Synopsis:
As Dag hones and refines his groundsetting skills, his farmer wife Fawn aches for a home of her own, and when they are forced to travel across malice-infested territories, their marriage is tested and their lives in jeopardy.
Review:
While I completely admire and love Bujold’s worldbuilding, character skills, and prose stylings, I was underwhelmed by the conclusion of this series. Possession has a ruminative tone that was disappointing after the epic promise of the first books, and I felt like the malice threat ended up being underdeveloped and underplayed. However, I do think highly of this series and the books are headed off to my BFF, rather than the thrift store. I think I might appreciate the series more if I could talk with someone about them.
I realized today that I haven’t been to your site lately, and lo and behold, you’ve just finished reading my favorite author. Perhaps because I read and listened to a lot of interviews with Bujold I was very aware of what she was trying to do with the series. The first book is meant to be her experiment with romance/sci-fi and though the romance plotline was completed, all of her sci-fi fans weren’t happy because the “politcal” problems weren’t resolved. It’s also an experiment in creating a fantasy universe inspired by a riverboat and early-American westward expansion culture. Who else does that!?!?
I think it succeeds as usual for her, but it isn’t as strong as the Chalion books. (Who else uses an older widow as a heroine?) One day I’ll convince you to try her books set in space. I have a harder time remembering the last book, probably because I read it too fast, but the worldbuilding is still very strong in my mind. I will probably reread the series in a year or two.
Love the Chalion books so far–need to read the third.
I did love the world-building, especially the homesteading feel.
Miss you!