The Curse of Chaliom

Sometimes you're at a used book sale and you see a different edition of a book you already own. But you love the book so much that you have to buy this new edition. And then you have to read it to justify the purchase. This is probably the best method for revisiting an old favorite.

I first read this book nearly a decade ago. I then proceeded to work through everything else Bujold had written in the next few years. She's still writing some - releasing a novella or two a year. But it was so nice to dive into a full-length adventure from her again, and to remember why I fell in love with her writing in the first place.

This story focuses on Cazaril. He has just escaped from several years of slavery and is hoping to spend the rest of his life quietly and anonymously with some small, easy employment. But when he is assigned to be the secretary-tutor for the princess, he finds himself thrust into politics. And when he finds himself the chosen vessel of one of the gods, politics and theology clash in really interesting ways.

This is mostly a slow, introspective story. Iselle is a great example of a strong, smart woman who isn't cast as a warrior. Her talents lie in politics, and she uses every resource she has to fight for justice. She's still one of my favorite princesses.

On this read-through, I was struck by how well this book would work as a gateway fantasy book. The magic is rare and powerful and mostly tied up in miracles. The plot is heavily inspired by Spanish history, so the it almost reads more like historical fiction than true fantasy. I'm starting to hope I can convince my book club to read it.