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Summary: Curse is Wonderful
Review: A strong fantasy from an author better known for SF; lively and complex characters, intrigue, some good action, an interesting sytem of magic/religion, and a detailed and vivid background loosely based on late-medieval Spain. I've read all Bujold's work, and this was right up there with her best -- and different from her previous high points too. She's increasing her range and subtlety without losing any 'oomph'. Well worth the cost of buying in hardcover.
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Summary: The Best!!
Review: 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.
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Summary: Bujold does it again
Review: 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.
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Summary: Not Miles, but still worth reading
Review: 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.
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Summary: Strong in places, weak in others
Review: 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.
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Summary: Fantastic book--new world, new people, new tone
Review: 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.
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Summary: Top of the Line Bujold,happy I didn't wait for the paperback
Review: 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.
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Summary: Just read it, you'll thank me later
Review: 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.
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Summary: Excellent book!
Review: 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.
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Summary: Miles in sheepish clothing
Review: LMB does reluctant heroes well. Certainly Miles V. is one of the better ones in the SF genre. But it's getting old. Despite "reader" reviews that sound like they were written by the advertising department of the publisher, I can't say this knocked me off my feet. I mean, it was enjoyable, but again, it annoyed me to see a standard set of Bujold characters reclothed and set forth into another genre. Is SF not profitable enough? It's sad to see authors diversifying without love for the writing, as if the books they produce are part of stock portfolios. This is certainly a readable book, if you don't mind seeing Miles in another form. I hope that LMB will seek to expand her repertoire of characterization in the inevitable sequels.
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