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Legacy (The Sharing Knife, Book 2) | Lois McMaster Bujold | Great work by Bujold
 
 


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 Legacy (The Sharin...  

Legacy (The Sharing Knife, Book 2)
Lois McMaster Bujold

Eos, 2007 - 384 pages

average customer review:based on 32 reviews
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     highly recommended  highly recommended



Fawn Bluefield, the clever young farmer girl, and Dag Redwing Hickory, the seasoned Lakewalker soldier-sorcerer, have been married all of two hours when they depart her family's farm for Dag's home at Hickory Lake Camp. Having gained a hesitant acceptance from Fawn's family for their unlikely marriage, the couple hopes to find a similar reception among Dag's Lakewalker kin. But their arrival is met with prejudice and suspicion, setting many in the camp against them, including Dag's own mother and brother. A faction of Hickory Lake Camp, denying the literal bond between Dag and Fawn, woven in blood in the Lakewalker magical way, even goes so far as to threaten permanent exile for Dag.

Before their fate as a couple is decided, however, Dag is called away by an unexpected?and viciously magical?malice attack on a neighboring hinterland threatening Lakewalkers and farmers both. What his patrol discovers there will not only change Dag and his new bride, but will call into question the uneasy relationship between their peoples?and may even offer a glimmer of hope for a less divided future.

Filled with heroic deeds, wondrous magic, and rich, all-too-human characters, The Sharing Knife: Legacy is at once a gripping adventure and a poignant romance from one of the most imaginative and thoughtful writers in fantasy today.




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Living Among the Lakewalkers

Legacy (2007) is the second fantasy novel in The Sharing Knife series, following Beguilement. In the previous volume, Fawn and Dag returned to her home. There he discovered that his lost left hand can manifest as a magical extension. Then they were married according to Farmer customs. They also followed Lakewalker traditions by exchanging colored strings imbued with their own ground magic. After the wedding reception, they saddled up and took the road to his home at Hickory Lake.

In this novel, Dag and Fawn try to get to reach Hickory Lake before his Aunt Mari and the other riders return from patrol. Still they are not in too much of a hurry, enjoying the sunny weather as they ride along. But when the sky starts to look stormy, they press harder to reach the Lakewalker camp.

As they get close, Dag wonders who to approach first. After talking it over with Fawn, he decides to see Farbolt Crow -- the Camp Captain -- before facing his mother. When they reach the Patroller building, Mari is there demanding a search for him. Their appearance turns the morose conference into a welcoming party.

After bringing Farbolt and Mari up to date, Dag and Fawn travel to the Redwing camp to talk to Dar. Dag's brother is not very accepting of the marriage, but listens to his story about the sharing knife and then responds with his opinion. They all leave the workshop and go back to the Redwing Tent for supper.

Dag's mother is very displeased about his marriage. During the argument, Dag responds to her remarks by leaving the tent. Dag and fawn spend the night in Dar's workshop. The next day, they get their own tent -- made of hides instead of logs -- and set it up within the camp of his Aunt Mari.

In this story, Dag finds that his phantom hand has other uses than remaking a glass bowl. He discusses the mysterious appearance of the hand with Hoharie, the camp healer. Then he tries to show her the phantom hand to no avail. But when Othan tries to heal his right arm, the hand suddenly appears and yanks ground from the apprentice upon the opening of Dag's shields.

Dar later brings a council complaint against Dag on his mother's behalf to disallow the marriage. Before it can be heard by the camp council, however, Farbolt receives an emergency request for aid from the Raintree patrollers. A malice has emerged within the farmer town of Greenspring and then attacked the Lakewalker camp at Bonemarsh. The death toll is high.

Dag is asked to be the Captain of the Hickory Lake contingent going to Raintree. After talking it over with Fawn, he accepts and they prepare for him to leave the following dawn. That evening, however, Dag performs some exotic magic to allow Fawn to be aware of his life and location.

This story further introduces Fawn to the history and culture of the Lakewalkers. She learns that the Lakewalkers consider themselves to be descendants of minor lords. Yet she sees their lifestyle as poor and squalid.

Above all else, she learns that the Lakewalkers are prepared to leave their current campgrounds and move elsewhere to escape any threat. Yet their obsession with mobility is beginning to change. Their tents are often log cabins with one open side and they are failing to follow the custom of destroying the more permanent structures every ten years. They are beginning to enjoy a more stable style of living, although most Lakewalkers still migrate between the summer and winter camps.

This tale concludes with another major change in the life of Dag and Fawn. The next volume probably will involve more travel, new cultures, and further discoveries. Stay tuned!

Highly recommended for Bujold fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magical quests, exotic cultures and passionate romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin


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Great work by Bujold

This is not a Science Fiction book. It is more akin to science fantasy. And my wife notes that it is excellent science fantasy romance novel fare.
First the short synopsis. Fawn and Dag are married (from first book in series) and head to Dag's folks. Bad juju. Very bad juju. But a crisis erupts and Dag is pulled to be the Captain of a force fighting a malice (monster/bad guy). The action lasts about 2 minutes. Good guys win easily. But the complications. Oh the complications with Fawn to the rescue and an ending leading to the third book.
This book is all about the story and development of the characters. It is not a slam bang adventure novel. It does not even have the usually minimal action of a Miles novel by Bujold.
Yet, it is a superbly told story that paints pictures throughout the book. If you are a Bujold fan, read it. From my wife, romance novel fans will also love it. If you love to read well written stories that paint the characters and their surroundings, read it. However, if you are a fan of slam bam action novels (which I also am) be wary. Get the first book in the series and see if you are a Bujold fan.
For the record, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was a great break from more action oriented stories.


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Wonderful Book

Lois McMaster Bujold is, in my opinion, the most consistent excellent writer working in SciFi and, more recently, fantasy. I have been completely enthralled by everything of hers I have read. Why? Because she creates fascinating characters, puts them in believable conflicts and then plots an engrossing tale around the characters and conflicts. Sounds simple but it's not.



Bogged Down

I thought the first volume of Sharing Knife showed a lot of promise--a fresh voice and new story idea. But Legacy (v. 2) gets too bogged down with relationship stuff that fails to develop the characters much. Although there was some solid action in the second half, it was overshadowed by the "honeymoon" joys and challenges. I am, however, ready for the next episode and hoping that it gets back to the tone of the first book, leaving Legacy as a sagging middle and "ok" read.


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Pleasant and Forgettable

This sequel flows immediately after book #1. Young farmer lady F-- has just married older magic worker D--. They have just left her family and are traveling back to his tribe. If you read the last book, you'll recall that the farmers are about what you'ld expect: industrious, somewhat inventive, no magic. D--'s tribe (Lakewalkers) live in complete isolation from the farmers, and are appalled that D-- married one. Most of the tale is a slow meandering through what life is like in a Lakewalker tribe, with a bit of a monster attack and some anti-farmer prejudice tossed into the mix.

"Legacy" isn't bad, it just isn't good, either. The writing is excellent, but the plot is bland. The Lakewalkers are backward and slaves to tradition. The only logical defense of Lakewalker society is that "only magic can kill monsters" and, magic being an inherited trait, there would be a strong value to prohibiting inter-mairrage (i.e., inter-mairrage ==> fewer mages ==> fewer monster fighters). Alas, this is poorly conveyed, and fails to justify why the many Lakewalkers who have traveled around and seen how the farmers live would be content with their life back home.

"Legacy" was pleasant enough that I read it entirely -- I've been skipping or skimming a lot of books recently -- but I'd expected better from Bujold. So, a pleasant aside, for a lazy afternoon, then pass it on to a friend or used book store. So little happened, that you might just want to skip this book, and go straight from #1 to #3.


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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7



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