The Curse of Chalion

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Length: 18 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Lord Cazaril has been, in turn, courtier, castle-warder, and captain; now he is but a crippled ex-galley slave seeking nothing more than a menial job in the kitchens of the Dowager Provincara, the noble patroness of his youth. But Cazaril finds himself promoted to the exalted and dangerous position of tutor to Iselle, the beautiful, fiery sister of the heir to Chalion's throne.

Amidst the decaying splendor and poisonous intrigue of Chalion's ancient capital, Cazaril is forced to confront not only powerful enemies but also the malignant curse that clings to the royal household, trapping him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation, and death for as long as he dares walk the five-fold pathway of the gods.

©2004 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Bujold weaves a convincing and captivating fantasy world, well researched, with magic that works and gods that live without destroying the balance of this medieval society....A finely balanced mixture of adventure, swordplay, court intrigue, romance, magic, and religion makes this book a delightful read." (School Library Journal)

FINELY A HERO WHO isn’t PERFECT

A regular person gives hope to
Isn’t the type of book I normally read took a chance from reading the same ole — will we get together does she not see I’m not good enough then the rescue the sex that lasts longer than the story and they live happily ever after
This one is an actual story give it a chance
The narrator did an awesome job

Excellent study on the nature of faith

This fantasy novel is a good story, but what has had me return to it repeatedly is that it is the best analysis of individual faith I have yet found.

Took a while to warm up to, but then got me

If you are a Vorkosigan Saga fan, the pace of this book is much slower with lots of back story. It took me a while to get into the story but ultimately it sucked me in. Bujold’s observations of the human condition shine through again.

Very satisfying

I really enjoyed this book. It starts out quite slowly but all the little details are wound very carefully into the storyline of the book. Events and characters are always there for a purpose and not just to bulk out the book.

Set in a fantasy world, the story is about a war veteran, Caz, who returns from war and hardship to royal court and becomes involved in the political intrigues that surround the royal family. He discovers the royal family have had a curse laid upon them for many generations which has resulted in many disasters and continues within the younger children of the family. Caz must endeavour to free the family of the curse before it taints the rule of the next generation.

This book has an unusual magic system in that all magic comes into the world through the 5 gods. So it is not so much magic as miracles and curses. The author has done a great job with this system. She makes the gods believable but not part of the everyday world. The gods are still marvels - aloof and capricious. But from time to time they step in and work their will through humans willing to open their souls to the divine.

The author also does a fantastic job with character and plot development. If you are after a lot of action and magic in your fantasy this book is probably not for you. But if you are after a really good story with many interesting characters I encourage you to give this a try. There is a little violence, but nothing at all gory or gratuitous. Romance plays only a small part with no actual sex scenes.

I had a little bit of an issue with the narrator. I'm Australian so the American accent came through really strongly to me. It's not a bad reading but I kept thinking he made Caz sound like a cowboy from a western because of it. He also wasn't great with the womens voices. But probably this performance would be fine for an American audience.

Overall, highly recommended!

fantasy must read

I havn't listened to a fantasy epic like this one since the Hobbit. Its sort of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and your favorite reluctant hero wraped together.

A book so good you should read it twice.

I listen to this book about once a year, and every time I'm amazed by how well it is written.

Please re-record this awesome story.

This is my favorite book. I find Cazaril to be one of the most intriguing protagonists ever. Intelligent, determined, wise and kind. The decision to read him in a flat full voice for the whole book is a horrifying to me. The reader also frequently phrases sayings in a way that makes it seem like he doesn’t actually understand the phrase. Please have Grover Gardner re-perform this book!

love the book

The first of Bujold's Chalion (or 5 Gods) Universe is so good, and rewards rereading. both print and audio. Not fond of the narrator, who has a Capt Kirk type delivery, with odd pauses. But still good to listen to!

I love this book, I dislike the narrator

This is one of my favourite books of all times, I have read it or listened to it or read it aloud more times than I have fingers on one hand.

But even though knowing this book so well, starting this audiobook I was totally lost in bad diction and a reading that went so fast we actually ended up slowing it down. The reading speed gets a bit better, the diciont gets a bit clearer with time, but then there are other tings to annoy. He reads with some very, very strange intonations and accents that makes no sense to me.

I have heard all of Bujolds books as audiobooks by now, and this is the only one that I can not recomend the narrater of. It is a bit sad, as this is for many the first introduction to her world of books, and I just had a friend who gave up on it after trying three times withouth being able to follow this reading.

A first 5 star review

Are there better stories, sure. Are there better narrators, probably. But none so far have caused me to give 5 stars in review.
The word smithing is subtle and fantastic. The hero and heroine of which I see more than one are understated and grow strongly in themselves as characters and in the reader’s appreciation and desire to live.
I am grateful for the author’s willingness to give us a satisfying end to the story. Enough so that I love placing the book down with a smile. Of course I want more and will see if there is a second or third book that follows. But I will find the continuation out of love of the tale instead or reeling from a cliffhanger.
Thank you Ms McMaster Bujold.