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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*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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