Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion was one of the series I've been meaning to read for years and years. Indeed, I purchased Sheepfarmer's Daughter during the early 90s. As Paksenarrion's story kept growing in scope and popularity, I told myself that I would read it soon. Many SFF readers claim that it's the ultimate paladin tale, which I find extremely intriguing. Fast-forward to 2025, about three decades after buying the first installment, the time had come for me to finally give this series a shot.
Sheepfarmer's Daughter was first published in 1988, but to my surprise it has aged quite well. I was looking forward to reading the sequels, and I'm pleased to report that
Divided Allegiance is another compelling, if much darker, read. Moon sure threw readers one hell of a curve ball and this second volume didn't end up the way I ever envisioned!
Here's the blurb:
Once a sheepfarmer's daughter, now a seasoned veteran, Paksenarrion has proven herself a fighter. Years with Duke Phelan's Company taught her weaponry, discipline, and how to react as part of a military unit.
Now, though, Paks feels spurred to a solitary destiny. Against all odds she is accepted as a paladin-candidate by the fellowship of Gird. Years of study will follow, for a paladin must be versed in diplomacy and magic as well as the fighting arts. But before she is fully trained, Paks is called on her first mission: to seek out the fabled stronghold of Luap far to the west. The way is long, the dangers many—and not even the Marshal-General of Gird can say whether glory or ruin awaits.
As a former member of the US Marine Corps, Moon imbues her military fantasy stories with a realism that civilian authors likely never quite get right. As Pakse makes the transition from new recruit to a more seasoned trooper, and then as she travels to Fin Panir to study and train as a paladin-candidate, the author's firsthand knowledge is palpable and it adds layers to the plot and its characters. This is even more evident in Moon's depiction of Pakse's post-traumatic stress disorder, as the author makes her main character go through the wringer à la Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey. Those who felt that Paksenarrion could do no wrong and had it easy in the first volume will get the rug pulled from under them. Things will get bleak for the poor girl, to say the least.
The worldbuilding is probably the aspect in which Moon has improved the most, what with Pakse's wanderings taking her all over the place. The plots meanders a bit aimlessly at the beginning because Pakse doesn't quite know what her plans are once she leaves the Duke's company. The good thing about this is that we see more of the author's universe, which makes it quite different from the military movements down in the South that characterized the first volume. I loved the fact that Pakse encounters elves, dwarves, gnomes, magic-users, and yet more people. Her adventures and misadventures are formative and interesting. Up until her departure on the quest to find Luap's legendary stronghold with the members of the fellowship of Gird, though it turned out to be a winding road, Pakesenarrion's storyline seemed fairly linear. Then came her capture and torture, which will leave her a shell of her former self. From then on, it's obvious that Moon decided that Pake's character growth will be through physical, psychological, and emotional struggles. Not that these were totally absent in
Sheepfarmer's Daughter, but the author definitely turned it up a notch in this one. I for one never expected such a dark ending.
Although she's no longer a green recruit, for all that she's now a more experienced soldier, Paksenarrion remains a naive country bumpkin do-gooder who wants to live life on her own terms. That's what makes it so easy to root for her and why her suffering from PTSD later on in the book hits you so hard. It's important to remember that, no matter how mature she is for her age, she's only 22 years old. As a matter of course, Pakse takes center stage as the main protagonist. Unlike its predecessor,
Divided Allegiance features a more diverse and more engaging supporting cast. Whether it's the half-elven scoundrel Macenion, the Kuakgan Master Oakhallow (a druid-like figure), the impulsive young Suli, Ambros and Marshall Cedfer, or everyone she interacts with at Fir Panir, they will all leave their mark on Pakse and help shape the woman she's destined to become.
Given its meandering beginning, it's no suprise that
Divided Allegiance suffers from pacing issues. As was the case in the first volume, these slower portions are offset by more exciting action sequences and battles. Hence, they were never a problem for me. Once more, Elizabeth Moon's prose creates a vivid imagery, one that makes the story leap right off the page.
There is no endgame and finale per se. The last portion of the novel focuses on Pakse's fall into depression and helplessness and is a world away from the Paksenarrion we've grown to love.
Divided Allegiance ends with a cliffhanger of sorts, one that makes it impossible not to jump into the final installment to discover what comes next. As mentioned before, anyone looking for a strong female lead and no romance will probably find a lot to like about this series.
The final verdict: 7.75/10
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