Bujold's characters usually start off relatively well-adjusted, have a bad spot, and end up a little better off, and understanding more about themselves.

Well, except for Mark. Who starts off fucked up, gets some better, gets really really fucked up, and then starts to get better. But he's still basically fucked up. He's just about the only one I can think of who is coded as a protagonist and just generally fucked up all the way through.

I wonder if that means you'd like Mark or hate him?