The Hallowed Hunt My Rating: 3.5
The half-mad Prince Boleso has been slain by a noblewoman he had intended to defile -- and Lord Ingrey kin Wilfcliff must transport the body to its burial place and the accused killer, the Lady Ijada, to judgment. With the death of the old Hallow King imminent and the crown in play, the road they must travel together is a dangerous one. And though he is duty-bound to deliver his prisoner to an almost certain death, Ijada may be the only one Ingrey dares trust. For a monstrous malevolence holds the haunted lord in its sway -- and a great and terrible destiny has been bestowed upon him by the gods, the damned, and the dead.
I recently finished The Hallowed Hunt, the third book set in the World of the Five Gods series by Lois McMaster Bujold. While I truly enjoyed the first two books (The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls), this installment didn’t work for me.
The book started off promisingly, with Bujold’s trademark immersive world-building and graceful prose. Unfortunately, it quickly took a darker turn that I found deeply unsettling. The inclusion of animal slayings was particularly off-putting, and the story leaned heavily into demonic themes that I found disturbing rather than intriguing.
Bujold is undeniably a talented writer, and her ability to create complex, layered characters remains impressive. However, for me, the darker content overshadowed what could have been another captivating tale. In the end, I would recommend skipping The Hallowed Hunt, even to fans of the series. Despite my admiration for Bujold’s skill, I’m now unsure whether I’ll continue exploring her other works.
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