This is an okay story. It is very slow to get going, which is tough when I've already recently read two books in this world. I cannot place the time of the story. It seems to me it must be centuries before the other novels. I also cannot place the place of this story. It seems to be a country not or only briefly mentioned in the Chalion books. Chalion is briefly mentioned in this one. Darthaca, familiar, is mentioned many times with King Audar the star from there. I don't recall if Audar was ever mentioned in the other books. I don't like floundering in the setting of a book when the time and place should be familiar. The problem seems to be that Ms. Bujold had this great idea that expanded upon her religion of 5 gods that she liked, but could not incorporate it into her Chalion novels well, so went on a tangent that is not well enough connected.

One has to have read the Chalion books before this one to have the basis knowledge of the 5 god religion, Temple sorcerers, and world's magic before reading this book, or you would be lost. Unfortunately, I was lost for other reasons.

The main character grows on you, but I'm beginning to think her male main characters tend to be the same. Ijada was a little difficult to swallow at first as she seemed more icon than actual character. The puzzle was easy to see when given all the pieces, but Ms. Bujold often withheld pieces until she wanted to reveal the puzzle which made the story a bit too pat.

For some reason the story seems already told to me, that there were few new elements other than it was being re-told in this world of Bujold's. Bujold is suffering from many author's failing that their main characters must get more and more powerful. Some have a single character following a series where their powers get more deft and strong as the series progress. Bujold has new characters only with stronger powers than her previous characters. I don't think I will be recommending this book to others the way I usually recommend books.