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mrbear's review against another edition
3.0
This was ultimately "very okay." It ended up being strangely religious, ridden with cliches, and featured an ending that was extremely obvious about halfway through the book. None of the characters felt believable, but were instead all extremely black and white, with the main character literally glowing like a blazing city for some of the book. I would never recommend it, even though it wasn't particularly badly written, and depending what the reader is looking for it may press the right buttons.
maria_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
kzimm2024's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing story- I loved the wry introspection of Caz. The world building is phenomenal (same as the Penric series) and once I figured out the titles and names for the characters, I was hooked. This is Fantasy, Action- Adventure and Thriller/Suspense with a side of Humor & Horror rolled into a slight Romance. What genre? I have no clue. Its just REALLY good.
Lois has "Master" in her name for a reason. This story is like eating an exceptionally fine and satisfying meal for hours and hours (since this book is long). So I needed to put it down, dwell on it and then come back, savoring it. It is a standalone story with Caz and his amazing adventures, worldly and otherworldly.
We come in on Caz as he is 35 and broken. Broken from slavery, war and mental anguish. He is travelling back to his last "happy" place, hoping to beg for a quiet corner to just exist peacefully in servitude, when he comes across a scene of death magic. From there, an extraordinary turn of events happen one after the other from there, taking him from the lowest of low's to the highest a man can hope for.
When he arrives:
The page answered disgustedly, “A madman, I suppose.”
After a short pause, the maid’s voice floated back faintly, “Well, he’ll fit right in here, then, won’t he…”
I loved the "old lady" Provincara, what a kick. The dialogue is sharp, witty and heart rending all at once.
“What do you think, my lord Castillar?” Cazaril swallowed.
“I think…I think if you lent me a razor now, for me to cut my throat with, it would save ever so many steps. Please Your Grace.”
The Provincara snorted. “Good, Cazaril, good. I do so like a man who doesn’t underestimate his situation.”
AND
“You are not a stranger here, Cazaril. And I am in the most desperate need of a man I can trust.” His heart melted. Or maybe it was his wits. He bowed his head.
“Then I am yours.”
“Iselle’s.”
Cazaril, his elbows on his knees, glanced up and across at her, at the thoughtfully frowning dy Ferrej, and back at the old woman’s intent face. “I…see.”
Caz is then put to work guarding the Roya (princess) as her Tutor and then her Secretary. Iselle is a wonderful character along with Beatriz, they are up to no good these 2.
“I really did think Betriz would be a good influence,” dy Ferrej added. “It seems to have worked the other way around.”
“Are you accusing my granddaughter of corrupting your daughter?” the Provincara inquired wryly. “Say, inspiring, rather,” dy Ferrej said, with a glum shrug. “Terrifying, that. I wonder…I wonder if we should part them?”
“There would follow much howling.”
They start to build a relationship with Caz as a trusted family unit as they are summoned to Court and all its temptations and schemes.
At Court: “What, everyone knows of Royesse Iselle’s clever secretary, the man who keeps his own counsel—and hers—the Bastion of Gotorget—utterly indifferent to wealth—”
“No, I’m not,” Cazaril assured him earnestly. “I just dress badly. I quite like wealth.”
and THIS from Iselle- so totally on point for women everywhere:
“I do not like this half portion, Cazaril. The world demands I make good choices on no information, and then blames my maidenhood for my mistakes, as if my maidenhood were responsible for my ignorance. Ignorance is not stupidity, but it might as well be. And I do not like feeling stupid.”
Caz navigates them as best he can until the unthinkable happens, Iselle is forced to wed a despicable man in 3 days. A whole chain of events trigger and I couldn't help but read faster and faster to see how this was all going to work out!
Caz and Beatriz have my heart:
“You’re doing it again. Twisting the topic.”
“What are you planning to wear tomorrow? Shall it be pretty? You’re not allowed to outshine the bride, you know.”
She glared at him.
AND when he thought he was being replaced, his despairing thoughts:
"Worse—to be culled from Iselle’s service was to be exiled from Betriz’s daily presence. No one would light his reading candles at dusk, or make him wear warm unfashionable hats, or notice if he fell ill and bring him frightening physicians, or pray for his safety when he was far from home…."
Such love :)
Fantastic. I LOVE this story.
Lois has "Master" in her name for a reason. This story is like eating an exceptionally fine and satisfying meal for hours and hours (since this book is long). So I needed to put it down, dwell on it and then come back, savoring it. It is a standalone story with Caz and his amazing adventures, worldly and otherworldly.
We come in on Caz as he is 35 and broken. Broken from slavery, war and mental anguish. He is travelling back to his last "happy" place, hoping to beg for a quiet corner to just exist peacefully in servitude, when he comes across a scene of death magic. From there, an extraordinary turn of events happen one after the other from there, taking him from the lowest of low's to the highest a man can hope for.
When he arrives:
The page answered disgustedly, “A madman, I suppose.”
After a short pause, the maid’s voice floated back faintly, “Well, he’ll fit right in here, then, won’t he…”
I loved the "old lady" Provincara, what a kick. The dialogue is sharp, witty and heart rending all at once.
“What do you think, my lord Castillar?” Cazaril swallowed.
“I think…I think if you lent me a razor now, for me to cut my throat with, it would save ever so many steps. Please Your Grace.”
The Provincara snorted. “Good, Cazaril, good. I do so like a man who doesn’t underestimate his situation.”
AND
“You are not a stranger here, Cazaril. And I am in the most desperate need of a man I can trust.” His heart melted. Or maybe it was his wits. He bowed his head.
“Then I am yours.”
“Iselle’s.”
Cazaril, his elbows on his knees, glanced up and across at her, at the thoughtfully frowning dy Ferrej, and back at the old woman’s intent face. “I…see.”
Caz is then put to work guarding the Roya (princess) as her Tutor and then her Secretary. Iselle is a wonderful character along with Beatriz, they are up to no good these 2.
“I really did think Betriz would be a good influence,” dy Ferrej added. “It seems to have worked the other way around.”
“Are you accusing my granddaughter of corrupting your daughter?” the Provincara inquired wryly. “Say, inspiring, rather,” dy Ferrej said, with a glum shrug. “Terrifying, that. I wonder…I wonder if we should part them?”
“There would follow much howling.”
They start to build a relationship with Caz as a trusted family unit as they are summoned to Court and all its temptations and schemes.
At Court: “What, everyone knows of Royesse Iselle’s clever secretary, the man who keeps his own counsel—and hers—the Bastion of Gotorget—utterly indifferent to wealth—”
“No, I’m not,” Cazaril assured him earnestly. “I just dress badly. I quite like wealth.”
and THIS from Iselle- so totally on point for women everywhere:
“I do not like this half portion, Cazaril. The world demands I make good choices on no information, and then blames my maidenhood for my mistakes, as if my maidenhood were responsible for my ignorance. Ignorance is not stupidity, but it might as well be. And I do not like feeling stupid.”
Caz navigates them as best he can until the unthinkable happens, Iselle is forced to wed a despicable man in 3 days. A whole chain of events trigger and I couldn't help but read faster and faster to see how this was all going to work out!
Caz and Beatriz have my heart:
“You’re doing it again. Twisting the topic.”
“What are you planning to wear tomorrow? Shall it be pretty? You’re not allowed to outshine the bride, you know.”
She glared at him.
AND when he thought he was being replaced, his despairing thoughts:
"Worse—to be culled from Iselle’s service was to be exiled from Betriz’s daily presence. No one would light his reading candles at dusk, or make him wear warm unfashionable hats, or notice if he fell ill and bring him frightening physicians, or pray for his safety when he was far from home…."
Such love :)
Fantastic. I LOVE this story.
bonreads40's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the best epic fantasy pieces I have read in a while.
cpjeanz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tarawe's review against another edition
3.0
I think I enjoyed this book. I think my review and enjoyment suffered from listening to this as an audiobook rather than reading it. I felt my mind wandering a lot while listening but the parts I retained I enjoyed. I think I will try to find a physical copy of this book and give it a reread.
xkrow's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent fantasy book that is an equal parts foray into politics, religion, character work, romance, and well, crows. (As you may gather from my username, I really enjoyed this last part.)
The books begin as it unfolds - slowly, but with a secret hidden underneath. Who is this man on the road? What has brought him here? And what will he do with the diary of Death Magic he has just discovered? You slowly find out his identity and follow his new line of work. This beginning has been called slow, and I agree, but that isn't quite a bad thing. It was really nice to get accustomed to these characters in a normal setting, with the driving force being Caz's backstory, before throwing them into all that follows.
And thrown we are. Bujold spins a masterful tale here, pulling in from all the small elements she had set up earlier to begin crafting a wicked plot. I have to admit, I accidently spoiled myself on two elements of this book by looking somewhere I shouldn't have, but I was surprised to see them play out immediately in the my next reading session, one after the other. Despite knowing they were going to happen, I had not suspected this, assuming they would be saved from the ultimate climax. But no, the rug is pulled from under you at the 40% mark and you're suddenly thrust into an entirely different dimension of this world that is just as fascinating. It is a joy to follow Caz and Iselle and the others as they attempt to maneuver themselves out of this trouble and the twists simply don't stop until the penultimate chapters. I held my breath (metaphorically) through so many parts and the sigh of ultimate relief that left me at the end was breath-taking (heh).
On a more technical note, Bujold's prose is also fantastic. I was immediately sucked into the first chapter by her lush descriptions and they continued throughout. It is densely packed but not tough to read, striking a great balance. Each character feels like someone different. The world sings through her words.
Chapter 22 is absolutely my favorite part of the book, no doubt about it. Its such a wonderful mix of reveals, political scheming, character interaction, and a hint of fairy-tale that creates an extremely entertaining and charming package that left me grinning ear to ear.
The books begin as it unfolds - slowly, but with a secret hidden underneath. Who is this man on the road? What has brought him here? And what will he do with the diary of Death Magic he has just discovered? You slowly find out his identity and follow his new line of work. This beginning has been called slow, and I agree, but that isn't quite a bad thing. It was really nice to get accustomed to these characters in a normal setting, with the driving force being Caz's backstory, before throwing them into all that follows.
And thrown we are. Bujold spins a masterful tale here, pulling in from all the small elements she had set up earlier to begin crafting a wicked plot. I have to admit, I accidently spoiled myself on two elements of this book by looking somewhere I shouldn't have, but I was surprised to see them play out immediately in the my next reading session, one after the other. Despite knowing they were going to happen, I had not suspected this, assuming they would be saved from the ultimate climax. But no, the rug is pulled from under you at the 40% mark and you're suddenly thrust into an entirely different dimension of this world that is just as fascinating. It is a joy to follow Caz and Iselle and the others as they attempt to maneuver themselves out of this trouble and the twists simply don't stop until the penultimate chapters. I held my breath (metaphorically) through so many parts and the sigh of ultimate relief that left me at the end was breath-taking (heh).
On a more technical note, Bujold's prose is also fantastic. I was immediately sucked into the first chapter by her lush descriptions and they continued throughout. It is densely packed but not tough to read, striking a great balance. Each character feels like someone different. The world sings through her words.
Chapter 22 is absolutely my favorite part of the book, no doubt about it. Its such a wonderful mix of reveals, political scheming, character interaction, and a hint of fairy-tale that creates an extremely entertaining and charming package that left me grinning ear to ear.
jnb_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
kvedja's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.5
birdieblues's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5