A bit more story-shaped than the first one, but I still wish they weren't all separate books since they don't really seem to tie things up much. ( )

What a pretty story. One dangerous adventure, lots of family drama and what-not. A restful read really. This book takes place in the Lake people's village. Dag and Spark try to convince folks to accept them as a couple. ( )

Legacy by Lois McMaster Bujold is the second book in her fantasy series entitled” The Sharing Knife”. The story follows the meeting and romance that occurs between a young farm girl, Fawn and a mature warrior mage, Dag who fights to defend the land against vicious malevolent creatures.

In this volume, the two main characters are now newlyweds and travel to Dag’s home to seek acceptance of their marriage by the Dag’s people, the Lakewalkers. Unfortunately, Dag’s own family are totally against the marriage. They bring Dag and Fawn up on charges to the council in an effort to have the marriage annulled. Before this can happen though they receive word that a Malice has spawned and Dag must lead a patrol against this evil. Although they are victorious, Dag realizes that there is more to the culture and history of this land and he has decided that he and Fawn may be the ones to break new ground and challenge the old ways.

Lois McMaster Bujold is an author that I have come to rely on to deliver excellent stories, peopled with well rounded characters. She adds enough violence and danger to keep things interesting but the main draw here is the wonderful relationship between Fawn and Dag. I am looking forward to continuing on with their adventures. ( )

Newly married, it is time for Dag and Fawn to go back to his home at Hickory Lake and introduce her to his family and culture. There they run into all kinds of problems starting with Dag's mother and brother. They don't accept that the marriage cords are valid despite being able to use their ground senses to see that they are. They can't accept that Fawn, let alone half-breed children in the future, can have anything to offer the Lakewalkers in their mission.

Before matters can come to a head and a Council session be called, there is a major malice outbreak under a farmer town called Greenspring near the Lakewalker settlement of Raintree. They are calling for help. Fairbolt Crow, who is the Patroller Captain, drafts Dag to lead the rescue attempt. Dag isn't keen since his last leadership role cost him his hand, his wife, and most of his patrol. But he is the most experienced and knows the most people. He is also the tactician who might be able to prevail.

Fawn asks if there is something he can do to their marriage cords that will let her know his condition they way Lakewalkers can tell about each other through theirs. He does something that lets her know where he is and if he's all right. Therefore, when they run into problems with this very powerful malice, Fawn is one of the first to know about it.

Determined to go to him, Fawn takes off with a stolen map and her chubby horse despite being told that she should stay behind. Finding her husband groundlocked in some way despite the death of the malice and with the healer who traveled with her baffled, Fawn uses her brain and some clues that she put together to save Dag though he is gravely injured.

Even though they killed the malice and Fawn saved Dag's life, they still find themselves facing the Council when they return. But Dag has grown because he loves Fawn. He's finally come out the other side of the grief that crippled him after his first wife's death. He's developed new abilities as a healer that he didn't have as a younger man. And his is starting to question the way things have always been done.

The worldbuilding is fantastic. The writing is excellent. The book is filled with fascinating characters who grow and change as a result of the things they do and see. I am eager to see where Dag and Fawn go next in their journey together. ( )

I love a good fantasy novel and this series is great. In find the characters and story engaging. The writing style easily draws me in and leaves me eager for the next book by this author. ( )