The Hallowed Hunt (Book)

A Wolf. Murder. Spirit Possession. A Panther. Sorcerers. Geases. Shaman. A Dying King. Warriors Dead Four Centuries. A Polar Bear.

The Hallowed Hunt is the third—and so far last—book in Lois McMaster Bujold’s Chalion Series and was nominated for the 2006 Locus Fantasy Award. I enjoyed the original plot, interesting characters, and fresh world, although the story was a bit of a letdown after Paladin of Souls. At times, I felt tangled up in the details of the story’s magic. I also didn’t find anything ponderable, which I often do with Bujold’s books.

Briefly, Lord Ingrey, who has been possessed by a wolf spirit every since his father performed a botched ritual, is sent to transport the body of the murdered Prince Boleso and return the murderer, Lady Ijada. We quickly find out that Lady Ijada murdered Boleso not only to preserve her virtue but also to prevent dark magic from being performed. As the story unfolds, we learn that the threads of the murder and the spirit possession are intertwined.

The Hallowed Hunt can be fairly easily understood without reading the other books in the series. The novel takes place in the same world as the other books and continues to include the five god religion but does not continue the storylines.