Review: The Sharig Knife 3: Passage SPOILERS!

In May of 2008, Lois McMaster Bujold penned another novel in her Sharing Knife series. This time, more talking and barely a climax await the reader. Synopsis: Volume three in the epic fantasy saga from multiple Hugo Award-winning author Lois McMaster Bujold. Young Fawn Bluefield and soldier-sorcerer Dag Redwing Hickory have survived magical dangers, but the bigotry of blood kin cannot be easily overcome. Leaving behind all that they have ever known, they set off to find fresh solutions to the perilous split between their peoples—a passage that will not be ventured alone. New companions join them on their road: Fawn’s brother, Whit, escaping a hopeless future on the family farm; two novice Lakewalker patrollers fleeing the catastrophic consequences of an honest mistake; a young flatboat captain searching for her vanished father and fiancé; a shrewd backwoods hunter; and a farmer boy unintentionally beguiled by Dag’s growing magery. On an eventful journey to where great rivers join, the ill-assorted crew will be sorely tested and tempered as they encounter a new world of hazards both human and uncanny.

The novel opens with Dag and Fawn--exiled from the Lakewalker camp--head back to Bluefield farm. Dag tries to explain to Fawn's family about teaching "farmers"--non-magic using humans--to recognize malice signs so they can warn Lakewalkers, but Dag fumbles in this even with Whit's help. When Fawn and Dag leave, Whit goes with them. At Glassforge, Whit sells the horses--except for Copperhead--so they can travel with the glass wagon drivers; Whit's taking the job to move at his own pace. After Hod attempts to steal from Dag--and Copperhead breaks his knee--Dag heals him with ground work, killing a tapeworm in the process. The wagon train passes through Pearl Riffle Camp; Dag talks with some young Lakewalker patrollers--two of whom are Barr and Remo. Fawn and Whit arrive at Pearl Bend's wharf boat and meet Boss Berry and Jos; Whit falls in love with Berry at first sight. Dag arrives and learns that Whit plans on joining him and Fawn. Whit finds out that Berry's father, brother, and fiance Adler went missing and she means to look for them. Hod shows up, beguiled out of his mind, and joins.

Dag berates two Pearl Riffle patrollers for not educating farmers in their ways and they call him mad. Dag (and Lois) later performs oral surgery and tells everyone how groundwork works to a mob and a sick woman. Dag and crew then set sail and Remo chases after them. Remo works for his passage, at least until Boss Berry gets to Silver Shoals. Dag starts ground-ripping oats to see what would happen. He also helps Whit continue with his bow work. Hod purposely breaks a knee; Dag, angry and seeing a way to potentially get rid of beguilement, has Remo perform groundwork and heals Hod's knee. Passing by a river town, Berry, Fawn, and Whit hear of former cargo boats going missing; Dag helps Remo sense farmers with his ground. Dag practices ground-ripping on Fawn's pie and gets sick; he decides to go back to oats. Dag--with Fawn, Remo, and Hod--discovers why farmers become beguiled: Lakewalkers don't take farmer ground when they "heal" and that creates beguilement. Dag "heals" Hod's knee and takes Hod's ground and the beguilement disappears. Remo's partner, Barr, chases after them and begs Remo to return before Pearl Riffle Captain Amma blames Barr.

Remo says it's not his problem and decides to stay. Barr tries his best to persuade Berry but Remo and Whit hit him, and Berry kicks him off the Fetch. Barr tracks them down and Dag takes him aside and makes him see sense; Barr apologizes to everyone and Berry lets him back aboard--Barr works for his passage. Along the way, they rescue Captain Chicory and his remaining crew from being stranded in the river. Eventually, Berry finds her Adler, but Adler and his crew want to leave because Crane doesn't want them to mess with Lakewalkers. Adler tells Berry that her father, brother, and Briar Rose were killed in a storm--but everyone and their dog (except Berry) know it's not true; the Lakewalkers can sense it. Dag forces a confession and everyone learns that Adler and his crew are boat bandits (pirates) who work for a Lakewalker names Crane. Crane leads these bandits. Dag, Whit, Chicory, and others go and assault Crane's lair. Fawn tells Berry that Adler isn't beguiled and Berry can't decide if that's worse or not. Crane comes for Adler and starts killing Bo's pets; Crane takes Fawn hostage. Dag and gang arrive and Crane threatens to kill Fawn.

Dag ground-rips Crane's spinal cord just below the neck. Whit kills Crane's bandits and Berry smacks Adler overboard with an oar. Dag learns from Crane why he did what he did; Crane tells Dag to "bury my bones." Fawn gives Whit advice on how to help Berry heal from losing her family and Adler. During the trials, Dag explains Lakewalker rituals and kills Crane to prime a sharing knife. Dag and company travel onwards. Whit asks Berry to marry him and she says yes.

All in all, a slow paced book (but then again, this is Lois McMaster Bujold) and as soon as there's some hint of conflict, she repeatedly bashes it over the head to eliminate it. Enjoyable only for those who love river boating, otherwise it remains a weak mediocre novel that does little except help Dag learn how to get rid of beguilement.