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The Curse of Chalion (World of the Five Gods, #1)

Lois McMaster Bujold

Start date: August 1, 2013

Finish date: August 31, 2013

Discussion: 2013 Reads

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2013 Reads

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Aug 05, 2013 Harold Ogle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, fantasy, low-fantasy

I was pleasantly surprised to find a fantasy novel by Bujold as the book selection for August 2013 in the "Sword & Laser" book club. I've always thought of her as a SF writer, so I approached this with some skepticism. But I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

The story is about another cripple, possibly inspired by Tyrion Lannister and certainly informed by Miles Vorkosigan: dy Cazaril grew up as a noble page, then distinguished himself with honor as a soldier for years before he was "mistakenly" I was pleasantly surprised to find a fantasy novel by Bujold as the book selection for August 2013 in the "Sword & Laser" book club. I've always thought of her as a SF writer, so I approached this with some skepticism. But I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

The story is about another cripple, possibly inspired by Tyrion Lannister and certainly informed by Miles Vorkosigan: dy Cazaril grew up as a noble page, then distinguished himself with honor as a soldier for years before he was "mistakenly" sold into slavery and his health destroyed by working an oar on a war galley for a long time. Eventually, his body ruined, he is manumit by opposing soldiers who have killed his masters. After being nursed back from the brink of death, he is a nervous and physical wreck. Out of tremendous self-pity, hope and nostalgia, he forbears the advice of the priests who have kept him from dying and sets out on a long, overland journey on foot to return to his homeland of Chalion. The story actually begins months later, as the wretch has finally returned to the land of his first job as a boy, a page for a noble house. Knowing his body is good for almost nothing - he's now a decrepit old man of thirty-five - his earnest desire is for one of his old employers to take pity on him and hire him to do scullery work: rinsing pots, maybe, or helping stir some stew in the kitchens. Contrary to expectations, he is welcomed and appointed tutor to the granddaughter of his old lord. The granddaughter is now a princess by virtue of her elder brother succeeding the throne after their cousin, the ruler of the realm, dying without heirs. So the princess becomes dy Cazaril's ward, and he her teacher.

The book is filled with enough politics, dark magic, and changes of fortune to read like a fantasy version of The Prisoner of Zenda, an adventure-packed thriller. There's questions of predestination again (making for a nice tie-in with both Ringworld and Among Others), the Curse - which is revealed only pretty far into the novel - is satisfyingly insidious and inimical, and there's a climactic ending that satisfyingly wraps up all the threads that Bujold set up from the very beginning. ...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Charlotte rated it really liked it

Shelves: bookskype

_The Curse of Chalion_ is a classically good fantasy novel. It takes on many familiar tropes, such as the traitorous adviser and rebellious princess. Through the use of an unconventional protagonist and a unique, well-developed religious system is makes them all fresh again.

Cazaril begins the story an aging, broken man returning home after betrayal and slavery. He takes what is supposed to be an undemanding job of secretary to a princess but is soon thrust into the thick of court politics. Cazar _The Curse of Chalion_ is a classically good fantasy novel. It takes on many familiar tropes, such as the traitorous adviser and rebellious princess. Through the use of an unconventional protagonist and a unique, well-developed religious system is makes them all fresh again.

Cazaril begins the story an aging, broken man returning home after betrayal and slavery. He takes what is supposed to be an undemanding job of secretary to a princess but is soon thrust into the thick of court politics. Cazaril's fear and sense of his own weakness made him an unusual and sympathetic main character and his unwavering honor and courage made him an admirable one. More than anything else, this book was about his recovery and that aspect made the rest of the plot, including the court intrigue, much more personal. Bujold focuses very closely on Cazaril and the rest of the characters are not near as well developed. Even those, though, were appealing and unique.

_The Curse of Chalion_ is set in an alternate version of 15th century Spain and even includes a number of historic events in the plot. I believe that adds to the convincingness of the world but what I was most intrigued by was the religious system. Bujold sets the story in a low-magic world and the five gods (the Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, and Bastard) are the source of much of the society's structure and of all the supernatural happenings. The actions of these gods leads to a plot that unfolds with the same precision and inevitability as a Greek tragedy. Through these gods, Bujold also was able to address ideas such as free-will and the relationship between the human and the godly. It is all very well incorporated into the plot so that even when local mystic lectures Cazaril on some aspect of theology it seems both natural and interesting.

I only had a couple of complaints with the novel. The ending was too tidy and happy and Cazaril ended up with some cringe-worth, out-of-character dialogue. There were also a couple of points where I did not feel that Cazaril's physical capability fit with some of the feats he was able to accomplish. Nevertheless, this book is going on the list of fantasy novels I recommend to friends and Bujold on my list of authors to follow. ...more

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Dec 18, 2010 Adrienne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, characters-that-feel-real, owned, bookskype

I usually don't grumble about the lack of half-stars, but I would have given this book 4.5 stars if I could have. I enjoyed it quite a bit -- but just not enough to give it 5. So. Four stars it is, then, but with an asterisk.

I think the best part of this book for me was Cazaril, our non-traditional hero. At the beginning of the book, he is returning from an unexpected stint as a slave on a ship, and understandably has acquired a lot of baggage surrounding that experience. He ends up as the advis ...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Joby Walker rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

A good character driven story. The second half of the story felt a bit railroaded but then it is Caz's personal journey that is important not the events or quest. The wrap up at the end is a bit long and sacharine, but forgivable. ...more

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May 21, 2014 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, audio

It's been a long time since I reread this, but it's still great. I like the richness of the religion, and how the author sinks it into the society and the characters, and then looks at what it means for people to really interact with the divine, and how that reflects back on our society. ...more

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Mar 25, 2016 Marianne rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, audio

Enjoyable fantasy, though nothing straying too far from center. Familiar archetypes and themes. But an interesting enough world and struggle to hold attention.

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