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)

Perfect storytelling

The Curse of Chalion by Louise McMaster Bujold

This was my most recent Audible listen, and is most definitely one of the best single (non series) audiobooks I have ever had the pleasure of hearing.

This book is not epic fantasy, high fantasy, or dark fantasy, it falls somewhere in what I would call middle fantasy.

It has a low-magic feel, and is more character driven than any other fantasy piece I can remember. It would definitely appeal to mainstream fiction fans. I don't have any negative comments on this book, it was a fine example of what a fantasy novel should be.

This book gets a perfect 5 from me, and that's saying something, because I don't think I've ever given a perfect score to a fantasy novel before, not even to Tolkien, sorry.

Good, solid read

This book hasn't changed fantasy fiction forever, but I definitely enjoyed reading it and would read another book by this author. The world-building isn't amazingly cutting edge, but it's solid and internally consistent. The protagonist isn't utterly unique in the genre, but he's sympathetic, and the supporting characters serve their intended purposes. The plot is relatively straightforward, though there are a few delightful little twists. The writing style relies on a lot of internal monologue and narrative exposition, but this is hardly the only book in the genre to do so, and I've seen many books that did it less successfully. The narrator does a good job distinguishing the voices of the fairly large cast of characters.

In all, I was completely satisfied with this book and its presentation.

I picked this book on a whim-and WOW

I chose this title because it was the "editor's pick". I was somewhat hesitant with the choice after reading the "Editorial Review"; therefore, I put it on the back burner for a while before finally breaking down and giving it a try. Wow, was I in for a surprise. I thought the book was wonderful! The characters and story are well drawn and believable (fantasy from an author who obviously has studied history - this always makes for a better spun yarn, i.e. Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Tolkein etc.). The narrator does an excellent job as well, which can also make or break a book. Overall this is a great fantasy with something for everyone: war, romance, intrigue, magic, and mystery.

First rate story!

Characters with depth, twisting plots, and a polished ending. A very satisfying tale.

Slow but interesting

First, I’m not sure why this is in Audible Escape — it’s not a romance, which is fine by me but other readers should be aware. It’s epic fantasy with a philosophical bent. If that’s your style, you will probably enjoy this book.

Cazaril is a broken man who has recently been freed from a torturous life as a galley slave. He returns to the country house of his childhood and is given the post of tutor to Iselle, the sister of the heir to the throne and her companion Betriz. When the royal siblings are summoned back to the capital, Caz needs to protect them from court intrigue and a curse that has haunted the royal family.

The story is slow-moving but thought-provoking, especially about themes like trauma, redemption, free will and faith.

The narrator takes some getting used to. The audio quality is not ideal, with breath sounds and occasional spit sounds. In addition, the narrator tends to add chuckles, sighs and other affectations not mentioned in the text, as well as almost cartoonish voices for some characters. I was still able to enjoy the story but would have preferred another narrator.

The Curse Of A Slow Story Arc

What did you like best about The Curse of Chalion? What did you like least?

I think the character development was pretty good from start to finish, so I liked that best. What I liked least was how long it took for anything to happen. I mean, things happened, but the book really did seem to plod along after the opening chapter and didn't really start to pick up until towards the end.

Would you be willing to try another book from Lois McMaster Bujold? Why or why not?

As always, depends on the book.

What about Lloyd James’s performance did you like?

I thought James did a good job of bringing the characters to life.

Could you see The Curse of Chalion being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Movie, maybe, but not without some rewrites to the slow parts.

Any additional comments?

Ok, at the end everything makes sense. But it is a long slog to get there. Everything fits together neatly and the ending is good. The ride to get there was bumpy though. Book is not horrid, but neither is it good. It's just average.

Narrator a bit annoying

Story was good but I was often annoyed with the reader - he seemed like he was drooling at times and needed to swallow.

Great tale, not a love story

This story was enthralling, with a main character that is a far cry from the typical "chosen one" or "young aspiring hero" archetypes. The only issue I can find in this story is audible and even other reader's insistence on it being a romance story! This story is a romance in the same way Lord of the Rings is about border disputes. The argument can be made that the plot has it in there, but it is hardly, if at all, the focus of the narrative. It is because of this that I was disappointed in how the "romance" turned out because it was not nearly developed enough to be considered a selling point. However, if you are looking for a compelling story about gods, people and the twisted threads of fate, you'll be more than satisfied with this novel!

Great story

I was tired of dragons and make believe creatures. This was a wonderful combination of fantasy and reality without getting too bizarre. I really enjoyed it. Others commented on the narrator, I personally enjoyed his voice and the way he conveyed the emotions of the character.

Good not great...

Although not a romance per se, it really is in so many ways -- most especially the outlook coloring the storyline. Bujold is MUCH better at including atmospheric details, etc. than in the one (Bujold) Miles V. sci-fi book I read earlier (in a buy 2 get 3 deal). This story? An interesting premise that never really develops past the 'pleasant' stage.