Journal Entry 1 by Kyrissaean from Littleton, New Hampshire USA on Friday, February 29, 2008

Unabridged, 16 hrs 22 min. Audible download burned to CD's.

Romantic Times Award Winner - Best Fantasy Novel, 2003
Hugo Award Winner, Best Novel, 2004
Nebula Award Winner, Best Novel, 2004

And narrated by Kate Reading. Hot d*mn!

So naturally, this is my least favorite book in the series. I swear these awards are like the Oscars, where you really win because you should have won before! Still very good, but it's just longer then it needed to be -- this should have been edited to about a 12 hour read instead of 16.

Anyway this is the second book in the Chalion series, although this series is not all one long story -- each book has it's own stand-alone plot set in the same world. This novel sees a new main character introduced in The Curse of Chalion setting off on her own adventure. And not just anybody -- the murderous, insane dowager queen! I love that about Bujold -- it's not all about the youth on the brink of adulthood over and over again.



From Publishers Weekly
In this sequel to The Curse of Chalion (2001), rich in sumptuous detail and speculative theology, dowager royina Ista Dy Baocia undertakes a pilgrimage to ease her soul-and finds instead that in Chalion, Bujold's handsomely crafted fantasy world ruled by Five Gods "just around some strange corner of perception," a more dangerous fate awaits than she could ever have imagined. Swordplay and sorcery sweep sensitive, sensible 40-year-old Ista into Chalion's border stronghold of Porifors, where enemy Roknari incursions and demons from the Fifth God's hell threaten Ista's realm, held precariously at bay by the charismatic Arhys dy Lutez. Ista's romantic quest to save Arhys and his magnetic half-brother, Illvin, teems with equal parts of unearthly magic and down-to-earth quasi-medieval lore. Despite an occasional lapse into adolescent angst and spurts of superficial dialogue, high fantasy fans should thrill at Ista's spiritual perils, while horse admirers of all ages should savor even Ista's saddle sores. This engaging installment of Chalion's mythical history whets the appetite for new marvels yet to come. FYI: Bujold has won both Hugo and Nebula awards.