Paladin of Souls (2003)

Widowed Ista leaves a stifling household on pilgrimage and finds herself entangled with demons, a border fortress and the gods she has reason to distrust. Bujold treats spiritual danger through a woman's hard-won judgement, with affection and earthy humour around it. A gentler choice here in tone, though possession and coercion remain serious. Read The Curse of Chalion first for Ista's history; this novel gives her a different centre of attention.