Paladin of Souls

Follow Lois McMaster Bujold, one of the most honored authors in the field of fantasy and science fiction, to a land threatened by treacherous war and beset by demons.
Three years have passed since the widowed Dowager Royina Ista found release from the curse of madness that kept her imprisoned in her family's castle at Valenda. Yet her newfound freedom is bittersweet, and so the road, and escape, beckons.
As Ista and her little party of pilgrims wander at will, they are unexpectedly set upon. But a mysterious ally appears, a warrior nobleman who fights like a berserker. The temporary safety of her enigmatic champion's castle cannot ease Ista's mounting dread, however, when she finds his dark secrets are entangled with hers in a net of the gods' own weaving.
What the inscrutable gods commanded of her in the past brought her land to the brink of devastation. Now, once again, they have chosen Ista as their instrument. And again, for good or for ill, she must comply.
"Rich in sumptuous detail and speculative theology…This engaging installment of Chalion's mythical history whets the appetite for new marvels yet to come."
"Bujold's sequel to The Curse of Chalion introduces a middle-aged heroine of great courage and hidden resources. [Bujold] demonstrates her storytelling skill and artful humor in an engaging fantasy that belongs in most libraries."
"Superbly and smartly written, this novel will entice even those readers not traditionally drawn to fantasy."
"The highlight of this book is its deep, believable, and sympathetic characters. The plot becomes almost secondary to the mesmerizing Ista, and the minor characters are just as compelling. With its high adventure, sorcery, and spirituality, this tale will enchant the most jaded reader."
"A wonderful example of the perfect pairing of story and voice...Kate Reading sounds like royalty in every book she narrates…her ability to enunciate without sounding like she is working at it lends itself beautifully to Lady Ista…[A] step above the ordinary in fantasy literature and audiobooks."