Dag saves Fawn from a malice – at a devastating cost. The necromancers armed with human bone knives fight “malices”, immortal entities that draw out life, enslaving humans and animals. Enroute to the city, she encounters a patrol of Lakewalkers.
Troubled young Fawn Bluefield seeks a life beyond her family’s farm. Without more action, these reviewers found that it made the story slow: The Curse of Chalion centers around relationship development, character growth and court intrigue. Most of these readers found the lack of action in the story disappointing. Readers who didn’t rate the book highly essentially found the novel’s strengths to be its weaknesses. They also remarked that the story had an enjoyable political intrigue plot and a fleshed-out religious system. Readers who rated this fantasy book highly enjoyed how thoughtful the novel was and its focus on the nuances of Cazaril’s internal journey.Ĭazaril isn’t a typical fantasy main character – he’s neither a valiant warrior nor mighty mage – but this is what made him more relatable to positive reviewers. What Do Readers Say?įirst on our list of slow-burn fantasy romance books is The Curse of Chalion. Only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics, can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge - an act that will mark the loyal, damaged servant as a tool of the miraculous, and trap him, flesh and soul, in a maze of demonic paradox, damnation and death. In addition to the traitorous intrigues of villains, Cazaril and the Royesse Iselle are faced with a sinister curse that hangs like a sword over the entire blighted House of Chalion and all who stand in their circle. It is an assignment Cazaril dreads, for it will ultimately lead him to the place he fears most, the royal court of Cardegoss, where the powerful enemies, who once placed him in chains, now occupy lofty positions. To his great surprise, he’s named as the secretary-tutor to the beautiful, strong-willed sister of the impetuous boy who is next in line to rule. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold DescriptionĪ man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril has returned to the noble household he once served as page. To put it differently: don’t let some of their older cover art styles chase you off!Īlso, for a quick comparison, here’s a comparison. So, you’ll see several that have been in print for more than a decade since their first publication.
I’ve chosen to include ones consistently recommended over time, not necessarily the newly released and currently popular fantasy books. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold.Here’s a list of the best slow-burn fantasy romance books to read: Looking for great, slow-burn fantasy romance books? Plenty of fantasy books have romance sub-plots, but what about ones where the romantic aspect is balance almost equally to the fantasy plot?įortunately, authors have written just such novels over the years.