Knife Children (The Sharing Knife #4.5)

by Lois McMaster Bujold
Knife Children (The Sharing Knife #4.5)
Lakewalker Barr Foxbrush returns from two years of patrolling the bitter wilds of Luthlia against the enigmatic, destructive entities called malices, only to find that the secret daughter he'd left behind in the hinterland of Oleana has disappeared from her home after a terrible accusation. The search for her will call on more of Barr's mind and heart than just his mage powers, as he tries to balance his mistakes of the past and his most personal duties to the future.A stand-alone story set in the world of The Sharing Knife.

Knife Children (The Sharing Knife #4.5) Details

TitleKnife Children (The Sharing Knife #4.5)
Author
LanguageEnglish
ReleaseJan 24th, 2019
PublisherAmazon Digital Services
Rating
GenreFantasy

Knife Children (The Sharing Knife #4.5) Review

  • Barb in Maryland
    January 1, 1970
    What a treat! Thank you, Ms Bujold, for revisiting your 'Sharing Knife' world in this lovely novella.The blurb gives a good idea of the action but fails to mention that this is really a story centered around family dynamics. 14 year-old Lily has run away from home for Reasons; Barr is searching for Lily for Reasons. Once he finds her he's faced with either bringing her into his Lakewalker family or sending her back 'home'--no easy outcome in either direction!All is resolved nicely by the end, of What a treat! Thank you, Ms Bujold, for revisiting your 'Sharing Knife' world in this lovely novella.The blurb gives a good idea of the action but fails to mention that this is really a story centered around family dynamics. 14 year-old Lily has run away from home for Reasons; Barr is searching for Lily for Reasons. Once he finds her he's faced with either bringing her into his Lakewalker family or sending her back 'home'--no easy outcome in either direction!All is resolved nicely by the end, of course. All of the characters are well-developed, even if they are only on the page for a moment. I loved Barr--fated to be raked over the coals for youthful misdeeds by almost everyone until he gathers the courage to say 'enough, already'. And Lily is so delightful-- a mix of spunky, scared, heart-broken and confused;a girl who finally finds her place in the world.Bujold fans who have not read the earlier Sharing Knife books should have no problem starting here--Bujold has worked in enough back story and world-building to make the story accessible to all. For those of us who have read the previous books, this was a unexpected chance to catch up with old friends. [I want more now, please... ]
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  • Titus Fortner
    January 1, 1970
    Another exceptional novella from one of my favorite authors. The characters are interesting and relatable, and this book focuses much more on their fears and insecurities and responsibilities than on action sequences and is so much better for it.
  • Howard Brazee
    January 1, 1970
    Shorter work in the Sharing Knife universe.If you've read anything else in that universe, you will want to read this. If you've read Bujold at all, I expect you've read everything she has written. She's that good.
  • Kathy Martin
    January 1, 1970
    Patroller Barr Foxbrush stops at what he knows as Lily's farm to discover that it has burned down. Fourteen years earlier, when he was a new patroller, he had an encounter with Lily's mother that resulted in Lily. He didn't know about her until she was about 2 and since has been keeping an eye on her. Odds are that she'll take after her farmer mother, but if she started developing Lakewalker powers, he'd have to do something. Barr tracks down the family and learns that Lily has run off. She's be Patroller Barr Foxbrush stops at what he knows as Lily's farm to discover that it has burned down. Fourteen years earlier, when he was a new patroller, he had an encounter with Lily's mother that resulted in Lily. He didn't know about her until she was about 2 and since has been keeping an eye on her. Odds are that she'll take after her farmer mother, but if she started developing Lakewalker powers, he'd have to do something. Barr tracks down the family and learns that Lily has run off. She's been accused by her younger brother of starting the fire that burned down the farm and, since the younger brother died, she is dealing with the suspicion alone. With her newly emerging groundsense, she can feel that her mother doesn't believe her and might even hate her. She takes off and Barr, still keeping the secret of her parentage from her mother's husband, begins searching for her. Once he finds her, he has to decide what to do with her. His first thought is to take her to Dag and Fawn who might know what to do with a girl who was farmer raised but has Lakewalker powers. However, an encounter with a sessile malice in which Barr is injured makes it necessary to head to the nearest Lakewalker camp to dispatch a crew to take care of it. The nearest camp is Pearl Riffle which is where Barr's family is and where he grew up and where he has the reputation of being something a of screw up and prankster. This means that Barr has to confess his sins and hope that his family will take in both he and Lily. I liked learning more about the lakewalkers and sharing knives. I liked seeing Barr realize that he is growing up and accepting responsibility. I liked his relationship with Lily and Lily's introduction to the lakewalker lifestyle. I liked Lily's resiliency. Bujold's storytelling ability is unmatched and filled with all sorts of thought provoking moments.
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  • Amazonaute
    January 1, 1970
    A nice entrée into the sharing knife universe and bujold’s work.It’s exactly what you’d expect from this writer. Ie a wonderful novella that I know I will be rereading. It was lovely to revisit the sharing knife world. I hope she writes more set in this universe.
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  • Maria
    January 1, 1970
    Though my hopes to know more about Dag and Fawn were dashed, I still enjoyed the story )As usual, Bujold talks about responsibilities towards one’s children - some of her message comes in a rather direct form and some is more metaphorical, but both are very clear.
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  • Pete Mack
    January 1, 1970
    Very few writers can pull off a shaggy dog story and still write an enjoyable book. Bujold does this and much more. This story (and the associated quadrilogy) makes a great subject for literary criticism. The "teacher's guide" questions almost write themselves. It is the product of a master wordcrafter on her A game. Yet it is also a fine story without analysis. The story gives closure to a lose string at the end of "The Sharing Knife", where Barr confesses an illigitimate daughter. "Children of Very few writers can pull off a shaggy dog story and still write an enjoyable book. Bujold does this and much more. This story (and the associated quadrilogy) makes a great subject for literary criticism. The "teacher's guide" questions almost write themselves. It is the product of a master wordcrafter on her A game. Yet it is also a fine story without analysis. The story gives closure to a lose string at the end of "The Sharing Knife", where Barr confesses an illigitimate daughter. "Children of the Knife" opens with Barr returning from a two year sojourn in Luthia and checking up on his daughter, and finds the homestead burned, and his daughter run away in grief and rage. I have rarely enjoyed chasing down Easter eggs in a story as much as I have in this one.Sample "study" questions:What is the "shaggy dog" story? (Story can be read as a long involved buildup to a groaner pun.)How does this story mirror the quadrilogy? (Consider an alternate title, "Mirror Fugue")What Bible parable is this story based on? What are the similar plot points?What replaces the river as the central plot element from book 3? How does this affect the story?List some allusions to the Vorkosigan series.
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  • Karen A. Wyle
    January 1, 1970
    I was thrilled to learn that Bujold had written a new novella in the Sharing Knife series, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.I don't especially recommend this book as an entry point for the series, although Bujold does include a fair amount of background. (That background serves as a reminder for any reader who's returning to the series after long enough to need it.) For fans of the series, this is a very satisfying return to the Wide Green World and the series characters, although we spend our I was thrilled to learn that Bujold had written a new novella in the Sharing Knife series, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.I don't especially recommend this book as an entry point for the series, although Bujold does include a fair amount of background. (That background serves as a reminder for any reader who's returning to the series after long enough to need it.) For fans of the series, this is a very satisfying return to the Wide Green World and the series characters, although we spend our time only with new characters, one familiar one, and one who was only glimpsed. (We do get to hear how some events set in motion in the earlier books have progressed.)It's good to see how much the familiar character, Barr, has grown since our first introduction to him and our last view of him. The book shows some of that growth in progress, or perhaps Barr's growing understanding of it.There's suspense both personal and otherwise, but this is not one of the more plot-heavy books in the series.
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  • Margaret
    January 1, 1970
    Such a lovely read! And Ms. Bujold is quite correct. You do NOT have to have read the four previous Sharing Knife stories first. This one stands on its own but I'm SO happy to return to this setting!Ms. Bujold has retired, which in her case means she only writes what she wants when she wants. Self-publishing is a perfect fit. But she has yet again a gorgeous cover by a top sf artist!While Knife Children definitely stands on its own, at the same time it fits so nicely into the previous Sharing Kn Such a lovely read! And Ms. Bujold is quite correct. You do NOT have to have read the four previous Sharing Knife stories first. This one stands on its own but I'm SO happy to return to this setting!Ms. Bujold has retired, which in her case means she only writes what she wants when she wants. Self-publishing is a perfect fit. But she has yet again a gorgeous cover by a top sf artist!While Knife Children definitely stands on its own, at the same time it fits so nicely into the previous Sharing Knife stories. The part I like best, of course, is seeing how the two different peoples/cultures interact. The Lakewalkers protect the Farmers, even if the Farmers are normally oblivious to the malice danger. Neither side particularly understands the other.And therein lies our tale!Highly recommended and thanks again for one more Sharing Knife story! I hope someday you again return to this world!
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  • Rosemarie Grainer
    January 1, 1970
    Hip, hip hooray! We get t meet Lily!I have been reading and then re-reading the Sharing Knife series since it came out and have always wished for more! Thank you very much, Lois McMaster Bujold, for that. Now, all I have to say is please?! How about Nattie-Mari and/or Remo's kids up in Hickory Lake?This is much shorter than I would have liked, but still a satisfying read. Seeing Barr 12 years later and watching how things go between him and Lily was great. This is a fast paced story with Hip, hip hooray! We get t meet Lily!I have been reading and then re-reading the Sharing Knife series since it came out and have always wished for more! Thank you very much, Lois McMaster Bujold, for that. Now, all I have to say is please?! How about Nattie-Mari and/or Remo's kids up in Hickory Lake?This is much shorter than I would have liked, but still a satisfying read. Seeing Barr 12 years later and watching how things go between him and Lily was great. This is a fast paced story with a hopeful tone, a character oriented storyline with a little action. You really want to read the first 4 books before this one to understand all the nuances in this novella. This series is one that I re-read at least 2 times a year. I am excited to add this one to it. I think I will read this one again right now, just to make sure I got it all! Enjoy!
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  • Heather
    January 1, 1970
    This story plays as a good family drama. Also as piece on growing up and growing into our potential. The main character is Barr. We have some satisfying interactions between him and his daughter Lily. As well as some good self reflection on his past. There are tense moments and a bit of action but mostly this is just an enjoyable read.The characters from the other Sharing Knife books are mentioned but we don’t met them. We do hear about how their influence from the previous books has spread; in This story plays as a good family drama. Also as piece on growing up and growing into our potential. The main character is Barr. We have some satisfying interactions between him and his daughter Lily. As well as some good self reflection on his past. There are tense moments and a bit of action but mostly this is just an enjoyable read.The characters from the other Sharing Knife books are mentioned but we don’t met them. We do hear about how their influence from the previous books has spread; in relation to medicine making and farmer/lakewalker relations.
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  • Chuck Gatlin
    January 1, 1970
    Excellent codicil to THE.SHARING KNIFESince Lois McMaster Bujold has been writing novellas over the last few years, there hasn't been one that wasn't a good read. However, with KNIFE CHILDREN the author has continued the story of one of the original characters from THE SHARING KNIFE with a tale that stands on its own while further developing that world a decade later.
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  • Em
    January 1, 1970
    Novella sequel to Sharing Knife quartet that focuses on Barr and his daughter. If you liked the Sharing Knife series you will like this one. I definitely process Bujold’s writing differently as I have gotten older, and appreciate different books now than I did when I first started reading her books 15 years ago.
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  • Louise Ludwick
    January 1, 1970
    I adore Lois Bujold's writing! I have to linger over her novel metaphors, imaginative phrases, and choice wording. It takes me twice as long to read her books and novellas because I have to reread so many sentences, just to savour those words and phrases in my mind. Actually, I'm whispering them under my breath!
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  • Laura
    January 1, 1970
    That was marvelous. I really enjoyed that. I adore the worldbuilding in this setting, and learning both more about characters I'd met before, and new ones I hadn't, was lovely. I hope Lois Bujold writes more stories like this set in that world, much like the Penric books are in the Five Gods series.
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  • Jennifer
    January 1, 1970
    I sat down and devoured this sliver from the Sharing Knives world. I wish I didn't read so fast. Fingers crossed there are more. I've just started re-reading the series, this story took me back so much.
  • Jane
    January 1, 1970
    Loved it! But Lily's turning out to be a Lakewalker is telegraphed by the existence of the novella. I particularly enjoyed Barr's teaching Lily as much as he crammed in in 3 days, before they found the sessile, & how everyone at his home camp razzed him about what a blight he had been at 18.
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  • Nicole Luiken
    January 1, 1970
    Lovely to return to the world of the Sharing Knife. It was interesting to see a twelve years older Barr and I liked the relationship building between himself and his daughter. A character -oriented story done well!
  • Jeri
    January 1, 1970
    4.5
  • Michele
    January 1, 1970
    Really thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to the 'Sharing Knife' quartet. Nice to see young Barr is no longer quite so young and definitely no longer so foolish this many years later!
  • ms bookjunkie
    January 1, 1970
    *happy sigh* This is the story I'd been unconsciously hoping for all these years. What happens with Lily. Barr actually grown up. Love!
  • vorthys
    January 1, 1970
    Not a good entry point into the Sharing Knife world, but if you have missed this world as I have, this is a touching reminder of what made it great.
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