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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cazaril, 35 years old, is bereft of all that he once had save the raggedy clothes he wears. Half his life has been in the military, though that ended when he was sold into slavery through betrayal. Having now escaped, he trudges towards where he spent time as a page for the provincial ruler. Though broken in body and spirit, he struggles on. Better days are soon to come for him. To his bewilderment, he finds himself having become a tutor to two teenage girls, a princess and her handmaiden. He becomes ever more involved in the battlefield that is courtly life.
This is a very character focused book, both in terms of introspection and what matters. The vast majority of that involves daily life at the palace and the court intrigue that entails. There's the occasional fight and some adventure, though it all results from the moves that players have made against each other. That means it's much more talking than anything else. Threats, demands, manipulation, bribes, accusations, and gossip abound. When those fail there's blackmail, beatings, and assassination to fall back upon. There's also some romance, a considerable amount of flirting, and a few unwanted advances. Despite the dark moments, it tends more towards being uplifting and triumphal by the end. I found this to be very refreshing and invigorating. I wouldn't call it a feel-good fantasy, but it's certainly closer to that than what I mostly read.
The Curse of Chalion has some historical inspiration and basis from the ending years of the Reconquista in the 15th century. One of the main differences is that their religion has five gods, who meddle in human affairs when possible. There are many religious customs and rituals to appease them. Various sorts of miracles are possible by the saints though they are mostly for the benefit of the god's agenda rather than anything else. However, death magic can potentially be used by anyone. If it's successful it takes both the life of the user and the target. There are theological conversations that discuss the particulars and implications of their religion. Aside from this there aren't really any other fantastical elements. It's the sort of book that could be called something like secondary world historical fantasy.
I ended up enjoying this more than anything else I've read this year and it's among the most I've enjoyed any fantasy novel. There's almost nothing with which I take any issue. It may not be exactly what I want, but it's close enough. One a different note, it's truly astounding and frustrating how different books can be from the same author. It'd a lot easier to be able to dismiss an author without any concerns if it could be assumed that all they write would be received in a similar way. If the rest in this setting are anywhere as pleasing as this was, then it'll definitely be among my favorite series.
This is a very character focused book, both in terms of introspection and what matters. The vast majority of that involves daily life at the palace and the court intrigue that entails. There's the occasional fight and some adventure, though it all results from the moves that players have made against each other. That means it's much more talking than anything else. Threats, demands, manipulation, bribes, accusations, and gossip abound. When those fail there's blackmail, beatings, and assassination to fall back upon. There's also some romance, a considerable amount of flirting, and a few unwanted advances. Despite the dark moments, it tends more towards being uplifting and triumphal by the end. I found this to be very refreshing and invigorating. I wouldn't call it a feel-good fantasy, but it's certainly closer to that than what I mostly read.
The Curse of Chalion has some historical inspiration and basis from the ending years of the Reconquista in the 15th century. One of the main differences is that their religion has five gods, who meddle in human affairs when possible. There are many religious customs and rituals to appease them. Various sorts of miracles are possible by the saints though they are mostly for the benefit of the god's agenda rather than anything else. However, death magic can potentially be used by anyone. If it's successful it takes both the life of the user and the target. There are theological conversations that discuss the particulars and implications of their religion. Aside from this there aren't really any other fantastical elements. It's the sort of book that could be called something like secondary world historical fantasy.
I ended up enjoying this more than anything else I've read this year and it's among the most I've enjoyed any fantasy novel. There's almost nothing with which I take any issue. It may not be exactly what I want, but it's close enough. One a different note, it's truly astounding and frustrating how different books can be from the same author. It'd a lot easier to be able to dismiss an author without any concerns if it could be assumed that all they write would be received in a similar way. If the rest in this setting are anywhere as pleasing as this was, then it'll definitely be among my favorite series.
Oh, wow, I really loved this book! It is remarkably well-written. The story and the characters are all very well fleshed out, and it flows so well. Simply put, it's excellent fiction. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next in this series. Highly recommended!
I must say... I thought this book was slightly amazing. I found myself having these horrible stomach cramps and feeling so completely exhausted I wasn't sure how I was still upright - oh no wait, that was Caz. I was feeling quite well sitting in my reading chair. Well, I WAS completely disgusted with myself for (what was going on) in my gut - no wait, Caz again. Ha, seriously... I lived Caz's life, I'm sure of it. Bujold is an amazing author that genuinely made me feel like I was experiencing this novel first hand. Awesome. After my lunch break everyday, I felt the need to declare to the closest coworker "This is SO... SO... interesting!" Very original. Mad props, Bujold.
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
The kind of book where the whole thing should be commonplaced, memorized, and made a part of your moral code. Which we did. Family rule #9: Seehausens Don't Have Pity Parties, with accompanying quote:
"Any man can be kind when he is comfortable. I’d always thought kindness a trivial virtue, therefore. But when we were hungry, thirsty, sick, frightened, with our deaths shouting at us, in the heart of horror, you were still as unfailingly courteous as a gentleman at ease before his own hearth. Events may be horrible or inescapable. Men have always a choice - if not whether, then how, they endure."
Thank you, Lois McMaster Bujold.
"Any man can be kind when he is comfortable. I’d always thought kindness a trivial virtue, therefore. But when we were hungry, thirsty, sick, frightened, with our deaths shouting at us, in the heart of horror, you were still as unfailingly courteous as a gentleman at ease before his own hearth. Events may be horrible or inescapable. Men have always a choice - if not whether, then how, they endure."
Thank you, Lois McMaster Bujold.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I liked the world building but I'll admit I would have liked some kind of glossary to keep track of all the royal titles and how everything connected/what the line of succession was. I will admit that the beginning felt a little slow to me, but that could also be because I started this right before the stupid Crowdstrike outage lit everything on fire, so I wasn't as able to focus on reading.
Overall, Cazaril was decent and while some of the things he talked about having been through were sad, I liked that he didn't necessarily hold onto anger/need for revenge. Granted part of that was that it almost seemed like he was kind of playing a long con to get it, but at the same time, he made sure to caution others before jumping in. His idea on getting to Bergon for the marriage was actually inspired, even if he mostly came up to it because he didn't fully understand the implications. The revelations on Cazaril's deaths were a little surprising. But the first one was a great loophole, for lack of a better term, and at least it meant he didn't have to get waterboarded for the most part...
Overall, Cazaril was decent and while some of the things he talked about having been through were sad, I liked that he didn't necessarily hold onto anger/need for revenge. Granted part of that was that it almost seemed like he was kind of playing a long con to get it, but at the same time, he made sure to caution others before jumping in. His idea on getting to Bergon for the marriage was actually inspired, even if he mostly came up to it because he didn't fully understand the implications. The revelations on Cazaril's deaths were a little surprising. But the first one was a great loophole, for lack of a better term, and at least it meant he didn't have to get waterboarded for the most part...
I've had several people tell me to check out Bujold and I'm glad I did. This story resonated with me as it was a man in his mid-late 30s, who had been through the wringer and was just looking for a quiet place to live out the rest of his life in the realm of Chalion. Instead, he is dragged into a web of intrigue, revolving around the royal family's curse that he must try and help break. He rediscovers abilities and talents that he thought gone and through both luck, faith, and ability is able to break the curse. The plot had a few twists, the world/theological creation was good, and character development decent. The ending was somewhat bittersweet and hence much more believable. This was a good one to start with and I will probably read more Bujold along the way. Solid 4 stars. Pick it up off the shelf if you are interested in medieval fantasy.