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Summary: Another wonderful story from Bujold
Review: 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.
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Summary: Excellant but don't buy it twice
Review: An outstanding book but be careful. It was also sold under the title THE CURSES OF CHALION. Don't buy it twice
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Summary: Great read!
Review: 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.
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Summary: The Curse of "Chalion": Better than most. Lesser Bujold.
Review: 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".
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Summary: Good, Enjoyable Book
Review: 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.
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Summary: For the love of Lord Caz
Review: 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.
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Summary: A Gem ! Do not miss this!
Review: As I am more into fantasy than sci-fi, this is my first Bujold's book. I am pleasantly surprised and found myself unable to put the book down, savoring every page. Bujold has created a colourful world filled with intrigues and embellished with vividly alive characters. Cazaril is a wonderfully appealing hero. A man nearly destroyed by betrayal and sufferings, Cazaril still manages to live and fight for another day. His will to overcome every obstacle thrown in his path and rising to the occassion to achieve the impossible is the strength of the story. His devotion to his ladies is beautifully written and especially touching. This is one fantasy in which I find the ending most satisfying. Still I am wishful for more from Cazaril and his ladies. Bujold is famous for her Miles series but that is sci-fi. Bujold, how about extending "The Curse of Chalion" into "Cazaril and his ladies" fantasy series. This book is a must read.
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Summary: another great bujold story
Review: Just read this from the library, now I have to get my own copy, since I'll be re-reading it from time to time. I've read every L.M. Bujold book I could get my hands on and have loved the miles series, but this was a nice change. It was still up to the excellent standard of story-telling of everything else she's written though. I find myself either laughing out loud or with tears in my eyes (or both at the same time) more often with her stories than any other author. I can't recommend them highly enough. Get this book!
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Summary: Another Really Terrific Book from Lois McMaster Bujold!
Review: 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.
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Summary: Excellent writing brings vibrant life to politics!
Review: The action here is through the politics of the characters and resulting motivations, while the emotion is vested in our lead character, Cazaril, and the intense loyality and more that he feels for 'his' two ladies - an intensity he felt from the time he first saw them on his return to his homeland, to the very last line of the book. Cazaril has returned from war a broken man, in body and largely in spirit, and at the opening of the book he simply wants a place to stop and rest - even a small space on the floor. Rather, the ruling family that he served before the war instead receive him as the wounded hero he is, and set him up as the tutor / secretary of the daughter of the house, who along with her brother are heirs to their part of the kingdom. The privileged have their own responsibilities, and in short order both young heirs have to go to the central city, where their brother who rules the Chalion as a whole has brought them. Once there, both are subject to the overt political manoeuvrings of the court. And few with motives of the good of those they seek to manipulate. But more than that, events enable Cazaril to identify a horrifying curse that hovers over Chalion, and in particlular in the line that rules it. A curse that infects even his student... Cazaril is clearly an extraordinary character. Those who have read LMB's Vorkosigan series will recognise that because a body is damaged, does not mean that the character cannot be exceptional. Aside from the fact that Cazaril's body doesn't work as well as others, and that he has a keen tactical mind, however, there is not much similarity to that series, and fans of the series will have to keep this firmly in mind if setting out to read this book - it is a different story altogether. However, the writing is just as excellent. It can be a stretch from time to time to follow the many different agendas of the various secondary characters, however I quickly found I became very much involved with the interior events of Cazaril. He is a man who makes sacrifices for what he believes is right, regardless of the cost to himself. A few - luckily among them the few who matter to him most - recognise him for the exceptional man that he is. His advice and tactics are always spot on, and the flaws he sees in others do tend to rear up and bite them, sometimes fatally. The females in the story are strong or brave, or unusually perceptive, and they are the ones who seem to value Cazaril most, which I greatly enjoyed about this book. Although the perspective never shifts from Cazaril, even when he seems less aware, the reader can tell how important he is to both those that care for him, and the success of the various plans that are made. His charge Iselle goes from naïve girl to perceptive and thinking royal under his care and supervision, very much coming into her own. Politics, religion, tactics, warfare, loyality, love and friendship. There's surely something for everyone.
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