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The Sharing Knife, Volume 2 cover art

The Sharing Knife, Volume 2

Written by: Lois McMaster Bujold
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
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Publisher's Summary

Filled with magic, heroism, and all-too-human characters, Bujold's Sharing Knife saga is both a gripping adventure and a poignant romance. In this second volume, Fawn Bluefield, the clever farm girl, and Dag Redwing Hickory, the seasoned Lakewalker soldier-sorcerer, are newly married. Their arrival at Dag's home on Hickory Lake Camp is met with prejudice and suspicion, as many in the camp deny the literal bond between Dag and Fawn, woven in blood in the Lakewalker magical way.

Then Dag is called away by an unexpected and vicious 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 hope of a less divided future.

©2007 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

What listeners say about The Sharing Knife, Volume 2

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Farmgirl meets the Soldier/Sorcer's kin...

The focus of this book was less the malice hunting more the prejudice that Fawn and Dag have to face, and the antipathy towards their marriage.

This book was fine, a bit less interesting than the first novel, but as I have read more compelling stories from the author, so am feeling a bit let down.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

*sigh* Disappointed

I was hoping that Lois McMaster Bujold would return to the fascinating "Lakewalker versus Malice" Good/Evil storyline more, but she doesn't deliver. To be honest - given the focus in the first book on a frowned-upon marriage between two unlikely lovers - I set my expectations for a plot-driven Fantasy genre entry low.. but the author couldn't even attain that low bar for me. She rather pens a straight-up Romance with complicated metaphysical themes and virtually no action.
To be certain, there *is* a Malice threat confronted at one point, and Bujold elucidates on her intriguing "GroundSense" magic system (albeit often awkwardly through "mutual-orgasm" sexual experimentation with sensation, sharing, and imbuing magic).. but spends most of her effort on looooooong discussions of prejudice towards the love affair between the aging quasi-aboriginal world-wise bachelor "Lakewalker Patroller" (Monster-Hunter) 'Dag' and his pseudo-18thC.-settler diminuitive child-like "Farmer" wife 'Fawn'. The most notable thing about this novel - besides the ethereal spirituality and the "Statutory-Rapey" Interracial Relationship plotline - is the striking mundanity: Bujold colors the story with domestic scenes between the newly-married couple.. like endlessly cooking imaginary vegetables called "Plumkins" and repairing worn-out clothing - I'm not kidding.

In the audiobook's favor, on the other hand: Bernadette Dunne does a better job on this project. She still reads with an annoying whispery timbre and weak voice-acting, but has largely overcome the sing-song cadence that made the first installment in 'The Sharing Knife' series a difficult listen at times. This performance is quite a bit improved.

Taken in toto, I can't recommend this 3.5/10-star effort - unless you're totally enamored with exposés that deal with "us-against-the-world" unconventional relationships (think Flava-Flav and Brigitte Nielsen) - or really complicated concepts of empathic magic. The adventurous Fantasy elements to the series - so tantalizingly promised in 'Volume 1' - are maddeningly given second billing. Even as a 'Plus' selection, 'Volume 2: Legacy' isn't worth the effort.

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