The Sharing Knife, Volume 1

Beguilement

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Young, pregnant Fawn Bluefield has just fled her family's farm to the city of Glassforge, where she encounters a patrol of the enigmatic soldier-sorcerers known as Lakewalkers. Fawn has heard stories about the Lakewalkers, who are wandering necromancers with no permanent homes and no possessions except the clothes they wear and the mysterious knives they carry. What she does not know is that the Lakewalkers are engaged in a perilous campaign against inhuman and immortal magical entities known as "malices".

When Fawn is kidnapped by one of these creatures, it is up to Dag, an older Lakewalker, heavy with sorrows and responsibilities, to rescue her. But in the ensuing struggle, it is not Dag but Fawn who kills the creature, at dire cost. And an uncanny accident befalls Dag's sharing knife, which unexpectedly binds their two fates together.

Don't miss the second volume, Legacy.

©2007 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Bujold develops the characters and their relationship skillfully enough to please romance as well as fantasy fans." ( Booklist)
"[A] saga of daring deeds and unlikely romance. Bujold quickly develops unforgettable characters as she crafts a world filled with unique monsters and an original approach to magic." ( Library Journal)
"Compelling characters lift this first of a two-book romantic fantasy from Hugo-winner Bujold....Bujold hints at an epic past of mighty kingdoms and ancient sorceries, a past that will hopefully be fully detailed in the sequel." ( Publishers Weekly)

Bujold hits another homerun!

SPOILERS AHEAD!! I adore this entire series. Well written from start to finish, as us typical of Bujold, and the world building is so well done the setting seems entirely real even though malices and lakewalkers are pure fantasy. Fawn's heartsore flight from her family home after the debacle of her disaster of a first time with Sunny Sawman, which she choose but later regrets deeply, especially in light of her out of wedlock pregnancy is nuanced, filled with such real anguish and yet buoyed by her own indomitable spirit.
All in all, a marvelous start to an epic series.

Slow moving romance

Narrator does a fantastic job of adding energy and emotion to scenes that stroll languidly between plot beats.

True love and a wry look at life

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Lois McMaster Bujold has characters you can respect and grow to love.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Sharing Knife, Volume 1?

The loving couple was on the fifth day of their 2-day trip. That thought is quietly inserted into the descriptions.

Have you listened to any of Bernadette Dunne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The reader catches the voices of the aunt's patient comforting and of the youngest brother's careless teasing.

my favorite series

This is the first book in the Sharing Knife series and is such a lovely quadrilogy. It begins with the meeting of two people from various different backgrounds and customs and sets the world and the two main characters. Together they work to build a better world for all.

Awesome Story with Excellent Narration

Just the fantasy escape I needed! Couldn't stop listening the author has great style and the world she built is very intriguing.

Awesome find!

This was an awesome surprise. After going through the entire Vorkosigan library I decided to try more of her works and although I missed Grover Gardner I thoroughly enjoyed this title and and starting Volume 2 today. Thank you for all you do Louis!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏻🤗

over and over read

cannot read this series enough. Have read evey year and still love the story.
The one of many audio books that is a great listen.

Excellent Story, interesting, . . .

Excellent Story, interesting, and well written to engage the reader!!! I found it so interesting and engaging, I didn't want to stop listening.
I loved the way, the characters' culture and lifestyle becomes very intricate, interesting, and very sensical! It's also a great love story and touches on reality at the same time, so the story blends fantasy, and reality so interestingly - that you forget the fantasy!
Another Bujold masterpiece!!

A Nice Lite Romance

A romance written across a fantasy tale. Bujold hasnt provided as much detail in this world as she did for Paladin of Souls but I think she could flesh it out in a subsequent book. I enjoyed it very much. If you liked Catharine Asaro's Catch the Lightning you will like this one as well.

GREAT BOOK/SERIES can't wait for the 4th book

What a winner! A great love story with a different fantasy twist. Two cultures colliding and love and understanding triumphing.

First of three books (and many more I hope). Each is self contained with the important info from previous books cleverly inserted into the story line. But read them in order, you don't want to miss any of this series.

Suitable for children/adolescents.