The Curse of Chalion

Lois McMaster Bujold

Oct 2009 · Chalion series Book 1 · Sold by Harper Collins

About this ebook

A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril returns to the noble household he once served as page and is named secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is an assignment Cazaril dreads, for it must ultimately lead him to the place he most fears: the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions.

But it is more than the traitorous intrigues of villains that threaten Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle here, for a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge -- an act that will mark him as a tool of the miraculous . . . and trap him in a lethal maze of demonic paradox.

Ratings and reviews

One of the best books I have read in a while. From beginning to end, it is such a well-paced story. There are no moments that feel rushed, like the endings of so many books out there. It is top-notch writing throughout; the kind that, if you must set it down, leaves you thinking about what might happen next. ~~The twists are well done, unexpected and highly gratifying, whereas in most books you can see them from a mile away, or if they are a surprise, they fall rather flat. The characters are most likeable and fleshed-out and even have reasons for being who they are or doing what they do. ~~One of my favorite aspects of Bujold's world is the counterpoint of divinity and all that it entails. The lack of cursing, the entwining of spiritual/religious themes, and the strong moral backbones of the protagonists are refreshing in this time where myriads are trying to push agendas to breaking and desensitize and degenerate our psyches. ~~Whether you as a reader agree with the theological views or not, the moral and ethical choices laid out in this tale are universal.

first three chapters great but please lois spare me yr theology. lets go back to barrayar

An enchanting slow burner. A love letter to humanity and the exquisite suffering therein.

About the author

One of the most respected writers in the field of speculative fiction, Lois McMaster Bujold burst onto the scene in 1986 with Shards of Honor, the first of her tremendously popular Vorkosigan Saga novels. She has received numerous accolades and prizes, including two Nebula Awards for best novel (Falling Free and Paladin of Souls), four Hugo Awards for Best Novel (Paladin of Souls, The Vor Game, Barrayar, and Mirror Dance), as well as the Hugo and Nebula Awards for her novella The Mountains of Mourning. Her work has been translated into twenty-one languages. The mother of two, Bujold lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.