Lois McMaster-Bujold
The Curse of Chalion (2001)
Author: Lois McMaster Bujold
Genre: Fantasy (Sword and Sorcery/Epic)
Plot Summary:
Cazaril, once a courtier and a soldier, has nearly been broken after being taken as a slave by his enemies. Wanting only a menial job in the royal household he once served, he is surprised to find himself facing a myriad of enemies and having to risk all to save the family he serves. The men who were responsible for turning him into a slave are no ruling Chalion through the puppet-like king. They will do anything to ensure their continued power. Eventually, Cazaril realizes that the only way to protect the royal family is to give up his own life while performing forbidden magic, the Death Curse. miraculously, the Gods don't claim his life after he performs the curse... instead he is to be their tool in removing a dark evil that surrounds the royal family. However, the Gods' plans for him soon have him thinking that death not only would have been easier, it would have been preferable to what they have in store for him. SPOILER: Though the Gods didn't claim his l
ife for performing the Death Curse, the did plant a demon and the soul of the man he killed into his stomach in the form of a tumor. The only way to get rid of both is through his own death. However, he can't allow himself to die until he has ensured the survival of the royal family. however, when the Royesse Iselle's brother dies and she becomes the next in line to rule, he has to move quickly to prevent others from seizing power. He secretly arranges a marriage for Iselle. She marries, freeing the kingdom from the control of others. In order for Cazaril to rid himself of the demon and tormented soul residing in his stomach, he must die. he is killed defending the royal family from attackers. The Goddess of Spring in merciful and removes the evil surrounding the royal family and gives Cazaril life again.
Geographical Setting: Various locatins in the kingdom of Chalion
Time Period: Present day Chalion (reminiscent of medieval Spain)
Series: Chalion series (book one of three)
Appeal Characteristics:
The wealth of detail and slow pace work to make this book come alive in the reader's mind. The intricate details draw you into the story and make it difficult to put down. The rich medieval-like setting will make this book an immediate favorite with anyone who enjoys that time period. Cazaril, the main character, is so lifelike and realistic that readers cannot help but relate to him. his relationship with other characters is one of the main focuses of this story. The numerous relationships he has with others in the story can make understanding who is who a little difficult, but once you know who everyone is, the story flows like magic. Despite all the detail and character relationships, the story is essentially plot driven. There is constant action and movement. The magical elements in the story are not overpowering. One could easily believe that this story were taking place in the real world, were it not for the occational magical elements.
Read-alikes: Anyone who enjoyed The Curse of Chalion should consider reading Paladin of Souls, the second book in the Chalion series, or Falling Free, the first book of the popular Vorkosigan series, also by Lois mcMaster Bujold. Anyone interested in a fantasy book that does not contain too many elements of magic and is about a ruling family's struggle against others who would seize control should look at George Martin's Game of Thrones, the first in his Song of Fire and Ice series. Another book that follows along the lines of defending a kingdom is Wind from a Foreign Sky, by Katya Reimann. In this book, an ancient prophecy leaves one woman as the only salvation for the medieval kingdom. thos who enjoyed the religious undertones and moral questions brought up in The Curse of Chalion will enjoy Her Majesty's Wizard by Christopher Stasheff. Also, anyone interested in political and soical intrigue will want to read
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner, an novel set in Regency England. Finally, if you enjoyed the well-developed characters and slight shades of romance found in The Curse of Chalion, you should take a look at Juliet Marillier's Daughter of the Frost, the first book in the Sevenwaters Trilogy.
Red Flags: Some violence, though not overly graphic. Rare instances of foul language.
Paladin of Souls (2003)
Author: Lois McMaster-Bujold
Genre: Fantasy (Epic/Sword and Sorcery)
Plot Summary:
Though it is a sequel, Paladin of Souls focuses on different characters than The Curse of Chalion (2001), the first novel in the Chalion series. The Lady Ista Dy Boacia, Dowager Royina of Chalion, has survived her husband, son, father and, most recently, her mother. Now the head of her family's castle, 40-year-old Ista undertakes a pilgrimage through the holy places of Chalion. She tells her advisors that the pilgrimage will allow her to pray to the five gods for a grandson from her daughter Iselle, but really it is because she wishes to escape from the monotony of her life, now that she is free of her mother's shadow. The pilgrimage is meant to be a quiet journey to renew Ista's outlook on life, but it turns into a much more dangerous endeavor when Chalion is invaded by an army of Jokona from the north. If the invasion wasn't enough to deal with, Ista begins to have vivid, haunting dreams that soon become eerie reality--one of the five gods singles out Ista for sainthood so that she may lead the fight, unwillingly, against an incursion of demons who ravage people's souls.
Geographical Setting: Various villages and forts in Chalion
Time Period: Present day (in the world of Chalion)
Series: Book 2 in the Chalion series
Appeal Characteristics:
Paladin of Souls won the 2004 Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novel. Strong female lead character, fairly slow-paced, although exterior and interior action-packed. The book certainly contains a lot of exterior action (battle scenes, sorcery), but includes a strong problem-solving element as well. Plot is valued over characters, however Ista, the main character, is the center of the story and the reader is very close to her emotionally, psychologically. There is a core group of characters that are all mixtures of strengths and weaknesses and are suprisingly complex. The book contains many complex relationships that take time to fully understand. Setting is not described in detail, although one immediately imagines Medieval landscape and the descriptions are realistic in nature. Contains elements of magic and communication with five real gods. Otherwise, the book is realistic. Style of writing is literary and includes elements of "Medival-like English" (eg. "I know not, my lady.") Includes a minor element of romance, and is very dialogue-centered, contains themes of loyalty, family, and guilt, focusing more on these themes than on the magical, fantasy elements. The characters are the impetus of the book, and the dialogue between them is often thought provoking, occasionally humorous, and sprinkled with wit and sarcasm, providing a nice balance to the darker elements of the plot.
Similar Authors: Try The Curse of Chalion, the 1st of the Curse of Chalion series to which Paladin of Souls is a sequel. The Hallowed Hunt (2005) is book 3 in the series. Also try Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint, set in Regency England, a swordsman solves disputes among nobility--incorporates element of romance and witty dialogue. Also try, Susanna Clark’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, set in 1800, Mr. Norrell is a magician who attempts to revive British magic in order to change the course of the Napoleonic Wars. This incorporates the magician-in-war element of Paladin of Souls. It also incorporates the notion of there being two magicians who become at odds with one another, which is a feature of Bujold’s novel. Plus, this book won many awards including the Hugo Award in 2005. Try Carol Berg’s Daughter of Ancients because it features a medieval-like time period and setting, along with similar language use to Paladin of Souls, (eg. “Heed my last word…”). This title also incorporates sorcery and battle and centers around a woman who is being held captive. Includes elements of love, family, memory, and guilt. Try Jennifer Fallon’s The Lion of Senet because it features a medieval-like time period along with a strong female priestess who uses magic to create trouble in the land. Two noblemen attempt to set things right. This read-alike incorporates politics and magic-in-war along with complex characters. Try Marge Piercy's He, She and It, based in the future, but mostly in 16th century Prague, because it combines a strong female lead character with the elements of magic, religion, conjuring, and romance. Try Katharine Kerr’s The Red Wyvern because it features lead female characters in a medieval-like world populated with dragons and castles. This title incorporates the metaphysical elements of reincarnation, magic, and sorceresses. In the good versus evil vein with some conflict amongst the gods thrown in as well, there is The Redemption of Althalus (2001) by David and Leigh Eddings. If demons, necromancers, and sorcerers are the appeal, try The Wolf of Winter (1994, reprint) by Paula Volsky, or The Mirror of Her Dreams (2003) by Stephen R. Donaldson, which also has political intrigue and invading armies. Though lengthy and complex, George R.R. Martin's A Storm of Swords (2000), part of the Song of Ice and Fire series, is popular with many fans of the epic sword and sorcery subgenre and is worth a shot. Finally, try Juliet Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest because it is a fantasy title that, like Bujold’s work, focuses mainly on the love and loyalty aspects of the characters rather than the magical elements. The main character is female and must take responsibility for solving an enormous tangle of sorcery and loss.
Red Flags: Brief descriptions of swordplay involving decapitation, lots of bloodshed, some mild sexual dialogue, a brief sexual situation, numerous saddle sores
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