The Curse of ChalionThe Curse of Chalion
Score Modern
What it's about
Cazaril was a soldier and a nobleman until he was betrayed and sold as a slave to row in enemy galleys. Broken in body, he comes home hoping only for a quiet job in the household where he was once a page, and is made tutor to the young Royesse Iselle, sister of the heir to the throne. He soon learns a curse lies on her family, and that breaking it may cost his life.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Hugo finalist and won the Mythopoeic Award. It's a thoughtful, warm fantasy with a gentle, middle-aged hero and an original take on gods and faith.
You'll love it if you liked
The Tainted Cup
Uprooted
The Lord of the RingsGood to know
It's inspired by medieval Spain. It stands on its own, though there are related books.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics25 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller29 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #65 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #154 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #532 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1028 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Lois McMaster Bujold
Barrayar
Paladin of Souls
Mirror Dance
The Vor GameIf you like this, read next
Scythe
Skyward
Thief of Time
The Sword of Kaigen
The Alloy of Law
Dead and GoneExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Curse of Chalion worth reading?
Yes. It was a Hugo finalist and won the Mythopoeic Award. It ranks #1,028 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Curse of Chalion about?
Cazaril was a soldier and a nobleman until he was betrayed and sold as a slave to row in enemy galleys. Broken in body, he comes home hoping only for a quiet job in the household where he was once a page, and is made tutor to the young Royesse Iselle, sister of the heir to the throne. He soon learns a curse lies on her family, and that breaking it may cost his life.
How long does it take to read The Curse of Chalion?
About 13 hours (512 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Curse of Chalion?
If you liked it, try The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, Uprooted by Naomi Novik or The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.