration from Joan of Arc.) I think Moon succeeded in her purpose--and gave us one of the great heroines in fantasy in the bargain. show less
It's true that Paks is almost too good and earnest and pretty asexual. But it should be remembered Moon is telling the story not of an ordinary knight, but a paladin: originally meaning one of the 12 peers in the court of Charlemagne, but used in the fantasy role playing sense of "holy knight" imbued with godly powers. And in fact, I've read Paks was indeed inspired by Moon wanting to work through how such a figure out of the Dungeons and Dragons role play would really act (and with more than a bit of inspiration from Joan of Arc.) I think Moon succeeded in her purpose--and gave us one of the great heroines in fantasy in the bargain. show less
The first time I read this book I was completely captivated. The second time I read this book I was completely captivated. I just read it again for the fourth or fifth time and was completely captivated. It is my favorite fantasy novel, and one of my favorite books in general. I love the way Elizabeth Moon incorporates military details, religion, and magic, and I find Paksenarrion's transformation fascinating.
It's a mistake to compare this trilogy to The Lord of the Rings; it's not a saga or an epic, either. It's the story of one woman, whose faults and mistakes are much subtler than those of other fantasy protagonists. She is strong, brave, fortunate, talented, good-natured, and hard-working, and manages to survive all of her show more harrowing adventures; however, she is also stubborn, deceitful (in that she withholds important information), blind to subtlety or middle ground, and too easily ruled. Throughout her adventures the reader can see the gods tapping on her shoulder, trying to get her attention; and finally they have to smack her over the head before she can admit to her weaknesses. It is weakness rather than strength that makes a saint (or a hero), and Elizabeth Moon demonstrates this beautifully through Paksenarrion. show less
It's a mistake to compare this trilogy to The Lord of the Rings; it's not a saga or an epic, either. It's the story of one woman, whose faults and mistakes are much subtler than those of other fantasy protagonists. She is strong, brave, fortunate, talented, good-natured, and hard-working, and manages to survive all of her show more harrowing adventures; however, she is also stubborn, deceitful (in that she withholds important information), blind to subtlety or middle ground, and too easily ruled. Throughout her adventures the reader can see the gods tapping on her shoulder, trying to get her attention; and finally they have to smack her over the head before she can admit to her weaknesses. It is weakness rather than strength that makes a saint (or a hero), and Elizabeth Moon demonstrates this beautifully through Paksenarrion. show less
Terrible. I hoped that the author’s experience in real combat would make this an interesting novel, but instead it just bogged the story down with boring and completely unnecessary details. She feels the need to describe every type of mud, but Paks’ training to be a soldier still somehow feels like a montage. Add to that unrealistic dialog, a plot that *still* hadn’t started at page 131, evil characters who are VERY VERY evil and good characters who are VERY VERY good, and you have yourself a piece of drek. I feel no need to finish the book (because A)the characters have no personalities whatsoever, B)the main character is a boring Mary-Sue, and C)there is no plot), let alone the series. At least Mercedes Lackey’s Arrows of the show more Queen had a feel of joy to it; this is just one long slog through cliché-land. show less
This book is actually the first three Paksenarrion novels combined into a single book, so it's quite long. Loved it. The main character develops along the way, maturing into her chosen life. The world developed by the author is rich, consistent with other fantasy worlds but unique enough to be interesting. We get the elves, and the magic horse, and the hidden prince -- it's a world worth spending a few weeks in.
Sheepfarmer's Daughter 4 stars
A well woven introduction to what looks to be an epic fantasy, complete with warriors, mages, gods, and the clear cut good versus evil. Paksenarrion, Paks for short, grew up in a tiny town, so small most have never even heard of it. A week before her show more arranged marriage is to happen she has a huge fight with her father and runs of to join a mercenary band of soldiers. However, although they are a mercenary troop, and do hire out, they are an honorable lot. Luckily she signs on with Duke Phelan's recruiter, thus beginning her new life. Paks begins as all recruits do, pledging to stay with the unit for two years after her initial training is complete.
She is a tall, attractive woman, whose looks occasionally attract the wrong kind of attention. But then she seems to be a lightening rod for unusual situations. Luckily these situations end up working in her favor for the most part, and she rises through the ranks more quickly than she'd anticipated. Part of what makes her situation so interesting is the fact that she appears to be under the protection of some sort of deity, likely Gird, even though she had never even heard of him before joining the Duke's Company. This protection has brought her to the attention of both a paladin and Grand Marshal of Grid, and they would like nothing more than for her to join their order. In reality they do much the same thing that the Duke's Company's, except they don't do it for money. However Paks is not ready to leave this new family she's found, where she has people she's knows will die for her, just as she would die for them.
Paks is a great character, with strengths and weaknesses just like anybody. Yet something about her makes her stand out just a bit at first, then a bit more, and so on - not that anyone tells her this. She makes friends quickly and easily, but as her daring exploits become more widely known she unknown she also acquires some enemies - both known and unknown. Through Paks we meet a variety of characters, many of whom will remain active throughout the story.
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Divided Allegiance 4.5 Stars/4stars
With the defeat of their dire enemy Sinivia the Duke's soldiers thought they'd be heading home; much to their dismay they found themselves in an increasingly unwanted position. However for Paks the situation had become intolerable; eventually Stammel convinced her to take a leave, maybe go home for a visit, and consider returning once this campaign was done.
Paks signed on to escort a caravan partway on their travels, both to earn some money and not be traveling alone on through war-torn countryside. Her plans of splitting off and heading North alone change when she agrees to travel with Macenion, a half-elf from the caravan who is going the same direction and claims to know the way. Paks catches him in several lies, but by this point it is to turn back. Eventually she ends up in a dire situation, escaping by the grace of the gods. She rendered aid to one in vast need as part of that adventure and was sent on her way with unanticipated reward, part of which included some ancient scrolls. In her travels she stopped in a village for a time, and exchanged most of her treasure with the local money changer. She remained in the village to replenish her supplies, staying at the local inn while waiting for them to be completed. She meets both Cedfer, the local Marshal of the grange of St. Gird, and the local Kuakgan, Master Oakhallow, each of whom have important roles in her life going forward. While in town she is hired by the local Councillors to try to rout the brigands that have been attacking the area caravans, and during that adventure ends up facing off against a servant of the evil Achrya, losing a companion and gaining a potential ally. Achrya, the Webmistress, and Liart, the Master of Torments, while below the gods in terms of power, still have more power than human or even elf. Both these evil beings are
Eventually she ends up in Fin Panir, the main seat for the Company of Gird's training - particularly for Marshals, knights, and paladins. Although she's not of the order they consent to train her for a time and take it from there. She is eventually selected as a paladin-candidate for training as a future paladin; everything she'd ever dreamt of was suddenly within her grasp. While there she gave them the scrolls she received as part of her reward, only to later discover they were written by Gird's closest friend and boon companion. This leads to an expedition in which she is invited to join. Terrible misfortune befalls her on the trip, which was an ideal place to stop the book to guarantee the reader would seek out the next book with all possible speed.
A sweeping saga on its own, as part of a larger tapestry this story has been skillfully woven, line by line, creating a masterful tale filled with delightful characters, harrowing ordeals, emotional growth, and suspense enough for several books. As wonderful as the story is thus far, I'm almost certain that the final book will serve to further enrich the images we've been shown, replete with vivid details, continued character growth, and the full range of human emotions.
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Oath of Gold 5 stars
This book picks up where book two left off, with Paks starving and so filthy no one even recognizes her, if they catch a glimpse of her. She has become so fearful of everything that she hides from the world. She is wanders into a town thinking to maybe get a meal from the local inn, but is frightened by a man-at-arms, and more so when she realizes where she is. She can't bear to have people she once knew and helped see what she's become. To escape the soldier she claims to have a question for the Kuakgan, and ends up in his grove. After much work he is able to heal her as the others couldn't, not just physically but mentally as well, though it takes her some time to know the healing really did fix her mind.
After spending the summer working with the rangers of the neighboring kingdom of Lyonya, Paks ends up traveling through Brewersville again, on her way back to see Duke Phelan. With the Inn full she spends the night at the Kuakgan's. It is while there that she becomes fully endowed with gifts from each of the gods she'd thought of during a ritual intended to help her find joy in her craft. Ultimately this means that she has become a true paladin, selected the way they used to be originally - not by the Company of Gird and it's Marshals, but by the gods themselves.
After her experience with the Kuakgan and the gods Paks heads to see the Duke. She is driven there due to a sensation that she needs to be there, and soon. Once there she begins learning a bit more of her powers, and has yet another adventure. Once that is over she feels the call again and heads out once more, being sent by the gods on a quest.
This final book is, like the two preceding it, chock full of action, suspense, surprises and roiling emotions. Be prepared to ride an emotional roller coaster with this book. While it is clearly the final book in the trilogy, it could easily be expended past a trilogy. While I loved the book, and the astounding changes in Paks from the first book to this one (even her growth in this one book alone), my only issue was that the big mystery was far to easy to puzzle out. I knew the answer to the quest almost before I knew that the topic would be focused on in the final book. Aside from that, this book is a dazzling example of an epic fantasy; a series I would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, especially the (mostly) traditional epic fantasy. show less
Paksenarrion — Paks for short — is somebody special. She knows it, even if nobody else does yet. No way will she follow her father’s orders to marry the pig farmer down the road. She’s off to join the army, even if it means she can never see her family again.
And so her adventure begins . . . the adventure that transforms her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.
Here is her tale as she lived it.
A well woven introduction to what looks to be an epic fantasy, complete with warriors, mages, gods, and the clear cut good versus evil. Paksenarrion, Paks for short, grew up in a tiny town, so small most have never even heard of it. A week before her show more arranged marriage is to happen she has a huge fight with her father and runs of to join a mercenary band of soldiers. However, although they are a mercenary troop, and do hire out, they are an honorable lot. Luckily she signs on with Duke Phelan's recruiter, thus beginning her new life. Paks begins as all recruits do, pledging to stay with the unit for two years after her initial training is complete.
She is a tall, attractive woman, whose looks occasionally attract the wrong kind of attention. But then she seems to be a lightening rod for unusual situations. Luckily these situations end up working in her favor for the most part, and she rises through the ranks more quickly than she'd anticipated. Part of what makes her situation so interesting is the fact that she appears to be under the protection of some sort of deity, likely Gird, even though she had never even heard of him before joining the Duke's Company. This protection has brought her to the attention of both a paladin and Grand Marshal of Grid, and they would like nothing more than for her to join their order. In reality they do much the same thing that the Duke's Company's, except they don't do it for money. However Paks is not ready to leave this new family she's found, where she has people she's knows will die for her, just as she would die for them.
Paks is a great character, with strengths and weaknesses just like anybody. Yet something about her makes her stand out just a bit at first, then a bit more, and so on - not that anyone tells her this. She makes friends quickly and easily, but as her daring exploits become more widely known she unknown she also acquires some enemies - both known and unknown. Through Paks we meet a variety of characters, many of whom will remain active throughout the story.
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Divided Allegiance 4.5 Stars/4stars
Now a seasoned combat veteran, Paksenarrion must seek the fabled stronghold of Luap far to the west. The way is long, the dangers many -- and none can say whether glory or ruin awaits....
With the defeat of their dire enemy Sinivia the Duke's soldiers thought they'd be heading home; much to their dismay they found themselves in an increasingly unwanted position. However for Paks the situation had become intolerable; eventually Stammel convinced her to take a leave, maybe go home for a visit, and consider returning once this campaign was done.
Paks signed on to escort a caravan partway on their travels, both to earn some money and not be traveling alone on through war-torn countryside. Her plans of splitting off and heading North alone change when she agrees to travel with Macenion, a half-elf from the caravan who is going the same direction and claims to know the way. Paks catches him in several lies, but by this point it is to turn back. Eventually she ends up in a dire situation, escaping by the grace of the gods. She rendered aid to one in vast need as part of that adventure and was sent on her way with unanticipated reward, part of which included some ancient scrolls. In her travels she stopped in a village for a time, and exchanged most of her treasure with the local money changer. She remained in the village to replenish her supplies, staying at the local inn while waiting for them to be completed. She meets both Cedfer, the local Marshal of the grange of St. Gird, and the local Kuakgan, Master Oakhallow, each of whom have important roles in her life going forward. While in town she is hired by the local Councillors to try to rout the brigands that have been attacking the area caravans, and during that adventure ends up facing off against a servant of the evil Achrya, losing a companion and gaining a potential ally. Achrya, the Webmistress, and Liart, the Master of Torments, while below the gods in terms of power, still have more power than human or even elf. Both these evil beings are
Eventually she ends up in Fin Panir, the main seat for the Company of Gird's training - particularly for Marshals, knights, and paladins. Although she's not of the order they consent to train her for a time and take it from there. She is eventually selected as a paladin-candidate for training as a future paladin; everything she'd ever dreamt of was suddenly within her grasp. While there she gave them the scrolls she received as part of her reward, only to later discover they were written by Gird's closest friend and boon companion. This leads to an expedition in which she is invited to join. Terrible misfortune befalls her on the trip, which was an ideal place to stop the book to guarantee the reader would seek out the next book with all possible speed.
A sweeping saga on its own, as part of a larger tapestry this story has been skillfully woven, line by line, creating a masterful tale filled with delightful characters, harrowing ordeals, emotional growth, and suspense enough for several books. As wonderful as the story is thus far, I'm almost certain that the final book will serve to further enrich the images we've been shown, replete with vivid details, continued character growth, and the full range of human emotions.
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Oath of Gold 5 stars
Paksenarrion-—Paks for short-—was somebody special. Never could she have followed her father's orders and married the pig farmer down the road. Better a soldier's life than a pigfarmer's wife, and so though she knew that she could never go home again, Paks ran away to be a soldier. And so began an adventure destined to transform a simple Sheepfarmer's Daughter into a hero fit to be chosen by the gods.
This book picks up where book two left off, with Paks starving and so filthy no one even recognizes her, if they catch a glimpse of her. She has become so fearful of everything that she hides from the world. She is wanders into a town thinking to maybe get a meal from the local inn, but is frightened by a man-at-arms, and more so when she realizes where she is. She can't bear to have people she once knew and helped see what she's become. To escape the soldier she claims to have a question for the Kuakgan, and ends up in his grove. After much work he is able to heal her as the others couldn't, not just physically but mentally as well, though it takes her some time to know the healing really did fix her mind.
After spending the summer working with the rangers of the neighboring kingdom of Lyonya, Paks ends up traveling through Brewersville again, on her way back to see Duke Phelan. With the Inn full she spends the night at the Kuakgan's. It is while there that she becomes fully endowed with gifts from each of the gods she'd thought of during a ritual intended to help her find joy in her craft. Ultimately this means that she has become a true paladin, selected the way they used to be originally - not by the Company of Gird and it's Marshals, but by the gods themselves.
After her experience with the Kuakgan and the gods Paks heads to see the Duke. She is driven there due to a sensation that she needs to be there, and soon. Once there she begins learning a bit more of her powers, and has yet another adventure. Once that is over she feels the call again and heads out once more, being sent by the gods on a quest.
This final book is, like the two preceding it, chock full of action, suspense, surprises and roiling emotions. Be prepared to ride an emotional roller coaster with this book. While it is clearly the final book in the trilogy, it could easily be expended past a trilogy. While I loved the book, and the astounding changes in Paks from the first book to this one (even her growth in this one book alone), my only issue was that the big mystery was far to easy to puzzle out. I knew the answer to the quest almost before I knew that the topic would be focused on in the final book. Aside from that, this book is a dazzling example of an epic fantasy; a series I would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, especially the (mostly) traditional epic fantasy. show less
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Author Information
119+ Works 37,082 Members
Elizabeth Moon was born March 7, 1945, and grew up in McAllen, Texas, graduating from McAllen High School in 1963. She has a B.A. in History from Rice University (1968) and another in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin (1975) with graduate work in Biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio. She served in the USMC from 1968 to show more 1971, first at MCB Quantico and then at HQMC. She married Richard Moon, a Rice classmate and Army officer, in 1969; they moved to the small central Texas town where they still live in 1979. They have one son, born in 1983. (Publisher Fact Sheets) Elizabeth Moon was born on March 7, 1945 in Texas. She received a B.A. in history from Rice University in 1968 and a B.S. in biology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1975 with graduate work in biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio. She served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968 to 1971. In the early 1980s, she wrote the Florence News column for the county weekly newspaper. She is a science fiction and fantasy author. In 1986, she published her first science fiction story in the monthly magazine Analog and the anthology series Sword and Sorceress. Her first novel, The Sheepfarmer's Daughter, was published in 1988 and won the Compton Crook Award in 1989. Her other works include Remnant Population, Oath of Fealty, Kings of the North, and Echoes of Betrayal. She has won several awards including the Nebula Award for Best Novel for The Speed of Dark in 2003 and the Heinlein Award in 2007. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Deed of Paksenarrion
- Original title
- The Deed of Paksenarrion
- Original publication date
- 1992 (omnibus) (omnibus)
- People/Characters
- Paksenarrion "Paks" Dorthansdottir; Duke Kieri Phelan; Arvid Semminson
- First words
- Sheepfarmer's Daughter
In a sheepfarmer's low stone house, high in the hills above Three Firs, two swords hang now above the mantelpiece.
Divided Allegiance
While all Siniava's troops had surrendered, Kieri Phelan's troops assumed they'd be going back to Valdaire -- even, perhaps, to the north again.
Oath of Gold
The village seemed faintly familiar, but most villages were much alike. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Sheepfarmer's Daughter
Saben's red horse would bear her to the Afterfields.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Divided Allegiance
More important, I believe, is the continued conflict in Aarenis between the Guild League cities and the old nobility; trade is completely disrupted, and famine this year has been widespread ...
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Oath of Gold
As for Paksenarrion, she was named King's Friend, with leave to go or stay as she would and when Gird's call came, she departed for another land. - Blurbers
- McCaffrey, Anne; McDevitt, Jack; Tarr, Judity
- Original language
- English
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- Reviews
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- (4.21)
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- Czech, English
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- Paper, Ebook
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- 7
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- 7