Helpful Score: 1
Fantastic, Bujold at top form. A nice fable-like story with a realistically detailed (i.e. not fluffy pseudo-Wiccan nonsense) magical system, a great sense of the historical period, and fully dimensional characters, with a sweet love story to boot.
And it has to be mentioned, it features a young black woman as its heroine! And she KICKS ASS. I can't even think of another historical fantasy book featuring a minority who's not a stereotype/sidekick/exotic-object-of-lust. Kudos to Bujold.
And it has to be mentioned, it features a young black woman as its heroine! And she KICKS ASS. I can't even think of another historical fantasy book featuring a minority who's not a stereotype/sidekick/exotic-object-of-lust. Kudos to Bujold.
Helpful Score: 1
Bujold is an excellent writer, but I didn't feel the plot was as tight as some of her other works.
This book was enjoyable light reading. The story was interesting and new.
This is the first Bujold I've ever read, and while it was slow to start, I really enjoyed it.
Well written entertaining fantasy.
Loved this story about Fiametta Beneforte, daughter of a magician-goldsmith who would rather have her assist him, clean and cook but was not willing to teach her the magic he knew. But Fiametta was bright, observant and skillful, too. She would poke into her father's notes and experiment on her own even making a spirit ring.
Thur Ochs wanted to escape the cold and icy mines where he worked. The work was arduous and the ore was becoming less and less rich. His brother, knowing of Thur's wish to leave the mines talks to Fiametta's father hoping that he would take Thur on as an apprentice. Yes, he will! However, a betrayal at a banquet at which Master Beneforte is to present a special salt cellar to the Duke finds both Beneforte and his daughter fleeing for their lives. When the master dies of a heart attack while defending himself and his daughter, Fiametta finds herself alone and running for her life. She meets Thur who accompanies her and the two have to find a way to survive and save the Duke's country.
In some sense this book could be a historical fantasy. The idea from the book came from family connections and experiences. She built upon what she discovered to created this charming story. I so enjoyed this read that I gave it five stars. Very well done. Very nice tale about a young couple whose lives become entwined through those who use vile magic to control people around them to rule first the city and then the area around it.
Thur Ochs wanted to escape the cold and icy mines where he worked. The work was arduous and the ore was becoming less and less rich. His brother, knowing of Thur's wish to leave the mines talks to Fiametta's father hoping that he would take Thur on as an apprentice. Yes, he will! However, a betrayal at a banquet at which Master Beneforte is to present a special salt cellar to the Duke finds both Beneforte and his daughter fleeing for their lives. When the master dies of a heart attack while defending himself and his daughter, Fiametta finds herself alone and running for her life. She meets Thur who accompanies her and the two have to find a way to survive and save the Duke's country.
In some sense this book could be a historical fantasy. The idea from the book came from family connections and experiences. She built upon what she discovered to created this charming story. I so enjoyed this read that I gave it five stars. Very well done. Very nice tale about a young couple whose lives become entwined through those who use vile magic to control people around them to rule first the city and then the area around it.
