Customer Reviews

Divided Allegiance Uk (The Deed of Paksenarrion)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Divided Allegiance is second in a trilogy. If you want to read it, try buying "The Deed of Paksenarrion". That book has all 3 books of the trilogy in it.

The second book of Paksenarrion's Deed is even better than the first. Paks embarks on a solo adventure after leaving the Company to its distasteful task. The magic and Tolkien-ness of the world is more apparant in this installment than in the first book, and we encounter many more elves, dwarves, gnomes, orcs, and other magical creatures. Evil makes a much more overt appearance in this novel, as well.

Paks continues to grow as a warrior, an adventurer, and an active agent for good. She continues to explore the influence of Gird in her life, and encounters great battles, harrowing tortures, and huge learning experiences along the way. She makes several fascinating new friends, and some frightening new enemies.

This book managed to keep me enthralled from beginning to end--the action starts almost from the first page and continues to the very last. I had a really hard time putting it down, and raced to get the last in the trilogy. This series is great!

The first third of this book seemed mediocre compared to the writing and character development in the first book, SHEEPFARMER'S DAUGHTER. Paks didn't seem the same and the story seemed a bit forced. However, after this first adventure, the book really picks up. Do not put the book down because of this beginning...trust me, it gets a lot better.

This book is the furthing story of Paks' development towards her destiny. We see her exporing her own belief system and becoming more of a young woman of the world, rather than the girl she still was at the end of the first book. The supporting characters are all vivid and important. They each have something to contribute to who Paks will become.

I was shocked at the ending. It seemed to come out of nowhere...there was no way I could have expected Ms. Moon to end the book that way. It took a lot of courage for her to leave her readers hanging, wondering what would happen to Paks. Thankfully, I had the third book on hand and started it right away, just to find out what happened.

This was a thoroughly absorbing book. I found that, after the first third or so, I could hardly put it down. As with the first book, I always wanted to find out what happened next. Ms. Moon's writing kept me engaged with the characters and made me care about what happened to them. Plus, she dangled just enough mystery in front of us to keep us intrigued with the overall story of the trilogy rather than the substories in the individual books. I highly recommend this book to all fantasy fans.

This book is the sequel to SHEEPFARMER'S DAUGHTER. That was about the training and adventures of a mercenary soldier. DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE follows Paks as she leaves Duke Phelan's company to strike out on her own. The first part of the book is a fine tale of sword and sorcery as Paks falls in with a less-than-ethical part-elven mage, Macenion. After some fine action, Paks wanders into the village of Brewersbridge and the inn of Jos Hebbinford.

This is a pivotal place in the story for here Paks is introduced to the teachings of the farmer-turned-freedom-fighter saint Gird and to the company of true Girdsmen, particularly the yeoman-marshal of Brewersbridge, Ambros. Paks accepts a commission from the town council to hunt out a nest of bandits in the vicinity. However, when the bandits are captured, it is discovered that they have come under the sway of an evil mage. Although his own commanding officer is away and did not want Ambros to undertake anything in his absence, Ambros is afraid to let this evil power go unchecked.

Paks undertakes this mission in concert with Ambros and her ability earns her an invitation to train at Fin Panir where the knights and paladins of Gird are trained. Paks plunges with enthusiasm into this new life which contains everything she ever dreamed about: studies in the art of war, weapons training, horses and most of all, the assurance that she will fight only for the cause of good.

DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE is the second book in a Tolkien style trilogy, and like Tolkien's The Two Towers it suffers from being halfway through the arc of the main story. Just as The Two Towers ends with Frodo being attacked by Shelob, DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE leaves its heroine Paks in a bad, sad place indeed.

Elizabeth Moon herself would urge having the third book OATH OF GOLD on hand as you read this so you can go directly to the continuation of the story. I failed to take that advice and due to a muddle at the bookstore, it was months before I could read OATH OF GOLD. During that time, I suffered over the tragic ending of DIVIDED ALLIGANCE and that actually gave me a distaste for this fine book. Moon does such a great job of evoking sympathy for her characters that we suffer with Paksenarrion when it seems that her dream has become derailed for good. Much faith is demanded of the reader that Paks is just being prepared for greater triumphs down the road. The main flaw of this great book is that it can not stand alone; it needs the companion volumes of the trilogy to be enjoyable for the reader.

The first volume of the Paksenarrion trilogy saw the young girl, Paksenarrion, seek her fortune as a mercenary soldier. She proved an apt pupil and was fortunate to work with an honorable company where she distinguished herself. Fantastical elements like elves, dwarves, mages and such were present in the first book but they were a very peripheral part. That changes in this, the second installment.

Paks has left the company of Duke Phelan. Although she loved the organization and the people, she could not handle the horrors of their last assignment. It went against her nature to protect. So it is that she is sent out on her own, with the Duke's blessing, to seek more training. She is welcome back at any time. Her travels expose her to the more magical elements of this realm and she continues to distinguish herself as she grow in experience, skill, and knowledge of herself. She does not seem to recognize just how remarkable she is but nobody is more please than she is when she is chosen for training as a paladin. Her training, however, exposes her to great evil and makes her vulnerable. The forces of evil wish to destroy her and her effectiveness. By the time she gets done with her quest, she is a very ill young lady indeed but her companions know that something more is in store. That will have to wait, however, for the next volume.

This is a very readable book. It is easy to like the characters and identify with them. It is well written and Elizabeth Moon shows a distinct talent for giving the reader just enough information to make one wonder at the grand scheme of things. She also leaves the explanations for a riper time. It works. It hooked me. I have to read the next book.

This is a book about change, and you see alot of it. Paks is heading for great things but have you ever thought what it costs to be "great." Lets just say that she earns it in this book and pays double in Oath of Gold (the third book). Truely a stand out book amoung fantasy. Trust me I have read a great many and this series keeps me coming back over and over again. My only problem is that this book is only available in paper back which doesn't stand up to frequent re-reads.

This is the dark book of the "Deed of Paksenarrion" series. The book continues to be good, but is the most nerve-racking of the series. Nevertheless, it rules.

Paks is back, having left the Duke's mercenary company and setting out on her own. With vague plans to join a guard company somewhere, she quickly draws the attention of many, finding herself in the middle of several quests and adventures (not always willingly) that make it obvious she is no ordinary soldier. Soon, she is sponsored into the elite military training school of the Girdsmen at Fin Panir. Then, again while on quest with the legendary paladins of Gird, she is gravely injured and finds her whole future is now in question. Once again, Elizabeth Moon's attention to detail and her understanding of military life serve to enrich the story. The only part I found it hard to swallow was Paks' sudden conversion to the fellowship of Gird; given her feelings in "Sheepfarmer", and with no real explanation of what motivated her to accept Gird (other than she could become a better fighter under Girdish tutelage), her religious fervor by the end of the book was a little puzzling. Still, it moves the story along, and the tales of Paks' adventures are always exciting. "Divided" suffers just a little from the "middle book" syndrome, still, by the end you can't wait to find out where her life leads her next.

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

The first 3/4 of this book was perfectly acceptable... not great literature or anything, but quite entertaining and held my interest well. Then close to the end something happened, and the farther along I got, the angrier I got at how the book was going. I had a very hard time actually finishing this book because of the direction it seemed to be heading. It would be hard to describe what happened without giving away the plot, so I'll just say it made me so angry I was ready to throw it across the room. The level of incompetence and irresponsibility by certain characters depicted in the last few chapters was just staggering and really detracted from my enjoyment of this book in a major way. I can't see how it was necessary to write it this way. I read fiction for entertainment, not to be frustrated and upset... there are enough things to stress me out in every day life that I don't need something like this to make things worse.