 Search our Catalog:    Paladin of Souls  by Lois McMaster
Bujold  Publishers Weekly : In this sequel to The Curse of
Chalion (2001), rich in sumptuous detail and speculative
theology, dowager royina Ista Dy Baocia undertakes a pilgrimage
to ease her soul-and finds instead that in Chalion, Bujold's
handsomely crafted fantasy world ruled by Five Gods "just around
some strange corner of perception," a more dangerous fate awaits
than she could ever have imagined. Swordplay and sorcery sweep
sensitive, sensible 40-year-old Ista into Chalion's border
stronghold of Porifors, where enemy Roknari incursions and
demons from the Fifth God's hell threaten Ista's realm, held
precariously at bay by the charismatic Arhys dy Lutez. Ista's
romantic quest to save Arhys and his magnetic half-brother,
Illvin, teems with equal parts of unearthly magic and down-to-
earth quasi-medieval lore. Despite an occasional lapse into
adolescent angst and spurts of superficial dialogue, high
fantasy fans should thrill at Ista's spiritual per