Note on Hallowed Hunt

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This nearly wound up the Bujold I Didn't Actually Care About, Thanks Much. I genuinely did not like Hallana. So I was a much happier reader by the end of chapter six. Later I came to forgive her, um, extraordinary achievements *cough*Sueness*cough*, as they are much easier to take when her overly cheerful self isn't bustling about onstage and when other characters are treating her with reluctant respect - from as far away from her as they can get. Also, for some reason thinking "double PhD" (near the top) works better in my mind. Blame too many nasty overpowered fantasy Sues. And the mid-chapter seven introduction (she says vaugely) made me all sorts of happy. I like my characters ambiguous at best, and two pages into chapter nineteen I am loving the battles of wits. Who's-got-the-real-information stories make me a happy, happy reader.

Summation: it gets better after chapter four. If you're tempted to bail before then, hang in until chapter eight. Then reconsider bailing.