I'm a huge fan of the Verkosigan series. Chalion doesn't hold me in its thrall to the same degree. It's still well written, fast paced, and often funny. I think that it's not as often funny. The protagonist is as smart, honorable, and competent as Cordelia Verkosigan. Perhaps my reservations are due to the gods? This world has 5 of them, and they meddle in the lives of mortals quite a bit. That messes with a plot a bit, to my mind.