I wasn't sure how I felt when I realized Bujold was dropping nearly all the established characters from the first book and focusing on what seemed like a dying mentor type character, but she turned Ista from a pitiable, self loathing, fear laden spinster, into a vibrant and beautiful leader and heroine. I loved it. The story crafting doesn't feel contrived to me, it's real. There aren't really any "super baddies" trying to rule the world, and "only she" possesses the power to stop them, the problems are more personal, local, and hence, real. the characters are like real people, doubts, fears, passions and skills. And they do their best or worst for what they believe in or desire. I'm looking forward to the last book.