The Curse of Chalion (Five Stars)

fantasy
The Curse of Chalion
Lois McMaster Bujold
Harper Torch
©2001
ISBN 0-380-81860-4
502 pages
US $7.99 CAN $10.99

"A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril has returned to the noble household he once served as page, and is named, to his great surprise, secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. It is an assignment that Cazaril dreads, for it must ultimately lead him to the place he most fears: the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions. But it is more than the traitorous intrigues of villains that threaten Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle here, for a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion and all who stand in their circle. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge – an act that will mark the loyal, damaged servant as a tool of the miraculous…and trap him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation, and death."

This is my favourite book. I own more than a thousand titles, and this is the best of them all. This is the only book I had read from cover to cover then turned back to page one to read the whole thing entirely again.

Most fantasy novels are written of sword-toting and law-breaking heroes whose divine purpose leads them to break all the rules. This is the first fantasy novel I read where the hero is a scholar, and a sickly scholar at that. Cazaril grabs your heart like no other hero possibly could, because he is trapped in a diseased body and doomed to certain death. It makes his struggles all the more real, the price all too high, and you are never certain he will actually succeed. The romance in this book is subtle and fine, as Cazaril falls in love with Iselle’s attendant, the Lady Betriz, and knows he can offer her nothing except a funeral.

The theology of fantasy worlds always interests me, and the Quintarian theology of this book is astounding in its simplicity. The political structure of this world is easily described, never leaving the reader too dazed with endless political schemings.

This book is fantastic. You should read it.