I seem to be on a re-read kick recently, and The Curse of Chalion floated to the top of the list. Lois McMaster Bujold's take on fantasy creates a world in which the gods themselves might not be able to act except through a saint, someone who voluntarily gives their body over to a god/goddess in order to actually act on the world.
The setup through the character of Cazaril is great, where we start the story in the middle and only near the end of the book do we realize that his path down this sainthood was setup ages ago. There's a section where he negotiates (on behalf of his princess) for a political marriage. The groom's father, known as a wily negotiator, tries to bribe him with all sorts of personal property and real estate. Cazaril's reply: "I've got a tumor and I expect to die soon. What you're offering is for someone who's going to live for a long time." It's a poignant moment and Bujold follows it through to the logical implications.
The writing is transparent, the plot sound, and the many clues and reveals each worthy of the reader's time. It's thoroughly enjoyable and well worth (re)reading.
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