Scan barcode
nekoshka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Misogyny, Animal death, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: War, Sexual assault, and Rape
sapphicsoilscientist's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's a little predictable, but in the way that good writing leads to clear plotting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Slavery and Violence
Minor: Rape, Vomit, Torture, and Body horror
the rape is implied as something that happens on enemy ships and once in a castle keep but it does not happen 'on screen.' There is mention of some infidelity, but it turns out that everyone involved was apparently on the same page about it? The slavery is not like the trans-atlantic trade. tl;dr- fantasy writers will never not use fantasy men threatening rape as a way to get fantasy ladies to do what they want.astroprojection's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: Rape
bookycnidaria's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Violence, War, Murder, Slavery, and Mental illness
Minor: Rape, Homophobia, and Sexism
albernikolauras's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Curse of Chalion follows a man old beyond his years after wars and becoming enslaved on a galley and escaping to return to his former home. Caz finds himself wrapped in the politics of Chalion as the tutor-secretary to the princess.
This is the longest book I've read by Lois McMaster Bujold and possibly the most character-focused despite the constant plot twists that occurs. Caz is a character who has been through a lot, and is simultaneously the most rigid and stubborn character in this book by leagues (and there was sometimes a light sense of humor twisted around that part). Sometimes the book moved a little slower than I was expecting, but it carried Lois McMaster Bujold's humor. It was also fun visiting the same world Penric is in during a completely different time and see the Five Gods twine themselves around a very different human than Penric.
With regard to the romance -Not exactly the most thrilled with who Caz ends up romantically being interested in, but if I forget the 10 year age difference, it is alright.
This is the longest book I've read by Lois McMaster Bujold and possibly the most character-focused despite the constant plot twists that occurs. Caz is a character who has been through a lot, and is simultaneously the most rigid and stubborn character in this book by leagues (and there was sometimes a light sense of humor twisted around that part). Sometimes the book moved a little slower than I was expecting, but it carried Lois McMaster Bujold's humor. It was also fun visiting the same world Penric is in during a completely different time and see the Five Gods twine themselves around a very different human than Penric.
With regard to the romance -
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Animal death, Homophobia, Medical content, Misogyny, and Violence
Minor: Murder, War, Rape, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Infertility
gothnailcare's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I read this directly after The Hallowed Hunt and I wish I hadn't; it made me dislike both of the books more for feeling like they were variations on the same formula. I generally enjoy drawn-out political intrigue, but I felt like this book's magic/speculative elements diminished rather than augmented the courtly drama, and I found myself a bit disappointed that much of the negotiation that was apparently so central to this book's political machinations took place entirely off screen. I continue to be more impressed by the World of the Five Gods' worldbuilding than I am the moment-to-moment scenes of these books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse
crownoflaurel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Slavery, and Misogyny
Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexism
natcat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love Bujold’s writing, I think she writes great people, and has a really keen eye for asking what drives people, and what makes us people, and what makes people strive to be the best they can, and ruminations on faith (in people, in causes, in gods). Her characters are vivid, and her characters here are no different; I love Cazaril as both character and perspective, and I love everyone else too. Her worldbuilding is also fantastic, and the weaving of the setting and the politics and particularly the theology of this book is so good. This is a fantasy book but the magic is reserved for the gods and is very subtle, and mostly this book is about politics and people and faith, and it is excellent.
I started rereading this book on a whim just for a couple of scenes, and ended up staying up too late and reading the whole book!
I started rereading this book on a whim just for a couple of scenes, and ended up staying up too late and reading the whole book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Slavery
e_flah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The Curse of Chalion is a slow-paced, character-driven fantasy novel with all of the benefits and draw-backs that come with this type of story. It took over 100 pages for me to start to feel invested in the story and even longer than that for the plot to get truly interesting. The story centers on Cazaril's journey to recover from the horrors of his past and protect his charge, the Royesse Iselle, as she heads to court for the first time.
A lot of the plot hinges upon the politics both within Chalion and the larger external conflicts it is mired in. It could be very confusing to keep track of the key players as there are many with similar names and little detail is given of the other countries besides just general stereotypes. The internal politics were a bit clearer though I still found myself wishing for some kind of a character guide to keep track of the various factions and important positions.
The main characters in The Curse of Chalion were easy to root for but stayed relatively stagnant throughout the book. Cazaril, Iselle, and Betriz were all fundamentally decent though lacking in any real flaws that would have made them more interesting to read about. I kept hoping for some major character development that never materialized. Of the three, Caz is the most changed by his experiences but his character growth seems to make him an even more perfect character, which quickly grew boring.
Despite all of these complaints, there were times when I found myself really swept up in this story of people trying to do good despite facing misfortune on all sides. The portrayal of religion in Chalion was interesting and unlike anything else I'd read. It was also great to read a fantasy novel where the romance plays a very minor role in the story. I'm definitely open to trying the next book in the series as I found Ista's character compelling.
A lot of the plot hinges upon the politics both within Chalion and the larger external conflicts it is mired in. It could be very confusing to keep track of the key players as there are many with similar names and little detail is given of the other countries besides just general stereotypes. The internal politics were a bit clearer though I still found myself wishing for some kind of a character guide to keep track of the various factions and important positions.
The main characters in The Curse of Chalion were easy to root for but stayed relatively stagnant throughout the book. Cazaril, Iselle, and Betriz were all fundamentally decent though lacking in any real flaws that would have made them more interesting to read about. I kept hoping for some major character development that never materialized. Of the three, Caz is the most changed by his experiences but his character growth seems to make him an even more perfect character, which quickly grew boring.
Despite all of these complaints, there were times when I found myself really swept up in this story of people trying to do good despite facing misfortune on all sides. The portrayal of religion in Chalion was interesting and unlike anything else I'd read. It was also great to read a fantasy novel where the romance plays a very minor role in the story. I'm definitely open to trying the next book in the series as I found Ista's character compelling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Animal death, and Slavery
Minor: Infertility and Suicidal thoughts