Strong willed Paksenarrion refuses to give into her father's wishes and marry the pig farmer down the road. Instead, she runs away to find her own future and enlists in a mercenary company. The training is hard, but Paks, as she is called by her fellow soldiers, is up to the task and soon becomes a standout recruit. While her worth as a fighter is proved during her first battle, so is her impulsive independence, which might get her killed. As she becomes a seasoned member of the company, Paks develops a knack for surviving events that should have killed her. Paks thinks she is just lucky, but the religious Marshals and Paladins think she might have a larger purpose.

I thought at times the plot of Sheepfarmer's Daughter meandered. There were details that I expected to be brought back into the plot that remained loose, but seeing as this is the first book in a series, those points may well be tied in later in the story. Paks, is a good female character-- a bit naïve, but strong and smart. Although I generally dislike overtly religious plots, I thought the religious aspects of Sheepfarmer's Daughter were nicely blended into the story. The beliefs seemed a natural extension of the world and not an arbitrary system placed in a fantasy setting.

My Recommendation
As the first book in The Deeds of Paksenarrion, Sheepfarmer's Daughter is a good start. While the plot was not a tightly written as I usually enjoy, it was still fun to read. I will probably read the rest of the series in the future, if only to see how the legend of Paks progresses. I'd recommend this book as an ok read.

Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon
Published by Baen
512 pages

Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon is available at Amazon.com

I reviewed Sheepfarmer's Daughter from my own library.