Sheepfarmer's Daughter (The Deed of Paksenarrion)

the long version

Sheepfarmer’s Daughter by Elizabeth Moon follows Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter, a young woman who escapes an arranged marriage by enlisting in a mercenary company. As she learns the discipline, hardship, and camaraderie of military life, Paks discovers her strength, courage, and a sense of purpose far beyond what she imagined on her family’s farm. Blending gritty realism with classic high-fantasy elements, the novel traces her journey from naive recruit to seasoned soldier, offering a grounded and immersive portrait of life in a medieval-style army.