Scan barcode
trin's review against another edition
4.0
The start of a new fantasy series that, like Bujold's other works, is full of great dialogue and compelling characters; however, it suffers from being really, really oddly paced. All the action is concentrated in the first half of the book, the rest given over to a romance plot that leaves what one would generally think of as the main plot dangling until the next volume. I actually really enjoyed how Bujold dealt with the culture clash aspects—rather than just have one of the protagonists say, "Oh, what will our families think!" we actually got to see what their families thought; it made me want to read more books (even non-SF/F books) about "mixed marriages" of whatever sort. So I enjoyed this a lot even though the strange pacing made the overall effect...odd.
matchamarimo's review against another edition
3.0
For the first half or so of this book, I was getting really excited.
I'd found Beguilement in the discount bin at a bookstore and thought I might have found a new favourite for a great price. The action was fast-paced, the worldbuilding and magic were promising, and I was intrigued by the mysterious older love interest.
However, as the story moved past the halfway point, I started to lose interest.
The plot turned from a fast-paced adventure about fighting an evil magical infestation to focusing almost exclusively on the relationship between Fawn and Dag. Normally a focus on the romance wouldn't bother me that much, as it's usually one of my favourite parts of a story, but in this case it lost its spark.
The two spend much of the second half of the book travelling to Fawn's home, where the focus of the story becomes how other people see their relationship, and their impending marriage. After all the action of the first half, this seemed like a bit of a letdown.
I also found myself getting a bit bored with the main character. I understand that she could be fairly innocent having grown up in a small farming town, but after a while Fawn and her big doe eyes started to grate on my nerves, and I started to question why someone as worldly as Dag would even be interested in her.
This is the first book I've read by Lois McMaster Bujold. By the end of Beguilement, I'd lost enough interest in he characters and the story that I won't be reading the next installment in the series, but I enjoyed her writing style and the first half of the plot enough that I will definitely be trying some of her other novels.
I'd found Beguilement in the discount bin at a bookstore and thought I might have found a new favourite for a great price. The action was fast-paced, the worldbuilding and magic were promising, and I was intrigued by the mysterious older love interest.
However, as the story moved past the halfway point, I started to lose interest.
The plot turned from a fast-paced adventure about fighting an evil magical infestation to focusing almost exclusively on the relationship between Fawn and Dag. Normally a focus on the romance wouldn't bother me that much, as it's usually one of my favourite parts of a story, but in this case it lost its spark.
The two spend much of the second half of the book travelling to Fawn's home, where the focus of the story becomes how other people see their relationship, and their impending marriage. After all the action of the first half, this seemed like a bit of a letdown.
I also found myself getting a bit bored with the main character. I understand that she could be fairly innocent having grown up in a small farming town, but after a while Fawn and her big doe eyes started to grate on my nerves, and I started to question why someone as worldly as Dag would even be interested in her.
This is the first book I've read by Lois McMaster Bujold. By the end of Beguilement, I'd lost enough interest in he characters and the story that I won't be reading the next installment in the series, but I enjoyed her writing style and the first half of the plot enough that I will definitely be trying some of her other novels.
jadom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alicebme's review against another edition
3.0
Suggested by shelf talker at Powell’s. Good read. I look forward to reading other LMB books.
applegnreads's review against another edition
3.0
it is odd to see bujold write a romance. still fantasy though.
laurentined's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It's a romance in fantasy clothes, if anything. Started out thinking it would be a monster hunting story with a side of romance but we pretty quickly focus down on the love interests.
Complaints about the age difference and the childishly inexperienced woman are all valid. We've all read these scenes hundreds of times, I could recite them in my sleep.
And despite it though I genuinely had a decent time reading it.
They're not eternally memorable characters but it's a nice enough love story.
Complaints about the age difference and the childishly inexperienced woman are all valid. We've all read these scenes hundreds of times, I could recite them in my sleep.
And despite it though I genuinely had a decent time reading it.
They're not eternally memorable characters but it's a nice enough love story.
katieinca's review against another edition
3.0
Actually less romance-y than I was I was expecting, although I guess that was the main beginning-to-end plot thread. Also there was monster killing, road tripping, and family-wrangling. I learned from Wikipedia that this was basically the first half of a book, and this + Legacy feels like that. It's a little cheesy and occasionally frustrating, and so probably not destined to be my favorite Bujold, but I'm still very much looking forward to the rest of the short series. Favorite quote from this one, about looking back at what-ifs: "been down that road and back up it enough times to be thoroughly tired of the scenery."
songwind's review against another edition
5.0
Are you interested in intriguing world-building, unusual magic systems, and romance? Then this book should be on your shelf.
It's the story of Fawn, a young lady newly on her own and pregnant, and her unwitting entanglement in the ongoing war between the Lakewalkers and the evil corrupting forces they call Malices.
It's the story of Dag, veteran Lakewalker patroller and low-key magical prodigy. It's the story of how his obsessive vendetta against the Malices throws him together with Fawn, and how they come together to stay alive.
It's the story of how two people from very different (but inescapably intertwined) cultures work together to overcome a horrible evil, terrible danger, and mutual incomprehension to become allies, friends, and even more.
The book is well written, nicely paced, and beautiful in places. It has a lot to say about accepting our differences without denigrating or ignoring them.
The only complaint I have is that the book feels like it should have been longer. Though the ending of the book comes at a satisfying time, it doesn't really constitute a whole story in itself. A major story goal that is established in the first half of this book remains unaddressed by the end. This is only part of the major overarching plot that is being revealed, which is fine. But this particular task took so much of the characters' (and narrative's) attention in the middle of the book that having it left dangling at the end just felt awkward.
On the other hand, it did make certain I want to read or listen to book 2 sooner than later.
It's the story of Fawn, a young lady newly on her own and pregnant, and her unwitting entanglement in the ongoing war between the Lakewalkers and the evil corrupting forces they call Malices.
It's the story of Dag, veteran Lakewalker patroller and low-key magical prodigy. It's the story of how his obsessive vendetta against the Malices throws him together with Fawn, and how they come together to stay alive.
It's the story of how two people from very different (but inescapably intertwined) cultures work together to overcome a horrible evil, terrible danger, and mutual incomprehension to become allies, friends, and even more.
The book is well written, nicely paced, and beautiful in places. It has a lot to say about accepting our differences without denigrating or ignoring them.
The only complaint I have is that the book feels like it should have been longer. Though the ending of the book comes at a satisfying time, it doesn't really constitute a whole story in itself. A major story goal that is established in the first half of this book remains unaddressed by the end. This is only part of the major overarching plot that is being revealed, which is fine. But this particular task took so much of the characters' (and narrative's) attention in the middle of the book that having it left dangling at the end just felt awkward.
On the other hand, it did make certain I want to read or listen to book 2 sooner than later.
ennakym's review against another edition
4.0
A farmer’s daughter meets an adventuring lake walker who wins her over by telling her repeatedly how competent she is. Lovely.