I don’t usually read sword-slinging fantasy, but I will make an exception for a good storyteller like Elizabeth Moon. Divided Allegiance, the sequel to The Sheepfarmer’s Daughter, uses many elements from the D&D toybox—elves, orcs, paladins, and healers—but they are reimagined to serve a character-driven coming-of-age story. Pak, the daughter of a sheep farmer, has joined a mercenary troop to learn a warrior’s trade. She discovers that the ethical challenges of soldiering outweigh the physical hardships. ( )

I am a big fan of fantasy novels especially if they are long and have several books in the series. I really enjoy a series of books that I can immerse myself in and this series allows me to do that. The story has many fascinating twists and turns and I find the characters to be very engaging. I first discovered these books years ago in a used book shop in Edinburgh and I have re-read them several times since. ( )

Wow, what an ending. Can't stop at book 2! Onward! ( )

In this book we see more of Paks's character development as well as more of the elves and dwarves and Girdsmen. There were things I loved about this book, and things I didn't love (only because I was meant not to love them because that is what Moon wants). By no means does this book not give a chilling look into what makes a hero good or bad and what can break them as well. ( )

2.5 Stars. I understand that this series is from the 80's, but the treatment of Paks as a person, a woman and an apparently asexual person is horrific.

She is constantly being threatened by rape and torture, as if that is the only way to create suspense. She is too often saved by men of one race or another. She is even saved from herself by men. Don't doubt yourself Paks, we men believe you are awesone, therefore it must be so. And this nearly always results in things getting better for her >:(

They nearly unthinking trust Paks placed in strangers during this book also pissed me off. She was a soldier who had seen the worst of humanity, but didn't blink an eye or trust her own smarts and instincts when it came to Macenion (until a man pointed it out anyhow).

I like the feel of having D&D style adventures woven together to create these novels, but sometimes that formula seriously impedes character development. ( )