A Book Review: The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Curse of Chalion, written by Lois McMaster Bujold, is the winner of Mythopoetic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature in 2002. This book appeared on my radar after Goodreads recommended it to me. My local library does not stock this book, so I did not have the chance to read it. Two months ago, at the cost of a dollar, I procured this book at a secondhand book fair. Last week, I read it and realized, I wouldn't be able to appreciate this book 10 years ago; the saying is true - all in good time.

Synopsis:

A wretched man, malnourished and crippled, pushed himself along on a dusty road. This poor soul, named Cazaril, had an appearance of an old man, whose worn face suggested a lifetime of suffering and turmoil, making him look far older than his true age at thirty and five. Cazaril made a destination for the noble household of Chalion, where he once served as page. 

Fortune smiled on Cazaril. Upon his return, the royal patroness appointed him as the secretary tutor to her granddaughter, the 15-year-old Royesse, Iselle.

Is Cazaril in luck? Not so fast! Cazaril's appointment soon led him to his worst nightmare. Namely, the royal court of Cardegoss, where old enemies were waiting to ambush Cazaril and his royal pupil with traitorous intrigues. Furthermore, Cazaril discovered that not all adversaries are made of flesh and blood; an ancient curse plagued the household of Chalion and their associates, and its due course was dropping like an executioner's ax from the above. How can Cazaril protect his beloved pupil, and her household, against such odds?

My thoughts on this book:

A slow burn, this is how I would describe The Curse of Chalion.

This is my first time reading a book by Lois McMaster Bujold, and she is a good wordsmith. Her prose is fluidic, captivating, but not verbose. However, if you are looking for an action-packed fantasy novel with thunderous battles, then this may NOT be the book for you. The “actions” in this book mostly took the form of court intrigues and political machinations. You will find the dramas in the dialogues and the story instead of in sword fights. Mark my words, however, in this book the court intrigues are deadly, and the political machinations are suspenseful, it is nail-biting stuff! The first 33% of the book focused on the character introductions and worldbuilding (including a very interesting magic system). This book had a slow start. Yet, those who persevered beyond page 150 will find the story quickly grow into a compelling tale, alive with unforgettable characters.

Cazaril is the protagonist, and I rooted for him after reading the first 10 pages of the book. I think it is because he and I are similar in age, and I resonated with Cazaril's thoughts and outlooks about life. Meanwhile, Cazaril is an unusual hero. What is unusual about him? Many fantasy novels feature larger than life protagonists, such as “chosen ones”, or individuals with extraordinary abilities. Cazaril, on the other hand, was a reluctant hero broken in body and spirit. He was seeking a low-profile life, yet ended up being dragged, unwillingly, into a game of fortune, glory, and perils, where he had nothing to rely on than his own wits and life experiences. In my eyes, Cazaril's qualities, combined with his circumstances, made him a likable and realistic character. I believe many readers will be fond of him too.

Sometimes, picking a book to read is like choosing a chocolate to put in your mouth, where it is worthwhile to pick the hard one because it lasts longer. I think this is the case for The Curse of Chalion. This book has a slow start, but it has a moving story layered in excellent character developments. I would recommend this book not only to fantasy readers, but to all those who like a good story.