Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

I didn't think I was going to like Paladin of Souls at first. I remember having the same reaction to The Curse of Chalion, because it wasn't a Vorkosigan tale, but found I enjoyed it greatly by the time all the characters and conflicts were established. In the case of Paladin of Souls, I found the first few chapters a bit irritating for the sake of the extended traveling-the-countryside business so typical of fantasy novels, and the main character's "I'm resentful about everything" attitude. Not that Ista didn't have cause for her resentment, but her life seemed to be one long rejection of everything and everyone about her, which made it a bit hard to warm up to her until she conceived a liking for the lively Liss, the female courier. But I grump only because I am so very glad I didn't give up prematurely. I picked the book up again, after a six month hiatus, and read the last 3/4's in every spare minute available to me. It has been a long time since I lost myself so pleasurably in a fantasy! Thank you, Lois McMaster Bujold, for a great read, great characters, a moving story and further development of the ingenious system of magic wrapped up in the nefarious ways of the five gods of Chalion. The book deserves its hugo and I hope Bujold has many more in her!