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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780671697860
ISBN number: 0671697862
Label: Baen
Manufacturer: Baen
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 522
Printing Date: October 01, 1988
Publishing house: Baen
Sale Popularity Level: 236749
Studio: Baen
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Paksenarrion, once a sheepfarmer's daughter, now a veteran warrior, meets new challenges as she breaks up a robber gang, dispells an ancient evil possessing an elvish shrine and is accepted for training at an academy for knights. Clearly, a high destiny awaits her. Reisssue.
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Rated by buyers -
All the books that I have read by Elizabeth Moon have several things in common. They are all well written, engaging, very detailed, and keep you coming back for more! The very first time I ever heard of Elizabeth Moon was when her book Once a Hero came out. Like this book, I couldn't put it down (unless I fell asleep first)!
Divided Allegiance follows the main character Paksenarrion (Paks for short) through some tough ordeals. With the only her training as a mercenary in the Duke's company to guide her, she finds herself ill-prepared for what lies ahead of her. She does get convinced to learn more than just her mercenary skills to become so much more than just a fighter. Paks learns the way of Gird, a deity that honors fighters. Even in the very first book: Sheepfarmer's Daughter (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 1) she encounters a Paladin (a high ranking priest/mage type that serves Gird). This Paladin and others in this book encourage her to learn the ways of Gird, perhaps even become a Paladin herself. Normally that would take years and years of service, but she is able to dive right into the training, and makes some "unusual" friends along the way.
I'm so glad that a friend of mine found the very first book Sheepfarmer's Daughter (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 1) for me after telling her some of my favorite authors. Now onto book #3: Oath of Gold (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 3).
Rated by buyers -
The middle, "bridge" volume of a trilogy is often its weakest point (the original Dune trilogy is the classic example of that), but it's not the case here. In fact, this epic reads like a single 1,500-page novel that was broken into three parts only for convenience in marketing. This section is rather more episodic, though. Having become a valued soldier in Duke Phelan's mercenary company, Paks finds it necessary to leave shortly after the great victory over the forces of Evil, because the Duke's necessary alliances included behavior on behalf of a budding tyrant that she couldn't approve of. So she goes off with a vague idea of re-crossing the northern mountains and perhaps visiting her family home, works her way as a caravan guard, takes up with a not entirely trustworthy half-elf (rather less than half, actually), defeats another evil force in an underground sequence that reads almost like a D&D script, becomes acquainted with the Girdsmen (with whom her Duke has had a longstanding quarrel) and with other clerics, and undergoes training at Fin Panir with the idea that she might become a knight in a few years. But (naturally) her destiny holds far more than that, and this volume ends at the lowest point in Paks's young life. The plot continues to build -- not always in ways that are obvious until later -- and even the author's slight preachiness regarding Good and Evil aren't too annoying. This is meant to be Heroic Fantasy, after all. This is obviously Moon's masterwork. (It certainly deserves less amateurish cover art, though.)
Rated by buyers 
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Divided Allegiance is the second book in the "The Deed of Paksenarrion" trilogy. I thought this one was even better than the very first book. Intense in surprising ways as well. I would caution that if you read this book, be ready with the third book, Oath of Gold, for when you finish it. There's a cliffhanger ending.
Paks decides to leave the Duke's army. She's put off by his alignment with a former pirate in helping him regain lands the man believes he is owed. The Duke helps him as gratitude for his help in their recent war against Siniava. It's the former pirate's tactics for regaining his land that cause Paks' stomach to sour.
The Duke grants her release, as well as the open ended right to return if she chooses so. And there...a new adventure begins for her. She doesn't know where she will end up, and only has the idea in her head to drop of a message for Halveric and perhaps stop in to see her own family.
Her journey brings us face to face with more classical fantasy elements (elves, dwarves, etc.) than the very first book did. It's fun to see her reactions to them and her manners of trying to deal with them. There are also orcs and you'll not forget the webmistress' minions in this one. *shiver*
We also get to watch the makings of a paladin as she faces trials and tests, feeling an occasional calling to do certain things and having no idea why, let alone the understanding of what she's just done. I found this fascinating because it's almost like going blindly, yet completely yielding to that feeling of trust in the guidance of the higher powers, and those she considers more experienced in life in general. Things are often grey and white for her and when things that are shades of gray present themselves to her, she is confused.
Throughout this story, we see Paks face and rise above new challenges, and sometimes fall back down hard as well. This character's inner strength is amazing and that coupled with her honest, good-hearted, naïve traits make those falls all the more heart wrenching to read about.
Yep, I'm pretty attached to this character, can you tell?
This is an amazing trilogy and that's that!
Rated by buyers 
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I found this book to be a great let down after the very first book. I think what really got me was the scene in which Paksenarrrion is forced to convert to Gird-worship before the order will heal her of a life-threatening injury. This really offended me. In the very first place, the idea of a religious order that only heals its own members and yet considers itself more rightous than everyone else is bad enough. Secondly the idea that they would use this opportunity to force Paks to convert and she doesn't find anything wrong with that coercion is horrendous.
I lost interest after that.
Rated by buyers -
Divided Allegiance (1988) is the second fantasy novel in the Deed of Paksenarrion series, following Sheepfarmer's Daughter. In the previous volume, Paks, Canna and Saben escaped crosscountry from Count Siniava's troops besieging Dwarfwatch, but Canna was wounded in the shoulder. Knowing that Canna was a Girdist, Paks placed her Saint Gird medallion against the wound and prayed for healing. Canna felt a sharp pain in her shoulder and the wound was soon healed.
Later, they were suddenly attacked by brigands and only Paks avoided capture to reach the Duke. With the information Paks carried, Duke Phelan ambushed the Count's relief column and then broke the siege at Dwarfwatch. The militia found the brigands holding Saben and Canna, but the enemy tried to kill off their prisoners. Saben was killed outright, but Canna remained alive for a short while and asked that her medallion be given to Paks.
When Duke Phelan finally cornered the Count in a deserted fort, he set an ambush party, led by Paks, outside the escape tunnel. As expected, the Count tried to flee the siege, but used the cover of a sleep spell. Paks, however, was awakened by a sharp pain on her chest from Canna's medallion and awoke the others to catch the fleeing Count. The Honeycat was executed on the spot at the Duke's order.
In this novel, Paks becomes increasingly upset with the political alliances of Duke Phelan. The former pirate Alured had turned his coat and helped in the destruction of Count Siniava. In return, he requires the Duke and other allies to assist in his effort to become the Duke of Immer. Unfortunately, the Duke's forces are used to drive the citizens of each town into the city square, where Alured captures, tortures and kills those whom he accuses as Siniava's agents.
The Duke releases Paks from his service, with rights of return, so she can try to seek further military skills. She also carries a message from Aliam Halveric to his wife. She works as a caravan guard to the Silver Pass and then accompanies Mancenion, a mage with elven blood, through the pass toward Ladyforest.
Mancenion irritates Paks with his superiors ways and his tendency to withhold information. Mancenion does discover that her Dwarfwatch honors ring has magical influence over animals. Later, he uses her power over this ring to hold a snow cat helpless while he kills it. Paks has tried to talk him out of hurting the cat, but is told that either she or the cat must die. Later he mentions that she should have thought of making the cat run away if she objected so strongly to the killing. Paks is very upset over that unfair comment; he should have told her before the cat was killed.
On the other side of the pass, Mancenion points out the ruins of an Elven city and suggests that they explore it. He has heard about the place from his elders and knows that there is still treasure somewhere inside. Sleeping among the ruins, both Paks and Mancenion have the same dream. Someone or something has been captured by an evil being and needs rescue.
In the underground passages of the Elven city, Paks and Mancenion hear someone coming toward them and Paks pulls Mancenion into a nearby room. When three Orcs pass by their room, Mancenion rushes out and attacks them. Of course, Paks also attacks the Orcs to rescue Mancenion. Then other Orcs appear.
Paks and Mancenion kill all the Orcs, for none will flee from the intruders. Searching further, they reach a large chamber. Paks checks for guards inside the door and then enters the room, but Mancenion remains outside. Within the chamber are motionless figures against the wall and a full-blooded high ranking Elf, who has been possessed by an evil spirit. He subtly bespells Paks and holds her helpless.
When Mancenion finally enters the chamber, the Elf turns his attentions to him. During the ensuing battle, Paks regains her senses and attacks the Elf. Although the Elf is an excellent swordsman, Paks manages to overcome him, but cannot kill the possessing spirit. After some study, Mancenion finds a spell that destroys the body and drives away the possessing spirit. Then the Orcs attack once more and Mancenion is killed.
This story tells of the various trials and tribulations, not to mention the joys, of Paks in her relationships with friends, enemies and Saint Gird. She gains her dreams only to lose them. Her greatest flaw is her unquestioning trust of those she views as her superiors. For Paks obeys orders and absorbs everything shown to her, but decisions about new things are difficult; yet Gird wants her to start thinking for herself.
Highly recommended for Moon fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of military training and combat, personal trials, and perseverance.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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