The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
(Book #1 of the World of Five Gods series)
Rating: 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
Overall: A little slow to start, but oh so worth hanging in there! What a beautiful, well-written story.
The Good Stuff:
1) This is a character-driven story, and one of the best I've ever encountered. Told entirely from the perspective of Lupe dy Cazaril, it takes us along on his journey from a broken man to...well, I can't really say without ruining the book for you. While there's plenty going on, much of the story takes place inside his mind. I know that sounds boring as all get out, but it's really not. We suffer, struggle, rejoice, dread, puzzle, ponder and desire right along with Cazaril. So good.
2) What a world! Bujold has done a wonderful job of creating a fully-realized world without resorting to info dumps of any kind. The information you as the reader need is woven seamlessly into the narrative until you find yourself completely pulled into the world without realizing it.
3) There are good guys and bad guys in the world of Chalion, but I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that no one fell entirely into one category or the other. Every single character, no matter how minor, had their own motivations and personalities. Cazaril himself, our intrepid protagonist, had some major weaknesses (though arguably fewer than just about everyone else). Even the Big Bad wasn't totally evil - rather, most of the evil came about as a result of the twisting of something good.
4) The religion of the Divine Family played a huge part in the story, and was supremely interesting. I so enjoyed Cazaril's philosophical and theological ponderings and experiences. The gods are active in Chalion, and Bujold does an amazing job of describing the indescribable. The religion is still practiced and experienced by real people, and is part of a real world, while at the same time transcending both. I don't know if that makes any sense at all - you'll just have to read the book and see for yourself. :)
5) Yay for Iselle! Again, because it's such a character driven story, I can't say too much without giving away key plot points, but seeing Iselle's struggle within the patriarchal society of Chalion, and her development into a strong, well-rounded person, was wonderful.
6) This book is so real, without resorting to being gritty or gruesome. Bad stuff happens, but it isn't dwelt on. People bleed, but we don't get a three page description of where all their various insides ended up.
My mind is over-flowing with all the things I want to say about how amazing this book is, but I do have other things to do today so I'm going to leave it there. Suffice it to say it's a truly wonderful story that you should go read right now.
The Not-So-Good Stuff:
1) It's a little bit slow to start, but that's so incredibly minor. I only mention it so that y'all know to keep going. It picks up by about chapter three.
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