Product Description 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. Review "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."-- "SFFAudio.com"
"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."-- "Library Journal"
"Rich in sumptuous detail and speculative theology...This engaging installment of Chalion's mythical history whets the appetite for new marvels yet to come."-- "Publishers Weekly"
"Superbly and smartly written, this novel will entice even those readers not traditionally drawn to fantasy."-- "VOYA"
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.-- "RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars, Top Pick!)" About the Author Lois McMaster Bujold is one of the most honored writers in the fields of science fiction and fantasy, having won six Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards. Her second novel, The Warrior's Apprentice, introduced young Miles Vorkosigan, one of the most popular characters in science fiction. In 2011 she was awarded the Skylark Award for her significant contribution to science fiction. And in 2017 the Vorkosigan Saga received the Hugo Award for Best Series.
Kate Reading is an Audie Award-winning narrator and has received dozens of Earphones Awards. She has been named by AudioFile magazine as a Voice of the Century, as well as the Best Voice in Science Fiction & Fantasy in 2008 and 2009 and Best Voice in Biography & Culture in 2010. She is also a theater actor in the Washington, DC, area and has been a member of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company since 1987. Her work onstage has been recognized by the Helen Hayes Awards Society, among others.
Literature & FictionScience Fiction & FantasyFantasyEpic
One of the most respected writers in the field of speculative fiction, **Lois McMaster Bujold** burst onto the scene in 1986 with Shards of Honor, the first of her tremendously popular Vorkosigan Saga novels. She has received numerous accolades and prizes, including the Nebula Award (for Falling Free), three Hugo Awards for Best Novel (The Vor Game, Barrayar, and Mirror Dance), as well as the Hugo and Nebula Awards for her novella Mountains of Mourning. Her short story, “Labyrinth,” won first place in Analog Magazine's annual awards. The mother of two, Ms. Bujold lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Product Description 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. Review "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."-- "SFFAudio.com"
"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."-- "Library Journal"
"Rich in sumptuous detail and speculative theology...This engaging installment of Chalion's mythical history whets the appetite for new marvels yet to come."-- "Publishers Weekly"
"Superbly and smartly written, this novel will entice even those readers not traditionally drawn to fantasy."-- "VOYA"
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.-- "RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars, Top Pick!)" About the Author Lois McMaster Bujold is one of the most honored writers in the fields of science fiction and fantasy, having won six Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards. Her second novel, The Warrior's Apprentice, introduced young Miles Vorkosigan, one of the most popular characters in science fiction. In 2011 she was awarded the Skylark Award for her significant contribution to science fiction. And in 2017 the Vorkosigan Saga received the Hugo Award for Best Series.
Kate Reading is an Audie Award-winning narrator and has received dozens of Earphones Awards. She has been named by AudioFile magazine as a Voice of the Century, as well as the Best Voice in Science Fiction & Fantasy in 2008 and 2009 and Best Voice in Biography & Culture in 2010. She is also a theater actor in the Washington, DC, area and has been a member of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company since 1987. Her work onstage has been recognized by the Helen Hayes Awards Society, among others.
Literature & FictionScience Fiction & FantasyFantasyEpic
One of the most respected writers in the field of speculative fiction, **Lois McMaster Bujold** burst onto the scene in 1986 with Shards of Honor, the first of her tremendously popular Vorkosigan Saga novels. She has received numerous accolades and prizes, including the Nebula Award (for Falling Free), three Hugo Awards for Best Novel (The Vor Game, Barrayar, and Mirror Dance), as well as the Hugo and Nebula Awards for her novella Mountains of Mourning. Her short story, “Labyrinth,” won first place in Analog Magazine's annual awards. The mother of two, Ms. Bujold lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.