Customer Reviews

Oath of Fealty (Paladin's Legacy Series)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Twenty-two years ago, Elizabeth Moon wrote Sheepfarmer's Daughter (Deed of Paksenarrion), which began the story of Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter, who ran away from a forced marriage to become a mercenary solider. Paks' tale continued in Divided Allegiance (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 2) and concluded in Oath of Gold (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 3). The entire trilogy was later published as a single volume, The Deed of Paksenarrion: A Novel. The end of the trilogy was very well done, especially for a first novel, but it left any number of loose ends. Paks' "Deed" had left entire countries in disarray.

Moon returned to Paks' world with two prequels, but both were pretty dark. They have never been as popular as "Deed." And, besides, they offered only the barest hints of what happened in Paks' time after the events of "Deed."

Now, at last, with "Oath of Fealty," Moon has returned to the world and time of Paksenarrion. While we have had to wait a very long time to hear the rest of the story, the good news is that Ms. Moon's formidable plotting and writing skills have improved over the years. ""Fealty" is a page turner, even more than "Oath of Gold" was. We follow events across the Eight Kingdoms and even into Aarenis as the impact of Paks' actions spread across her world. The story picks up the evening of Duke Phelan's arrival in Lyonya - the last scene in "Deed" - and follows the very different consequences for the Duke's captains, Dorrin and Arcolin, for the Crown Prince of Tsaia and other major and minor characters from "Deed." Paks herself appears, but she is a relatively minor character in "Fealty," important but not the focus of the story. Despite the lapse of 22 years, the characters and events are consistent; too often, in late-arriving sequels, there are annoying inconsistencies and contradictions. Not here.

According to Moon's blog, this is the first of a projected trilogy. Certainly some of the characters are left in peril at the end of "Fealty," and there are important plot threads left unresolved. But this is a complete novel, just as the books in the first trilogy were. It is also an immensely satisfying read. Dorrin, in particular, is well-written and has moments that the 22-year younger Moon probably could not have written.

Bravo, Ms. Moon. Exceptionally well done. While Moon has written "Fealty" so it can be read without having read "Deed," I suggest that "Fealty" will be much more satisfying if you read "Deed" first.

My very highest recommendation. I very much look forward to the next book.

I loved the earlier books, in fact have both the individual books and the omnibus edition. Was so excited about this book coming out I pre-ordered it as soon as I could.

Just a heads up, this book isn't about Paks, it is about the many people affected by her actions during the last half of Oath of Gold. Which, I admit, I was very curious about when that book ended!

That said, I really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. It's not that I hated the book, I did like it. I just found the multiple plot lines didn't work for me. I've read other authors who employ this device with much better success (Sharon Shin, Kristen Britain). And one of the reasons they are successful is there are multiple times where two or more of the strands intersect. Here there really wasn't, which made it seem like I was reading four parallel stories instead of one integrated one. I did like each of the stories, Ms. Moon does a great job showing each person's view and making them distinct. I particularly liked Dorrin's story.

As with the first two Paks books, Ms. Moon does leave things open ended with a definite path the next book could follow. And I'll definitely be pre-ordering that one as well because, even without the threads weaving as much as I would like, this was a good read!

I've never read Moon before, so I came at this book without the background of the earlier Paks series.

The book kept me interested enough to read it, which is why it gets 3 stars. But truly, I kept wanting this book to be better, to be more mysterious, to present more *conflict* and tension about what was going to happen to the characters, but that just never developed. To be honest, the book felt a little "workmanlike", as if the author had to put out another book and went through the motions of producing fantasy, but was a little tapped out in terms of truly interesting plot. To her credit, what she does, she does relatively well; but I'm curious as to whether her earlier books showed more passion and fire.

Most of you have probably read plenty of Moon before, so the following is probably old hat: Moon presents a distinctly military approach to writing. She is listed in the book as an "ex marine", and she clearly seems to relish drawing on that background, taking great pains to lay out command and control structures, the life of someone in the military (adjusted to a fantasy setting of course), etc. That's fine: you have to write what you know. I don't find it particularly compelling myself, but I do at least appreciate the fact that here we are dealing with someone who knows what they are talking about. So many fantasy authors romanticize and fantasize warfare and armies without having any concept of the reality behind them.

Where the book falls down for me is that everything is just *too easy* for the main characters, particularly Dorrin. I think the most glaring example of this is that this woman, who has never known anything about magic and who has followed a religion that bans magic, is basically handed super magic powers with nothing more than a page or two of discussion about how they were "awakened" and then trained. From that point on, she is a virtual wrecking ball of magic, effortlessly outdueling entire legions of magic users, magic users who had gained their abilities from hideous human sacrifice rituals. What did Dorrin do? It's like the author needed to find a way to make Dorrin safe from her magic enemies, could think of nothing else, and just decided "hey, she is just a natural magician". Dorrin does not need to learn to control her very powerful magic, there is no cost to her in using it, she does not need to take time to cast spells but instead it just instantly jumps to her use. What fun is that? Go read, say, Stephen Donaldson's White Gold Wielder for an example of the kind of strain and sacrifice a protagonist must endure to have any access to their magic power.

You know what this is like? It's like playing a first-person shooter with the "invulnerable" cheat codes on. Sure, when you're 12 you think it's fun to be able to go through the world infinitely powerful and invulnerable, but it quickly loses its charm because there's no *drama*.

And that's what this book lacked for me: drama. I never felt like there were any real conflicts (the notable exception being the demonic possession of the sargeant in the southern story). Time after time, the protagonists wanted to do something and immediately proceeded to do so. The southern captain wanted to defeat brigands, and everything he did just worked. He was able to manipulate bankers, he was able to outwit bandits and win battles, all seemingly too easy. The protagonists all feel like they have "cheat codes" on.

A new series begins detailing the lives of several of the characters from the Paks trilogy. Phelan has begun his new life as the ruler of Lyona, which means change to those of his old company.

Captain Arcolin is worried about the new campaign season, and the jobs for the company, when he receives word that he is to act as the leader of the company and take over.

Dorrin Verrakai suddenly finds she has become the Duke of Verrakai, after an assassination attempt against Prince Mikeli. To aid her in this role, she finds she must use the old magic that runs in her family, though it is against the law.

Sergeant Stammel is attacked, and the results mean large changes to him and the company.

As with nearly everything from Ms. Moon, the writing is well done, and the characters are people you can be friends with. In this beginning I enjoyed Dorrin's story best, as she had more powerful challenges to meet and changes to make in her life. Arcolin's story here is more the details in a mercenary captain's job in keeping a company employed, fed and watched over. I expect this will expand in the later novels. Stammel has a huge challenge, and I hope for some further expansion of his life and the effects of those around him.

Oath of Fealty (2011) is the sixth Fantasy novel in the Paksenarrion series, following Oath of Gold. The initial work in this sequence is Sheepfarmer's Daughter.

In the previous volume, Paks learned that Kieri was the half-elven heir to the throne of Lyonya. Enemies captured Kieri and his companions on the way to Lyonya. Paks exchanged herself for Kieri and endured five days of torment by the priests of Liart. Then her wounds were healed by her gods.

In this novel, Paksenarrion had been a soldier in the Phelan Company, a mercenary unit led by Kieri. Then she became a paladin of Gird.

Kieri Phelan had been the Duke of the North Marches of Tsaia and Commander of the Phelan Company. Now he is the King of Lyonya, the mixed kingdom of humans and elves.

Flessinathlin is Lady of the Ladyforest, ruler of the elven kingdom of Elvenholme. She is co-ruler with Kieri of the elven Lands.

Mikeli Vostan Keriel Mahieran is the crown prince of Tsaia.

Rolyan Serrostin is the son of Duke Serrostin. He is a friend of Mikeli.

Jandelir Arcolin is the senior captain in the Phelan Company. He is also senior captain of the first cohort.

Dorrin Varrakai is senior captain of the second cohort in the Phelan Company. She is the niece of Duke Varrakai.

Aliam Halveric is the commander of the Halveric Company of Lyonya. He is Kieri's mentor and friend.

Haron Verrakai is a Duke of Tsaia. He is the uncle of Dorrin.

In this story, Kieri is escorted to Lyonya by the Tsaia Royal Guard. Despite his pass from the crown prince, troops of Duke Varrakai and forces from Pargun attack Kieri and his party. But Phelan troops arrive in time to defeat the attackers.

A message covering the attack is sent with a Gird courier to the crown prince. Mikeli and his friends meet with the Knight-Commander and Marshal-Judicar of Gird to discuss their response to the attack. Then Duke Verrakai joins the group disguised as Duke Marrakai.

Duke Varrakai stabs the two Gird leaders and holds Mikeli in thrall. Then Roylan comes back from an errand and surprises the Duke. He is attacked with magic, but manages to bite the Duke's hand. Then Roylan stabs the Duke with his own knife.

After the assassination attempt, the crown prince meets with the other Dukes. They send troops to arrest other Verrakai. Then they talk about a replacement duke for Verrakai.

Mikeli decides that Dorrin would be the perfect person to be the next duke of Verrakai. Kieri appoints Jandelir as his proxy and recommends him as the next duke of North Marches. Jandelir is confirmed as he leads the Phelan Company through Verella on the way to Aarenis.

Mikeli sends a message to Kieri in Chaya telling him about the new role for Dorrin. Then Dorrin gets a message from the crown prince asking her to take the duchy. She is very reluctant, but decides that none other could keep the duchy loyal to the Tsaian.

Meanwhile, Kieri is learning how to rule a half-elven kingdom. He has a Council of advisors, who are mostly human. Aliam also gives him some advice as a close friend.

Flessinathlin sends him an instructor in taig-magic to connect him with the Land. He must use this magic in the coronation ceremony. He is worried, however, that the elves don't seem to understand the need for security along the frontier with Pargun and the duchy of Verrakai.

This tale involves Paks in only limited ways, mostly as an advisor. Paks helps Dorrin regain her use of Magery. But generally Paks lets others make the decisions.

This story also introduces Purganese politics. The next installment is this series is Kings of the North.

Highly recommended for Moon fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of armed combat, political stratagems, and competent rulers. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

I loved THE DEED OF PAKSENARRION. When I saw this paperback in my local bookstore, I looked forward to visiting Paks's world again. A book that picked up where the old trilogy left off was likely to be entertaining and Elizabeth Moon is a master at creating suspense as well as fine characters.

I wasn't prepared for a book that I could hardly put down. Paks, the heroine of the last series, is here but playing a minor role. The book focuses on Kieri Phelan, the newly crowned king of Lyonya, and his concern that his country is ill-prepared to fight a war brewing on its borders.

It follows the adventures of Jandelir Arcolin, a mercenary captain suddenly elevated to lead the whole company.

And it shows the struggles of Dorrin Verrakai discovering late in life that she has illegal magic powers. She must face down her own family and root out the evil they have visited upon the realm of Tsaia.

To those who have read DEED, these will be familiar names, but Moon takes us into their minds and hearts. All these people are approachable in a way that the deeply spiritual Paksenarrion was not--they are warriors, not saints. What they share in common is that each has been elevated far beyond their expectations, each has a sharper sense of evil now abroad in the world and each has had Paksenarrion's shining example to inspire them. The three books of THE DEED OF PAKSENARRION traced the arc of the flung stone; this book shows the ripples spreading out from the center.

Expect high adventure, dark magic and people forced to grow into greatness...epic fantasy of the highest caliber! This book is both a continuation of the series and a renewal...Highly recommended for fantasy fans.

I returned to the Deed of Paksenarrion twenty years later, with Elizabeth Moon's latest book, Oath of Fealty. In it, time has not passed beyond a few days. We enter the kingdom of Lyonya to follow Duke Phelan's coronation and the conclusion of Oath of Gold into the "so now what happens?" to everything he left behind, including Captain Arcolin and the Duke's former lands in the north. Dorrin Verrakai's sudden ascendance to her family's duchy, and all of the turmoil involved with her, is centerpoint to the plot, but is left with some unresolved issues (and people!) at the end of the book.

This is the start of a new series, and not a stand-alone book. With that understanding, I'm reasonably pleased with it. Moon took the story to four different locations, and set up four different main characters. All of them have meaning and the plot lines are obviously going to weave together in multiple ways over the next few books. Let's see how it goes...

I held off reading this book even though i pre-ordered it. I was nervous about going back to the world elizabeth moon created so long ago. I re-read the Deed and Legacy novels first to re-capture the story. This new book (1st in a series of 5 new ones) was excellent. While others have stated the high and lower points of the work the one thing that stands out the most to me is the skill of the author in weaving this tale together from multiple perspectives.

The previous books followed Paks , Gird, and Luap almost exclusively with some branching. This story is weaved together chronologically. when you move from one character to the next time does not stop for the character you left behind. very very well done. If you are on the fence as to whether or not you want to get this book, take the jump.. you will not regret it.

new readers to the paksworld universe... you can jump on here without reading the other novels but the other novels really help you fill out the history and cultures of this world. you can read this without the others just as you could read Deed without Legacy and vice versa... its a more fulfilling experience if you do read them all.

I read lots and lots of fantasy, mostly from the library because I can't afford to buy all the books I want to read. But I have bought all the Paksenarrion books and reread them every five years or so. I was thrilled when this one came out. Yes, the story is not directly about Paks, but that's the way it should be. By the end of "The Deed", Paks had become an icon in her world and it was time to let the rest of the characters' stories about Paks' influence on their lives be told. Moon is a wonderful world builder and she pulls me right into her universe. I have a thing about people and place names that are overly "creative" or show that the author has really had to stretch to make them sound exotic. My pet peeve is apostrophes in weird places. Moon does a skillful job with developing names and cultures. A lot of dynamic tension in a story can come from the intersection of two or more cultures. Moon is very, very good at that.

So, I've preordered the next book and can't wait to see what happens next. I am so happy that Elizabeth Moon has returned to Paks's world!

Elizabeth Moon has finally returned to the fantasy world of her extremely successful Paksenarian series. Paks appears in this book but not as a central character. Moon's viewpoint characters are generally good, competent people who have been dealt bad cards at one time or another but have overcome adversity through hard work, strength of character, and a little help from above. The best fantasy these days by other authors tends to be "dark," so it's fun to return to a time when good triumphs. I enjoyed this book tremendously and found nothing at all to criticize. I can't wait for the next one.