| $@%&! level: Low “Bedroom” level: Low (aside from a briefly attempted rape at the end, but in my mind that really goes under violence.) Violence level: High Back Cover: “Once a sheepfarmer's daughter, now a seasoned veteran, Paksenarrion has proven herself a fighter. Years with Duke Phelan's company taught her weaponry, discipline, and how to react as part of a military unit. Now, though, Paks feels spurred to a solitary destiny. Against all odds, she is accepted as a paladin-candidate by the Fellowship of Gird. Years of study will follow, for a paladin must be versed in diplomacy and magic as well as the fighting arts. But before she is fully trained, Paks is called to her first mission: to seek out the fabled stronghold of Luap far to the west. The way is long, the dangers many—and not even the Marshal-General of Gird can say whether glory or ruin awaits.” |
In spite of my saying that, the book is really full of excitement and adventure, as it ought to be. It would almost have to be, in order to encompass all the change that happens, because Paks ends up going from soldier to freelance mercenary to knight-trainee to paladin-candidate in pretty short order, and each change is spurred on by some kind of adventure, one way or another. Paks herself changes too, as you can see from the way she starts speaking by the end. I guess she managed to learn some manners as a paladin-candidate, because she definitely doesn't talk like a plain-spoken soldier anymore. Anyone who can use the word “lest” in a sentence and keep a straight face is probably bound for some kind of great things.
So, although the story arc is more a series of short adventures leading into one another, it still manages to be exciting enough to hold the attention. However, if after reading it once so that you can get on to the story that follows, you feel like skipping over it in future re-readings of the series, I can't say I would blame you.