Bought for $9.53 on 8/31/24 while reading a borrowed paperback of it, because it’s good enough (and cheap enough) to be worth the convenience of a permanent berth in my Kindle (CLP has no ebook edition of this, though they do have The Curse of Chalion, which I read in January 2024). Read both of these for the Minneapolis Sci-Fi (and sometimes Fantasy) Book Club, 1/16/24 and 9/3/24.
See notes on the ASUS HDD in folder Literature\Speculative
Bujold stuff, b. 1949. Query: when did she settle in Minneapolis, and why?
What did her husband do? Why were they short if money? What happened to him after. 20-year marriage and 2 children?
https://www.spectrumliteraryagency.com/loismcmasterbujold
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/lois-mcmaster-bujold/
Ista learns as she goes. This one is much more theologically sophisticated than the first one, especially plot-wise, unless I missed the details in the prior book because it was too confusing for me?
Escape via pilgrimage. Very clever. And even better, accompanied by “a display of youth and health to make silks and jewels look like tawdry toys.”
Elemental demons - acquisition & possession see ch. 6 pp. 91 ff.; ch. 12;
Dreams, prophetic, warning, “deceptive to heed, but perilous to ignore.”
Ghosts - ??
Does Ista acknowledge her gifts, or not? “These are not gifts to be lightly cast aside.” Not lightly, indeed. With great violence. How in five gods’ names had he come by this sudden delusion? p. 64. They cannot both be a delusion, and forcefully cast aside.
A fascinating and well-wrought gay theme of love between Lord Arvol dy Lutez and Isra’s husband Ias.
Nice similes, e.g., Her smile grew bitter as desert brine. The ghostly visions were fading like the lingering dazzlement in eyes that had stared too directly at the sun.
Nice sentences, e.g., The morning and the road slowly fell behind them. / Failure wasn’t treason, even if the rubble it left in its wake was every bit as dire. / The sort of fellow whose funeral’s orations are all on the theme of Well, that’s a relief.
She’s very good at describing strategic dilemmas and the arguments leading to a decision.
Narrator’s device of ascribing an affective dimension to conversation adds to the content of the communication and cleverly informs the reader. E.g., “‘That was well thought of,’ Ista said, her voice warm with approval. Liss smiled gratefully.” And, “Ista managed not to grin, or at least not too broadly.”
Questions:
Why does Ista feel responsible for Avon’s death? Done
Relationship between Arhys and Illvin? Done
Who prays to the Bastard for help? Illvin?
Vail - coin (tip), or gesture of thanks?
Why had Illvin not married?
What was “Roya Fonsa’s great work of sacrifice” p. 370. To die, like the previous Saint of Rauma?
THE CRUX: “You are brilliant,” the Voice [of the Bastard] reassured her. [Ista:] “It is imperfect.” “So are all things trapped in time. You are brilliant, nonetheless. How fortunate for Us that We thirst for glorious souls rather than faultless ones, or We should be parched indeed, and most lonely in Our perfect righteousness.” Ch. 26 p. 450
Another crux, Ista and Goram: “But—your soul is your own, now, to make of what you will. We are all of us, every one, our own works; we present our souls to our Patrons at the ends of our lives as an artisan presents the works of his hands.” “If it is so, I am too marred, Royina.” “You are unfinished. They are discerning Patrons, but not, I think, impossible to please.” Ch. 28 p. 494-5.
Facebook snippets of this:
https://www.facebook.com/penn.hackney/posts/pfbid02VLGZW2A48pgJdtoxYYM5pWAdEgpbKEewUU2KnsmWYFZxmw65WwYHpsTiyiY9enELl
A saint’s job:
Ista spent the day until darkness fell being conducted by dy Cabon and Liss from graveside to graveside, reporting the fates of souls…. Every mourner seemed to have some story to tell her of their dead; not, she realized at length, in the expectation that she would do anything, except listen. Ch. 27 p. 483
