The Deed of Paksenarrion: A Novel

Customer Reviews:

a tale of development.......2007-08-09

This is a great story, well developed characters, belivable environment. A classic tale of a young persons' growth from a scared kid to a secure adult. Moon has the ability to describe life in a miltary organization. Not everything is exciting, some days and weeks, are just drudgery. All in all a book to keep and to reread.

You'll love it too.......2007-07-16

I read this series years ago when it was originally published. I lost the books over the years. I'm so glad I made this purchase.

A personal favorite.......2007-06-14

Quite simply, this is one of my all-time favorite books. It has defined the genre (epic fantasy) for me. I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone.

One of the strongest heroines in literature--not just fantasy.......2007-05-02

Elizabeth Moon cannot write a bad book. She knows her stuff having once served in the military. She also researches and acts out her scenes with meticulous care.

As a result, she gives us Paksenarrion, a farmer's daughter who rises to become a Paladin and a heroine.

I read this book long ago--actually, these were some of my entree into fantasy and they lead me to read other greats in the genre, including Tolkien. Cannot recommend this series highly enough for those who love heroic fantasy or military fantasy.

OK but No Middle Earth!!.......2007-05-01

I was hoping to get into the magical world of Middle Earth but couldn't find the door here. It's fun to read a book about a strong female character but this is in no way close to Tolkien's Fantastic World. Saying she is the heir to Tolkien is a gross overstatement and I am glad that I had bought it used for 5 bucks. This book feels more sci-fi style less fantasy in her presentation of dialogue and character develpment. So I continue my quest for Middle Earth and will re-read LOTR yet again.

Divided Allegiance (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Generally surperior sword & sorcery
Amazing tale of Paks continues!
Conversion or coercion?
The Paladin Refined
Much Better Than Book 1

Divided Allegiance (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 2)
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Similar Items:

Oath of Gold (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 3)
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The Deed of Paksenarrion: A Novel
Liar's Oath (The Legacy of Gird)
The Legacy of Gird (Trade Paperback)

ASIN: 0671697862

Customer Reviews:

Generally surperior sword & sorcery.......2007-07-04

The middle, "bridge" volume of a trilogy is often its weakest point (the original Dune trilogy is the classic example of that), but it's not the case here. In fact, this epic reads like a single 1,500-page novel that was broken into three parts only for convenience in marketing. This section is rather more episodic, though. Having become a valued soldier in Duke Phelan's mercenary company, Paks finds it necessary to leave shortly after the great victory over the forces of Evil, because the Duke's necessary alliances included behavior on behalf of a budding tyrant that she couldn't approve of. So she goes off with a vague idea of re-crossing the northern mountains and perhaps visiting her family home, works her way as a caravan guard, takes up with a not entirely trustworthy half-elf (rather less than half, actually), defeats another evil force in an underground sequence that reads almost like a D&D script, becomes acquainted with the Girdsmen (with whom her Duke has had a longstanding quarrel) and with other clerics, and undergoes training at Fin Panir with the idea that she might become a knight in a few years. But (naturally) her destiny holds far more than that, and this volume ends at the lowest point in Paks's young life. The plot continues to build -- not always in ways that are obvious until later -- and even the author's slight preachiness regarding Good and Evil aren't too annoying. This is meant to be Heroic Fantasy, after all. This is obviously Moon's masterwork. (It certainly deserves less amateurish cover art, though.)

Amazing tale of Paks continues!.......2007-04-19

Divided Allegiance is the second book in the "The Deed of Paksenarrion" trilogy. I thought this one was even better than the first book. Intense in surprising ways as well. I would caution that if you read this book, be ready with the third book, Oath of Gold, for when you finish it. There's a cliffhanger ending.

Paks decides to leave the Duke's army. She's put off by his alignment with a former pirate in helping him regain lands the man believes he is owed. The Duke helps him as gratitude for his help in their recent war against Siniava. It's the former pirate's tactics for regaining his land that cause Paks' stomach to sour.

The Duke grants her release, as well as the open ended right to return if she chooses so. And there...a new adventure begins for her. She doesn't know where she will end up, and only has the idea in her head to drop of a message for Halveric and perhaps stop in to see her own family.

Her journey brings us face to face with more classical fantasy elements (elves, dwarves, etc.) than the first book did. It's fun to see her reactions to them and her manners of trying to deal with them. There are also orcs and you'll not forget the webmistress' minions in this one. *shiver*

We also get to watch the makings of a paladin as she faces trials and tests, feeling an occasional calling to do certain things and having no idea why, let alone the understanding of what she's just done. I found this fascinating because it's almost like going blindly, yet completely yielding to that feeling of trust in the guidance of the higher powers, and those she considers more experienced in life in general. Things are often black and white for her and when things that are shades of gray present themselves to her, she is confused.

Throughout this story, we see Paks face and rise above new challenges, and sometimes fall back down hard as well. This character's inner strength is amazing and that coupled with her honest, good-hearted, naïve traits make those falls all the more heart wrenching to read about.

Yep, I'm pretty attached to this character, can you tell?

This is an amazing trilogy and that's that!

Conversion or coercion?.......2007-03-15

I found this book to be a great let down after the first book. I think what really got me was the scene in which Paksenarrrion is forced to convert to Gird-worship before the order will heal her of a life-threatening injury. This really offended me. In the first place, the idea of a religious order that only heals its own members and yet considers itself more rightous than everyone else is bad enough. Secondly the idea that they would use this opportunity to force Paks to convert and she doesn't find anything wrong with that coercion is horrendous.

I lost interest after that.

The Paladin Refined.......2006-11-02

Divided Allegiance (1988) is the second fantasy novel in the Deed of Paksenarrion series, following Sheepfarmer's Daughter. In the previous volume, Paks, Canna and Saben escaped crosscountry from Count Siniava's troops besieging Dwarfwatch, but Canna was wounded in the shoulder. Knowing that Canna was a Girdist, Paks placed her Saint Gird medallion against the wound and prayed for healing. Canna felt a sharp pain in her shoulder and the wound was soon healed.

Later, they were suddenly attacked by brigands and only Paks avoided capture to reach the Duke. With the information Paks carried, Duke Phelan ambushed the Count's relief column and then broke the siege at Dwarfwatch. The militia found the brigands holding Saben and Canna, but the enemy tried to kill off their prisoners. Saben was killed outright, but Canna remained alive for a short while and asked that her medallion be given to Paks.

When Duke Phelan finally cornered the Count in a deserted fort, he set an ambush party, led by Paks, outside the escape tunnel. As expected, the Count tried to flee the siege, but used the cover of a sleep spell. Paks, however, was awakened by a sharp pain on her chest from Canna's medallion and awoke the others to catch the fleeing Count. The Honeycat was executed on the spot at the Duke's order.

In this novel, Paks becomes increasingly upset with the political alliances of Duke Phelan. The former pirate Alured had turned his coat and helped in the destruction of Count Siniava. In return, he requires the Duke and other allies to assist in his effort to become the Duke of Immer. Unfortunately, the Duke's forces are used to drive the citizens of each town into the city square, where Alured captures, tortures and kills those whom he accuses as Siniava's agents.

The Duke releases Paks from his service, with rights of return, so she can try to seek further military skills. She also carries a message from Aliam Halveric to his wife. She works as a caravan guard to the Silver Pass and then accompanies Mancenion, a mage with elven blood, through the pass toward Ladyforest.

Mancenion irritates Paks with his superiors ways and his tendency to withhold information. Mancenion does discover that her Dwarfwatch honors ring has magical influence over animals. Later, he uses her power over this ring to hold a snow cat helpless while he kills it. Paks has tried to talk him out of hurting the cat, but is told that either she or the cat must die. Later he mentions that she should have thought of making the cat run away if she objected so strongly to the killing. Paks is very upset over that unfair comment; he should have told her before the cat was killed.

On the other side of the pass, Mancenion points out the ruins of an Elven city and suggests that they explore it. He has heard about the place from his elders and knows that there is still treasure somewhere inside. Sleeping among the ruins, both Paks and Mancenion have the same dream. Someone or something has been captured by an evil being and needs rescue.

In the underground passages of the Elven city, Paks and Mancenion hear someone coming toward them and Paks pulls Mancenion into a nearby room. When three Orcs pass by their room, Mancenion rushes out and attacks them. Of course, Paks also attacks the Orcs to rescue Mancenion. Then other Orcs appear.

Paks and Mancenion kill all the Orcs, for none will flee from the intruders. Searching further, they reach a large chamber. Paks checks for guards inside the door and then enters the room, but Mancenion remains outside. Within the chamber are motionless figures against the wall and a full-blooded high ranking Elf, who has been possessed by an evil spirit. He subtly bespells Paks and holds her helpless.

When Mancenion finally enters the chamber, the Elf turns his attentions to him. During the ensuing battle, Paks regains her senses and attacks the Elf. Although the Elf is an excellent swordsman, Paks manages to overcome him, but cannot kill the possessing spirit. After some study, Mancenion finds a spell that destroys the body and drives away the possessing spirit. Then the Orcs attack once more and Mancenion is killed.

This story tells of the various trials and tribulations, not to mention the joys, of Paks in her relationships with friends, enemies and Saint Gird. She gains her dreams only to lose them. Her greatest flaw is her unquestioning trust of those she views as her superiors. For Paks obeys orders and absorbs everything shown to her, but decisions about new things are difficult; yet Gird wants her to start thinking for herself.

Highly recommended for Moon fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of military training and combat, personal trials, and perseverance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Much Better Than Book 1.......2006-08-24

Liked this book much better than book one. In book one, our hero Paks marched, camped, fought, marched, camped, fought...etc. In this book, Paks actually gets into a few scrapes that the author doesn't fix. Not everything is going right for our warrior which is refreshing and the supporting charactors are not killed off after each chapter so you can actually start to see some relationships building. After book one, I seriously doubted that I'd enjoy book two, but now I will march on to book three. Only 3 stars as I had hoped that the author would explain more of the terms used to describe the elder races and all of the gods in Paks world. Great cliff hanging ending!

Oath of Gold (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Above-average military high fantasy
Amazing conclusion to the Paks trilogy!
The Royal Way
Paksenarrion Achieves Her Quest
Best of Series

Oath of Gold (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 3)
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Liar's Oath (The Legacy of Gird)
The Deed of Paksenarrion: A Novel

ASIN: 0671697986

Customer Reviews:

Above-average military high fantasy.......2007-07-06

This final volume of the 1,500-page trilogy is a rip-roarer, right enough. Paks, having been left in a state of profound fear and trembling after her experiences with Evil -- and which everyone equates with cowardice -- comes back to the Kuakgan's grove and begins her healing. The gods need her to be a paladin and they see to it that she becomes one, never mind that she didn't finish the training. And from that point, the story becomes (as several of the characters themselves point out) a classic "lost prince" fairy tale. Many of the plot points refer back to events that might have puzzled the reader in the earlier volumes, but it's all well handled. (You should read these volumes straight through, one after the other, though.)

Amazing conclusion to the Paks trilogy!.......2007-04-28

What an amazing conclusion to the Paksenarrion trilogy! This is the book where we get to see Pak's first quest as a paladin. She must find a lost king. I'm not going to spout out plot here since enough of the reviews due that and well, that's what the back cover is for. :P

What I find interesting about paladins in general is their unquestioning faith. They answer to a call from their God and they go, willingly, trustingly, into wherever it is they must go.

I'll admit though, I was angry for a while with some of this book. In Divided Allegiance, Paks went through so much darkness that to see her go through even worse this time...yeah, I was angry with her God for that for a while. Logically, I understand why she had to do what she did and how what she goes through alters the way people behave and think around her. It's for the greater purpose that she endures what she does. Well, they never said a paladin's road was an easy one to take. It's a tough journey, but Paks is strong enough to take it and survive it with a strength that simply amazes me.

I love this character. I found her story to be a captivating read and one of those that causes you to pause and think about it more long after you've finished. All in all...well done.

The Royal Way.......2006-11-02

Oath of Gold (1989) is the third fantasy novel in the Paksenarrion series, following Divided Allegiance. In the previous volume, Paks was captured by iynisin -- evil elves -- and forced to fight against orcs and maybe other enemies. When her friends came to rescue her, Paks was dressed in cursed black armor and released behind the orc lines. She killed the orcs in front of her and was about to swing on her own friends, but finally managed to call upon Gird and was frozen in mid-movement. She was brought out of the iynisi caverns and provided with some healing, but the wounds on her body could not be completely healed by anyone in her party.

Later, Paks was taken back to Fin Panir and passed to the healers for more healing, but her wounds still could not be fully healed. When she mixed with the trainers and trainees, she showed signs of irritation and temper. The Marshall-General was disturbed by this personality change and suggested that she had suffered more from her captivity than suspected. The Marshall-General wanted to do a thorough examination of her mind for evidence of hidden evil and then clean out such influences as much as possible. Nonetheless, she warned Paks that such treatment might destroy her effectiveness as a warrior.

Duke Phelan was invited to the conference on Paks and stayed for the discussion with her. He was very disturbed by the recommended treatment and offered her a position as one of his captains within the Company. Angered at their seeming distrust of her, he declared that he will always trust her no matter what. But Paks agreed to undergo the mental surgery.

The psychic operation wiped out all traces of the evil within her mind, but left her fearful of her weapons and even animals. She refused to stay in the school, so the Marshall-General got her a job tending sheep. The shepherd was not impressed and neither were her fellow herders, so she was fired and wandered across the north country as a vagabond.

In this novel, Paks wanders into Brewersbridge and, despite her desire to remain anonymous, finds herself within the Kuakkganni grove, facing Master Oakhallow. He provides her with food and rest, holding most questions until she has time to relax within his grove. The trees and birds soon calm her and gradually the story comes out.

Master Oakhallow slowly leads her into examining her feelings, ignoring the fear itself, but focusing on her understanding of courage. He points out that the fear she feels is much like that of ordinary people when faced with the misfortunes of life, yet they continue with their lives as best they can, working for better times for themselves and their families.

He teaches Paks that courage is not the lack of fear, but the doing of that which must be done despite such fear. When her mind is ready, Master Oakhallow completely heals her physical wounds. After Paks learns to overcome her fear, Master Oakhallow gets her a position with the Lyonyan rangers.

After six eventful months with the rangers, Paks comes back to Brewersbridge. She renews old friendships and proves her courage by her behavior. She only stays a few days, for she feels compelled to go to Duke Phelan.

At the stronghold of the Company, Paks declares herself to be fully recovered from the iynisi conditioning and the subsequent treatment. The Duke offers her a position as one of his captains, but she demurs, stating that it wouldn't be fair to those who have been with him so long. She also tells him that she may be returning to Fir Panir for more paladin training. He suggests that some of that training will be available within his Company.

In this story, Paks now knows that she is already a paladin, chosen by the gods themselves and given the capabilities of sensing good and evil directly, calling light, and healing. Paks is not yet sure whether she is protected from evil attack, nor does she know if she has any other talents. She is not even certain how she will explain her paladin status to the Marshall-General.

Paks has gained a valuable lesson in empathy, for she has been there with the common people in fear and trembling. She has also learned to trust her own thinking and feelings; she will never again blindly obey anyone, even the Marshall-General. Her loyalty is first to the High Lord and then to Gird himself and only afterwards to any human authorities.

This novel is the conclusion of the trilogy. Although other volumes -- Surrender None and Liar's Oath -- have filled in the backstory of this series, the author went on to write science fiction. If you have not read Hunting Party, I suggest that you do so. Her SF is just as good as, if not better than, her fantasy

Highly recommended to Moon fans and to anyone else who enjoys tales of personal development, quests for missing royalty, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Paksenarrion Achieves Her Quest.......2006-06-13

The final book in The Sheepfarmer's Daughter: The Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy is not my favorite book of the three, but an excellent fantasy novel nevertheless. Author Elizabeth Moon's writing is faultless. Dialouge and descriptions both flow so naturally that the book comes alive. The books starts out great. Paks is despondent, almost suicidal. She turns to the Kuakkgan, a mysterious Druid-like figure for help. The Kuakkgan is one of the most intriguing and original characters in this fantasy series or any other.

My main beef with Oath of Gold is that as the book progresses, Paks becomes less human and more of a legendary hero in a painting. Her relationships with the Duke, other soldiers and commanders become more stiff. One things I am upset with is that the trilogy has NO sex or romance. There is not even a kiss. So many promising mates for Paks just end up admiring her and calling her "Lady." The most passionate relationship she has is with her horse.

Best of Series.......2006-02-03

The second book of the Paksenarrion trilogy was a very good read but highly unsatisfying with its ending. Young Paks had proved her mettle as a soldier and was learning about more eldritch things and progressing nicely on the road to becoming a paladin of Gird. Then she was captured and tortured. The book ended with her as a shattered wreck and a coward afraid of her own shadow. It was a cliffhanger that outraged after investing so much time and care about her character.

It was well done and forced the reading of the last volume. I would have done it anyway but the ending of book 2 certainly speeded up the process.

OATH OF GOLD begins with Paks still a shattered wreck. She is ready, even eager to die and end the misery. By happenstance, she finds herself in the same town when her journey towards the miraculous began. To avoid meeting with anyone she knows, she ducks into the grove of Master Oakhollow, the shepherd of the trees. He recognizes that her healing was incomplete and sets himself the task of completing it. In doing so, she becomes stronger than ever before and actually becomes a Paladin, thereby reminding everyone that Paladins are chosen by the gods and not by the military orders. All of her ordeals thus far have been to prepare her for a quest.

The quest is not an easy one. It is her task to restore the rightful ruler to a kingdom in chaos. The forces arrayed against her are vast and they are evil. Even with her miraculous powers, it will not be easy and, ultimately, it will require a sort of paschal sacrifice of her.

It is an engrossing read. It is well done and I am sorry it is over.

Sheepfarmer's Daughter (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Very enjoyable military fantasy
Captivating Military Fantasy With Strong Female Characters
Strong military fantasy with a compelling female lead
Warriors Are Made in Basic Training
enjoyable military fantasy

Sheepfarmer's Daughter (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 1)
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Divided Allegiance (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 2)
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Liar's Oath (The Legacy of Gird)

ASIN: 0671319647
Release Date: 2000-11-28

Customer Reviews:

Very enjoyable military fantasy.......2007-06-30

Moon was a junior USMC officer for a short while back in the early `70s, which apparently is supposed to give verisimilitude to her storytelling, but I don't think association is really necessary. She does a very workmanlike job with this first volume in a trilogy, a combination of military SF, medieval fantasy, and bildungsroman. Paks is a tall, strong young woman from a farm way out in the boonies who has no intention of following her father's orders to marry the pig-farmer down the road, so she leaves home in search of glory and adventure by way of joining a mercenary company. There are good, honorable companies and very bad ones, but (of course) she ends up as a recruit in one of the best, gaining friends and respect as she learns the trade of an infantryman. But (also "of course") there's more in store for Paks than just life in the ranks, and as she passes from novice to blooded veteran to acting noncom, those around her begin to receive hints that she's someone special, that there's something uncommon in store for her -- even though, being practical and hardheaded, she'd rather not think much about such things. Moon plays fair with the reader; the entire story (except for one slightly odd chapter late in the book) is told from Paks's POV, so she doesn't always appreciate the larger strategic picture. We, the omni-observant readers, see things happen in the development of a campaign that she doesn't quite understand, and that's the way it works in real life. And plans go awry, and friends get killed, but the hero survives, even if she sometimes wishes she hadn't. A very enjoyable book.

Captivating Military Fantasy With Strong Female Characters.......2007-03-26

Wow. Big time wow. How else do I say that, eh? I loved this book. I've already added this book to the shelf that contains those books I like to reread at times. And I'm moving onto book 2, Divided Allegiance, next.

Paksenarrion (Paks) is the daughter of a sheepfarmer, hence the heroine of this tale. Her father has arranged a marriage for her to a pig farmer, but she has grander dreams. She runs off to join the army.

We follow Paks through all the pieces of learning to become a soldier--everything from having to dig ditches to winning a battle. We are shown all the nitty gritties of military life. Marching exhausted in the rain. Making the kind of friends you'd die for, then losing them to battle. Yes, there are many heartbreaking moments in this book. But the focus, as it should be, is on Paks and how she survives and rises over such things with a continued drive and an ever growing internal strength.

The author did an excellent job of making the story feel real to me. What I mean by that is that often times the ground troupes have no idea what's going on, but they follow orders anyway. People die too. One minute person A is standing next to Paks. She'd lose sight only to find out later that he or she didn't make it. At the end of the battle she'd take stock (if there was time) and try to figure out who of her friends had survived. Then she'd take a moment to collect herself and gear up for the next battle.

I like Paks. She's a strong character, firm in her convictions and honest to a fault. I look forward to reading more of her story.

Strong military fantasy with a compelling female lead.......2007-01-08

When her father insists that she marry a local farmer, sheepfarmer's daughter Paksenarrion (Pak) runs away to become a mercenary. Enrolled in the Duke's army, she learns to march, dig latrines, and eventually to fight. Although she's a woman, Pak is larger than most of the other recruits and gradually develops into a strong warrior. First, though, she must overcome the prejudice some have against women--and their willingness to use and disgrace her.

Paksenarrion's career takes a strange turn when, while she's part of a garrison at a small fort, a leader who wants to rule the entire land takes her party captive--with Paksenarrion escaping only because she was hunting berries at the time. Pak manages an epic journey across the country--with the enemy lord, Siniava the 'Honeycat' desperately hunting for her to prevent her from getting warning to the Duke. On this journey, skeptical Pak seems to develop some kind of linkage to a long-ago hero and saint--Gird. Gird's help saves her several times, but it's always Pak's own determination that drives her.

Author Elizabeth Moon creates a compelling sense of adventure and character growth in SHEEPFARMER'S DAUGHTER. Pak, with her drive to become a soldier rather than accept the life of a farmer, is a sympathetic character and the world she finds herself in, while familiar to fantasy fans with its paladins, orcs, and dark gods, is fully realized and interesting.

SHEEPFARMER'S DAUGHTER was Moon's first novel and is a compelling one that launched her into a successful career. This is the first of three books that make up the DEED OF PAKSARRION (which can be bought as a single volume collection). I read this book when it came out and was blown away. On re-reading in 2007, nearly twenty years later, I'm still impressed by the strong characters and action that Moon develops.

Warriors Are Made in Basic Training.......2006-10-31

Sheepfarmer's Daughter (1988) is the first fantasy novel in the Deed of Paksenarrion series. High in the hills above Three Firs, Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter dreamed of being a warrior. Growing up with her brothers and herding her father's sheep, she was used to hunting and wrestling and being outdoors. Then her cousin Jornoth told her about the mercenary companies and she knew what she wanted to do with her life.

In this novel, Paksenarrion is betrothed to a pig farmer against her wishes. She argues with her father and, when he refuses to return the dowry, she gathers her few belongings and starts to leave the house. Dorthan refuses to let her go and takes a swing at her. The belt hits her once, but then she has the family sword in her hand and threatens her father. When he flinches back from it, she runs out the doors.

Paksenarrion first goes to Three Firs, but the recruiters have already left. Then she runs to Rocky Ford and reaches it about noon. The recruiter for Duke Phelan's company takes her name, tests her strength and then signs her up. When asked for a shorter form of her name, she selects "Paks". She eats some sandwiches to make up for the missed breakfast and then joins the other recruits. After some preliminary instruction on marching as a unit, the small group marches on to the next town.

For days they march along the road, camping out at night. She makes friends with Saben, Arne, Vik, Jorri, and Coben among the recruits and she knows that Korryn and Jens will never be anything but enemies. Finally they reach the stronghold where they will receive basic training.

In this story, Paks finds that being a soldier is not as easy as she assumed. She has run away from home to avoid bedmaking, cleaning, and dishwashing, but now she does those chores as well as carpentry, masonry and other odd jobs around the stronghold. Of course, she also has to dig latrine trenches and cover them up, make and smother cook fires, and many other camp chores. Then there are the mules to harness, load and ride.

Weapon training is a long, hard and painful process. Siger pushes her hard and she tries even harder. Unknown to her, Paks soon becomes Siger's pet recruit because of her perseverance and stoicism; no matter how often Siger passes her guard and hits her, Paks never complains and keeps working on her movements until he tells her to stop.

Paks is a good recruit, but she spends some time in a cell when Korryn accuses her of violence against a fellow soldier. Corporal Stephi seems to be under the influence of a potion or spell and agrees with Korryn's statements. However, Sargeant Stammel ferrets out a different story than that given by Korryn and insists on a public hearing with outside witnesses. Paks is found innocent of the charges and her accuser and another recruit are dismissed from the Company.

At the end of their training, the recruits march south to join the rest of Duke Phelan's Company. Their first battle is against the Czardian militia. In the confusion of battle, Paks forgets her training and keeps lunging at the enemy. She is knocked down once and then cut on her leg, but keeps on fighting until the battle is over. In her daze, however, she only becomes aware of the lack of enemies after being shouted at by her unit commander. After that, she is not fully conscious for several days due to her wound and its treatment.

This is the first novel published by the author. Although this story is fantasy, most of it reflects the situation and conditions of mercenary companies during the late Medieval period, particularly in the Italian campaigns. Her more recent writings have been science fiction, but she started in fantasy and gained her fame in the epic sword and sorcery genre; maybe her studies in history and her service in the US Marine Corps had something to do with it. After Paksenarrion came Herris Serano and Esmay Suiza.

Highly recommended for Moon fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of military training and combat in a sword and sorcery setting.

-Arthur W. Jordin

enjoyable military fantasy.......2006-03-03

I bought the single bound trilogy and just finished reading the "Sheepfarmer's Daughter" portion. I must say it was thoroughly enjoyable. It was a nice change to read a fantasy novel where the main character didn't immediately march off on a dangerous quest upon which hinged all of civilization without so much as simply being asked to go.

This novel centers on a young woman who runs away to become a mercenary to escape being married off by her father. The reader follows her from basic training all the way through a major military campaign. What I enjoyed about the story is the patience Elizabeth Moon shows in merely hinting at what I suspect will surely become a much more important issue -- that is -- Paksenarrion's larger role in shaping events to come and some special guidance or protection that surrounds her. I look eagerly forward to starting on the second book to see where this leads.

I would like to note that I first came across Elizabeth Moon's science-fiction novels -- which are outstanding, by the way -- and had seen this trilogy mentioned on her website and here on Amazon. I must say I am glad I finally decided to give this story the chance it so richly deserves.

Average customer rating:

Deed of Paksenarrion Trilogy
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: BAEN BOOKS @ SIMON & SCHUSTER
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VF7BR4

3 Book Set of "The Deed of Paksenarrion" [Fantasy]; Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance, Oath of Gold

Average customer rating:

3 Book Set of "The Deed of Paksenarrion" [Fantasy]; Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance, Oath of Gold
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Baen Books Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

The Deed of Paksenarrion
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Baen Publishing Enterprises
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M2IBVG

Deed of Paksenarrion Book III: Oath of Gold

Average customer rating:

detailed life of a paladin

Deed of Paksenarrion Book III: Oath of Gold
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Baen Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 5552554965

Customer Reviews:

detailed life of a paladin.......2003-04-22

Paksenarrion must complete her mission. she must find a king. things are not what they seem. as always, M describes P's life in interesting details, and there are battles nicely carried out, so don't worry. good read.

Average customer rating:

Deed of Paksenarrion Trilogy
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: BAEN BOOKS @ SIMON & SCHUSTER
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UD37XY

Average customer rating:

The Deed of Paksenarrion: A Novel
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000P8FL4M

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