The Curse of Chalion

Cazaril never thought he'd find himself the tool of the Gods. However finding himself the trusted secretary of Iselle, a royal heiress, after having been a galley slave must be due to more than sheer luck. But being a tool of a God doesn't come cheap. He must somehow break a 3 generation curse on the royal. Only problem is, Cazaril isn't quite sure how to do this. In the meantime, Cazariel is the target of a very powerful personal enemy. The prophecies say that lifting he curse may cost him his life. And while Cazariel is willing to die for his Royesse, his death just may not be enough to save her...
I must admit I am guilty of typecasting Ms. Bujold. I am a hardcore and dedicated fan of her Vorkosigan series so I was a bit skeptical about this new, non-Miles book. I had a weird sense of displacement as I began to read it. It took a chapter of two stop it, but I couldn't help trying to find Miles somewhere in there.
Miles isn't there but the elegant writing and exquisite prose that are a hallmark of Ms. Bujold most certainly are. While the plot of this book is not groundbreaking or even particularly original, the book is made enjoyable by the strength of its' characters and ideas. Cazariel is a very interesting protagonist. He is truly fragile in the beginning of the book. It is clear that he is suffering from the trauma of his imprisonment as a slave. The fact that a person who had enjoyed a high station in life before his enslavement would gladly welcome the prospect of being a lowly, albeit free, kitchen scullion speaks more about the horrors the character suffered than any full-bodied descriptions could. It is with true enjoyment that I read on and saw the somewhat timid Cazariel with the seriously flayed sense of self esteem change throughout the course of the book and become the confident and even feared courtier that he was before his enslavement.
In addition to Cazariel, theology is probably the other main "character" in the book. I found Ms. Bujold's concept of her world's religion fascinating. The Gods are powerful, yet not omnipotent. In order to achieve their ends they are constrained to work through humans, yet humans are not merely mindless pawns moved across a chess board. For both the God and the person, the idea of the human's free will is key to divine intervention.
All, in all this was a truly good read. It is full of great dialogue, humor, romance, and of course characters. And although there is no Miles, I couldn't help but find glimpses of Ivan in Palli and Cordelia in Iselle. I highly recommend.

When you pick up a truly great novel for the first time, you can usually tell that you're encountering a masterpiece by the end of the opening chapter. So it is with "The Curse of Chalion". The story opens simply, with a man wandering on a road towards a distant castle. He talks briefly with a group a soldiers and investigates a site where an extremely deadly and secretive form of magic was recently employed, while a few tantalizing hints about his horrifying past are revealed. Best of all, though, is the language. Like all good authors, Lois McMaster Bujold is capable of employing her words, sentences, and paragraphs to maximum effect. Although only a few lines are devoted to describing the landscape, the word choice is so vivid that readers won't have any trouble visuzlizing what she is describing.
Equally important, though, is the fact that Bujold handles her main character, the centerpiece of the story, extrordinarily well. All things considered, this is a character-driven novel, and it stands as one of the few fantasy novels that has triumphed in that manner. As we see the main character recovering from the years that he spent at war and as a captive of the enemy, the process of his mental and physical recovery remains realistic throughout, sometimes brutally so. Likewise, his reaction to the events around him and his relationships with other characters are always plausible. Bujold's dedication to realism extends to the minor characters as well, although some of them are a bit simplistic.
The final major advantage of "The Curse of Chalion" is the plot. This book eschews the stereotypical 'good guys vs. bad guys' storyline in favor of a situation where an entire royal family, and almost the entire cast of characters is struggling against a curse that has been brought on by the actions of an earlier King. It's fast-moving and contains some real surprising twists and turns right when you least expect them. I close by adding that the treatment of religion in this book is unique and refreshing. There's a fascinating polytheistic religious system which the action of Gods and various supernatural creatures affects people's lives in some rather surprising ways.

Lois McMaster Bujold has demonstrated a talent in her many books for having middle-aged characters fall in love ("Shards of Honor", "Falling Free", "A Civil Campaign"). She's also well-known for creating damaged - but not broken - heroes and heroines who pull victory from the jaws of defeat at the last moment. These talents have held her in good stead in her Miles Vorkosigan science fiction series, but they perhaps even serve her better in "The Curse of Chalion", Bujold's second fantasy novel.
Her protagonist, far from being another Miles Vorkosigan, actually reminds me a bit of a cross between Brother Cadfael from Ellis Peters' series of the same name and her avuncular spymaster Simon Illyan from the Vorkosigan novels - a kindly, frustrated teacher with a worldly past who follows his cause to and past the point of selflessness. This character is definitely unique, though he shares the same spark of and for life that so many of her other characters have.
The story is one of unexpected boons and dangers, familial peril (from within and without), intrigue, love and trust. Her world is better put together than many multi-novel series I have read and her religion system is surprisingly well thought out. The narrative is strung together surprisingly well and weaves to a wonderfully well-choreographed ending.
I really can't recommend this novel enough. It's got the political and social cohesion of a George R. R. Martin novel, the heart of an Orson Scott Card novel and the humanity of, well, a Bujold novel. It is, however, it's own unique entity and stands quite well on it's own merits. If you're a Bujold fan that's skittish of her non-Vorkosigan Saga stuff, I definitely recommend giving this a shot. If you're a fantasy fan that's a little wary of reading fantasy from a science fiction author, I also recommend trying it. I recommend this to everyone, really, but I am hard-pressed to think of other types of readers that would need cajoling to read it. "The Curse of Chalion" is simply the best fantasy novel I have read this year. While I look forward to more from the Miles Vorkosigan universe, I hope she returns to this one someday as well.

Wow! Now THIS is a novel! After having just slogged halfway through and then abandoned an epic fantasy in which the "heroes" of the book are so unlikable and stupid and narcissistic that I was praying for the "bad guys" to win and slaughter them, The Curse of Chalion is immensely refreshing.

Likable main characters! Likable supporting cast! Beautiful storytelling! A mature and believable plot line! Solid world-building! Amazing!

I don't know how Bujold does it, but even the cliched parts are refreshing, and the evil villains are evil without my imagining them twirling their mustaches and tying damsels in distress to railroad tracks. The writing is superb, the characters so deftly drawn and handled. Each sentence is important, nothing is wasted.

This book shows how conventional elements can be taken and made into something new and fresh and exciting. The storyline itself is conventional: a battle-scarred, honorable man has been chosen by fate to save a kingdom from enemies within the royal court. And yet, at the same time, the storyline is not at all conventional: the hero is canny and circumspect, there are no raging battles, and except for the ending no spectacular mystical pyrotechnics.

The characters are conventional and yet not conventional. The usual cast of spies, kings, queens, princes, princesses, warriors, and "wizards" of a sort are all present, and yet each one is unique, fresh, original. These characters are ALIVE, they are real, they are themselves. The plotline makes sense, is not convoluted or inane.

Altogether, a wonderful book, wonderfully written, with an excellent, compelling plot, a satisfying conclusion, and marvelous and lovely characters. Wonderful book. I wish there were more out there like this one.

It's not often that I encounter a book that does so many things so well as The Curse of Chalion: a plot that keeps you guessing, characters worth caring about, believable political intrigue, believable romance, a richly detailed imaginary world, and deep currents of spiritual and mythological significance that emerge smoothly out of the interplay of plot and character.
Cazaril, the character who serves as the reader's guide to the fictional kingdom of Chalion, is one of the most engaging characters I have had the pleasure to read: a man raised in privilege but transformed by tragedy, physically broken and spiritually tested by years as a prisoner of war and a galley-slave, returned to a high society in which he can no longer blend in. He becomes tutor to a young, spirited, intelligent, and cursed princess, and little by little his duty to protect and educate her turns into a desperate struggle to free her from the curse she has inherited -- a struggle in which the five gods of Chalion are both his greatest allies and the source of his greatest anguish and fear. Ultimately, this is the story of the painful effort to make room for divine action in the human world. The gods can only act through a willing human being, and those who offer their will to the gods take upon themselves a world of suffering.
I would offer this story as a rebuttal to any who say fantasy is only escapism. The Curse of Chalion shows what fantasy can do in the right hands: it can explore the deepest truths of the human heart. I recommend it to anyone looking for fantasy worth taking seriously.

I was recently looking for a deep fantasy novel to read. Considering what I've read in the past, the store recommended this book. I didn't read the reviews per se, but looked at the editorial reviews and star rating and was encouraged to buy it. And I'm very glad I got it.

I found the writing to be wonderful. Descriptions of the environment and the people placed me in the world. Not only the primary characters but also those interacting with them were fabulously developed. Males and females were well represented. No inane bickering between characters, no head scratching as to why some person did something, but interactions for a reason. A well thought out story.

The books realm of magic is fascinating. You don't have the typical spell caster tossing "balefire" or the all-powerful-to-be but knows-nothing-now novice trying to survive with spontaneous magical feats with no logical explanation. This book has enough magic to satisfy. I thought there was little magic and few wizards in "The Lord of the Rings" series and I found this comparable. It is more about the people, more about story, more about strange fate. Some obvious plot developments but some interesting surprises too.

If this sort of writing interests you, check out the first chapter at a library or bookstore. You might want to get it to find out how the book ends.

I'm anxious to see how the world continues. This is a book I've recommended to a couple friends who like fantasy.

Thank you.

At first I was somewhat disappointed that this was not another Vorkosigan book, but once I started reading, I could not put this down. While the action is not quite as non-stop as the Miles books, it still moves along at a good clip.
When we are first introduced to Cazaril, our hero, he is homeless and penniless, reduced to stealing clothes from a dead man. Formerly a great young warleader, he had been betrayed and sold as a galley slave. After being freed, he heads for the household where he once served as a page, hoping to beg for a position as a kitchen servant. Instead he is given the position as the secretary/advisor to the King's half-sister. He pledges to protect her, and when they are recalled to the corrupt capital city to attend to the dying king, his pledge is truly put to the test. Assailed by treachery and disaster on all sides, the royal family is under a terrible curse, and the gods want Cazaril to break it. And the only way to do that is for a man to die three times for the House of Chalion.
Cazaril is a fascinating character, full of dry wit and intelligence, and watching him careen from slave to secretary to reluctant saint makes for a very entertaining read. The secondary characters, from the slimey Lord Dondo to the strong-willed Royesse Iselle and her companion Lady Betriz are well-drawn and interesting as well.
Lots of action & intrigue, fascinating characters, a well-drawn world, even a little romance--there is something in this book for everyone. You will not regret reading it!

Cazaril, Our Hero, is going to ask to be a menial servant, in hopes of finding peace and quiet after a long, hard career as a soldier and now escaped galley slave. No Hero in Bujold's worlds ever manages to quite achieve peace, much less quiet ...
Thrust into the role of royal tutor rather than scullery help, he is equally placed in the midst of treachery, plotting, conniving, and byzantine madness. Duty, an omnipresent theme in Bujold's work, is stretched: duty to personal honor, duty to employer, duty to the gods... who gets first dibs?
Our Hero continues to swim the blind treacherous seas with almost non-stop action packed adventure. Good versus Evil: who wins, and is winning quite so obvious?
Bujold manages to introduce with style, flair and tact what few manage in Fantasy (and most avoid in SF): theology and religion. They are not the forefront of the book, but they are a significant pillar upon which the plot is built. She manages the role of religion in society, and theology in religion without making it a cooky-cutter copy of something already existing or being pedantic.
For die-hard Vorkosigan-saga fans, this is written with less evident humor, but equal style and panache.

Robert A. Heinlein is my favorite author. Lois McMaster Bujold is my favorite living author. Spider Robinson and Michael Flynn, both fine authors in their own right, have frequently been called Heinlein's successor. But do the math. Heinlein won four "Best Novel" Hugo awards. Bujold is right behind him with three, more than any other living person. She will tie him, and if the fates grant her long life surpass him.
But sadly, not with this novel.
Which is not to say it isn't good. Minor Bujold, like minor Heinlein, is still better than 90% of what's available. But I am so just so throughly spoiled by the Vorkosigan family saga. (Since the name has come up, I don't understand the reviewers who compare Cazaril with Miles. Miles wants honor and glory, Cazaril only wants to be left in peace.)
Other reviewers have covered the plot. I will only say that it is a nice touch that the title curse affects its victims not by exaggerating their vices, but by mis-aiming their virtues (the process by which Ms. Bujold creates her finest villains). The world-building is interesting, the theology well thought out, but you don't get the same feeling that the world continues beyond the edges of the book that you do in her other works.
Two minor quibbles. The titles were confusing, Royina, Roya, Royesse, and Royse become apparent through context, but does a Castillar outrank a March or vice versa? A glossary would have been useful. The other was that the denouement seemed to drag a bit, taking two chapters as she hunted every loose end, wrestled it to the ground, and drove a stake through its heart. Strangely so as she is already contracted to write another book in this reality.
But all I do is complain. This is a fantastic book. If you know Ms. Bujold's work, you already know you want to read this one. If you have not been introduced to her yet, read this one, The Spirit Ring, and Falling Free. She'll be your favorite living author too, even before you get to her Hugo and Nebula winners.

I tried two of Bujold's non-Miles books in succession. THE SPIRIT RING was frankly a disappointment (a decent yarn, but nothing more). This book on the other hand was amazing, and I rushed through it on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Instead of having a romantic young hero, we have a tired, physically and spiritually damaged hero who has walked to his old employer's house. Instead of a beautiful princess who falls for this hero, we have - well, there is a beautiful princess, but there is nothing romantic going on between her and Cazaril.
This story combines something of the atmosphere of feudal court intrigues, the pathos of a doomed house, the quest of the hero Cazaril, and a damsel in distress (from the old fairy tales). There is even some action - when Cazaril must journey forth on a mission to save his lady from unspoken evils. Add to this some wit, no loose hanging plot threads (everything that has happened to Cazaril makes sense by the end), well-fleshed-out characters, and you have a great read. My only problems were that some of the real or seeming insanity and attendant court intrigues in the Royal House seemed a trifle overdone (and made me feel rather queasy). I am looking forward to the sequel, even as I continue to read forward in the Miles Vorkosigan series.
Grade = A-
[Written September 30, 2002]

Lois McMaster Bujold is widely known in science fiction circles for her Miles Vorkosigan books - a series of novels in which intrigue and politics are set in a futuristic space empire. OK, I may be glossing over a few details, but Bujold has quite rightly determined that intrigue and politics would work just as well in a fantasy setting, and this, The Curse of Chalion, is her take on the subject.
For kicks, she has thrown in a romance angle, and a fairy tale angle too, and wraps it all up in a nice bundle that makes reading it a pleasure. Bujold is one of a very few writers who know how to make sentences invisible: what's on the page seems to flow directly into your imagination without having to go through the messy steps of letter recognition and word interpretation. After reading the long, lumbering tales of Robert Jordan, I found Bujold's prose positively danced. If there's anything negative to say about it, it's that too short: the plot is wrapped up a bit too quickly.
What ends up being injected into your imagination is what any good fantasy is going to have: a fully realized feudal system, swordfights and, of course, magic. Bujold's take on how magic and theology work is intriguing and refreshingly new, with a brilliant solution to the problem of free will in a world where gods interact so directly with their worshippers.
At its heart, Chalion is an introduction. At least, that's the way it feels. Bujold has set up a bit of back-story, a bit of history, and a group of characters we can't help but care about. Is there any better way of leaving you wanting for more?

Author Lois McMaster Bujold is best known for her "Vorkosigan" novels. That "The Curse of Chalion" is not another one of those excellent adventures is one of the few faults of this marvelous and intelligent book.
Cazaril is a man who has been through life's wringer. Caz is a former soldier of the nation of Chalion, who when taken prisoner was sold as a galley slave. The broken remnants of a shattered man have walked across two countries in the hopes of finding some menial service and a warm place by the fire in service at the castle where he served as a page in his youth.
Instead, he finds himself swept up in events seemingly beyond his control, and is appointed as the royal tutor and secretary to the Royesse Iselle, as well as tutor to Iselle's older companion, Lady Betriz.
Iselle's younger brother, Royse Tedeiz, is the heir to the throne of Chalion, and as a result, Cazaril ends up with his charges amidst the scheming, plotting and corruption of the Royal court, where the childless Roya is not well, and vultures in human form are waiting to swoop in for what scraps of power can be obtained. Worse for Caz, he finds himself forced to defend his young charge from enemies from his own past, as well as newer foes.
But more is at work than mere political corruption. A curse is at work, blighting the entire royal house. To his horror, Cazaril finds himself forced into the position as a pawn of the gods, a place that no man should be.
This is an intelligent book, and Ms. Bujold paints her characters, especially Cazaril, with an exquisite touch. The author has created a vivid and vibrant world, with an intriguing theology, well defining the costs of what it means to be a "saint" of the divine.
The sole flaw of this book is that it is perhaps a bit on the short side, with certain matters being resolved a bit too quickly. As a result, the true rating of this book is 4.5, but 5 stars have been awarded due to the superior nature of this novel.
If you've only read Ms. Bujold's outstanding sci-fi works, "The Curse of Chalion" provides a great chance for the reader to see the consistent excelence of this author. Get this book!

The Curse of Chalion is Lois McMaster Bujold's second fantasy novel. Known mostly for her science fiction Miles Vorkosigan series, she has rarely dabbled in fantasy. I haven't read her first one, The Spirit Ring, but if this is any indication, I should run out and buy it immediately. The Curse of Chalion is a wonderful tale, beautifully told with flare and style.
I've been a huge fan of the Vorkosigan series for a long time, and I think Bujold is one of the best writers out there. It still took me a little bit of time to decide to try this book. Am I glad I finally did, though. The Curse of Chalion is a fantastic book. Bujold shows her masterful characterization ability with a cast of unique and interesting people. Cazaril is the ultimate reluctant hero. He just wants to be left alone. He wants to join the Provincara's household, under the radar of his enemies, and live out his life in peace. When it's shown that destiny won't allow him this luxury, he tackles his job with resigned dedication. He has a gentle sense of humour, and he has a very sweet romance with Betriz, the Royesse Iselle's lady in waiting. When the three of them are together, conspiring or trying to decide what to do as events go from bad to worse, the dialogue is snappy and each of them bring their own point of view to the proceedings. These are not cardboard characters. The romance slowly grows, appearing one-sided at first, but Bujold slowly reveals that the feelings are mutual. By this time, of course, Cazaril thinks he's going to be dead soon, so he tries hard to push her away. I found the whole thing tragic and I really felt for them.
There are far too many characters to go into great detail of how individualistic they are, but let me talk about the villain for a minute. In dy Jironal, Bujold creates a truly three-dimensional villain. He has a lust for power, but he is also practical. He works with Cazaril when he has to, and his plans are thought out well. Cazaril and his compatriots are forced to actually out-think him rather than winning due to the villain's stupidity. There aren't any "moustache-twirling moments," though a couple of times in battle come close. However, those can be attributed to the stress of the situation. I was really impressed with dy Jironal, and there was true tension in the situation. Would Cazaril be able to defeat him? Probably, but only because it doesn't seem like it will be a book with a downbeat ending. But the doubt is always there, as dy Jironal maneuvers Cazaril into one desperate move after another.
The plot is very interesting as well. Cazaril is fighting a war on two fronts. He's trying to prevent dy Jironal from taking power by getting the Royesse's brother under his power for the inevitable time when the current ruler dies. But this is only peripheral to the curse that's hanging over the Royesse's family. Cazaril has to fight a war on both sides, as he tries to figure out a way to end the curse and still deprive dy Jironal of his ambitions. The plot has a sort of epic feel, in that Cazaril ends up journeying all over the land, but it is also a very intimate plot. What it boils down to is that Cazaril must save a young woman for whom he has great respect and affection, as well as having romantic feelings for her assistant. This sort of plot would not be very interesting if it wasn't for the characters, so it's imperative that Bujold populate her story with interesting people. Thankfully, she does.
Finally, I have to compliment Bujold on her world-building. It shouldn't surprise any readers of the Vorkosigan series that she creates a vivid, detailed world full of intriguing complications, people, lands and politics. The political situation is very realistic, with some break-away provinces, neighbours who have to deal with their own insurrections and a nice combination of allies and enemies to Chalion. The line of succession in Chalion is very realistically managed and the whole thing ties together nicely.
Where I must really compliment Bujold, though, is in the use of religion. The world has five gods, The Mother, The Father, The Sister and the Brother, along with the ... Some countries do not believe in the ..., though. When someone dies, part of the funeral is to have a representative from each god come to the funeral, release its sacred animal, and see which animal will go to the deceased. Whichever god's animal does this is the god who has taken the spirit of the deceased. If no animals go to the corpse, then the spirit is doomed to wander the land, or something else has happened. This becomes very important in the story, and is the first indication that Cazaril is going to have a lot more to deal with than he planned. Bujold creates a very interesting religious system, and then makes it very important to the plot.
Ultimately, I can't recommend this book enough. It dragged very slightly in the middle, but it's almost unnoticeable. That's the only flaw I can pick out in this book. If you're a fantasy fan, you really should pick this one up. If you're a Vorkosigan fan but have been reluctant to try a Bujold 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.

Those who have become addicted to the antics and wry humor of Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan series will be somewhat surprised by this book, but not disappointed. As her second entry into the world of fantasy, she shows in this book the same talent, dedication to detail, and adherence to the strictures of good writing applicable to the chosen genre as she does in her science fiction works.
Typical of many fantasy works, the imagined world is one of a feudal society, with technology appropriate to the Middle Ages, and deals almost entirely with the trials and tribulations of its aristocracy. But odd sidelights are shown on the working class folks, as we learn the details Lupe dy Cazaril experiences. A minor lord who was betrayed into slavery, we open the book with Caz, now a physically broken man, penniless, walks back to the only place he can think of that might offer him at least some sort of job, the castle at Valenda. Fate here is a little kinder, as he is given the job of tutor to royesse Iselle, sister to the heir of Chalion, and her lady in waiting Betriz, a job well suited to his current physical condition, requiring only quick wits and getting his charges to respect him. But this post leads Caz into the deep waters of court intrigue when the two girls and the fourteen-year old heir are called to the royal court of Cardegoss.
For the first 150 pages, there is very little magic, nothing to separate this world from the mundane, except one instance of `death magic', an item that is attempted only rarely, as, when successful, it invariably kills the practitioner as well as the desired target. But when Iselle is promised to Dondo, brother of the Lord Chancellor, whom she decidedly despises, Caz attempts this magic himself, as the only way he sees to protect her. The fallout from this forms the main basis of the plot, complete with mystery, action, and an unraveling of a curse that exposes the much nearer relationship of the gods of this world to its inhabitants than is seen in our world. The invented religion shown here is one of the main points of departure from our own, and is inventive, believable, and inextricably tied to the plot action.
Caz is a true man of honor, as we are shown in incident after incident. This is one of the appeals of most fantasy works, as heroes are common coin, not relegated to the trashbin of other literary forms, and makes for interesting, uplifting reading. Iselle and Betriz are originally shown as typical teenage girls, flighty and irresponsible, but they show a sudden change to much more mature individuals after Iselle's bethrothal, a change I found a little difficult to believe due to its rapidity. But as adult characters they show steel, inventiveness, recognition of those true to them, characteristics of proper heroines. The minor characters are interesting and in many cases given a fair amount of development, leading to a very satisfactory intertwining of motivations, treachery, and incident. The romance that develops between Caz and Betritz is predictable, but well handled.
Most of the humor that suffuses her Miles books is missing here, and perhaps this book would have been a little better if more of it had been present. But as it is this is a satisfying read, with characters you can empathize with, and just enough touch of different, of things not as they are in our world, to whet your appetite for more words about this world.
Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

This has an absolutely terrific beginning with this poor broken man tottering across a wintry wilderness, hoping to get to a manor where he can beg a sheltered position, perhaps as a scullion. At first you picture him as a beggar in his fifties. Gradually you realize that he's well-educated, noble-born, and only 35!

Once a battle commander, he was betrayed and sold into slavery which almost killed him. At the manor, he's given a better position than he'd hoped for: the tutor of the young princess who's second-in-line for the throne. He then must follow her to the royal court where he fears to encounter the evil lords that betrayed him. Soon those lords are threatening the princess compelling him to work a highly risky form of black magic in her defense.

This leads him to some interesting encounters with his people's pantheon of five gods. There's also a lot of court intrigue and political maneuverings with neighboring countries.

The fantasy world is Mediterranean, as in Spain or Italy, and is late-medieval or early-Renaissance. Our hero Cazriel is likable in that he's very resourceful but also exceedingly humble. His complex character and the strong plotting make this a good read. (I didn't find the sequel Paladin of Souls to be nearly as good.)

Lois McMaster Bujold is a novelist who's work is so good that it's almost impossible to characterize her stuff in any conventional sense. Even her more "minor" novels, such as "Cetaganda" or "The Spirit Ring," are interesting and well thought out; her "major" novels, such as "Mirror Dance" or "A Civil Campaign" (among others) are all of that and the bag of chips besides. :)
Yet I found it hard to classify "Curse of Chalion," partly because it was so different from anything else Ms. Bujold had ever written before. It's a classic hero's journey, yes; Lupe dy Cazaril, swordsman and scholar, had been left behind on purpose due to an enemy's callous act, and nearly died several times as an oarsman on a slaveship before his ship was liberated. After fleeing the ship and being nursed back to health, Cazaril makes his way toward the one woman he believes might both be powerful enough to help and be moved enough by his plight to help him -- the Provincara dy Baocia.
Once there, the Provincara begs his aid; seems her granddaughter, the royesse Iselle (basically, the princess, who's third in line to the throne of Chalion) needs a tutor. She's too wild and willful for most women tutors, who don't respect her mind well enough; Cazaril, who's literally seen Hell itself, isn't afraid of her, or of anything (though he doesn't realize it). He takes her on, in the process also teaching her lady in waiting, Betriz dy Ferrej, daughter of the castle warder.
Because the Provincara is the mother in law of the dowager royina, Cazaril doesn't have to fear for his life. Yet there's danger stalking the kingdom; danger of a type never seen before. And it's up to Cazaril to figure out the danger, stop it in its tracks, and then pick up the pieces . . . if he can.
Sound interesting? It's even more interesting than that to read, as there's a highly involved theology going on with the Five Gods (Father, Mother, Daughter, Son, and Bastard), the courtly intrigue is spot on, and the dangers inherent for crowned heads laid plain for all to see.
This is one of my favorite books, even if I can't really classify it in the "Bujold pantheon," as it's simply so different from her previous work. But that doesn't matter; read this book. You'll enjoy it, you'll appreciate it, and you might even learn something from it.
Five stars, highly recommended.
Barb Caffrey

If you have read a great deal of fantasy, you may be tempted to toss it in on this work when Bujold employs one of the few easy cliches she uses in this book. Stick with it! After that chapter, t he author finds her stride and weaves a delightful, satisfying tale. The ending is perfect, not resolving too quickly but not overstaying its welcome. Highly recommended. Excellent pacing. Wonderfully able use of the language. Just enough detail to tell the story without bogging it down.

As is always true of Bujold's books, _Curse_ is excellent. It isn't as deep into magic and such as many fantasy books are, so even if you aren't a fan of fantasy, you'll likely enjoy this book. It's more of a spiritual type of fantasy world, where the gods and goddesses grant miracles - more like the ancient Greek world than a fantasy type world.
I did have trouble at the start of the book because so many things were mentioned that hadn't yet been explained (the religion, gods/goddesses, colors, etc). As the book goes on, Bujold explains everything clearly. So, as long as you have faith that everything will come together, the first part will be more of a building of suspense than irritating in its lack of explanation.
The characters are all very strong, unique, and multi-dimensional. Bujold does an excellent job as always of making strong female characters in a world where they are considered to be under the rule of men by their society. Bujold does a great job making the world in which the characters live come to life. The plot was very strong, and all the loose ends came together by the end, leaving a sense of "wow!" when you finish it. I will be re-reading it soon.
I recommend it to everyone!

The Curse of Chalion is Bujold's fantasy book - a new side of her marvelous writing talent. Bujold builds a complex but believable character in Caz, a down-and-out lord, whose luck in life seems to have expired. He finds himself homeless, horseless and physically in a bad condition, having to beg his way into employment with a lady he knows from his former life. We learn that Caz was a slave, pulling oars on a ship for many years, but don't know the details of what happened.
Caz is asked to become the personal secretary of Royesse Iselle, a 19-year old half-sister to the Roya (or king) of Chalion. She and her lady-in-waiting, Betriz are taken with Caz's teaching style, somewhat different to prior governesses that could not control the two wildcats. Iselle's younger brother is heir to the throne, but only 14 and sulky and impressionable.
As the story proceeds, we learn tidbits of Caz, the central character, and begin to piece him together. He is content to be away from court, for example, having fallen out of favour with the two most influential brothers who act as advisers to the king. Unfortunately, Iselle and her brother are asked to join their half-sibling at court.
It is then that the story starts to spin a bizarre tale. Caz meets a mysterious keeper of the menagerie of animals, tries to avoid confrontation with the two evil brothers, and generally gives good advice to Iselle, training her in court politics. Until, one day, Iselle is forced by the king to marry the evilist of the brothers.
In an insane act of selfishless, Caz uses death magic to save the day for Iselle. He doesn't expect to survive it, but somehow he does ... and as a result, he has changed. He can never go back; and learns about the curse that oppresses Chalion. Caz eventually finds out how to destroy the curse without destroying Iselle who also suffers from it, but not before some surprising turns of events.
A marvelous book, extremely well written and very entertaining. Bujold builds a world full of mystery and wonder. I could only have hoped for even more characters to fall in love with.

I'll start by saying that this book was terrific. Plot, characters, and world creation were far above the genre standard. Bujold explores some unique and intriguing themes at a very deep level, adding a definitive texture to what is already great writing. There is no question that this is a great book.

That said, there are a couple cautionary points I'd like to add, as some readers may find these literary aspects off-putting. The first is that this book is about the fictional religion of this world. If you don't like religion playing a part in your fiction (and I know a few people who feel this way), then this book is not for you. That's not to say that Bujold enters some sort of Judeo-Christian bias to the book, it's just that this fictional religion has a pivotal role in the story. A corollary to the prominence of religion in the story is that sometimes it feels like the characters don't really have a whole lot of control over what is going on. The characters make good choices and act correctly, but the most pivotal plot points in the story revolve around (literally) deus ex machina. It doesn't ruin the story at all, as the characters you're rooting for make honorable and "correct" decisions and are then rewarded for acting valiantly, but the story rests upon the fact that the gods are pulling the strings behind the scenes and the main characters are conduits for their will.

Take these warning points as you will. I read this book in a day, reading for something like 12 hours yesterday, so clearly I found it gripping great read, despite what I mentioned earlier. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who read the above paragraph and had no problem with the points I brought up.

I have this in hardback, so I couldn't justify getting it again till it was on sale. But once it went down? GRAB!

Anyway! This is a story of sacrifice, in the sense of Making Sacred. It's a story about god-given riddles. It's a world without magic, but with demons and gods who cannot truly act unless invited. (And who manage to be meddlesome from time to time even so.) It is rich, layered, and really awesome. (I like the sequel, Paladin of Souls (Curse of Chalion), a bit better -- but Paladin has spoilers for this one, and this one sets things up so nicely. You should probably read it first.) Get the sample. Read the sample. Get sucked in. (Unless it's still on sale, in which case, BUY IT NOW! Otherwise, you may well be kicking yourself later when it's no longer on sale.)

This is my favorite story of all. Not just of Bujold's work, but of everything I've ever read this is my favorite story. The writing is good, not great, but the plot and characters are great. I couldn't predict anything, I had many surprises all the way through. I don't care for her Miles Verkosigan (I hope I got that name right) stories but mainly because of the military aspect of those stories and that always puts me to sleep. But I enjoy her fantasy novels, especially this particular one. I've even listened to it as an audiobook, still enjoyed it.

_The Curse of Chalion_, by Lois McMaster Bujold, is a novel with two concurrent story lines.

The first story line is a fictional novel about the life & struggles of Lupe dy Cazaril, whose place of birth is somewhat similar to late medieval Spain or Italy in our world. Cazaril is introduced to the reader as someone who endured more than a year on a slave galley, and after being rescued would be quite content with a life of quiet, lack of pain, and a warm place to sleep each night.

The second story line is a much deeper philosophical contemplation of free will, the big and small choices each person faces, and the intrusion of the divine into life. This story line does not become evident until after page 100, but it becomes the dominant theme in second half of the book. It also becomes the dominant theme in Cazaril's life, much to his discomfort.

Cazaril's past is revealed to the reader in bits & pieces, in occasional memories and somewhat random encounters with past acquaintances. Briefly (and hopefully not giving away too much of the plot), Cazaril is someone with a good heart who was born to an aristrocratic family. He followed a fairly typical path of being a page at another aristocratic household when younger, joining the military branch of a religious order while a young adult and sometimes acting as a courtier and courier, then joining the army and acting as a captain. During his time as a captain in the army, he was defeated by an enemy army, betrayed by someone within his own government, and sold to a slave galley.

I won't go into what happens to Cazaril after he is rescued from the slave galley, as that is what _The Curse of Chalion_ is all about. I also won't discuss how & why the will of the gods enters into his life, except to say that people should be very careful what they pray for, and should never assume the gods don't pay attention to the world.

I'm a bit startled at all the comparisons between this book and George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. While both are excellent fantasy, and both have court machinations, they're really two different beasts altogether. _Curse of Chalion_ is a wonderful exploration into the interactions between gods and man, and does a wonderful take on sainthood and how the gods can help you and also profoundly muck up your life at the same time. The hero of the book, Cazaril, is a wonderfully drawn character, who has been wounded both physically and mentally by the world but isn't quite ready to give up entirely. Dogged determination gets him a long way.
I wasn't disturbed by what some have considered a deus ex machina ending, because given what we learn about the way Cazaril is interacting with the gods of this place, the ending fits snugly as it stands.
As one of the last few non-Vorsokian readers (although I'll get around to them eventually), I enjoyed this book thoroughly on its own merits. Miles had nothing to do with it *g*

I was a little reluctant to read anything by Lois McMaster Bujold that didn't have Miles Vorkosigan in it (if you haven't read this series, you must), but decided to give her a chance. Wow.
Ex-soldier Cazaril seeks nothing but the lowest possible job to live out the rest of his prematurely aged life. Instead, he becomes tutor and secretary to a young princess. The royal family has been cursed and is slowly failing as the legal ruler abdicates all of his responsibilities to a corrupt Chancellor. Somehow, Cazaril must keep his charge alive and find a way to break the ancient curse.
The best thing about any Bujold novel is the characters and she certainly doesn't disapoint here. Cazaril, in particular, is finely drawn and emotionally compelling. In THE CURSE OF CHALION, Bujold adds powerful world-building. I found the religion, legends, and history of her fantasy world completely compelling.
Unlike a slash and march adventure, THE CURSE is remarkable for its intelligence. Cazaril might not be at his physical peak, but he uses is intelligence and a ton of faith to change his world.
Another Bujold winner--fabulous.
BooksForABuck

This is a great work of fantasy since it presents really for the first time a comprehensive theology system which works. Generally in fantasy novels, Gods just act sort of willy-nilly, and raise the question of: if they could help so-and-so cure the disease, why didn't they just cure the disease themselves? Or do more in the world? Or less? How is any of the plot relevant, since the Gods can sort of just rewrite reality at will? How can people in fantasy worlds truly have free will when the poor farmer boy is selected for greatness by destiny?

Bujold provides an answer to it, and while I won't spoil it, I think it's a pretty reasonable system, and actually matches many of my own philosophical beliefs in my study of theology.

It's a decent fantasy yarn, but the above is what really makes it shine as a novel. The only downside -- the names seem to be pulled from a random name generator, and I think some actually were.

I'm already a fan of Bujold's science fiction Vorkosigan series, though it's a little pulpy. This is the first fantasy novel of hers that I've read, and I found the writing and story a cut above the aforementioned books. The characters are interesting and the protagonist, a now crippled and humbled former nobleman soldier with his best years seemingly behind him, is somewhat atypical. Unlike many other fantasy writers, Bujold focuses on intrigue and relationships over swordplay and sorcery, though the plot's not without the latter. She also develops a tasteful but interesting theology.

While the story gets a little conventional in places, I enjoyed my time in Chalion's world. As for the audiobook experience, I thought the narrator sounded a little slow and medicated at first, but once I got used to his voice, it was fine.

Well to be fully honest maybe 470 pages of enjoyment, becouse the start was kinda slow, but then boom! baby we're in.

We get wonderful characters, fleshed out, flawed, multi-dimensional, and unforgettable. The type of characters that essentially become people with distinct personalities in the reader's mind.

I can still recall Cazaril the main character with a smile and a fond remembrance even though its been a while since I read this book. Great world building, interesting concept of magic, religion, and the ruling monarchy. Action that is fast paced, with many twists and turns, that's not predictable or unoriginal.

**A charming dose of humor sprinkled through the entire book, with many laugh out-loud parts.And a sweet romantic little tryst mingled through the book.

There are parts that are sad and touching, as well as occurrences of injustice and great difficulty. But all along the way one will not stop hoping, cheering, and rooting for the underdog hero of this book.

An adventure of court intrigue, magical workings, betrayals, unfortunate and some fortunate deaths, and overcoming the scarring of one's soul.

Bonus, if you're looking for just one book commitment this is perfect, because the book works as a stand alone novel. 4 not five stars because this was not THE ONE or a blindingly awesome favorite of mine like a Robin Hobb or George Martin.

Slow, emotional, romantic, dramatic, and absolutely nothing like Miles Vorkosigan. I expected great things from Bujold. The story of Cazaril the recovering slave, who has an aura of humility, did not do it for me. I think Bujold was going for 'saint' or 'savior' here. No grand action, no intricate mind vs mind strategic one-ups, none of what I'd come to expect from Bujold in a literary sense presented itself.

The only 'fantasy' elements are court intrigue, prophecy, and a developed religion. The novel is budding renaissance European-based historical fiction set inside an undefined author-created kingdom. Plus what's up with the weird titles: March, Royina, Roya, Royesse, and Castillar? (Needed maps of Chalion with rank guide.) Bujold mixes in a mystery element (the curse) which I wasn't a fan of, because of religious deus-ex machina. The characterization was written with feeling, yet falls into standard fantasy tropes. Still, if you like historical fiction, then you'll love it.

If you're coming into this from Bujold's awesome science fiction, you may be disappointed (like me). The Curse of Chalion is not an action fantasy, it's a serious story about self-sacrifice and love. The 'leaking poetry' metaphor was the best thing I can remember after reading it. If you aren't expecting Bujold to be interesting and dynamic like her Vor universe, and don't mind a slower story, you may rate it higher.

Once he was a lord with his own title and estates until they were lost when his allies refused to ransom him. For many months, he was a slave on a galley ship until he found the opportunity to make a daring escape. Now Cazaril is walking back to Valenda, an estate where he began his military career as a page. He is given the job as tutorsecretary of the royal Iselle and her sister lady Betriz.
When the sisters and their brother Teidez are called to the court of Chalion, Cazarel accompanies them to try and keep them uncorrupted from the excesses at the royal residence. What they find is a weak king, an old enemy of Cazaril, and a curse that is put upon every member of the royal family. Although he is no saint, Cazaril is looked upon by the Gods to be the savior of Chalion if he lives long enough
Award winning author Lois McMaster Bujold writes a stand alone fantasy novel that is nothing less than fantastic. She creates a colorful imaginary world resembling medieval Europe, but makes that world and the people in it real. THE CURSE OF CHALION stars Cazaril, but a more reluctant champion this reviewer has yet to see. Ms Bujold has imbued her novel with a bit of tongue and cheek humor to lighten this taut thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Excellent start of a new series by Bujold. She is a masterful writer who creates complex worlds with living characters in them. She is particularly good with her female protagonists in this series.

I've just reread this book and think this review is far to tepid. This is an exploration of prayer and the gods, and fate and madness and choice and curses. Really, it's one of the best fantasy books I've ever read and I love Caz as a character. He's just wonderful. I often read the first page of new fantasies and sigh, because I can already tell that they are not as good as the Curse of Chalion. It's the pinacle that all others must try to reach...

First read this is 12/31/2006, reread in 4/17/2008 and just reread again in 2/02/10 This a definite keeper and it only improves on rereads...

This is a good, enjoyable book. It's not riveting, or anything like that. But, it's pleasing to read. The only problems I have with it are minor. First, the physical condition/ability of the main character varies drastically from page to page. At one point, he'll be barely able to climb some stairs. Yet, shortly thereafter he's able to win a fight. Riding a horse practically knocks him out, yet later he can travel cross country at break-neck speed. Disconcerting, but minor. Second, the main female character is too sober and competent for her age. Fairly early in the book, Bujold shows how she's still a youth and needs tempering and education. Yet, within a year of the main character starting to teach her, she's better, smarter, faster, etc. than 99% of the people around her. Nice, but not very realistic. Finally, I could have done without the Spring/Autumn romance. Still, overall the book was very enjoyable.

This fantasy story starts rather slowly, but about 20 pages in, it grabbed me and didn't let me go. If you love intriguing world building, complete with a rich theology, this book will draw you into its rich weave. If you love intricate characters who aren't perfect but are still breathtakingly, achingly appealling, then you are in for a treat.
The best facet of the book for me was the breadth and scope of the characters and their realistic interaction. I love watching the relationships develop and the characters themselves evolve. And, best of all, the storyline continues in two additional books: The Paladin of Souls; and The Hallowed Hunt.
Bujold is a master story-teller, and at times almost poetic. I highly recommend this book!

I've never read any of Bujold's other work, but after _The Curse of Chalion_ I think I might. This is an absorbing, skillfully-woven tale of curses and consequences, told with succinct artistry in a single volume. (I gather more books set in this world are to come, but the story here is self-contained).
Having escaped the slavery that he was betrayed into, Cazaril returns home a broken man. He is appointed tutor to the spirited Royesse Iselle, whose fierce intelligence and infectious passion for life gives him back some of the joy he has lost, and a purpose - protecting her, whatever the cost to himself. Gradually, he becomes aware of a terrible curse afflicting the royal family, and determines to lift it.
The curse itself is a fascinating creation, one intimately bound up in the nature of the world Bujold has created. The gods are very much active forces, here, and consequences resonate through generations. Curse and story alike unfold in unexpected, occasionally shocking directions, resulting in a quite brilliant portrait of how desperation can warp even the strongest fidelity.
The characters are engaging and most are well-rounded, each bringing their own histories and secrets to the story, which unfold naturally with the narrative. Their pain - physical and emotional - is believable and affecting.
Even over 400 pages, the novel doesn't quite retain its momentum; the pacing is a little uneven and the ending a little unsatisfying (to me, at least). Nevertheless, this is a gripping and intriguing tale that I couldn't put down.

Bujold is one of those authors that really can't do anything wrong in my eyes. I had read this book before (years ago) and can't remember why I never read the rest of the series. Bujold writing fantasy is almost as good as when she writes sci-fi (the Vorkosigan series are among my favorite books). My only complaint is the book got off to a bit of a slow start, but picked up steam and an interesting plot. This book doesn't have the humor of the Vorkosigan books, but worth a read IMO.

At first, I didn't really like the book. I thought the voicing was pretentious in that Bujold will use the largest word she can find in her thesaurus at any given moment ("adhesion" or "contusion" instead of "bruise," for example). Her descriptions of things, especially in the beginning, had almost a Russian literature level of obsession to them. However, after ploughing through the first 30 pages or so with workmanlike toil, I found myself getting wrapped up in the story, and spent two days going to work with only a few hours of sleep because I stayed up reading. Half the book the second night of reading it (I stopped at about 40 pages in the first night), and then the rest of the book the night after. The plot is imaginative, as are the twists that lie within, and the climax of the story was very satisfying, although I found the last 20 or 30 pages a little too...whimsical while she wound up all of her loose ends. It was well worth the sleepless nights, however, and I definitely recommend it.

Lois McMaster Bujold is well-named. She is a master storyteller. The curse of Chalion is the first of her "World of Five Gods" novels, which is my favourite of her fantasy worlds. Although it begins slowly, stick with it -- the pace of the plotting becomes breathless by the end. Although there is some romance in the background, the political and magical aspects are the foreground. Hugely enjoyable.

I've read many fantasy books and have seen all the cliches. This book has virtually none of them. The book is unique and very interesting. The characters are entertaining, the story is engrossing, and the setting intriguing. The book is carried by a character you can't help but love, Cazaril. Through him, you see the most action and meet the most interesting characters, many of whom you'll like.
To put it briefly, the story includes a little medieval court politics and a plenty of philosophy related to theology and religion (I've noticed many reviewers do not mention this). If you like this, read this book. If you don't, don't worry, as it is not too abundant nor is it complex. It plays only a small part. If you understand it, you'll enjoy it. If you don't, you won't be burdened with it as it plays only a small role. The story still remains about a man trying to help his royesse (sort of like a princess), especially when he finds out about a curse. That alone makes the story fun.
The story as I mentioned is very exciting and will hook you and keep you turning pages. My only complaint is that a few chapters in the beginning are a little slow and might be a little boring, but this is a short piece and should not cause people to lose interest in the book. It simply is setting up the setting and the feel of the novel.

This book is definitely a favorite fantasy book of mine now.

I'm so delighted to have discovered Ms. McMaster Bujold. It was totally by accident, when I stumbled on the Sharing Knife series, which I loved. When I finished it, I started casting about for her other books and found this one. At first, I didn't think I'd like the story of a world weary ex-galley slave, but in no time at all, I fell madly in love with him, and with the story. The book is very long (on audio) and yet it flew by way too fast. I'm excited to read the Palladin of Souls, but I can't seem to start it yet. I'm still savoring this book, two days after it ended. I know I will listen to this audiobook over and over again, and highly recommend it, largely due to the masterful reading by Lloyd James, who's voice creates characters that are perfectly rendered. Simply brilliant!

A well written book that I started reading with no expectations (I'd actually managed not to read any of Lois McMaster Bujold's other books until now) -- It found it both funny and tragic but without the hopeless, endlessly violent aspect of many fantasy books. Her main characters were so much more complicated and fleshed out than most of the stuff that passes for fantasy nowadays. My only complaint is that the young heroines (unlike the men) had to be so stereotypically young and pretty but I think the following book in the series addresses that rather nicely.

This is a good, enjoyable book. It's not riveting, or anything like that. But, it's pleasing to read. The only problems I have with it are minor. First, the physical condition/ability of the main character varies drastically from page to page. At one point, he'll be barely able to climb some stairs. Yet, shortly thereafter he's able to win a fight. Riding a horse practically knocks him out, yet later he can travel cross country at break-neck speed. Disconcerting, but minor. Second, the main female character is too sober and competent for her age. Fairly early in the book, Bujold shows how she's still a youth and needs tempering and education. Yet, within a year of the main character starting to teach her, she's better, smarter, faster, etc. than 99% of the people around her. Nice, but not very realistic. Finally, I could have done without the Spring/Autumn romance. Still, overall the book was very enjoyable.

This fantasy story starts rather slowly, but about 20 pages in, it grabbed me and didn't let me go. If you love intriguing world building, complete with a rich theology, this book will draw you into its rich weave. If you love intricate characters who aren't perfect but are still breathtakingly, achingly appealling, then you are in for a treat.
The best facet of the book for me was the breadth and scope of the characters and their realistic interaction. I love watching the relationships develop and the characters themselves evolve. And, best of all, the storyline continues in two additional books: The Paladin of Souls; and The Hallowed Hunt.
Bujold is a master story-teller, and at times almost poetic. I highly recommend this book!

I've never read any of Bujold's other work, but after _The Curse of Chalion_ I think I might. This is an absorbing, skillfully-woven tale of curses and consequences, told with succinct artistry in a single volume. (I gather more books set in this world are to come, but the story here is self-contained).
Having escaped the slavery that he was betrayed into, Cazaril returns home a broken man. He is appointed tutor to the spirited Royesse Iselle, whose fierce intelligence and infectious passion for life gives him back some of the joy he has lost, and a purpose - protecting her, whatever the cost to himself. Gradually, he becomes aware of a terrible curse afflicting the royal family, and determines to lift it.
The curse itself is a fascinating creation, one intimately bound up in the nature of the world Bujold has created. The gods are very much active forces, here, and consequences resonate through generations. Curse and story alike unfold in unexpected, occasionally shocking directions, resulting in a quite brilliant portrait of how desperation can warp even the strongest fidelity.
The characters are engaging and most are well-rounded, each bringing their own histories and secrets to the story, which unfold naturally with the narrative. Their pain - physical and emotional - is believable and affecting.
Even over 400 pages, the novel doesn't quite retain its momentum; the pacing is a little uneven and the ending a little unsatisfying (to me, at least). Nevertheless, this is a gripping and intriguing tale that I couldn't put down.

Bujold is one of those authors that really can't do anything wrong in my eyes. I had read this book before (years ago) and can't remember why I never read the rest of the series. Bujold writing fantasy is almost as good as when she writes sci-fi (the Vorkosigan series are among my favorite books). My only complaint is the book got off to a bit of a slow start, but picked up steam and an interesting plot. This book doesn't have the humor of the Vorkosigan books, but worth a read IMO.

At first, I didn't really like the book. I thought the voicing was pretentious in that Bujold will use the largest word she can find in her thesaurus at any given moment ("adhesion" or "contusion" instead of "bruise," for example). Her descriptions of things, especially in the beginning, had almost a Russian literature level of obsession to them. However, after ploughing through the first 30 pages or so with workmanlike toil, I found myself getting wrapped up in the story, and spent two days going to work with only a few hours of sleep because I stayed up reading. Half the book the second night of reading it (I stopped at about 40 pages in the first night), and then the rest of the book the night after. The plot is imaginative, as are the twists that lie within, and the climax of the story was very satisfying, although I found the last 20 or 30 pages a little too...whimsical while she wound up all of her loose ends. It was well worth the sleepless nights, however, and I definitely recommend it.

Lois McMaster Bujold is well-named. She is a master storyteller. The curse of Chalion is the first of her "World of Five Gods" novels, which is my favourite of her fantasy worlds. Although it begins slowly, stick with it -- the pace of the plotting becomes breathless by the end. Although there is some romance in the background, the political and magical aspects are the foreground. Hugely enjoyable.

I've read many fantasy books and have seen all the cliches. This book has virtually none of them. The book is unique and very interesting. The characters are entertaining, the story is engrossing, and the setting intriguing. The book is carried by a character you can't help but love, Cazaril. Through him, you see the most action and meet the most interesting characters, many of whom you'll like.
To put it briefly, the story includes a little medieval court politics and a plenty of philosophy related to theology and religion (I've noticed many reviewers do not mention this). If you like this, read this book. If you don't, don't worry, as it is not too abundant nor is it complex. It plays only a small part. If you understand it, you'll enjoy it. If you don't, you won't be burdened with it as it plays only a small role. The story still remains about a man trying to help his royesse (sort of like a princess), especially when he finds out about a curse. That alone makes the story fun.
The story as I mentioned is very exciting and will hook you and keep you turning pages. My only complaint is that a few chapters in the beginning are a little slow and might be a little boring, but this is a short piece and should not cause people to lose interest in the book. It simply is setting up the setting and the feel of the novel.

This book is definitely a favorite fantasy book of mine now.

I'm so delighted to have discovered Ms. McMaster Bujold. It was totally by accident, when I stumbled on the Sharing Knife series, which I loved. When I finished it, I started casting about for her other books and found this one. At first, I didn't think I'd like the story of a world weary ex-galley slave, but in no time at all, I fell madly in love with him, and with the story. The book is very long (on audio) and yet it flew by way too fast. I'm excited to read the Palladin of Souls, but I can't seem to start it yet. I'm still savoring this book, two days after it ended. I know I will listen to this audiobook over and over again, and highly recommend it, largely due to the masterful reading by Lloyd James, who's voice creates characters that are perfectly rendered. Simply brilliant!

A well written book that I started reading with no expectations (I'd actually managed not to read any of Lois McMaster Bujold's other books until now) -- It found it both funny and tragic but without the hopeless, endlessly violent aspect of many fantasy books. Her main characters were so much more complicated and fleshed out than most of the stuff that passes for fantasy nowadays. My only complaint is that the young heroines (unlike the men) had to be so stereotypically young and pretty but I think the following book in the series addresses that rather nicely.

I had never heard of Lois McMaster Bujold until recently. I started with this book, and have also read Paladin of Souls. The writing is intelligent and interesting. The characters have complexity and depth, particularly the main character of the book. The book can stand alone (vs some fantasy series that just go on and on). One particularly attractive feature for me is that it is not the story of a kitchen boy coming of age, or some similar variation. Nothing against coming of age, but life continues a long time (relatively - and hopefully) after that, so it is nice to have a main character who is actually an adult.

This is not a battle filled novel. There are no epic wars. (There is a bit more fighting in the next book.) There is intrigue, and there are excellent characters. If your idea of fantasy is magic users and sword swingers battling it out, you might want to read some other books and save this one for later.

Some of the reviews talk about theology and even compare the religious elements in the book to catholicism. Gods are an important element in the books, no question. I think a strict catholic would object strongly, though, to the comparison to their religion (and would probably not like the books).

I look forward to reading more books by Bujold.

Curse of the Chalion is a well-written novel staring ex-soldier turned tutor Cazaril. Cazaril is an endearing character, in the Tradition of Taita (Wilbur Smith's Warlock series). Cazaril gains magical powers after a brush with death and its up to him to save his employer/s. Can he, save the regency? Or is the kingdom destined to fall under the power of a terrible curse?

I liked many elements of Curse of the Chalion. But I felt at times Cazaril was a little 'too good to be true.' There is nothing Caz can't do- from negotiating a marriage contract to out-fighting men half his age. Particularly annoying to me was the romance between Caz and one of his pupils who was nearly half his age. Yech. Talk about an abuse of authority. Especially since Caz is described in such a physically unappealing way throughout the book. Double yech. Not a big fan of older man/younger woman scenarios in my fiction. =-(

I also thought the portrayal of the religion in this book was a little too 'perfect.' The religious sects in Chalion all seemed to be filled with dozens of devoted, concerned and altruistic clerics. Way too perfect. Give me a couple corrupt, inefficient, bumbling or stupid religious people 'not in touch with the goddess, or perfect healers.' Overall. This was a high caliber book. But I wish less time had been devoted to the 'romance,' which I found far less appealing than the author intended it to be.

5 Stars.

I admit it: I was wrong. When it was first published I did not buy because it was fantasy, even though I am a dedicated Vorkossigan-fan. Now, since there are no new books from that series forthcoming, I turned to it because I said to myself that with this author even if it is fantasy it should be a pleasant read while traveling on business. But I was wrong.

In fact this is an outstanding book, on par with the best of the Vorkossigan-series. Its hero Caz is a very Milesian character and the setting in a world similar to Spain during the reconquista makes it colorful and enchanting.

What makes it so much different from the Vorkossigans are the five gods who play an important part in this book. Whereas Barrayar is a world of customs and tradition but not of religion, Chalion is full of the supernatural. But still the story is about the essence of life and honor.

I will correct my error and buy the Paladin of Souls and the forthcoming Hallowed Hunt. But still, I hope for a new Vorkossigan.

First off, I bought this book because everyone on the store.com was so mad over it. I had searched for days for a good book o buy, and thought I had found it. I will tell you, though, the first two hundred pages left me rather upset. I had thought the the store reviewers had let me down...

Like I said, the first two hundred pages moved slow and some events seemed rather pointless. There was little action or suspence. The only thing that kept me reading was my pride in the fact that I ALWAYS finish a book.

It took a murder, sadly, to get me hooked. As soon as the first 'good guy' fell, I became enthralled. I have a ranking system on which I give stars to books. This book got two out of three major things.

One: I thought about it (after the two hundred page mark) and couldn't wait to read it.

Two: it kept me up all night, even when my eyes dropped in exhaustion. I finished it last night at three, I believe.

It did fail to make me cry, however, though it wasn't a boohoo story.....(that was the third thing)

This book is written slightly informally, and it is the informality that first drove me away. Thisbook is worth a buy by any fantasy fan. Just remember to hang in there. The creativity and ingenius of the story over powers the slow beginning and intitial confusion.

I look forward to the next book.......

Bujold has taken astep away form her Sci-Fi Vor series to try out fantasy.
she has done a wonderful job. Her characters are well developed and human. her descriptions of the settings and politics is well done and not so detaield that you want to scream.
The curse of Chalion is the story of Cazaril a beaten down warrior who helps the house of chalion to get ride of its curse and take power away from a crazed man.
their is cournt intrigue and mystery and a subtle romance that is well written.
Bujold is very acclaimed for her Vor series and deserves to be recognized for her amazing fantasy novel.
she has ventrure dinto the unknown and succeded with flying colors.
I hope she continues this series because it was an absolute joy to read The Curse of Chalion. It has it all a great hero, many adventures, and a satisfying romance. it has everything that fantasy should have. bravo!

......you waited to get this book. This is a new world with a new star for Lois. He's a real live genuine grown up with a very different take on the world than Miles. In this world the Gods (four or five depending on where you live) are pretty active, and they don't always get along. Caz is one of the best characters I've read in a long time. He has an interesting world to get into 'interesting times' in. His friends and enemies in this world are all the three dimensional people (not characters) that Lois fans have some to expect. This is one of my two fave books by Lois, the other being Mirror Dance. I'm not going to spoil it by telling you anything other than keep reading some people I know found the first few chapters a little slow, I didn't and I don't know anyone who didn't like the book a lot.

It's rare for me to give out a five-star rating, but The Curse of Chalion has earned it and deserves it. This is the first book I've ever read by Bujold and it makes me want to read her other novels. The Curse of Chalion features one of the most well-developed plots I've read in a long while. Reading more like a medieval historical novel with a dash of fantasy -- mostly in the form of a mythological religion -- the novel is a slow burn that keeps building until the finale is finally reached. Along the way we're treated to exceptionally well-developed characters, an interesting world, and one of the most original high fantasy novels to come along in some time. No one who enjoys intelligently written fantasy or historical fiction will be disappointed in The Curse of Chalion.

Not only is this book one of the best fantasy books I've read, it is one of the best books I've read EVER. Bujold is the type of writer the rest of us aspire to be. She combines brilliance, creativity, attention to detail, and research to make this book a masterpiece.
The three most impressive works I've read from her in order are : The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls, and The Spirit Ring.

The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls main characters feel like characters from Grec-Roman mythology in their trials. The second half of Curse of Chalion has an epic feel; like poor, tormented Odysseus tossed about among the Gods, just wanting to get home.

A must read for any well-realized fantasy fans.

The main character grabs you from the start as an interesting fellow. Most books seem to drag at first maybe 50 pages, but this one was a hit from page one. I ordered the second book before I was out of chapter 3. As the one star stated there is no magic or whatever else they said, but it is not needed. The characters are well fleshed out and liked or disliked as intended, too bad all books don't have characters this engaging. I haven't read book two yet, should be here soon, and I wish more was written in this world with these characters, I will hate to get to the end. Saying this, book 1 ends nicely with no loose threads and is a book in itself and a sequel not needed to finish loose ends, can't wait to see what will happen in book 2.

Loved it! I seldom read fantasy novels, because the worlds they depict are seldom "real" enough to make me suspend disbelief and enter happily into the conceit. This one is different: its world is internally consistent, the characters, even the minor ones, are believably human and the author's wit is totally entertaining. The plot is intricate, yet it all flows smoothly. And I loved the alternate theology. I only wish that Bujold would continue to write more novels set in this world!

Lois McMaster Bujold has been my absolute favorite sci-fi author since I found her first book way back in 1986. With the publication of 'Curse of Chalion' she has also become my favorite fantasy writer. She's created a character in Cazaril who is more than 'everyman' and even more than 'Hero'. Bujold has basically created a fantasy wrapped in a mystery peopled by conundrums. It twists, it turns, it mystifies! Heck, in the end, it even makes sense! But best of all...it satisfies the soul, even while you still mull over some of the actions of the characters even after the cover snaps shut.
The world of Chalion is a wonderful land created less out of fairy tale and more from Spanish-influenced history. Bloody, yes, but also bloody brilliant. The best I've read all year, without any doubt. For many of the same reasons I love her Miles Vorkosigan series (humor, heart, action & adventure, etc..) I also love 'Curse of Chalion'. But there are other reasons to love this novel all on its own. Her characters breathe; her world is whole unto itself; and this story can stand alone and be great even if the author chooses never to visit here again. But I'm really hoping that she will, sometimes at least. :)

Having read (if not finished) thousands of fantasy novels in my time, I felt compelled to find this book and add my two cents. I feel that, in concept and execution, this is one of the top five fantasy novels of all time -- it is important to get past the first five pages or so, and then one is caught up in mystery and magic, as a typically unique Bujold personaity rides a wave of dramatic narrative that comes together in a well resolved and executive climax to a well told story. As always, Bujold's strong sense for dialogue and empathy with the physically or emotionally "challenged" helps her narrative. here, the main character is "handicapped" by post traumatic stress syndrome, which came through as viscerally to this reader as if you were in the protagnist's mind. Yet, it is never depressing or discomforting, more like being comfortable with an old friend. I have no idea how she does it -- there are two other books set in this world -- Paladin of Souls and the Hallowed Hunt. Paladin is

This is a superbly written book that I would recommend to anyone who loves reading a real wordsmith's craft. I'd never read anything by this author before and was intrigued by the massive numbers of good reviews. It is fantasy, but unlike any fantasy I have read so far. The closest author to the style, sort of, would be Robin Hobb. Like Hobb, this author chooses the most interesting characters. Unlike other run-of-the-mill fantasies out there, the protagonist is not necessarily the most attractive, powerful or even, at first, important character in the story. I like her approach to the underdog or at least the character that most people would dismiss out of hand for being uninteresting and impotent. The layers of the story are peeled back until you realize you have quite a treasure. I was so sorry when the book ended, that I immediately picked up the second in the series. I almost never do that even when I really like it. If you like fantasy and if you like complex plots that are well written and an author who understands the human condition, this is the book for you.

While I enjoyed this book it was certainly no Vorkosigan Saga, but then again, it shouldn't necessarily have to be. The story was interesting enough and the main character, Carazil was a nice variant on the reluctant hero. I can't find any direct link between Carazil and Miles except that both suffer from physical deformities (interestingly enough the back seems to be a popular location - Miles is twisted and hunchbacked - Carazil has the scars and adhesions of whippings). Nevertheless, Carazil is his own man. I liked him and rooted for him although a romance with a woman 15 years younger??? C'mon! I also thought that while Iselle was a strong female character, there really wasn't anything special about her. I've read dozens of fantasies with 'strong' female characters and frankly Iselle was a little to cookie-cutter for my taste. Too perfect. A good student, clever, not tempted by the flatterers, etc. Some flaws would have made her much more interesting. As for her world building, it was serviceable. A somewhat prototypical medieval world even if borrowing heavily from medieval Spain, still has its castle and hierarchy of power (I agree with a previous reviewer that the titles were unnecessarily complicated). What I did enjoy was her take on religion and magic in this world. The idea of a 'professional saint' was quite novel and fit well into the story. Bujold's writing is polished but I had trouble with some of her dialogue, the emphasis and accents seemed misplaced to my ear. This will doubtless improve as she continues to develop her characters. Overall a servicable work but nothing that will knock your socks off. A pleasant diversion for a rainy afternoon.

The Curse of Chalion is one of the best fantasy novels of the latest years. It belongs to that rare category, which also contains Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, C.S.Lewis' Perelandra, Miller's Canticle for Leibowitz, or Anderson's Orbit unlimited, which combine an interesting adventure plot with important ethical dilemmas and deep questions about the nature of man and God.

In this novel, as deftly crafted as her Vorkosigan saga, Lois McMaster Bujold has pushed further the bounds of subcreation (as defined by Tolkien in his paper On fairie stories). She presents us, not just a coherent imaginary universe, but even a strange God, which rather than three persons displays five. However, under the superficial differences, this God is not unrecognizably different from the one we have heard about (I don't dare say that we know).

Cazaril, the hero, is clearly a figure of Christ: his death becomes the rent between the worlds, through which one of the divine persons enters the world of matter to lift the curse of Chalion, a kind of original sin. He is even, in some sense, resurrected. This parallel, however, does not push the story out of its logical lines, but is smoothly embedded in it. In fact, one could say, it is the other way around: the story pushes the message and makes it take the appropriate form for the world being described, in a show of the literary masterly of the author.

The book is interspersed with pearls worthy of being remembered. The following are a few of them:

To a man of certain age... all young ladies start to look delightful. It's the first symptom of senility.

[God] does not grant miracles for our purposes, but for [His purposes].

Prayer, he suspected... was putting one foot in front of the other. Moving all the same.

Men have always a choice - if not whether, then how, they may endure.

[God is] on our side... can we fail?... Yes... and when we fail, [God does] too.

Although this novel may not be in my Top Five best fantasy novels of all time, it is certainly in the Top Ten. Here are the reasons why.

First off, the prose. Bujold writes the story within this novel in a highly appealling and easy to read prose. She also interspaces some very clever humor at points, and conveys the emotions of the characters- particularly that of the main viewpoint character, Cazaril.

Second, the characters. Iselle is exactly how I would imagine a strong, brave, realistic princess to act. She's not without her fears and flaws, but she takes charge of her destiny. Cazaril, the viewpoint character, is a complex character who also manages to be and appear very heroic in action.

Finally, the setting. Chalion is a vivid, colorful, and realistic setting borrowing from the period of the Reconquista in real-life Spain. However, Bujold builds upon this base, greatly expanding it, and adding a wonderfully described and consistent theology for her world.

For any fantasy and non-fantasy fan, I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.

I love historical novels but deplore those with real people as protagonists. However, I love this book. It is not at all historical in the usual sense.
I associated Iselle and Betriz with the princess Isabel and doña Beatriz, but I was so caught up in the story that it was page 233 before I realized that this is the story of Isabel and Fernando. I am not sure who the protagonist is based on; he doesn't sound much like the Bishop Carillo - maybe more Cervantes and don Quixote. I love it that his descriptions of his experiences, when he tries to explain his relationship with the higher powers, ring true to the writings of the great mystical saints of the Middle Ages.
THE CURSE OF CHALION is not history. History is OUR modern opinion of what WE see as the truth of other times, based on OUR world view. Better than that, Bujold has got inside of what it must have felt like to live in those times, to deal with those problems. I am richer for experiencing this story. It stands alone wonderfully, without necessity of knowing anything about sources of inspiration. Please, I want more.

This novel is an exploration of spirituality. It deals with that painful point which has baffled all of us who attended religious schools or classes: how can we have free will if God is all-powerful? What does free will really mean?

I was pulled into this book by deep, believable characters who exist in a fully-imagined world and are in real danger from a nefarious plot. But I have been unable to forget it, inspired to recommend it to everyone I know, and drawn to reread it twice by the incredible insight it provides into living with real belief. If you like fantasy and think about the deeper questions, read this book.

The book, of course, is phenomenal, which is why I chose it to listen to on my long commute. Throughout listening to the audiobook, I had a love-hate relationship with the narrator. As far as the plain narrating he did just fine. For the characters' voices, he seemed to be either great or terrible. Cazaril's voice was just gruff enough to be very attractive, he gave Umegat the most appealing accent, and he also did very well with the the Provincara, Teidez, and Dondo (whose voice made my skin crawl). But I couldn't stand Chancellor dy Jironal's voice-- he made it very nasally and annoying, very inappropriate for the character, who, for all his many many flaws, was never the weasel he sounded like on these tapes. He made Ista sound more like Professor Trelawney than anything else, and as for Iselle and Betriz... the narrator is just not a man who was designed to talk like a 16-year-old girl.

Obviously this is all just my opinion. Other people may not be bothered at all by the things that drove me crazy. And except for the few voices I mentioned, this narrator was very competent, and I honestly appreciate the effort he put into developing a clearly separate voice for each character. But I thought it was worth noting that there were times I wanted to throttle him. :)

This is a spirited adventure in a well-developed millieu with a lot of intrigue and 5 gods that are all-knowing but can only act through animals and willing humans. It is possible to kill someone by prayer but only if the target is a scoundrel and by giving up one's own life as well (unless one god interferes with another.) The supernatural climactic sequence is brilliantly narrated. There is only one plotline, and that can lead to boredom. Both the hero and villain are believable human characters. The female characters are more than a little too perfect in terms of intelligence, beauty, athleticism, and devotion. Naming conventions are inconsistent, and some made up royal titles are used without explanation. This is definitely worth reading unless you are a misogynist.

Bujold is one of the best writers in SF and probably the best writer of characters EVER in that field. Now she has translated her abilities and creativity into the top fantasy novel I have read this year. Her created world, with its five-god religion (five very ACTIVE gods), is completely absorbing. As usual, her characterization is superb and you really feel you know these people personally by the end of the book. I hope this is a big seller and persuades her to write more in this world. I am deeply impressed.

The audiobook, performed by Lloyd James, is exceptionally well-done. Listening to his interpretation gave me some new insights on several of the characters.

As always, it is Lois McMaster Bujold's mastery of characters and situations that makes her books so addictive. Within the framework of the story (as others mention), everything is so believable, the emotions are so clear, heartbreaking sometimes, but clear.
While it is a dark story, there is humor too, I was laughing through my tears in several places.
There are no cute kitties or wishful thinking spells in this fantasy, Chalion is very much "hard" fantasy, grounded in real history and threaded with a theology that is both sensible and self-consistent.
In a way, I would hate for a newcomer to be introduced to fantasy by this book, since it stands so far above the average in the field, they would be in for a great deal of disappointment.
For everyone else, BUY IT, Read It, and then decide for yourself just how hard you are going to push it to your friends, neighbors, strangers and enemies.

I was surprised to see that this book has an overall average rating of less than 4-1/2 stars and felt compelled to put in my two cents worth to help get the book a rating that it deserves. I bought the book just before getting on a plane, read it all the way home, and ended up getting to work late the next day because I had to finish it. A couple of days later I picked it up again and reread it!
Bujold is a marvelous writer and does an incredible (where does she get her ideas??!!) job of creating fascinating characters and coming up with innovative story lines. As for comparisons--I would recommend this book over George R.R. Martin's trilogy in a heartbeat, and would readily put it on the same shelf as my Ursula LeGuin books if I didn't shelve books alphabetically by author. There are many elements of the book that are reminescent of others--but I would submit that is true of all good books.
I agree with the reviewer who pointed out that Bujold's books have been getting better and better--unlike many other authors. Although I want to find out about Miles' future life I would hate to see her future books limited to Vorkosigan tales, and I would love to read any other fantasies that she is interested in writing.
In any event, I think that people who like books that combine elements of historical fiction and fantasy/science fiction are likely to enjoy this book. Kage Baker's Company series, Eric Flint's 1632, Connie Willis's Doomsday Book and Orson Scott Card's Enchantment are a few recent books that come to mind (but don't expect a time travel element in this book), also Guy Gavriel Kay, Patricia McKillip and Dorothy Dunnett. Anyone who likes the Vorkosigan books because of similarities to naval historical fiction should consider giving this book a test run by checking it out of the library instead of rushing out to buy it.

Amazing. The only fantasy that I can compare it to is George Martin's "A song of Ice and Fire." It is that good. And what makes it so good? The same thing as Martin's work...superior dialogue. The dialogue in most fantasy novels is boring, boring, boring. The dialogue in Bujold's new novel, as in all her work, is wise, intelligent, interesting and insightful. This novel was a huge pleasure to read. I didn't think she could create a fantasy character as interesting as Miles, but if she has not completely succeeded, she has at least come very close. I hope we will hear more of Caz in the future!!

This story is a wonderful fantasy which takes several chapters to really get going. It's necessary to lay a lot of ground work before the story can really pick up. Once it starts, it's very difficult to put down.
I found that I was holding my breath for the first few chapters, waiting for something Really Nasty to happen, but the nastiness didn't appear until later, when you're better prepared for it.
It has nothing to do with the Vorkosigan universe at all. This is not science fiction. It's also not High Fantasy. No fairies or elves or hobbits (or wizards or Ents or...) here. What is here is very sufficient and is quite worth your time, in my opinion.

I think I could give this book 5 stars if I hadn't read so many other fantasy books already. The medieval European setting is *so* done. As is the prophecy of the gods which moves the characters along. Ditto with court politics and loutish villains.
With that said, let me tell you why it deserves to be read and gets the rest of my stars. Cazaril. Rather than fall into another old cliche by making this the protagonist's coming-of-age story, Lois told this tale from the point of view of the mentor. Thirty-five, world-weary, and battling injuries, he makes a far more convincing hero than you find in most fantasy novels. Whether it's scifi or fantasy, Lois does beautifully human characters so well. Interest in what's going to happen to them never fails to keep me up reading into the wee hours.
Do check out this book. And then go read all the Vorkosigan books as well; even if you don't like scifi (I don't in general).

Making a decided departure from her well-known Vorkosigan saga, Bujold delivers a fantasy novel full of intrigue. Cazaril, betrayed and crippled, thinking to throw himself upon the mercy of his former employer, instead finds himself appointed as the tutor to the sister of the heir to the throne. In this position, he becomes the unlikely champion and somewhat romantic hero of the princess Iselle and her lady-in-waiting Betriz. Turning to forbidden magics, Cazaril discovers that it will take a miracle (literally) to save his new mistress.

One of Bujold's strengths lies in her ability to create characters that come alive for the reader, and Cazaril is no exception. Flawed, tragic, devoted, and compelling, he's sympathetic throughout the story. The secondary characters, though it seems a shame to relegate them to such a label, are diverse and intriguing as well. Plot and subplot weave together in a tapestry of storytelling, and the world-building is evocative and detailed. It most certainly deserved its Hugo and World Fantasy nominations. Definitely recommended.

Being much more interested in fantasy than science fiction, I have never read a book by Lois Bujold before. However, after seeing this book on one of those "Staff Recommendation" displays, I gave it a go. Boy am I glad I did!

Others have summarized the plot, so I won't do that here. I will say that the world created in this book is full of detail and completely believable, fantasy or not. And the characters are undeniably human, something increasingly uncommon in fantasy literature today.One never gets the feeling that nothing bad is going to happen to these people because they are too powerful, quite the opposite in fact. I was on the edge of my seat, certain that there was no way everyone could survive the situation, but yet hoping they would anyway.

Even though there are reportedly two other books coming in this series, this first one stands on its own and has a completely satisfactory ending. However, it is the mark of a good yarn that now I can't wait to get to the book store and purchase the sequel.

Pick this one up!

I cannot believe that I couldn't get through the first chapter when I first got this book three years ago. I was bored one day last week, tried again, and couldn't put the book down! I can't say enough about this. Wonderful characters you'll care about -- especially poor Caz, intricate political dealings, and the five gods base for the culture all combine for a truly immersing reading experience. Be sure to bring your box of kleenex for both the good times and the bad. Bujold's books always seem to theme around the importance of simple, honest honor in the face of dishonorable politics.

Simply put, Bujold is an excellent writer. She combines humor, action and even a little romance into addictive stories. If you haven't read the Miles series, start ASAP. Like some other readers, I was disappointed to learn that Curse of Chalion wasn't in the Miles series (I expected another disappointment like The Spirit Ring), but was very pleasantly surprised.
The characters are fully developed and likeable, the story is original and the world believable. I have recently been disappointed in the poor writing that some SciFi authors pawn off on readers. Luckily, there are authors like Bujold and Emma Bull (The War for the Oaks) who can write well and tell a great story.

Let me start by saying that Lois McMaster Bujold is one of my favorite authors. Her Vorkosigan series is head and shoulders above most SF being written today.

Curse of Chalion is the first book of a loosely connected fantasy series. I don't want to reinvent the wheel, so read the reviews of the book.

For the audiobook, Blackstone has done the usual fine production j0b. The reader, Lloyd James, does a superb job of deferentiating between the characters, and gives each their own voice and personality. I never had to think about who was speaking.

I love listening to a book I'm familiar with. I'd like to read reviews from someone who has not read the book.

If you like intelligent, thought provoking, beautifully written prose, well developed characters, and a cracking good fantasy story, BUY THIS BOOK ;-)

Cazaril is a career soldier who looks back at his days as a page as his glory days. The reader follows Cazaril as he limps up to the gates of his old patroness, to his becoming the tutor to Princess Iselle, to going to the royal court itself. Set in a medieval world, the reader is gripped from the very beginning and is fully satisfied by the ending of the novel. He is a lovable, scene-stealing main character who you will root for throughout the book.

First off, as I've been reading the readers reviews, I believe some of these readers were starting with the fallacy that this Chalion is another Miles V book and that led them to disappointment. I think the way to read Chalion is to think of it as a fresh new book, and take it on its own merit. I just finished reading three of the "Quarter" books by Tanya Huff (a new [for me] and enjoyable fantasy world she created), so I started my reading of Chalion with the attitude that I was picking up a new book, set in a new world, and independent of any other book.
Now, on its own merit, Curse of Chalion is a page turner! I enjoyed meeting the people of this new world, and learning of its special rules and circumstances. Bujold weaves the plot through with the character development, and vivid description of life in Chalion. Another reader complained that Bujold had to tie up every loose end even though there is promise of a sequel, but I see that as the very best of Bujold, you know a book by LMB can be held up as a stand-alone, and will leave you satisfied with the story even as you long for another.
I will definately be passing Chalion along to my friends and family as a book I know they'll enjoy. But only after I'm done with the re-read.

The Miles Vorkosigan series is one of my favorites, so I picked up "The Curse of Chalion" with high hopes. I was not disappointed.
Lois McMaster Bujold has a talent for writing intelligent, witty page-turners, and this novel is among her best work so far.
Cazaril, the protagonist and narrator, has returned to his homeland and the castle where he served as a page after many brutal years as a galley slave. There, the Provincara he once served (now Dowager) gives him a job as tutor to the Royesse Iselle, sister of the heir apparent to the throne of Chalion. This leads Cazaril to intrigue, terror, attempted death magic, sickness, rebellion, and sainthood.
"The Curse of Chalion" is notable in several ways. The story is typical (good vs. evil set in a medieval fantasy world, beautiful and courageous heroine, world-weary old soldier, etc., etc.), but Bujold alters it in subtle ways that make a tired old plot her own. By producing her own set of titles and roles (Castilar, provincar, roya, rather than lord, duke, king), Bujold has moved the focus of the story onto people. The reader can't make any snap judgements about a character but must draw his or her own conclusions. Especially striking is Bujold's treatment of religion. While exotic gods and godesses abound in fantasy, rarely are they treated as they are in "The Curse of Chalion"--as an everyday part of people's lives, for good or ill. These gods do not demand that their followers be mindless slaves; neither are they used by the author as deus ex machinae (please excuse the pun). When the gods intervene here, they do so because that is their will.
Pleasing to a feminist are Iselle and Beatrice (the royesse's lady-in-waiting). They are smart, tough, and brave--but they accept their limitations. In the world of Chalion, women occupy the same role as in our medieval Europe. To have her characters behave as modern women might would have been a mistake on Bujold's part. Instead, there is little insistence on making Iselle the hero of the day just because she is female. The royesse comes across as heroic because she earns our respect.
"The Curse of Chalion" is a fantastic book by a wonderful author. I can only hope that this heralds more fantasy from Lois McMaster Bujold.

I didn't want to like this book because I wanted more Miles Vorkosigan (whine) but I'm writing this review after reading the book twice in as many months *and* I've now listened to the audio book twice. I find the Chalion/Ibra/ 5 Gods Universe very attractive. My husband was wondering why I was listening to a book with so much terrible pain for the characters. This made me think - One reason I love Lois McMaster Bujold is that her heroes meet realistic and horrendous dangers and they might be overwhelmed for a time but they grow and come back to fight harder the next time. They give me hope. It is okay to fail sometimes as long as you don't let failure stop you from trying again.

This book came highly recommended, so maybe it's inevitable that I was disappointed. As far as fantasy goes, it's somewhat above average, but still didn't really do it for me.

The Curse of Chalion follows its nontraditional hero, Cazaril--a man in his mid-thirties who's failed at most of his endeavors, and is recovering from a stint as a galley slave--as he becomes tutor to the princess Iselle and helps her navigate the waters of a treacherous court. The story is driven more by character than plot; political maneuvering is crucial if not very complicated; there's a bit of fighting but this is not a combat-driven fantasy. There is a sequel, but fortunately this book works well as a standalone.

First, the good. The plot and characters are reasonably original. (I especially liked the idea of a princess arranging her own marriage to someone she'd never met, an interesting and actually empowering take on the standard girl-fights-arranged-marriage plotline.) The quasi-Spanish setting is fun and different (although it needs a map). The religion and its rituals are well-thought-out, and what magic there is fits well into the religion and the story without taking center stage. And the writing style is credible.

Now the not-so-good. Except for Cazaril, the character development is uniformly shallow. For the first half the book, Iselle and her lady-in-waiting Betriz are virtually interchangeable; it felt as if Cazaril fell for Betriz rather than Iselle merely because this served the plot better. Minor characters are one-note and at times just plain silly. The most ridiculous is "the Fox," whom we're told is a tough and conniving negotiator but who in actuality is almost comically bad at it; in one scene he actually sounds "panicky" when the other party threatens to leave--the oldest trick in the book, and despite the fact that if he had any sense, "the Fox" would have realized that he had the upper hand in the situation.

Meanwhile, parts of the plot come together far too conveniently or stretch credibility (like how Cazaril could have avoided being told the identity of a certain important person). Worst of all, at the end Bujold cheats: a textbook example of trying to have your cake and eat it too. Everything is tied up in a neat little bow more suited to children's fiction than an adult novel.

But ultimately, I think this book depends on the reader's emotional connection to Cazaril. I wasn't particularly attached and have the feeling that may be why the book left me cold where others loved it. I wouldn't tell people not to read this book, just that it's nothing amazing and was not my cup of tea.

This is a tale featuring towering moral strength and an unfailing sense of honor in the main character, Cazaril. We seem to get few stories these days where such values are encouraged, without some underlying and cynical hint of darker motives. Cazaril evidences none of that. But the characters are richly described and thoroughly believable, nevertheless. It has romance, intrigue, and suspense, all wrapped in a satisfyingly intricate plot.

Aside from these things, what may not be commonly related in reviews is the relationship that Cazaril has with the gods in this novel.

Readers who care for such things will find a story that, despite it's pantheon of five gods, feels very real to those who take spirituality seriously, even to those from a monotheistic context. And this is not only in Cazaril's relationship to the gods as he seeks to save his charge, but also in the way that they deal with him.

Don't misunderstand; this is not a religious book. It is fantasy at it's best, fantasy with several impactful and important messages attached. And any fan of fantasy will have a great time with it. But in matters of faith and hope, this book also serves to inspire as well as to entertain. And that is very, very rare.

I'm not much for the Fantasy genre, but I'm a diehard fan of Lois' Miles Vorkosigan 'Space Opera' series. Therefore, it took me a while to get to reading *Curse of Chalion*. Bujold's first foray into fantasy, *The Spirit Ring* was a decent initial effort into the genre for Lois, but it suffered from its medieval setting--it wasn't fantastic enough. *Curse of Chalion* is first-rate, for several reasons.

The author creates an interesting new world with a theology based on five gods. Bujold goes beyond giving the gods names and purposes, but forms customs and rituals that are different, interesting, and believable. Political intrigue, another Bujold writing strength, comes from without and within.

Cazaril, the protagonist goes through a rags-to-spiritual riches ordeal to help save the Royacy of Chalion. If you are looking for Miles Vorkosigan here, you'll be only slightly disappointed, because Cazaril will give you an appetite for a different kind of hero. I, myself found Cazaril a bit humble and drab at first. But he is a noble and honest character, with a strong sense of duty, who grows more brave and admirable as you turn the pages.

Some critics said the dialogue is not up to Bujold's Vor series standards, but that's because we're used to Miles Vorkosigan's witty repartee. Cazaril may be as courageous as Miles, but is more contemplative and not quite as glib.

Bujold's characters are seldom flat and lifeless, except perhaps for the villains. In *COC* she does not falter. Her characters are likable, real, and fully-formed as always. Cazaril is courageous and noble. Royesse Iselle is a new member of Bujold's pantheon of strong and independent female characters.

*COC* is worth pursuing for its own merits, if not to warm you up for its superlative 'sequel', *Paladin of Souls*

There is no other author better able to create a character who is so down trodden and desperate than Bujold. Lord Caz steals your heart and soul with each pained step he takes. Bujold has created a world that is not only unique in its system but amazing to behold as well. If you have never read anything she has written go now and buy this book, but anything she writes. You will not regret your purchase. I have no fear that the sequel to this book will be just as wonderful, she has proven that unlike others she can write sequel's and not lose the character's that you love.

Curse of Chalion is brilliantly written with believable characters, witty writing, intelligent plots, and like all great Lois books, has a message which, when you hear it, leaves you breathless.
The plot and the characters have an element of realism to them; Lois herself has said that this book was inspired by a course in Spanish history which she took; Royesse Iselle, one of the heroines, is styled after Queen Isabella.
Many people who are interested in this book may have already read other books in the Vorkosigan series. Curse of Chalion has some fast-paced action--fights with ruffians, tactical maneuvers of armies, a night escape by horseback--but if you're really interested in a climax which is solved by physical or tactical means, you'll probably be disappointed.
The characters are not as developed as those in, say, Mirror Dance, Memory, or Komarr (some of my favorite Bujold); but then she's only had one book to develop them so far. I, for one, am curious to see where Lois will take them.

I don't know what the hell is going on, but I like it. The last few months have seen a spate of unexpected fiction from unexpected places. Sir Apropos of Nothing by Peter David came from left field. Damn good storyline that is NOT your standard fantasy fare. Heroes that maim and kill their best friends out of envy, and do NOT marry the princess.... Neil Gaiman body slams the reader with American Gods. A damn fine read that has little to do with anything you have ever imagined, yet speaks to anybody who has ever spent any time smoking ... while doing time in the SCA. Meaning all you people out there reading this review should buy the damn book.
Bujold also came out of left field. Her last foray into fantasy, the Spirit Ring, was a miserable failure (I couldn't even finish it). Her last few science fiction books, though lauded by bribed reviewers, were sad (in comparison to her other books--overall they were ordinary, tired, decent). This once great author had sunken low. This single book, however, justifies Bujold's entire existence. Buy the damn thing. Enjoy it. Then buy her early Vor books. Fine, fine, damn fine books.

Lois Bujold is a brilliant writer. I loved the characters, flaws and all I became wrapped up in their lives. While I was listening everything around me disappeared. The Authors descriptions say so much in so few words. The story just picked me up and took me along. There are such strong relationships between so many of the characters it seemed to add magic to the story.

I would have to say this story is now up there my favourites of all my listening.

I feel odd pointing out the obvious - this book has no fantasy or magic of any kind. It is a religious romantic novel set in a made up kingdom. The characters pray - they have no supernatural powers, no magical creatures, nothing magical at all. Bujold has her hero be capable of fighting, but his main role is as a religious saint - he is scourged, gives up his will, is saved by the Mother goddess (read, Virgin Mary) etc. We are treated to religious pieties such as 'action is a kind of prayer also'. He offers up his life to save others repeatedly - not in fighting mode, as a hero battling evil, but in saint mode, taking a scourging to save an innocent stranger etc. As a non-Catholic I found all this slightly disguised Catholic theology yucky and absolutely unwelcome. Yes, Bujold can write well - good characters, good plot. But why pretend this is fantasy when it is a religious novel. On top of everything, she's against fighting evil - it is war itself that is bad. What a horrible disappointment.

Just finished listening to the audio book version - it was brilliant. Its great to have a fantasy story that has little or no comparisons to Lord of the Rings. The characters were well developed and kept developing throughout the story. The story itself was simple, but had complexities built-in and the world was explained very well. Lots of unexpected twists and turns. I've found a new fantasy author who also does Sci-fi - so I'm doubly blessed.

This is a surprisingly good fantasy novel. Many aspects are not original. The plot is another retelling of the Grail legend with the wounded monarch, the corresponding cursed land, and rescue by a virtuous knight. The quasi-Medieval setting, inspired by pre-Reconquest Spain, is also not original. What places this novel above the average is Bujold's craftmanship. She is a good and careful writer who creates likeable characters. While the ideas of this book are not original, she had devoted considerable care to creating her fictional world and its inhabitants. For example, there is some medical detail in this book. While not described perfectly, Bujold made a real effort to get the facts straight. This kind of detail will be lost on the great majority of readers but indicates the careful way she approaches her work.

I am not a fan of Lois McMaster Bujold's SF books - in fact I consider them to be turgid dross. It was only extreme boredom that drove me to pick up this book. I read the first page - and immediately checked the cover to see if I had read the author's name correctly.

The style and the intricacy of the writing made me think it might be one of C.J. Cherryh's books. She's my favourite author, so that is high praise from me.

The character of Cazaril is now one of my favourites, and the concept of the Five Gods is truly inspired, especially the Bastard, god of the unwanted. That makes so much more sense to me than the usual evil gods found so commonly in low-grade fantasy.

The world is beautifully realised, with sufficient detail to flesh it out, but not so much as to make the story drag. All of the characters are fully believable, with no 2D bit players. Even the people who only appear for a single paragraph or so are real and solid.

The only (very slight) criticism that I have is that it isn't really clear what the Gods can and can't do. Although it is explicitly stated that the Gods cannot use people as puppets, it seems as if that is what has happened to Cazaril. But it's ambiguous enough that this is only a minor quibble.

This is a brilliant book, and I definitely recommend it.

The Curse of Chalion is one of the best fantasy books I've read in several years. The plot is strong, the characters are real and interesting, and the writing itself is excellent.

I found the protagonist, Cazaril, to be humble, funny, clever, frightened, and noble -- sometimes all at once. His history is proud, but sad and really drew me into the story. With her writing, the author made me identify with his plight, his hopes, and his dedication to those who helped him when he was in great need. I greatly anticipated turning the pages of this book to discover how Caz would overcome all the challenges facing him and, hopefully, earn some well-deserved rewards for his loyal service and advice. Lois McMaster Bujold keeps you guessing as to how Caz can and will protect his charges, Iselle and Beatriz, as the larger problems facing the realm, and Iselle's family, are revealed. Her writing makes you want to think ahead, pay attention to details, and plot alongside Caz, Iselle and Beatriz.

When I finished this book (long prior to the release of Paladin of Souls), I found myself wishing for more books in this setting following the characters and the realm as they face new challenges. I really enjoyed this book, and I give my strongest recommendation.

Characteristic of the sort of fantasy fiction I have always preferred is a "feel" more in common with a good historical fiction, rather than, say, good science fiction or horror. In THE CURSE OF CHALION, the first of three (so far) in a series, Lois McMaster Bujold accomplishes this nicely, with her people and places front and center, while the fantastical elements compliment and support, and are never allowed to take over or obscure the story.

As with the best examples of the genre, the pages here conjure up colors and landscapes, sights and smells, all real and vital enough to take us there. While not all characters are as clearly deliniated, the main figures stand out sharply and fit easily and without hiccough into this half-familiar world, these echoing intrigues. At the center of it all, Cazaril is just one of those figures who immediately *works*, the inconsistencies of his character and his capacity to whip out an ability or skill to suit every situation notwithstanding. He's the foremost of many here that will stay with me, hopefully though several equally-rewarding volumes to follow.

I'd not read anything else by this author when I first picked this one up, but I have a copy of PALADIN OF SOULS ready and waiting, and HALLOWED HUNT to follow, assuming the magic stays. --So to speak, anyway.

I read this after looking for another Voresakian novel. It turned out to be just as engaging with new insights into the world of magic and fantasy. I especially loved the intrigue and, yes, the romance. I hope this series continues.

Solid 3.5 stars. This is a thoughtful book about the interior life of a man who had known his fair share of trouble. Cazaril, thinking he has reached the home of friends where he might live out the rest of his life in peace, gets sucked back into the world of political intrigue and fiendish machinations. He's also haunted, and this lends the book a somber, quiet feel.

Its not Miles and its not Science Fiction. It is another Bujold book to read and enjoy and it does show that she is able to write other than Science Fiction. A thoroughly enjoyable book with a new hero set in an entirely different universe. I expected to be disappointed in this book as I am not really a Fantasy reader but I found that once I had started it I couldn't put it down. There were no fairies or elves, but there was a well thought out religion and environment. Cazaril our hero is a man who has seen a lot of life and just wants to find somewhere to sit quietly and hide. Instead he finds himself in the spotlight - the only man willing to try to save Iselle from the curse that hangs over her family. Read the book. I guarantee that you will enjoy it. It's a well written powerful story. As I said it's not Miles but it will certainly fill the gap until the next Vorkosigan novel arrives.

As usual Lois Bujold's latest book, "The Curse of Chalion" is tightly plotted and beautifully and sympathetically written, with believeable three-dimensional characters. It is a fantasy, set in an area not unlike 15th Century Spain, but with a very different theology. It is written from one point of view, that of Cazaril, sometime page, sometime soldier, sometime commander of a besieged castle, and, most recently, sometime galley slave. Like all her heroes he has the ability to play the hand he has been dealt - and to make wry observations, to himself and others, about it. A short review should not risk spoiling the plot for readers, but I shall tantalise with one most Bujoldian quote:- "...utterly indifferent to wealth." "No, I'm not," Cazaril assured him earnestly, "I just dress badly. I quite like wealth."

I think ardent fantasy readers will enjoy this book. I am one, and this book was like a breath of fresh air. I will give additional (probably unnecessary) warning against reading Robert Jordan; if this book is stretched out, then Robert Jordan is 11x worse.

I agree with some of the more critical reviewers that the language is not particularly ground-breaking. She's no Pynchon. As far as fantasy writers go though, her writing seems to me pretty succinct and direct.

Overall, I thought it was a nice, compact story but wasn't particularly ground-breaking linguistically or extremely thought-provoking. She did include some reference to Plato with her discussion about matter and forms, but it wasn't that well-developed.

That being said, I'm looking forward to reading Paladin of Souls, if just to see what a hugo-award winning book has that a hugo-award nominated book doesn't.

I was a little surprised to see Bujold had written a Fantasy novel so I didn't know what to expect from this effort , well let me tell you she has put together a darn good and very enjoyable work.The medievel setting and the trappings of this novel are nothing new but are deftly handled and the characters are well rounded and for the most part seem to have justification for their motives including the villians.The main character, Cazaril is very likable and the fact that he is older and war-scared and not portrayed as a the greatest warrior in the land is a nice touch.

I should preface my review with the fact that this is my first reading of Bujold and that I had read many reviews about this book before picking it up.

I really enjoyed the initial setting-up of the story and the tone that was set. However, immediately after this came a 'stretch out' where the prose dragged down the pace and the story slowed with extraneous detail.

Other reviews had mentioned this, and it was because of those reviews that I was prepared for such style, and I finished the book undeterred - which I am glad I did. The storyline is great, but 100 pages less, and the book would have been a much better fit for me.

The Curse of Chalion is a solid and very entertaining fantasy read with very few predictable elements. I would put it in the same category as work by Robin Hobb.

The compliments for the book are even more of a surprise as I really have not been wild about Bujold's earlier work. I picked it up with some reluctance based on the recommendation of a friend, and I do not regret the time one bit.

I will definitely be looking for the second book in the series. I hope that the quality level stays this high.

Imagine showing up to an opera house expecting an evening of Gilbert and Sullivan when suddenly the orchestra starts playing Beethoven. That's what reading this book was like. I have always loved Miles, but it was definitely more in the category of light reading for me. Imagine my surprise when I start reading "Curse of Chalion" and it's not frothy and pithy at all, but a hard-slogging, coherent, well-thought-out fantasy world. I actually remember thinking "No, really...who actually wrote this?" But then I started seeing the sparkle that Bujold does so well in the characters' interrelationships, and with that ability to make you feel what the characters feel without going overboard into schmaltz. To see an author make a leap in writing skill like Bujold definitely has in "Curse" makes me happy for both of us: I get more great fantasy reading in the near future!

My husband and I have been reading sci-fi/fantasy for more than forty years and this is one of our favorites. It is a tale of true virtue with a noble hero who has taken the ideal of duty, service, and honor as a way of life. Bujold uses this character as an embodyment of virtue and is still able to make him live in your mind. She never sinks to making him less than a real person with conflicts and doubts but still manages to create a man of honor. So many modern protangonists are such an anti-hero that one begins to hope they will be killed off in the course of the story. The other error that authors make is to make a "good" character two demnsional. Bujold has successfully skirted those traps and given us a main character that we can empathise with, worry over, admire, and finally, love.

A slow start, but it still held my interest due to the characterization and how well written it is. Not really a sword and sorcery fantasy tale, and not a grand epic(I mean that in a good way- it's a more personal tale and it is wrapped up very completely in this novel). The protagonist, Cazaril, is an interesting and complex character, but definitely not an invicible warrior. I empathized with Caz throughout his journey, and enjoyed the philosophical and theological struggles that accompany his many challenges.
If you've liked other books by this author, you'll probably like this one a lot. A better tale than her prior fantasy novel "The Spirit Ring", imho.
Fun, compelling, and thoroughly enjoyable.

For long time readers of Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan saga, The Curse of Chalion is a complete change, going from space opera to a reprise of 'Spanish' history around the 15th - 16th century. To some that might seem a shock, even a disappointment. It startled me, but Bujold quickly caught my attention by her excellent plotting, descriptions and appealing characters. She follows her usual style which is to make life as difficult as possible for her main characters. No matter how carefully Cazaril plans, his elegent solutions backfire on him and make any situation worse.... and worse. The solution to the Curse is terrifying, but necessary. Cazaril does his duty elegently and satisfactorily. By then, he'd captured my heart. I wish she'd written more about her battered knight.

Honestly, I'm shocked at the number of high marks for this book. I thought it rated a 3 out of 5 at most. Here's why:

First the good: I really cared about the main character. I think that's the single most critical thing in any book. I remember reading other books with exciting plots, good writing, meaningful discourse, etc., but where I didn't care for the main character. If I actually finished the book, I almost always disliked it. So that's a big, big plus for me. In addition, I thought some of the dialog fun and witty.

Now the bad: If you are a traditional fantasy reader, flee from this book because you will end up crushingly disappointed, wallowing in miasmas of boredom and disbelief.

Without giving away any plot points, I can honestly say that the most cathartic, violent, exciting moment in the book is a wedding.

There are only two legitimate fights in the entire book and they are wrapped up in two pages each. There is no "active" magic, only a bizarre quasi-miraculous description of godling-fortune and deus ex machina. The plot is about saving an country and a family, but you know nothing about the country and don't care, and while you sorta care about the family, the main character (whom I already said I liked) isn't a member of that family.

Look, if you like harlequin romance novels and want them set in a new land with a new theology and think a big curse is fun and political machinations are exciting and you don't need "high fantasy" or battle, or magic, then this may be the book for you.

If you like people like Tolkien and Jordan and even Modesitt or Martin, I strongly advise you not to waste your time. The author writes well enough that you will want to finish the book, but you will be very sorry you did. If you are like me, you will find yourself saying "well that was well written, but also a tremendous waste of time and I wish I had the last 10 hours of my life back."

Ms. Bujold's writing continues to entertain, amaze, and amuse me. I am especially fond of her character development. She is able to accomplish it in so many ways, including a rare and appreciated economy of words. This is not a parsimony; rather a fulsome efficiency. Way to go!

I am so glad I found this book! Once I got over the shock of having Bujold write about a hero who wasn't Miles (or Cordelia), I loved "The Curse of Chalion," an intelligently-written, fun, intricate fantasy, with a wonderful, scarred, angst-filled hero, wonderful characters, an interesting world, elaborate politics and a very, very fine plot. This is an excellent read.

I buy Lois McMaster Bujold's books as soon as they come out--hardback, paperback, whichever comes first. She is the only author I treat this way. I love Vorkosigan novels, and I think her later books are even better than her early books. This one is no exception. Others have summarized the plot. I would like to say that this book is much more believable-and applicable to real life-than most fantasy. It also has a much more serious (though funny at times) tone than the zany Miles Vorkosigan. I must disagree strongly with those readers who think it's too much like Miles in a different package. It's so different that I usually wasn't even aware I was reading Bujold--I just knew I couldn't put the book down. All I can say is Lois should be on the New York Times bestseller list --so don't you be one of the people who miss ANY of her books. You'll be glad you read them.

This is such a great novel. It is full of familial history, human relationships, love, sacrifice, and adventure. I found myself propelled by the story and by the desire to see the curse "come right." This was my first experience reading a book by Bujold, but it won't be the last.

Great characters and great plotting. This book moves at a brisk pace and is a real page turner in places. Caz is a well drawn main character.

The fantasy elements are very much down to earth and revolve around the religion of the land. The concept of the 5 Gods and how the people interacted with them was a great asset to the story.

I picked up the next book in the series and expect more of the same.

Cazaril is a terrific central character, with all the aches and pains of a thirty-odd-year old over-resigned to his mortality after his escape from years of brutal hardship. An excellent portrayal of honor--and the prices and rewards. Normally I don't go for over-determined religion in my fantasy, but here Bujold makes it work, even sing.
The texture of the countryside is well done--I could have used a little more, but that's not where Bujold puts her focus.
This book is sure to sweep up many of the SF & F rewards this year--it's that strong in what was sadly, in 2001, a somewhat weak year.

The Curse of Chalion is a joy to read. The characters, the action, the world unfold in a breathtaking manner that left me yearning for more, but the words themselves shine. Bujold uses words more masterfully that most writers in the SF/Fantasy genre and it is that use of language that propels this book from being one of the best fantasy books to being one of the best novels I have ever read.

Fantastic book that displays excellent character-driven fantasy alongside an evocative spirituality/religion that helps to enhance the action and character motivations. It's awesome to read a fantasy that's about someone who's world-weary and older, as opposed to the young adventurer type.

What can I say about this book? It's absolutely wonderful. I've read it time and time again and never plan to let it go. The main character is an intelligent humble man brought low by circumstance who is led by the gods down a particular road that brings him into mystery, political intrigue and romance; where he is used and abused by supernatural beings but somehow miraculously comes out on top. The book itself would make an incredible movie. Some of the scenes are iconic and one of a kind. My only wish is that McMaster Bujold would write another story featuring this character.

I just have to start by saying that this story is a rich one. Like most Vorkosiverse fans, I was not very interested in this book, and I only picked it up because I figured that any book by Lois had to be worth at least a few chapters of my time. WOW- it was worth way more than that!!! It has wonderful characters, and what a plot!! It may not be vorkosiverse, and if this is your first Bujold book, you should give Miles a try, for sure, but I love the Chalion universe, and this story is in no way handicapped by the fact that Miles is not in it.
mandi

I enjoyed the first two books in the series. The last book was very different and didn't really tie very much into the other two stories except with one minor character. This book had a slow start but it was a good story and the characters were compelling enough to make me want to read the next two books. There are a lot of characters and political drama to keep track of but 1/3 of the way through the story, you find a rhythm and it picks up the pace.

I want to read more about this world! (Assuming it's written by LMB!) Stayed up several hours past my usual bedtime devouring the last third because I couldn't put it down. Political intrigue, mystery, great characters, a believable religion, writing as good as any of her other books...True, there's no single character as fascinating as Miles Vorkosigan, but I found the five gods an equivalent interest, and Cazaril is very likeable and interesting. And I liked the titles of the rulers--they were clearly appropriate, while avoiding the associative baggage carried by "prince," "princess," etc. I highly recommend this!

I'm not much for the Fantasy genre, but I'm a diehard fan of Lois' Miles Vorkosigan 'Space Opera' series. Therefore, it took me a while to get to reading *Curse of Chalion*. Bujold's first foray into fantasy, *The Spirit Ring* was a decent initial effort into the genre for Lois, but it suffered from its medieval setting--it wasn't fantastic enough. *Curse of Chalion* is first-rate, for several reasons.

The author creates an interesting new world with a theology based on five gods. Bujold goes beyond giving the gods names and purposes, but forms customs and rituals that are different, interesting, and believable. Political intrigue, another Bujold writing strength, comes from without and within.

Cazaril, the protagonist goes through a rags-to-spiritual riches ordeal to help save the Royacy of Chalion. If you are looking for Miles Vorkosigan here, you'll be only slightly disappointed, because Cazaril will give you an appetite for a different kind of hero. I, myself found Cazaril a bit humble and drab at first. But he is a noble and honest character, with a strong sense of duty, who grows more brave and admirable as you turn the pages.

Some critics said the dialogue is not up to Bujold's Vor series standards, but that's because we're used to Miles Vorkosigan's witty repartee. Cazaril may be as courageous as Miles, but is more contemplative and not quite as glib.

Bujold's characters are seldom flat and lifeless, except perhaps for the villains. In *COC* she does not falter. Her characters are likable, real, and fully-formed as always. Cazaril is courageous and noble. Royesse Iselle is a new member of Bujold's pantheon of strong and independent female characters.

*COC* is worth pursuing for its own merits, if not to warm you up for its superlative 'sequel', *Paladin of Souls*

A master writes a story set in a fantasy world, that is complex, complete and full of valor, treachery, overlapping needs and wants.
Throw in more than one of the five gods looking over the characters shoulder and you have a very full plate if suspense, action and adventure. As usual Ms. Bujold creates believable interesting characters and makes them work for their goals.

Lois McMaster Bujold manages to juggle characters and plots while never letting the reader get lost. She gently slides reminders or placeholders in strategically keeping the reader turning pages. This technique, mastered with the Vorkosigan Saga (MORE, Please), makes Bujold's works a pleasure to read.

This is a fantasy favorite. The world that Ms Bujold creates for the characters is rich and intriguing. There is a good dose of magic, but also character development that makes you root for Caz and his fellow citizens. I've enjoyed this book several times as well as the follow up books in the collection.

I read a LOT of Fantasy/SF (say 3 books a week for 25 years). This is the best book I have read in at least 10 years. I thought her Vorkosigan books were good, but this one is a true treasure. The reader gradually learns about Cazaril, indeed as he learns about himself. The other characters are nearly as well done - their interactions even better. It is rare to see a single volume story that feels as complete as this one dies.
I SO much wish I could read it again for the first time.

I like the characters and the plot. The characters are well fleshed out and I have no problems seeing them in my mind's eye. The plot drives along like a fine piano vamp. The religion that has been created for this world is quite fascinating and is straightfowardly discussed so as to allow a level of understanding, at least as a plot device. I would recommend this book to any fan of Bujold and/or speculative SF/Fantasy. My befuddlement occurs when I read the full names of the characters. I must admit that at times the just throw me for a "lupe". They are descriptive but without a pronounciation guide I'm at a loss. Overall good stuff

Stunningly good - I just reread this again, and it only gets better. Bujold seems to be getting bored with Miles Vorkosigan, but this is a glorious work she has poured her heart into. It is fantasy with integrity, and I can't wait to see more from her in this vein.

This is the anti-miles book. Miles does not participate, and the hero here seems to be almost his opposite in every way. He's painfully modest, and quite restrained. Fortunately, it turns out that this is one of the best books ever written by anyone. It totally rocks, in every way. If you've gotten this far, just buy this book now.

I've been reading Lois' Vorkosigan series just this side of forever. So, it didn't take much to get me to buy Curse of Chalion.
And once again she delivered on an excellent, exciting, thinking novel. I loved the Spanish influenced background, which after a surfeit of celtic influenced fantasy was a breath of sweet exotic air. And plenty of interesting intrigue to go around. The main character, Cazaril, is a witty and fully fleshed person. Even the villains are fully developed. The central mystery of the story draws you in and won't let you put the book down.

While the writing is decent and at time's marvelous that was the only good point. I was well over the 30% point before I could have answered the what's the story about. I also found the characters rather generic and shallow.

This is my very favorite book ever. Not my favorite fantasy book, my favorite book. Period. I love how Bujold develops her characters and how she takes cues from medieval Spain but makes the characters and settings her own. Perfection.

I want to read more about this world! (Assuming it's written by LMB!) Stayed up several hours past my usual bedtime devouring the last third because I couldn't put it down. Political intrigue, mystery, great characters, a believable religion, writing as good as any of her other books...True, there's no single character as fascinating as Miles Vorkosigan, but I found the five gods an equivalent interest, and Cazaril is very likeable and interesting. And I liked the titles of the rulers--they were clearly appropriate, while avoiding the associative baggage carried by "prince," "princess," etc. I highly recommend this!

Lois McMaster Bujold manages to juggle characters and plots while never letting the reader get lost. She gently slides reminders or placeholders in strategically keeping the reader turning pages. This technique, mastered with the Vorkosigan Saga (MORE, Please), makes Bujold's works a pleasure to read.

This is a fantasy favorite. The world that Ms Bujold creates for the characters is rich and intriguing. There is a good dose of magic, but also character development that makes you root for Caz and his fellow citizens. I've enjoyed this book several times as well as the follow up books in the collection.

I read a LOT of Fantasy/SF (say 3 books a week for 25 years). This is the best book I have read in at least 10 years. I thought her Vorkosigan books were good, but this one is a true treasure. The reader gradually learns about Cazaril, indeed as he learns about himself. The other characters are nearly as well done - their interactions even better. It is rare to see a single volume story that feels as complete as this one dies.
I SO much wish I could read it again for the first time.

I like the characters and the plot. The characters are well fleshed out and I have no problems seeing them in my mind's eye. The plot drives along like a fine piano vamp. The religion that has been created for this world is quite fascinating and is straightfowardly discussed so as to allow a level of understanding, at least as a plot device. I would recommend this book to any fan of Bujold and/or speculative SF/Fantasy. My befuddlement occurs when I read the full names of the characters. I must admit that at times the just throw me for a "lupe". They are descriptive but without a pronounciation guide I'm at a loss. Overall good stuff

Stunningly good - I just reread this again, and it only gets better. Bujold seems to be getting bored with Miles Vorkosigan, but this is a glorious work she has poured her heart into. It is fantasy with integrity, and I can't wait to see more from her in this vein.

This is the anti-miles book. Miles does not participate, and the hero here seems to be almost his opposite in every way. He's painfully modest, and quite restrained. Fortunately, it turns out that this is one of the best books ever written by anyone. It totally rocks, in every way. If you've gotten this far, just buy this book now.

I've been reading Lois' Vorkosigan series just this side of forever. So, it didn't take much to get me to buy Curse of Chalion.
And once again she delivered on an excellent, exciting, thinking novel. I loved the Spanish influenced background, which after a surfeit of celtic influenced fantasy was a breath of sweet exotic air. And plenty of interesting intrigue to go around. The main character, Cazaril, is a witty and fully fleshed person. Even the villains are fully developed. The central mystery of the story draws you in and won't let you put the book down.

While the writing is decent and at time's marvelous that was the only good point. I was well over the 30% point before I could have answered the what's the story about. I also found the characters rather generic and shallow.

This is my very favorite book ever. Not my favorite fantasy book, my favorite book. Period. I love how Bujold develops her characters and how she takes cues from medieval Spain but makes the characters and settings her own. Perfection.

Unfortunately, I have been struck by the Curse of Bujold, and so my fate is now that I must buy her books in hardcover, rather than wait for them to come out in paperback.
I've read the whole Miles saga, and loved it. Bujold has again created a fascinating world, with believable characters that you can care about. I highly recommend it.

This is one of the few books that I have read recently, that really caught and kept my attention. This book is on the top of my list. It was such a fabulous book, that i reread it several times. The plot has everything. The storyline is solid. I adored it. I suggest everyone should go and get it.

I bought The Curse of the Chalion (after joining an the store fantasy discussion group), because it came highly recommended. If this is considered good fantasy, I'd quit the genre! The world building seems nothing more than a slightly medieval Spanish setting. There are swords, horses, and castles but nothing much more complex, compelling or beguiling or fantastic about this world. It does have an unusual assortment of barely defined Gods but you never get to know them. Unfortunately the character development is even worse. Flat uninteresting, uneven, inconsistent and utterly without depth, the characters, once introduced, manage to get through the entire book with barely more than a few words per page to one another. If you love conversation and character development, this is definitely not the book for that. If you love multi textured plot lines and a world you wish you'd had the imagination to invent, this is not the book to read. I am astonished that Lois McMaster Bujold is a Hugo award winning author. I forced myself to plod along, barely caring about any of the characters in hopes of it getting better. The supposed hero, 'Cazaril' can only be presumed to be a broken, half functioning being, because he was once a soldier but reduced to timidity due to previous torture. That is a deep as it gets. The real hero is Iselle, a 16 year old princess (called a Royina) who manages to out think and out maneuver everyone, but you never get to know her at all. There are NO interpersonal complexities here. The reader is kept at arms length throughout. The book is 442 pages and only barely picks up and becomes interesting, while still utterly predictable, in the last 70-100 or so pages, which is a lot of plodding along waiting for things to get interesting. Cazaril suffers continuously and what thin threads of fantasy that Bujold does include, are unfortunately not fantasy at all and are centered around animal abuse (a couple of sacrifices and a slaughter), arguably not high on my list of intriguing or inventive plot lines (besides, it makes you feel bad for the animals). And some intervention by the Gods/Goddess. I don't mean to rant but seriously it's hard to have an emotion for any of the characters that is stronger than 'like'. You sort of 'like' some of them. This book never redeems itself on any level other than it's predictable end for which the reader may be somewhat grateful. When compared to ANY fantasy writings of Michelle West, Guy Gavriel Kay, Jack Whyte, Diana Gabaldon, Patricia Keneally Morrison, Patricia McKillip, even Anne McCaffrey, Jennifer Roberson, or David Eddings the writing just doesnt hold up, pales by comparison and makes one wonder how it ever got published. I read some of the five star reviews of Curse of the Chalion and wonder if the reviewers have EVER read any truly great fantasy. I would never read another of Bujold's books simply because she belongs in another genre and I'm sticking with remarkable fantasies if i can find them!. I gave her one star because maybe this book would appeal to YA audiences but I don't really think it is interesting enough enough to captivate.

Her second fantasy novel (after The Spirit Ring), this book is imaginative and tightly written. As we've come to expect from Bujold, the characters are sympathetic and full of wit. The protagonist is particularly engaging, even if he dresses badly!
The worldbuilding is superb. The details on religion are novel and thought-provoking. And best of all, all the details come together in a brilliant piece of work that will keep you up all night.
Although I love the Vorkosigan series, I sincerely hope Ms. Bujold returns to Chalion for more.

I prefer Miles, but this is good stuff. Her characters think. That is why I like her work. Ther is nothing really inventive about this book, but the skill with which she tells this tale is admirable.
Worth the money.

"Chalion" was my introduction to the work of Lois McMaster Bujold and I have been reading everything I can of hers since. This lady is good! This is a great fantasy tale of betrayal, curse, determination and success. The story has little direct violence but much in its history and some behind the scenes artfully alluded to. The plot development is good and the characters more than interesting. Find it and enjoy!

This novel, somewhat different than her Miles books, is a stunning display of fantasy talent.
The book not only contains all the right elements, but weaves them together well to provide an immensely entertaining, and sometimes thought-provoking, read.

One of the best novels written in quite awhile by the author. Right from the beginning the characters are intriguing and the story captivating. A great read for fans of both Bujold and fantasty fans alike.

Bujold is one of my favourite writers for her character centred writing and humour. I love the Vorkosigan series and put of reading this for a while as it was not a Cordelia or Miles book, but it was GREAT! Not quite the light hearted romp of the Vor books, but a very likeable/lovable protagonist.
Buy it and sit back and enjoy.

I've read a whole lot of speculative/fantasy fiction in my life. All too often, the hero/ine is a person I can't really relate to. I'm not dashing at all. But Cazaril is a hero who's a lot more human. He's met with failure, he's down and out, he's older and wiser and whole lot sadder. I can relate to that.

And maybe it's just me, but the little prophecy/blessing on the last page always moves me to tears.

I love Curse of Chalion! I think it is the best book Lois McMaster Bujold has written (although its sequel, Paladin of Souls, is a very close second). We have everything you need in a good adventure: realistic characters, intrigue, betrayal, sword fighting, torture, true love...it's all here!

It's an enormous pleasure to read fiction that is so well thought out and presented. There's a second book in the series, Paladin of Souls, that is equally engrossing. I wish there were a hundred more!

A fantastic story. Great main character and the women characters in it are very strong. Great use of magic and gods. A couple of nice romances are built in and an excellent touch of humour. One of my favorite quotes is from this book.

I highly recommend it.

I've been a fan of LMB for a while, having read most of the Vorkosigan series. This was a really great read - fantastical, mystical, with just a touch of cynicism and humor to spice it up. The plot twists kept me guessing until the end. In many ways, it has the flavor of The Name of the Rose, which I also loved.

I am a huge fan of Lois McMaster Bujold - I certainly love the Miles Vorkosigan novels. The Curse of Chalion is another triumph for this great author. What has struck me as particularly interesting is that she has been able to translate her solid narrative and interesting insights into political intrigue into the fantasy format so effortlessly. Try this book, it's worth it.

Read it - you won't regret it. This the store entry is not well-linked to other editions of "The Curse of Chalion" - for a LOT more reviews search the store US on 0380818604 (This is an ISBN - but just enter 0380818604). the store UK is less generous with reviews for some reason.

For all that some Bujold fans swear by her prose and dialogue, I found it spotty in places, enjoyable in others. The style is very much the same as her SF novels, which is fine except that occasionally it is jarring in a fantasy setting. Perhaps the exeptional praise I saw here elevated my expectations to the point where it was going to be hard not to be disappointed. There a seceral really enjoyable scenes and some really witty exchanges, but I a;so found some parts tedious and a little on the amateurish side. In my opinion, Bujold is a much better writer of futuristic fiction that of medieval style fantasy. I await her return to the Vorkosigan saga.

Lois McMaster Bujold has created another masterpiece that will provide enjoyment to her readers (both old and new) for years to come. Also, this book like all others by her is seriously habit-forming. I mean there I was doing something else when something I read made me go reread a certain passage and I wound rereading the entire book twice!!

I am a huge fan of Lois McMaster Bujold - I certainly love the Miles Vorkosigan novels. The Curse of Chalion is another triumph for this great author. What has struck me as particularly interesting is that she has been able to translate her solid narrative and interesting insights into political intrigue into the fantasy format so effortlessly. Try this book, it's worth it.

This book is just the average fantasy written in two days to make a couple bucks. Any hardship whatsoever that might give Caz a hard time is totally nonexistent and he just travels for miles in a couple pages and nothing happens to him on the way. Any even minimal hardship a traveler might endure is taken away, no shortages, no anything. No one even trips and falls. Things just go way too smoothly. Even when he gets ambushed he just gets over that really quickly. You never see a real problem come and bring him or any other secondary character to their knees even temporarily. There is no touch of reality.

And for being a book about a dude who goes into service of a lady in a castle then travels to get her husband and then comes back I think the talk about sex is just a tad too much. I know there should be some sex to make a story realistic but no need to include it at every turn and conversation. And even here the problems that arise on who Iselle is going to marry are just really weak there should have been a lot more or less conflict put into it.

For the love stories that go on those are even worse. No conflict whatsoever. After Dondo dies Iselle in two seconds finds the right person to marry and there is no problem between them when they meet or anything and the thing between Caz and Betriz just never shows up it never gets much mounting tension about what will happen between the two until the end of the story when the become happy and wed.

Not to be sadistic but no one of importance or helpfulness dies and poses any sort of obstacle. The death of Teidez was well done but it never really did anything, everybody just kinda forgot about his death. As for king Orico he was already put as frail in health because of the curse and he was expected to die eventually but even him he died just in time for everything to be put well again and have an even better happy ending as if everything else going well wasn't enough.

Also Palli just showing up in random places and bringing good news is just too random. He just comes and goes and somehow always knows where Caz is even when he is returning from the Fox with his son and no one is supposed to know where he is. His character is also not very expanded on and he never shows or gives any importance to the story.

I have been very critical and I must say this story does have some good and enexpected components and the death of the Teidez was well done even though it should have been expanded on more and had greater conflict. The fact though that the story just throws you in and doesn't give you a firm beginning and a too good to be true ending just makes the whole story feel hollow and not very real. It was well thought of but poorly executed.

At 100+ pages in, this title has not held up to all of its 5 star ratings. I have seen many praising the world/plot building. Well, in my opinion, at where I am in the book, the plot is completely uninteresting. The world, while not that bad, totally flies by you with a whole lot of names and NO map. George Martin flies many names through his series, but he simply writes them in so its not a problem, you always know what he is talking about. Bujold, in the first 20 pages will spit out all kinds what I suppose are countries, or city states. Its not to big of a deal, but truly its not very solid. The plot is just boring. Its not broad, its based almost entirely on Caz, who is a very well fleshed out character, but simple dialouge with him is overdone.

Someone went off on Martin for not liking some of his characters? And since he doesnt like his characters and feel for them, he is completely unrealistic in terms of character design? He can craft characters, worlds, plots, and goverments better then almost anyone. Just because he puts all the places in piece for something truly great, doesnt mean his has to specifically care for any of them at all. And you really wouldnt know if he cared for any of them without asking him, if you wanted to be absolutely sure.

Abraham Lincoln said (about something else entirely), "This is the kind of thing that people will like who like this kind of thing." I love Bujold's Vorkosigan Universe books, including "Falling Free". But I was not crazy about
The Spirit Ring", and I'm not crazy about this. Doesn't mean I won't read "Paladin of Souls", the next in this series. ANYTHING Bujold writes is well-written. But where the Vor books are hard science, both TSR and "Chalion" are fantasy. I actually never felt "grounded" in CoC--is it set on Earth? Another planet? Alternate Earth? A map would have helped. More than that, I never cared about the characters the way I do about Cordelia and Miles and especially Mark. (HINT TO LOIS: MORE MARK!) I can't judge this against other fantasy novels, but I'd rather re-read "Mirror Dance".

Where to start? The opening sentences carry the reader at once into a landscape and a man's life filled with uncertainty, then rescue, and then darkest intrigues and dire demon-work. I've re-read it a thousand times now, and there are still parts that make me cry.

While it's almost a ten year old book at the time of this review and though it has been downloaded on my Kindle for at least a couple of years I just now got around to reading it. This is an interesting fantasy/world novel mimicking 15th or 16th Century royal European kingdoms. People who enjoy political intrigue and the devious minds that exist at the top of the food chain in governmental settings of any type will find an excellently well-crafted read within this book. While the plot is heavier on drama and the main characters' wit and charm, there is just enough action to hold most readers attention. This would be a good novel to take with you as a travel companion on vacation.

The Curse of Chalion is the first work by this author I ever read, so I did a lot of backtracking to The Sharing Knife series, then on to her Sci-fi. It remains my favorite work by Bujold.

Carried along by its bruised and broken idealist main character, the story has wonderful friendships, intelligent and thoughtful young women characters, a bit of sword-fighting, and a whole lot of wry, terrified commentary on the hazards of prayer.

Have actually given this book to three people. Just read it, already.

I love Lois McMaster Bujold and have read all of her books I can get my hands on. I bought this to listen to during a car journey but had to turn it off after barely 3 minutes. Hearing every single breath the reader took was EVIL, plus it sounded like he didn't give a darn about the story at all. Please get someone else to read it and reissue it! Get the guy that read Captain Vorpatrils Alliance. He's great!