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)

Enjoyable Potential Its going somewhere

Potential is there: after having listened to book 2 I can see where this will be very enjoyable as a series. These characters do not wring the heart like Miles and his family & crew but they are likeable and enjoyable. Dag and Spark will size up to be something, I sense a real potential in them and their story.

I did note that their stories do not have the crushing depth and emotional attachment I found in the Challion series or Miles V. And Bujold is an enjoyable writer and thats just fine.

I absolutely loved the story line!

Great story line and world building! I absolutely can’t put this book down (ok I did but only to make dinner) and the characters were so very likable and real. The premise of the world building is a fantastic mix of small towns and magic and soldiers and terrifying monsters. What more can you ask? The most important part is it’s so believable that you don’t feel “fantasy world” just a great tale! Must read!

Crossing Boudaries and enjoying it

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

I wish all my friends enjoyed fantasy as much as i did. This book combines romance that bridges cultures, age and politics with a good adventure story. It has something for all.

What other book might you compare The Sharing Knife, Volume 1 to and why?

Truly in the same vein as this author"s other books, but with a fundamentally different premise and local. but...the underdog is a hero, and for those of us who have been underdogs our whole lives, it is great to be able to cheer for the unexpected hero.

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

This storyteller draws you in with compelling charaterizations, not only voice but tone and energy and sweetness and anger all come through and the performer fades into the background as the characters join you in your room. i love her!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would park the car and wait until the scene changed as I could not bear to leave the pieces unheard. Lots of fun, believable characters (even ones you wanted to yell at)

Any additional comments?

This author should never stop writing...her audience would pine away.

Good story

A very enjoyable read. full of suspense and action. on to part 2 and more fun.

The 1st

When you start this book it's seems like a fantasy romance mance but you gotta read them all a good

Fascinating Tale

Fascinating, engrossing and well written. Couldn't wait to complete the series. Plenty of room for further stories, both before and after this series. The only downer... the age difference. Pretty unbelievable and seemingly unnecessary.

Not a fantasy adventure, but a generic love story

Not a bad story, but a pretty dramatic level of bait-and-switch. Lots of background and world-building for a story the author didn't get around to including.

Romance novel with interesting fantasy elements

Mrs Bujold masters the ability of writing and storytelling. Her stories are easy to listen to. Her characters are always credible and the dialogs fluid. This particular story is a bit slow. I'm more interested in her books that better fit the SF genre.

Excellent

Among the best audio books I have ever listened to. The characters are exceptionally well developed and the narrator is great. I became a fan of Bujold by listening to these books.

An intriguing take on fantasy

I love this author's stories and this on is no exception. So far in my fantasy quest I've read nothing like it. Men might find it a bit sentamental but as a married woman I was reminded of my courtship time. Although a bit explicit, it was a refreshing jogging of memory as well as being a well-spun tale with colorful characters.