Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #157213 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-01
• Released on: 2007-06-26
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

About the Author

One of the most respected writers in the field of speculative fiction, Lois McMaster Bujold burst onto the scene in 1986 with Shards of Honor, the first of her tremendously popular Vorkosigan Saga novels. She has received numerous accolades and prizes, including, for best novel, two Nebula Awards (Falling Free and Paladin of Souls), four Hugo Awards for Best Novel (Paladin of Souls, The Vor Game, Barrayar, and Mirror Dance), as well as the Hugo and Nebula Awards for her novella The Mountains of Mourning. Her work has been translated into twenty-one languages. The mother of two, Bujold lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

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.

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.

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.