Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Eos (New York, 2001). 1st edition, 1st printing. 448 pages. $25.00.
Description
Lord Cazaril has been, in turn, courtier, castle-warder, and captain; now he is but a crippled ex-galley slave seeking nothing more than a menial job in the kitchens of the Dowager Provincara, the noble patroness of his youth. But Cazaril finds himself promoted to the exalted and dangerous position of tutor to Iselle, the beautiful, fiery sister of the heir to Chalion's throne. Amidst the decaying splendor and poisonous intrigue of Chalion's ancient capital, Cazaril is forced to confront not only powerful enemies but also the malignant curse that clings to the royal household, trapping him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation, and death for as long as he dares walk the five-fold pathway of the gods.
Media reviews
Ultimately, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It drags very slightly in the middle, but that’s almost unnoticeable -- and the only flaw I can pick out in this book. If you’re a fantasy fan, pick this one up. If you’re a Vorkosigan fan but have been reluctant to try a Bujold
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that’s not a Vorkosigan book, don’t be. Take the plunge and pick this one up. You won’t regret it. Bujold’s hit another home run. Show Less
I really enjoy the way religion is portrayed in this book; I like the way its effect on the details of daily life have been thought through, including what being a saint might actually be like, and I also find the religion itself quite appealing. The problem, if you consider it a problem, is that
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theology ends up tying the plot into a very neat circle—too neat from some people, and I confess it bothered me somewhat as well, though I can see how it follows from the world's internal logic. If you're the kind of person that this sort of thing really bothers, don't read Chalion. Otherwise, I strongly recommend it. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member Lymsleia
Note: "The Curse of Chalion" is the first of three books set in the same world, an award-winning sequel and a prequel, but I've read none of the others. So, Chalion can be read as a standalone; it's that self-contained.
* "Five Gods, it really is you. My lord dy Cazaril. I bid you welcome to my
Cazaril, protagonist and sole (3rd person) narrator of the book, has nowhere to go when he returns to the royacy of Chalion. Once a page, a courtier, a captain, castle warder and courier, the intrigues of a fellow noble gave him yet another role to play: For the past one and a half years, he has been a galley slave on an enemy country's ship and escaped only when he was washed ashore at the kingdom's coast.
He turns to the Provincara, in whose household he once worked as a page, for help, wanting nothing but a place to stay, nothing but a chance to live, out of sight and forgotten by the rest of the world, but the lady has other plans.
She wants him to take up yet another post, to be the tutor of her granddaughter, the princess Iselle (and to the princess's maid, Betriz), which should be an easy enough job for a man who can't get his broken body to do much else, but while Cazaril is grateful that she doesn't send him away, he also fears his new assignment: Being that close to the princess means that he will one day have to return to the royal court at Cardegoss, the very place where certain scheming nobles would be very interested in hearing that he is still alive...
* "What's the matter with him?" - "A madman, I suppose." - "Well, he'll fit right in here, then, won't he..."
Caz himself is easily the most memorable character of the book. He has one of the most distinctive narrative voices I've come across in a long time and you wouldn't mistake him for anyone else... it probably says quite a lot when he can, toward the end of the story, cheerfully inform us that the lady's nose is much more astonishing than a pebble and have it make perfect sense. I reread bits of the first two or three chapters before writing this post and seeing him think, in the state of mind he is in then, hurts, which is the highest praise I can give: He is, as the blurb on the back of the book so aptly puts it, "a man broken in body and spirit" and it's reflected in his narration as well. (There is another dialogue between him and his friend Palli that sums it up very well: "We slaves--" - "Stop that!" - "Stop what?" - "Stop saying that. We slaves. You are a lord of Chalion!") The good news is, we can only go up from there.
Cazaril's character development is excellently done and takes quite a few unexpected detours along the way; he ends up a character who's both likeable and intriguing and I have to give props to the author for writing him in a way that makes sure we feel for him, that makes us love and cry and hurt and celebrate with him - but never, not once, are we supposed to pity him. (Thank you.) Caz has his flaws and he has his strengths, and it's been a while since I've enjoyed a "reluctant hero" type so much. I love him dearly.
This does not mean that you'll easily forget about the other characters: They play their roles well, develop personalities of their own and form a strong ensemble cast to carry the rest of the book: Whether it's Iselle and Betriz, who have their own ideas about where they want the plot to go, Caz' childhood friend Palliar, who greets him most enthusiastically and refuses to keep his nose out of other people's business, especially when the people in question start complaining, the brothers Jironal, two formidable villains with intricate plans and a debt they'd rather not pay, "Mad Lady Ista" who is, of course, not half as mad as people say she is, or Umegat, a servant in charge of the royal menagerie and so much more than he seems to be at first sight (hint: he glows. No, really.). Or any of the other people running around in hat book. Orico, Teidez, dy Ferrej, dy Sanda, Bergon. You'll know all these strange names by heart by the time you've reached the final page 502.
* "Mercy, High Ones, not justice. Please, not justice. We would all be fools to pray for justice."
But. The characters are only one of the reasons why I love this books so much. Another is the writing itself, which is very solid and full of wit. Yet another is the worldbuilding, which is presented with almost no infodumping at all, just by being present and influencing people's lives. The best example, and easily my favourite, is religion. At first glance, Chalion's pantheon is one we've seen a dozen times before in a dozen other Fantasy books. But the closer we look (and trust me, we get a very good look at it in the course of the story), the more fascinating it becomes.
Sure, we start the circle of five Gods with the Daughter, the typical Maiden of Spring and the Mother, the equally typical Lady of Summer. We go on with the Son for Autumn and the Father for Winter and realise we have a happy little family and a complete cycle of seasons - and a God left, because I mentioned five of them. Number five, the Bastard, God of "all things out of season" could easily be their "bad guy," Chalion's equivalent of a devil or trickster god. Granted, he is a bit of a trickster, but he is also very much a member of the family, held in as high a regard as the other four.
Without giving too much away, I can say that I love the way religion influences both the plot and people's lives, from ceremonies on holy days to their view on the world. (One particularly interesting example is the attitude towards homosexuality, but I'm walking right into spoiler territory and will shut up now.)
* "Were you... were you a deserter?"
Religion isn't the only detail that makes sure we always know that we're in Chalion, not in Generic fantasy World Number 274917498. I'll name just one more and leave it to you to discover the rest when if you pick up the book yourself: When Caz, toward the beginning of the story, visits a bathhouse and is happily soaking in the water, the bath boy who brings wood for the fire to keep the water hot asks him if he's a deserter, because he's seen the scars on the man's back and knows that some of the only people who are punished by Chalion's law by flogging are deserters. Cazaril, who got his scars as a galley slave, doesn't have time to explain just that after he has told the boy that no, he's not a deserter, because the boy drops the bucket he was carrying and runs away as fast as he can. Caz remembers too late that the only other people punished like that are rapists... Needless to say, the boy's father and bathhouse owner throws him out faster than he can clear up the misunderstanding.
(What do you mean, "flaws?" Ah yes, of course, if I have to... There are a few instances were either the limited narration presents an obstacle (because we would love to know what happens elsewhere) or where some things fall into place a tad too conveniently. The latter complaint, however, isn't really one, as you will see once you know the whole story...)
Amazon is currently asking seven Euro for the book. To me, it's worth every cent twice over.
* "Five Gods, it really is you. My lord dy Cazaril. I bid you welcome to my
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house."Cazaril, protagonist and sole (3rd person) narrator of the book, has nowhere to go when he returns to the royacy of Chalion. Once a page, a courtier, a captain, castle warder and courier, the intrigues of a fellow noble gave him yet another role to play: For the past one and a half years, he has been a galley slave on an enemy country's ship and escaped only when he was washed ashore at the kingdom's coast.
He turns to the Provincara, in whose household he once worked as a page, for help, wanting nothing but a place to stay, nothing but a chance to live, out of sight and forgotten by the rest of the world, but the lady has other plans.
She wants him to take up yet another post, to be the tutor of her granddaughter, the princess Iselle (and to the princess's maid, Betriz), which should be an easy enough job for a man who can't get his broken body to do much else, but while Cazaril is grateful that she doesn't send him away, he also fears his new assignment: Being that close to the princess means that he will one day have to return to the royal court at Cardegoss, the very place where certain scheming nobles would be very interested in hearing that he is still alive...
* "What's the matter with him?" - "A madman, I suppose." - "Well, he'll fit right in here, then, won't he..."
Caz himself is easily the most memorable character of the book. He has one of the most distinctive narrative voices I've come across in a long time and you wouldn't mistake him for anyone else... it probably says quite a lot when he can, toward the end of the story, cheerfully inform us that the lady's nose is much more astonishing than a pebble and have it make perfect sense. I reread bits of the first two or three chapters before writing this post and seeing him think, in the state of mind he is in then, hurts, which is the highest praise I can give: He is, as the blurb on the back of the book so aptly puts it, "a man broken in body and spirit" and it's reflected in his narration as well. (There is another dialogue between him and his friend Palli that sums it up very well: "We slaves--" - "Stop that!" - "Stop what?" - "Stop saying that. We slaves. You are a lord of Chalion!") The good news is, we can only go up from there.
Cazaril's character development is excellently done and takes quite a few unexpected detours along the way; he ends up a character who's both likeable and intriguing and I have to give props to the author for writing him in a way that makes sure we feel for him, that makes us love and cry and hurt and celebrate with him - but never, not once, are we supposed to pity him. (Thank you.) Caz has his flaws and he has his strengths, and it's been a while since I've enjoyed a "reluctant hero" type so much. I love him dearly.
This does not mean that you'll easily forget about the other characters: They play their roles well, develop personalities of their own and form a strong ensemble cast to carry the rest of the book: Whether it's Iselle and Betriz, who have their own ideas about where they want the plot to go, Caz' childhood friend Palliar, who greets him most enthusiastically and refuses to keep his nose out of other people's business, especially when the people in question start complaining, the brothers Jironal, two formidable villains with intricate plans and a debt they'd rather not pay, "Mad Lady Ista" who is, of course, not half as mad as people say she is, or Umegat, a servant in charge of the royal menagerie and so much more than he seems to be at first sight (hint: he glows. No, really.). Or any of the other people running around in hat book. Orico, Teidez, dy Ferrej, dy Sanda, Bergon. You'll know all these strange names by heart by the time you've reached the final page 502.
* "Mercy, High Ones, not justice. Please, not justice. We would all be fools to pray for justice."
But. The characters are only one of the reasons why I love this books so much. Another is the writing itself, which is very solid and full of wit. Yet another is the worldbuilding, which is presented with almost no infodumping at all, just by being present and influencing people's lives. The best example, and easily my favourite, is religion. At first glance, Chalion's pantheon is one we've seen a dozen times before in a dozen other Fantasy books. But the closer we look (and trust me, we get a very good look at it in the course of the story), the more fascinating it becomes.
Sure, we start the circle of five Gods with the Daughter, the typical Maiden of Spring and the Mother, the equally typical Lady of Summer. We go on with the Son for Autumn and the Father for Winter and realise we have a happy little family and a complete cycle of seasons - and a God left, because I mentioned five of them. Number five, the Bastard, God of "all things out of season" could easily be their "bad guy," Chalion's equivalent of a devil or trickster god. Granted, he is a bit of a trickster, but he is also very much a member of the family, held in as high a regard as the other four.
Without giving too much away, I can say that I love the way religion influences both the plot and people's lives, from ceremonies on holy days to their view on the world. (One particularly interesting example is the attitude towards homosexuality, but I'm walking right into spoiler territory and will shut up now.)
* "Were you... were you a deserter?"
Religion isn't the only detail that makes sure we always know that we're in Chalion, not in Generic fantasy World Number 274917498. I'll name just one more and leave it to you to discover the rest when if you pick up the book yourself: When Caz, toward the beginning of the story, visits a bathhouse and is happily soaking in the water, the bath boy who brings wood for the fire to keep the water hot asks him if he's a deserter, because he's seen the scars on the man's back and knows that some of the only people who are punished by Chalion's law by flogging are deserters. Cazaril, who got his scars as a galley slave, doesn't have time to explain just that after he has told the boy that no, he's not a deserter, because the boy drops the bucket he was carrying and runs away as fast as he can. Caz remembers too late that the only other people punished like that are rapists... Needless to say, the boy's father and bathhouse owner throws him out faster than he can clear up the misunderstanding.
(What do you mean, "flaws?" Ah yes, of course, if I have to... There are a few instances were either the limited narration presents an obstacle (because we would love to know what happens elsewhere) or where some things fall into place a tad too conveniently. The latter complaint, however, isn't really one, as you will see once you know the whole story...)
Amazon is currently asking seven Euro for the book. To me, it's worth every cent twice over.
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LibraryThing member ladycato
There are mere fantasy novels, and then there are works of art. This is both. I had never read Bujold's work before, though I've heard a lot about her. This book has made me a convert to her writing.
The protagonist of the story is Cazaril, a man broken and battered by life's cruelty. A spiteful
The story is deep in political intrigue and also in theology. The land of Cardegoss holds an interesting array of gods who are very involved in the lives of their followers--including Cazaril. The writing is eloquent and the story manages to be gripping, even when nothing seems to be happening. The tension is there. The plot fits together better than any puzzle I have ever owned, and the characters...! I loved Cazaril. Even at the beginning, completely broken and mere steps from death, he carries a quiet nobility. The Royesse Iselle and her lady-in-waiting are vivid, brilliant women who don't let society's gender constraints form them to domesticity. The bad guys are truly bad, and yet utterly believable. This book is everything a good fantasy novel should be, and I hated to see it end. This will be one of my favorite books of the year, no question.
The protagonist of the story is Cazaril, a man broken and battered by life's cruelty. A spiteful
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lord arranged for him to be sold into slavery, and by whim Cazaril survived. He returns to the land of his youth, looking far older than his age and scarred mentally and physically. This is where the book begins. He becomes a secretary and tutor to the beautiful, headstrong sister of the heir to the throne of Cardegoss. Caz's fondness for his young charges grows, but their connections bring about the thing he dreads most of all: a return to the royal court, and a confrontation with the enemies who doomed him to slavery. When dark magic brings about unusual results, Caz finds out the royal family carries a dreadful curse... and his student, the Royesse, is blighted as well.The story is deep in political intrigue and also in theology. The land of Cardegoss holds an interesting array of gods who are very involved in the lives of their followers--including Cazaril. The writing is eloquent and the story manages to be gripping, even when nothing seems to be happening. The tension is there. The plot fits together better than any puzzle I have ever owned, and the characters...! I loved Cazaril. Even at the beginning, completely broken and mere steps from death, he carries a quiet nobility. The Royesse Iselle and her lady-in-waiting are vivid, brilliant women who don't let society's gender constraints form them to domesticity. The bad guys are truly bad, and yet utterly believable. This book is everything a good fantasy novel should be, and I hated to see it end. This will be one of my favorite books of the year, no question.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold is a wonderful old-time fantasy that blends adventure, politics, religion and romance. Following the battered, almost broken ex-soldier, Cazaril as he thinks he has found a place of quiet and safety with his a simple job of secretary-tutor to a couple of
Lois McMaster Bujold has created characters that are fully fleshed out, so although the plot is somewhat familiar, it is these characters that make it come to such vivid life. The reluctant hero, Cazaril is one that I grew very fond of and will long remember. She has also developed a wonderful, medieval world which includes an intricate religion which plays an important part in the story.
The Curse of Chalion has a quiet understated tone yet the reader is continuously drawn deeper and deeper into this world. I totally enjoyed the time I spent immersed in this book.
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high class young girls. But one of the girls, the beautiful, strong willed Iselle isn’t just any girl, she is a member of the House of Chalion and happens to be second in line for the throne behind her impetuous younger brother. When her sickly elder half-brother calls these two young people to take their place at court, Cazaril finds himself standing as protector between Iselle and the unscrupulous Chancellor, Dy Jironal and his evil brother. Worse even than this is the discovery of an dark curse that has been cast upon the House of Chalion. A saviour is needed, could Cazaril be the one to lift this darkness? Lois McMaster Bujold has created characters that are fully fleshed out, so although the plot is somewhat familiar, it is these characters that make it come to such vivid life. The reluctant hero, Cazaril is one that I grew very fond of and will long remember. She has also developed a wonderful, medieval world which includes an intricate religion which plays an important part in the story.
The Curse of Chalion has a quiet understated tone yet the reader is continuously drawn deeper and deeper into this world. I totally enjoyed the time I spent immersed in this book.
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LibraryThing member surreality
Plot: The story takes its time to get going, with the first 150 pages serving essentially as set-up. Once the plot shows up, things move at a fairly fast pace - events in this book are spun out into trilogies by other authors. Fairly straightforward save-the-country-and-girl plot with nice twists,
Characters: The central character is not young, vigurous and eager for once, which is always a pleasant change in fantasy. It's a bit hard to really care for him, but he's likable. Motives aren't quite clear at times in the cases of most characters, an unfortunate side effect of the fast-paced plot. Generally good characterization.
Style: Pleasant to read, with good dialogues and just enough description. In general the storytelling is very dense, which makes scenes quite short on occasion. Interesting worldbuilding, with no dazzling magic and fairly uncomplicated religious beliefs - it feels a lot more practical than the usual fare.
Plus: Worldbuilding. Very readable prose. Good plot that resolves in the end. Women who have brains and know how to use them.
Minus: The central character is a touch too self-conscious, and that he's physically unwell for practically the entire book is something that eventually is hard to care about.
Summary: Excellent feudal fantasy read, low on the real magic but with a good pinch of divine meddling.
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good ties to the past and a satisfying end. The story is contained in itself and essentially a stand-alone.Characters: The central character is not young, vigurous and eager for once, which is always a pleasant change in fantasy. It's a bit hard to really care for him, but he's likable. Motives aren't quite clear at times in the cases of most characters, an unfortunate side effect of the fast-paced plot. Generally good characterization.
Style: Pleasant to read, with good dialogues and just enough description. In general the storytelling is very dense, which makes scenes quite short on occasion. Interesting worldbuilding, with no dazzling magic and fairly uncomplicated religious beliefs - it feels a lot more practical than the usual fare.
Plus: Worldbuilding. Very readable prose. Good plot that resolves in the end. Women who have brains and know how to use them.
Minus: The central character is a touch too self-conscious, and that he's physically unwell for practically the entire book is something that eventually is hard to care about.
Summary: Excellent feudal fantasy read, low on the real magic but with a good pinch of divine meddling.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Superb, entertaining traditional low fantasy of the highest quality.
There's a complex set of hierarchies in feudal kingdoms, and I never really got my head around which level was where, and which were royalty or not. But our hero is 'lord' Caz, returning to his hometown a beaten and changed man
Everything proceeds very much as you might expect it to. There's an evil chamberlain, a beautiful foreign prince etc ad nausem. Except that it isn't nauseous at all. It's really very well written, light and gently humorous with dignity and suffering as appropriate. The precise details of the twists and turns between the predictable main plots are inventive. The characters sparkle, Caz gets some great 1 liners. There are active interventionist gods, and a clever theology to support them. It's a neat idea - 4 main gods, Father/Winter, Daughter/Spring, Mother/Summer, Son/Autumn and then a fifth the Bastard god, of misfits, unexpected events, unseasonal and extreme changes etc. But there's none of the competing schools of 'dark priests' as an enemy that such theologies often inspire. The divines of all the gods are there solely as shepherds.
Something about it reminds me very much of a Victorian style epic – but I think that’s just the classic plot, for the writing is modern, and easy to read. Another bonus point is scored for the careful way in which all the details are tidied up – something far too many authors skate over. My only minor gripe is that the bad guys are a bit stilted and obvious – but then there is the curse driving their actions. There are no deep moral quandaries, and only the briefest thoughts over more philosophical aspects raised – but it is perhaps all the more enjoyable for that.
The only thing this book is missing is dragons. Next time you want a light fantasy read this book. It is that good.
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If you'd like to discuss or comment on this review there is a thread for it in Review Discussions
There's a complex set of hierarchies in feudal kingdoms, and I never really got my head around which level was where, and which were royalty or not. But our hero is 'lord' Caz, returning to his hometown a beaten and changed man
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after a decade or so of hard service in various superior lords' winning and losing armies. All he wants now is a little peace and quiet, his highest hopes to regain a page's place, in his desperate moments a scullions position would be fine. A chance sidetrack raises his hopes and, fortunately for him, and our tale, the former Lady of the house is still in charge. She recognises him and puts him in position as secretary tutor to the King's youngest niece who is residing there. The niece also has her older beautiful friend as chaperone. Caz has just about go t to know them (and begun to instruct them ) when they are all summoned to the capital. Caz knows the easy carefree life he's recently enjoyed is unlikely to continue.Everything proceeds very much as you might expect it to. There's an evil chamberlain, a beautiful foreign prince etc ad nausem. Except that it isn't nauseous at all. It's really very well written, light and gently humorous with dignity and suffering as appropriate. The precise details of the twists and turns between the predictable main plots are inventive. The characters sparkle, Caz gets some great 1 liners. There are active interventionist gods, and a clever theology to support them. It's a neat idea - 4 main gods, Father/Winter, Daughter/Spring, Mother/Summer, Son/Autumn and then a fifth the Bastard god, of misfits, unexpected events, unseasonal and extreme changes etc. But there's none of the competing schools of 'dark priests' as an enemy that such theologies often inspire. The divines of all the gods are there solely as shepherds.
Something about it reminds me very much of a Victorian style epic – but I think that’s just the classic plot, for the writing is modern, and easy to read. Another bonus point is scored for the careful way in which all the details are tidied up – something far too many authors skate over. My only minor gripe is that the bad guys are a bit stilted and obvious – but then there is the curse driving their actions. There are no deep moral quandaries, and only the briefest thoughts over more philosophical aspects raised – but it is perhaps all the more enjoyable for that.
The only thing this book is missing is dragons. Next time you want a light fantasy read this book. It is that good.
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If you'd like to discuss or comment on this review there is a thread for it in Review Discussions
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LibraryThing member humouress
'The Curse of Chalion' concerns a minor noble, Castillar Cazaril, who returns home after being rescued from a slave ship, and hopes to find an insignificant position within a castle where he served as a young page. He ends up (slight spoiler!) at the capital, in the king's palace itself, and has to
You're thrown in at the deep end, at the beginning, as the first chapter or so introduces us to Cazaril and slowly reveals facts about our hero which the main character, naturally, knows all along. And you have to work through a welter of Spanish sounding ranks, such as royas (kings), royinas (queens), royesses (princesses) and so on. It would also help to know that the five gods of their theology have a real presence, and are not just an abstract.
Once I got those sorted out, though, I was captured by the book and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. There was always a sense of danger (political, physical, mental and spiritual) threatening the central characters, and I had to keep reading, to see who survived. Though the hero is a man, there are several strong female leads, as well, and the hero himself is somewhat flawed, being a bit older, at 36, and having suffered the ravages of war (i.e. not tall, dark and handsome). I liked the way all the threads, even seemingly insignificant ones, came together quite tidily, and I felt the theological premise was quite an unusual twist.
I recommend it as a page turner.
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find his way through the maze of political intrigue there.You're thrown in at the deep end, at the beginning, as the first chapter or so introduces us to Cazaril and slowly reveals facts about our hero which the main character, naturally, knows all along. And you have to work through a welter of Spanish sounding ranks, such as royas (kings), royinas (queens), royesses (princesses) and so on. It would also help to know that the five gods of their theology have a real presence, and are not just an abstract.
Once I got those sorted out, though, I was captured by the book and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. There was always a sense of danger (political, physical, mental and spiritual) threatening the central characters, and I had to keep reading, to see who survived. Though the hero is a man, there are several strong female leads, as well, and the hero himself is somewhat flawed, being a bit older, at 36, and having suffered the ravages of war (i.e. not tall, dark and handsome). I liked the way all the threads, even seemingly insignificant ones, came together quite tidily, and I felt the theological premise was quite an unusual twist.
I recommend it as a page turner.
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LibraryThing member justchris
I acquired this last week as part of my book-buying excursion, and then I decided to reread it, since it's a new addition to my library that I had read only once before, last year, as part of my Hugo-winner quest. Lois McMaster Bujold has won four Hugos for best novel, three for books in her Miles
But on to the fantasy series. Once again, while I liked Paladin of Souls okay, I preferred The Curse of Chalion. The protagonist, Lupe dy Cazaril, or Caz, is limping home a broken man. Well, he doesn't really have a home anymore, so he's hoping to find refuge in the home of the patron of his youth. He used to be a lord and knight but most recently was a slave. The widow of his former patron takes him in, sees his potential, and appoints him to tutor her granddaughter, a member of the royal family. Soon enough he is caught up in larger events involving his old enemies, court intrigues, and even the gods. Once again, good characters, interesting ideas, lots of action in the plot, nice dialogue. The things that make this book stand out: the limits of human endurance and discovering that they are much further than dreamed possible, the wisdom and perspective that comes with age and a life rich in experience, growing into leadership and understanding the dynamics of power, the strength of personal integrity to survive hardship and find the right path, the relationship between the divine/spiritual and the material planes and differences in theology and how they connect to cultural differences. The downsides: everyone's white, so no real racial diversity though some cultural diversity; most of the key players including the protagonist are men. The upsides: every woman character is strong and unique, even the ones that appear weak at first; some of the characters are gay--it is in fact a point of cultural/theological difference and a key plot element. And it is a very realistic portrayal of the emotional and physical damages that accumulate in war and servitude. The hero suffers but still succeeds in the end.
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Vorkosigan science fiction stories, one for Paladin of Souls, the follow-up to The Curse of Chalion. Since she had won so many awards for noncontiguous storylines, I decided to just read all of it in order, digesting the Hugo winners along the way. I generally liked the stories and characters, and I certainly appreciated what she was trying to do with the science fiction. She's exploring an extremely patriarchal (sexist!), militaristic (ableist!) society from the perspectives of an extremely capable, strong female outsider (Cordelia, the mother of Miles) and a physically disabled young man (Miles Vorkosigan) while subverting the hero tropes of traditional space operas. She certainly has a way with dialogue, some fascinating ideas that she explores, and a great sense of the comic. But the books that won Hugos were by no means my favorites: Barrayar, The Vor Game, and Mirror Dance. Well, okay, maybe Barrayar. But the dinner scene in A Civil Campaign has to rank as one of the most memorable in my experience.But on to the fantasy series. Once again, while I liked Paladin of Souls okay, I preferred The Curse of Chalion. The protagonist, Lupe dy Cazaril, or Caz, is limping home a broken man. Well, he doesn't really have a home anymore, so he's hoping to find refuge in the home of the patron of his youth. He used to be a lord and knight but most recently was a slave. The widow of his former patron takes him in, sees his potential, and appoints him to tutor her granddaughter, a member of the royal family. Soon enough he is caught up in larger events involving his old enemies, court intrigues, and even the gods. Once again, good characters, interesting ideas, lots of action in the plot, nice dialogue. The things that make this book stand out: the limits of human endurance and discovering that they are much further than dreamed possible, the wisdom and perspective that comes with age and a life rich in experience, growing into leadership and understanding the dynamics of power, the strength of personal integrity to survive hardship and find the right path, the relationship between the divine/spiritual and the material planes and differences in theology and how they connect to cultural differences. The downsides: everyone's white, so no real racial diversity though some cultural diversity; most of the key players including the protagonist are men. The upsides: every woman character is strong and unique, even the ones that appear weak at first; some of the characters are gay--it is in fact a point of cultural/theological difference and a key plot element. And it is a very realistic portrayal of the emotional and physical damages that accumulate in war and servitude. The hero suffers but still succeeds in the end.
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LibraryThing member crystalcarroll
Cazaril, a former soldier, returns from foreign imprisonment looking for peace, but the gods have other plans.
I loved the medieval Spanish influenced background, which felt new, fresh, a wonderful new world to explore.
There was plenty of action (wild horse rides, battles, miracles), court
The main character, Cazaril, is a witty and fully fleshed person. But heck with Lois, even the villains are fully developed. I love clever heroes. Characters who are more than thews and a shiny sword.
If you like good fantasy. Fully developed characters. Interesting worlds. Good writing and you don't mind missing some sleep, read the book.
I loved the medieval Spanish influenced background, which felt new, fresh, a wonderful new world to explore.
There was plenty of action (wild horse rides, battles, miracles), court
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intrigue, and a touch of romance. And plenty of interesting intrigue to go around. The central mystery of the story draws you in and won't let you put the book down.The main character, Cazaril, is a witty and fully fleshed person. But heck with Lois, even the villains are fully developed. I love clever heroes. Characters who are more than thews and a shiny sword.
If you like good fantasy. Fully developed characters. Interesting worlds. Good writing and you don't mind missing some sleep, read the book.
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
This was my first book by Bujold and after reading it I had to hunt up everything else she wrote I could find in stores or failing that borrow them from the library. This book earned a spot in my precious limited shelf space and I've read and enjoyed it more than once (and just writing this review
The protagonist, Cazaril, immediately gained my sympathies--a broken man, he goes to a noblewoman asking for any place in her household and winds up tutor to her granddaughter, Princess Iselle, and through her is thrown back into court intrigues. The setting feels like Renaissance Spain, and in fact I think I recall reading somewhere Bujold modeled Iselle on the story of Queen Isabella of Spain--it certainly has a subtly different flavor than the plethora of fantasies that feel like a pseudo-medieval Britain. Bujold creates an interesting blend of Pagan and Christian mythologies for her religious system in this novel--complete with a curse on Cazaril.
I loved these characters and this world. I don't know what it is exactly at times what lifts a book from just a good read to one where at the end the characters feel like friends and the world one you want to enter again and again--but the book has it in spades. I loved the sequel to this book Paladin of Souls just as much--both books won Hugos.
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makes me want to pick it up again). Bujold's an exceptional writer and I was pulled in at once; there was never a moment I wanted to put the book down. The protagonist, Cazaril, immediately gained my sympathies--a broken man, he goes to a noblewoman asking for any place in her household and winds up tutor to her granddaughter, Princess Iselle, and through her is thrown back into court intrigues. The setting feels like Renaissance Spain, and in fact I think I recall reading somewhere Bujold modeled Iselle on the story of Queen Isabella of Spain--it certainly has a subtly different flavor than the plethora of fantasies that feel like a pseudo-medieval Britain. Bujold creates an interesting blend of Pagan and Christian mythologies for her religious system in this novel--complete with a curse on Cazaril.
I loved these characters and this world. I don't know what it is exactly at times what lifts a book from just a good read to one where at the end the characters feel like friends and the world one you want to enter again and again--but the book has it in spades. I loved the sequel to this book Paladin of Souls just as much--both books won Hugos.
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LibraryThing member ncgraham
This is a lovely and engrossing fantasy novel.
There are many things to like about The Curse of Chalion, but it is the characters that stand out for me, particularly Cazaril, the unconventional protagonist. At the start of the book, he has just returned from serving time on a slave galley, where he
I also loved the stern, no-nonsense, Provincara, the feisty royesse (or princess) Iselle, her sensible handmaiden Betriz, Caz’s earnest and nosy friend Palli, and the mysterious head groom of the royal bestiary, Umegat.
You know a book must be good when it makes you grin from ear to ear. That happened several times with to while reading The Curse of Chalion—once when Cazaril’s innocence is proven by an unusual sort of test, once when an impetuous Iselle confronts her half-brother Orrico and attempts to arrange her own marriage, and once when a figure from Cazaril’s past reappears in a very different guise to aid his plans. I’d like to say more about that last twist, but I don’t want to spoil it. Suffice to say that it’s amazing. I’m smiling again just from thinking about it.
It’s not often that a book leaves me wondering about the author’s personal life, but reading The Curse of Chalion certainly made me want to learn more about Lois McMaster Bujold, specifically the nature of her religious views. The Quintarian pantheon is fascinating, seemingly based on both the seasons of the year and the family unit. It includes five figures: the Father of Winter, the Mother of Summer, the Son of Autumn, the Daughter of Spring, and the Bastard. The Bastard is not included in the pantheons of some surrounding countries, being a Satanic/Plutonic figure in charge of demons and hell, but the Quintarians see him as providing balance, a very Eastern idea. At the same time, much of the theology regarding the interactions between humans and the divine smacks of Christianity, with the Quintarian view of human freedom having a decidedly Armenian slant. (I’ve read that in some of Bujold’s sci-fi, the characters adopt quasi-Calvinist views. At the very least, this author is very familiar with varying strains of Christian thought.)
My only complaint is not so much with the book itself as with the way I went about reading it. I did all right for the most part, but I was determined to finish by a certain time and so I read the last hundred and fifty pages or so while in a state of near exhaustion. As a result, the climax and denouement do not shine quite as brightly in my memory as the rest of the book. I’ll have to reread at some point. But I look forward to it, and to reading some of Bujold’s other tales. Recommended.
There are many things to like about The Curse of Chalion, but it is the characters that stand out for me, particularly Cazaril, the unconventional protagonist. At the start of the book, he has just returned from serving time on a slave galley, where he
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was sold after his name did not show up on the list of men to be ransomed after a siege. Though he is only thirty-five, he feels much older. He is tired, physically and emotionally—certainly not the young farmboy type you encounter in most fantasies and space operas.I also loved the stern, no-nonsense, Provincara, the feisty royesse (or princess) Iselle, her sensible handmaiden Betriz, Caz’s earnest and nosy friend Palli, and the mysterious head groom of the royal bestiary, Umegat.
You know a book must be good when it makes you grin from ear to ear. That happened several times with to while reading The Curse of Chalion—once when Cazaril’s innocence is proven by an unusual sort of test, once when an impetuous Iselle confronts her half-brother Orrico and attempts to arrange her own marriage, and once when a figure from Cazaril’s past reappears in a very different guise to aid his plans. I’d like to say more about that last twist, but I don’t want to spoil it. Suffice to say that it’s amazing. I’m smiling again just from thinking about it.
It’s not often that a book leaves me wondering about the author’s personal life, but reading The Curse of Chalion certainly made me want to learn more about Lois McMaster Bujold, specifically the nature of her religious views. The Quintarian pantheon is fascinating, seemingly based on both the seasons of the year and the family unit. It includes five figures: the Father of Winter, the Mother of Summer, the Son of Autumn, the Daughter of Spring, and the Bastard. The Bastard is not included in the pantheons of some surrounding countries, being a Satanic/Plutonic figure in charge of demons and hell, but the Quintarians see him as providing balance, a very Eastern idea. At the same time, much of the theology regarding the interactions between humans and the divine smacks of Christianity, with the Quintarian view of human freedom having a decidedly Armenian slant. (I’ve read that in some of Bujold’s sci-fi, the characters adopt quasi-Calvinist views. At the very least, this author is very familiar with varying strains of Christian thought.)
My only complaint is not so much with the book itself as with the way I went about reading it. I did all right for the most part, but I was determined to finish by a certain time and so I read the last hundred and fifty pages or so while in a state of near exhaustion. As a result, the climax and denouement do not shine quite as brightly in my memory as the rest of the book. I’ll have to reread at some point. But I look forward to it, and to reading some of Bujold’s other tales. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member icarusgeoff
Honestly, this book was really slow going at first. I think it's about a third of the way through the book that things actually start to happen. That doesn't matter, though, because the main character is empathetic, charming, and behaves like an actual person. He doesn't do things because it's
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heroic, he does them because they're the things he thinks he needs to do. It's a fine distinction.Once the book gets going, you'll probably have difficulty putting it down. One of the best fantasy novels I've read. Show Less
LibraryThing member soliloquies
A very readable and enjoyable book. The main character, Cazaril, has escaped slavery and is returning to Chalion - he's hopeful for any position at court, but finds himself tutor and secretary to the royesse (princess). Caz does all he can to protect his charge and attempts to lift a curse that has
Well written, great back stories which are important later on.
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been plaguing the family.Well written, great back stories which are important later on.
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LibraryThing member johnnyapollo
No I'm typically into Science Fiction rather than Fantasy, but have read quite a bit in this genre as well. I thought the world created by Bujold to be well thought out and very enticing. The storyline more than held my interest - at points I couldn't put the book down. Bujold really hits it out of
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the park with the second book [Paladin of Souls] however. It's funny how each book in this series is really only related by the fantasy-world in which they are written - there's only a passing connection between the characters in this book and the next, so each may be read and appreciated as a stand-alone. Show Less
LibraryThing member Karlstar
A very good fantasy novel. Cazaril has lost everything serving his country, Chalion, and just wants to go back to the last safe place he knew and be of whatever use he can be there. The former soldier and noble is educated and experienced and has a lot to offer the household of the King's younger
Very well written, with good characters and a very well conceived fantasy setting. There's magic, but not too much.
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brother and sister. Events move him into the center of the action, and his experience and character are tested as he does his best to serve Princess Iselle and break the curse the follows their family. Very well written, with good characters and a very well conceived fantasy setting. There's magic, but not too much.
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LibraryThing member Black_samvara
Complex and fabulous character development. Oh Cazaril. I have a girl!crush on Bujold and will cheerfully buy anything she writes. This was engaging, intriguing and romantic in turns. It’s a great piece of fantasy with a unique take on our relationship with our gods. Please ignore the typo *gasp*
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in the blurb on the back and go read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member clong
As usual with Bujold's writing, I found this to be a very satisfying read.
Cazaril is a compelling protagonist, a man who is only an average swordsman and horseman, a thirty-five year old grizzled veteran of war and slavery, who suffers disfiguring, but hidden, scars. He is intelligent, and
I always find Bujold to be a great storyteller, taking us through plot turns that are at times predictable and at others surprising. The plot turn which resolved the seemingly unsolvable "die three deaths" prophecy was clever and unexpected. The understated romance between Cazaril and Betriz develops slowly and effectively.
My biggest complaint about the book is that, excepting the protagonist, the other characters (and especially the villains) are fairly one-dimensional. I also found the role of the gods and how they interacted with humanity to be somewhat unconvincing. And the denouement felt a bit clumsy, especially Cazaril's doubts about his place in the new political regime of Chalion.
Having said all that, this is one of those rare books that, the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a satisfying traditional fantasy read.
Cazaril is a compelling protagonist, a man who is only an average swordsman and horseman, a thirty-five year old grizzled veteran of war and slavery, who suffers disfiguring, but hidden, scars. He is intelligent, and
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ultimately driven by a deep sense of right and wrong. I find it interesting that, in a speculative fiction world where most male heroes are young, big, strong, handsome, healthy, and talented, the creator of Miles Vorgosigan would give us Cazaril as well. We need more protagonists like this! I always find Bujold to be a great storyteller, taking us through plot turns that are at times predictable and at others surprising. The plot turn which resolved the seemingly unsolvable "die three deaths" prophecy was clever and unexpected. The understated romance between Cazaril and Betriz develops slowly and effectively.
My biggest complaint about the book is that, excepting the protagonist, the other characters (and especially the villains) are fairly one-dimensional. I also found the role of the gods and how they interacted with humanity to be somewhat unconvincing. And the denouement felt a bit clumsy, especially Cazaril's doubts about his place in the new political regime of Chalion.
Having said all that, this is one of those rare books that, the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a satisfying traditional fantasy read.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Interesting book. One thing I noticed several times in it - the hero has some of Miles' gestures - that is, he's hurt and in chronic pain, and responds as Miles does (one I remember seeing several times was 'jerking his chin up' to dismiss how he's feeling and go on to what needs to be done, for
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instance). Not strong, and not in any way an interruption to the story - the gestures and attitude fit him as well as Miles - but the familiar words made me look at him to see if he were just Miles in a different coat. Nope. Very different guy, though I think he and Miles would get along just fine. Show Less
LibraryThing member Castlelass
The book’s description does a good job of summarizing the plot. This book zooms in on the interpersonal relationships. Though it is set in a fantasy world, I still cannot describe what it looks like, even after reading all 500 pages. We do not know where it is set or when. It vaguely appears to
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be medieval times. There is a strange religion that is not well-defined. It is filled with the standard tropes of the genre. There are women who balk at marrying men they did not choose, or who are many years older. There are a few swordfights, romances, curses, various “gods.” Communications take a long time and cause many misunderstandings. None of this is set into any larger context. It is reasonably entertaining, but not enough for me to continue the series. There are many glowing reviews of this book, and I realize the author is well-loved, so I feel like I am missing something, but there is nothing that really appeals to me. I think regular readers of fantasy, will like it more than I did. Show Less
LibraryThing member timepiece
This is one of my absolutely favorite books. I'm particularly fascinated by the well-thought-out religion (both versions - each of which considers the other heretical), given much more thought than you usually see in a fantasy book.
Bujold's characters, as always, are real people you can imagine
I also enjoy the unusual Shakespearean plot structure, with the pivotal event in the middle of the story, with all other events leading up to and then as a result of it.
Bujold's characters, as always, are real people you can imagine
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interacting with, rather than idealized types. All characters, sympathetic and non-, are given strengths and weaknesses, instead of being one-dimensional heroes and villans (well, maybe not Dondo).I also enjoy the unusual Shakespearean plot structure, with the pivotal event in the middle of the story, with all other events leading up to and then as a result of it.
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LibraryThing member MrsLee
In this world, there are five gods who affect the lives of the people therein. It is a religious system based on the seasons, with a wild card (The Bastard) for all those who don't fit into the others. Bujold communicates many of the difficulties of belief within this tale. Her characters are human
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and very real. Political machinations and scheming abound. The world she has set up also seems real. It is not hard to imagine oneself there, or to believe that life continues there after this tale is finished. Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
Cazaril returns from working as a slave on a galley ship to find respite with his old friend, the Provincara, thinking he can live out his days in quiet on her estate. Her granddaughter, a royesse and relative of the ruler of Chalion, is in need of a secretary-tutor and the Provincara neatly puts
Oh, this fantasy hit all the right spots for me as a reader. It was complex, throwing you right into Cazaril's situation and ever so slowly opening up to reveal the religion, political intrigue, and titular curse of Chalion. It's intricate worldbuilding at its best, bringing you to an intense finale. If you love high fantasy, good characters trying their best to make tough decisions, and a smattering of humor, definitely give this a try.
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Cazaril into that role. He attempts to keep his head down and avoid the men who were out to kill him, but forces outside of his control seem to be pulling him into politics and the ultimate outcome of the ruling family of Chalion.Oh, this fantasy hit all the right spots for me as a reader. It was complex, throwing you right into Cazaril's situation and ever so slowly opening up to reveal the religion, political intrigue, and titular curse of Chalion. It's intricate worldbuilding at its best, bringing you to an intense finale. If you love high fantasy, good characters trying their best to make tough decisions, and a smattering of humor, definitely give this a try.
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LibraryThing member T_K_Elliott
This book is one of my all-time favourites; I re-read (or more usually, re-listen) to it several times a year.
Cazaril is not your usual fantasy protagonist: he isn't the clean-cut, heroic type; he's in his middle-thirties, and pretty much everything in his life has turned out to be a disaster. The
Other reviewers have commented that they don't understand why Cazaril just wants safety rather than revenge on the men who arranged for him to be sold to the galleys: I find it entirely understandable. When you reach the end of your courage and endurance, you just want it to end. They say that the best revenge is to live well: in some situations, the best you can hope for is just to live. And that's what Cazaril wants.
Naturally, that's not the way it turns out.
Cazaril is no action hero, although he's an ex-soldier: his wits are his best gift, and it's his wisdom and practicality that win for him the position of secretary-tutor to Royesse [i.e. princess] Iselle, the older sister of the heir to the throne. I love Cazaril: he is a truly good man. Not perfect, but honest and loyal. These are the virtues which carry him through, unspectacular though they are.
Iselle, too, is a good character: she's intelligent, and has a sense of responsibility - one of Cazaril's duties will be to temper this with reasonable caution! Throughout the book, you see Iselle developing from a bright but sheltered girl to something greater. To me, she comes off as a well-written and believable princess: she doesn't have amazing skills, or some kind of superhuman talent - she's just intelligent, dedicated, and a little bit ruthless.
If you are looking for battles and fights, this is not the book for you. The action is more about morality, intellect, and theology (in terms of the in-world religion) than anything else. Chalion is under a curse that affects the whole of the royal family - and how might it be broken?
One of the things I love about this book is the running theme of what it means to be a hero, and what loyal service demands.
The world-building, too, is great. Chalion - the country where it's set - is Spanish in feel. The religion is based around five gods - Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, and Bastard. Frequently, one finds in fantasy novels that the religion is just a backdrop: in this one, it's a fundamental part of the plot. It also provides a couple of interesting thoughts on the top of predestination vs free will. Everything fits together perfectly.
It's quite difficult to say what makes this book so wonderful, except that it's the combination of great characters, great plotting, and great writing.
And now I'm off to read the sequel [book:Paladin of Souls|61904], because I can never decide which of the two I like the best.
Cazaril is not your usual fantasy protagonist: he isn't the clean-cut, heroic type; he's in his middle-thirties, and pretty much everything in his life has turned out to be a disaster. The
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book opens with him standing in the road, dressed like a beggar, having walked several hundred miles to get home after nearly two years as a galley-slave. This is a man who has hit rock bottom. He's wounded in mind and body, and all he wants is a safe place with work he can do.Other reviewers have commented that they don't understand why Cazaril just wants safety rather than revenge on the men who arranged for him to be sold to the galleys: I find it entirely understandable. When you reach the end of your courage and endurance, you just want it to end. They say that the best revenge is to live well: in some situations, the best you can hope for is just to live. And that's what Cazaril wants.
Naturally, that's not the way it turns out.
Cazaril is no action hero, although he's an ex-soldier: his wits are his best gift, and it's his wisdom and practicality that win for him the position of secretary-tutor to Royesse [i.e. princess] Iselle, the older sister of the heir to the throne. I love Cazaril: he is a truly good man. Not perfect, but honest and loyal. These are the virtues which carry him through, unspectacular though they are.
Iselle, too, is a good character: she's intelligent, and has a sense of responsibility - one of Cazaril's duties will be to temper this with reasonable caution! Throughout the book, you see Iselle developing from a bright but sheltered girl to something greater. To me, she comes off as a well-written and believable princess: she doesn't have amazing skills, or some kind of superhuman talent - she's just intelligent, dedicated, and a little bit ruthless.
If you are looking for battles and fights, this is not the book for you. The action is more about morality, intellect, and theology (in terms of the in-world religion) than anything else. Chalion is under a curse that affects the whole of the royal family - and how might it be broken?
One of the things I love about this book is the running theme of what it means to be a hero, and what loyal service demands.
The world-building, too, is great. Chalion - the country where it's set - is Spanish in feel. The religion is based around five gods - Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, and Bastard. Frequently, one finds in fantasy novels that the religion is just a backdrop: in this one, it's a fundamental part of the plot. It also provides a couple of interesting thoughts on the top of predestination vs free will. Everything fits together perfectly.
It's quite difficult to say what makes this book so wonderful, except that it's the combination of great characters, great plotting, and great writing.
And now I'm off to read the sequel [book:Paladin of Souls|61904], because I can never decide which of the two I like the best.
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LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
I believe I read a comment from the author somewhere that this book was her exploration of various issues of religion. That sounds hideously dull to me, but it's actually a pretty fantastic story. Even the sort of throwaway answer to the perennial "why me?" whine is brilliant - basically, "Why do
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you think we just picked you? You're just the only one who managed to get this far." There was maybe one too many foreseeable coincidence, but it didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the story. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of traditional fantasy. Show Less
LibraryThing member SandDune
I love Lois McMaster Bujold’s S.F. Vorkosigan series so I thought I would try some of her fantasy writing. And this wasn’t a disappointment at all - one of the most enjoyable fantasy books I’ve read in a long time.
Seventeen years ago Cazaril set out from Valenda in the train of the Provincar
But Iselle and her brother Teidez are recalled to the capital Cardegoss, as their older brother Orico’s marriage remains childless, and it seems more and more likely that Teidez will inherit the throne. So Cazaril’s dreams of a quiet life are dashed. For as a senior officer in Chalion’s army he knew he should have been ransomed by the Roknari, not sent to the galleys, and the only way that that would have happened was for a powerful man to have altered the lists of the ransomed on purpose. And Cazaril is pretty sure that that man sits in Cardegoss and still wants him dead. And more than that, there is a curse on the House of Chalion, which threatens to draw in Iselle.
This is an excellent read throughout, with Cazaril a flawed and very real protagonist throughout. The depiction of Chalion as a real place , and in particular the depiction of its religion of the five gods, is excellent. Highly recommended.
Seventeen years ago Cazaril set out from Valenda in the train of the Provincar
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of Baocia to fight in Chalion’s wars against the Roknari. He’s now returning to Valenda a broken man, having spent two years as a galley slave on one of the Roknari ships. All he wants is to live out his life in peace, his only hope is that the Provincar’s widow will remember him, and be prepared to offer him a place in her household, no matter how menial that might be. But on returning to Valenda he is offered the position of tutor to the Provincara’s granddaughter Iselle, the daughter of Chalion’s late king, and her companion Beatriz.But Iselle and her brother Teidez are recalled to the capital Cardegoss, as their older brother Orico’s marriage remains childless, and it seems more and more likely that Teidez will inherit the throne. So Cazaril’s dreams of a quiet life are dashed. For as a senior officer in Chalion’s army he knew he should have been ransomed by the Roknari, not sent to the galleys, and the only way that that would have happened was for a powerful man to have altered the lists of the ransomed on purpose. And Cazaril is pretty sure that that man sits in Cardegoss and still wants him dead. And more than that, there is a curse on the House of Chalion, which threatens to draw in Iselle.
This is an excellent read throughout, with Cazaril a flawed and very real protagonist throughout. The depiction of Chalion as a real place , and in particular the depiction of its religion of the five gods, is excellent. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member zjakkelien
I've been told by many people that this is a really good book, and I have to agree. Aside from having good characters, good character development and a good story, I very much like the image portrayed in The curse of Chalion of the way the gods interact with the world. I like how the saints tend to
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be rather wary of their gifts and how in the end, that's not the gods fault; they have to work with the tools at hand just as much as we do. Cazaril's bemusement at the end was very well described; I loved his conclusions about how the gods marvel at the ways of matter as we do at the possibilities of spirit. Despite the protagonist of this book being male, I'm impressed with the way it does not give short shrift to its female characters. Some of them may be young to begin with, but they show great courage, determination and wisdom, as well as kindness and friendship, especially when they grow into their power. Chalion's society may view women as less than men, none of its characters see that as anything other than another rule that can be used to advantage in their political games. A lovely book, I must certainly check out more books by this author! Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 2002)
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2002)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 2002)
SF Site Reader's Choice (#1 — 2001)
Locus Recommended Reading (2001)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2001
Physical description
448 p.; 6.13 inches
ISBN
0380979012 / 9780380979011