The Spirit Ring

This book was an impulsive buy at a used book store. I loved Bujold's Chalion series and was interested in exploring her other fantasy titles before tackling something like Vorkosigan. Written in 1992, it feels a lot like the sort of books I read in my tween years: a plucky young heroine and an unlikely but handsome suitor avenge their loved ones, storm the castle and conquer evil. Pretty standard for its time.

Bujold, however, always adds an element to overlay the standard. She has a way of writing about religion that recognizes its flaws without demonizing it. The Church of her stories is heroic and ultimately good, even if it is not always effective. Chalion takes this idea to form, but I can see the precursors in this novel.

She has other twists such as Master Beneforte not being anything like a traditional doting father, a sense of diversity that I don't remember from my 90s heroine fiction at all, and an intriguing magic system that all speaks to the talent of this author. While somewhat forgettable when compared against her other works, it's still a fun read, particularly if you're a fan of the McCaffrey, Lee, Pierce, Lackey style of hero.