[Hobbit]

Just realised that (with about 8 hours to go!) that I hadn't made any comments about this book. :(

I'll try and keep it short for a change.

SPOILERS.......



OK - Curse of Chalion is a literate read, with an interesting premise and world setup, though most of the book concentrates on a small part of it - that around the main characters. The lead character, deity and 'hero' (though more of a reluctant antihero) is an interesting and unusual character, especially when you read of the understated backstory. Caz is a person with history. He is a worn out hero, which is interesting.

Bujold has used her well developed writing skills in order to produce a well-written page turner, though I would add that the world is not a pleasant one - indeed, it is a harsh one, hardly romanticised - there are gruesome deaths, tortures, and sacrifices to death gods for example, as well as the usual courtly machinations and intrigue.

There are plot devices that are a little obvious - Beatriz's romance with Caz is obvious, but humourous, for example, and the main one to me particularly was the one on which much of the book seems to hinge, about Princess Iselle and her Prince - but Bujold has the skill to keep it going.

It is not Bujold's first foray into fantasy (try the Spirit Ring for that) but it is an interesting one. :)


END SPOILERS

Hobbit

[Zedar]

(resurrecting another thread as I go through all the bookclub threads for books I've read)

Note: I listed to this as an audiobook, so forgive any manglings of characters names... :)

I really enjoyed curse of chalion, thought it was a nice easy read (as such), with an interesting story and enjoyable characters. I really thought the strongest aspect in this case was the worldbuilding. The world itself was clearly recognizable as 15th century spain, but with a few twists. The religion especially was a high point for me.

Contrary to many here though, I found the characters to be the weakest point. Most of them seem to be rather shallow stereotpes, either purely altruistic or purely evil, with a "whiny prince", and "weak will monarch" thrown in for good measure. The only interesting character was the chancellor in my opinion. Not that this stopped me from enjoying the book a great deal, the storyline was more than enough to keep me going :)