This is the first volume of The Sharing Knife.

Fawn Bluefield seeks a life beyond the family farm. On the way to the city she meets a patrol of Lakewalkers, the feared necromancer, soldier-sorcerers from the northern woods who are armed with mysterious knives made of human bone; they fight a secret war against the "malices". They are immortal entities that enslave their victims by drawing the life from them. Lakewalker Dag comes to Fawn's aid when she is captured by a malice. They win but at a terrible cost and their fates are bound together as they embark on a new journey into danger, prejudice, partnership and love.

Bujold is a proven writer with multiple Hugos and this epic adds to her credit with characters the reader cares about and plotting and action that carry you along in thrall. I can't wait to immerse myself in volume two. ~~ Pam Allan