thepaladin

I want to say first that I've read hundreds if not thousands of books and the largest percentage of them are probably fantasy. I love this book and rate it as one of my top 3 or 4 favorite novels. I can't recommend it too highly. I really don't think I can recommend it highly enough. Please read this book. I keep multiple copies on my shelf and have loaned out (read given away) many copies. This one is great.

I read the omnibus edition of this book. It’s actually a trilogy. The Deed of Paksenarrion contains Sheepfarmer’s Daughter, Divided Allegiance, and Oath of Gold. I find it a truly exceptional high fantasy read. I rate it five stars as it’s in many ways (in my opinion of course) the best of it’s type. In a time when “attempts” at epic fantasy are a dime a dozen, a good (or great) one should be noticed.

I don’t want to include any spoilers in this without warning (and I know some actually look for them) but, let me mention what the book is actually about.*********Note please that what follows may be considered by some a spoiler. If you'd rather not chance it, skip this part.******

********It follows the life and career of a young woman (Paksenarrion)who wants to be a soldier (the author Elizabeth Moon was military) from her beginning training throughout her life to her development into a paladin.

Now, the character of the paladin hasn’t been handled that well that often in literature. The paladin usually comes off as pompous, self righteous, or is handled as a parody of what the character was meant to be. (See The Song of Roland for the or an origin of the paladin as a character).

I have read this book (trilogy) many times and love it. It compares well to the “proto-epic fantasy", The Lord of the Rings.  I can and do recommend it (as well as The Lord of the Rings) highly.  As I said, I can't recommend it highly enough. Great Book. I own all the books in print and audio versions. Highest possible recommendation.

As noted above, this omnibus edition contains:
Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold.

One of my top favorites, 5 stars+.