Scan barcode
A review by kzimm2024
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
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.