Magic . . . the dark magic of sorcery, the soothing magic of healing and the bright magic of love are all woven into Lois McMaster Bujold’s fantasy series The Sharing Knife.  In the final volume, Horizon, Lakewalker Dag Redwing and his farmer bride, Fawn Bluefield, wonder if there is magic enough to break down the walls between people who have distrusted each other for generations.  Dag and Fawn and their unlikely group have traveled far.  They have sailed the rivers, gone far beyond their homes and have forged alliances unheard of in times of war and suspicion.  Dag, as a Lakewalker, is gifted with what some would call sorcery; but he believes that his destiny is to be a healer.  He longs to bridge the gap between his fellow Lakewalkers and Fawn’s farmers but is met with fear and suspicion.  Can it be done?  Can this small band, this unlikely family, sweep away the fear and prejudice that lie over the land?  Can Dag find a healer willing to share the knowledge he needs?  Will the generous-hearted Fawn be accepted by her husband’s people?  Bujold takes us on the journey with Fawn and Dag to answer these many questions as they try to create a better world.

It is always a great pleasure to inhabit the worlds that Lois McMaster Bujold creates and this series is no exception.  She creates entire cultures and worlds and fills them with fascinating and realistic characters.  Although we may not recognize the evil or the particular enemy Dag and Fawn face, we relate to their love, their desire to create a better society and their search for a home.  It’s advisable to read the books in this series in order, but Horizon can stand alone.  Once more, Lois McMaster Bujold has written a powerful and magical novel.