The Sharing Knife, Volume 1 Audiobook By Lois McMaster Bujold cover art

The Sharing Knife, Volume 1

Beguilement

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The Sharing Knife, Volume 1

By: Lois McMaster Bujold
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
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Young, pregnant Fawn Bluefield has just fled her family's farm to the city of Glassforge, where she encounters a patrol of the enigmatic soldier-sorcerers known as Lakewalkers. Fawn has heard stories about the Lakewalkers, who are wandering necromancers with no permanent homes and no possessions except the clothes they wear and the mysterious knives they carry. What she does not know is that the Lakewalkers are engaged in a perilous campaign against inhuman and immortal magical entities known as "malices".

When Fawn is kidnapped by one of these creatures, it is up to Dag, an older Lakewalker, heavy with sorrows and responsibilities, to rescue her. But in the ensuing struggle, it is not Dag but Fawn who kills the creature, at dire cost. And an uncanny accident befalls Dag's sharing knife, which unexpectedly binds their two fates together.

Don't miss the second volume, Legacy.©2007 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc. Epic Fantasy Fiction Romance Magic

Critic reviews

"Bujold develops the characters and their relationship skillfully enough to please romance as well as fantasy fans." ( Booklist)
"[A] saga of daring deeds and unlikely romance. Bujold quickly develops unforgettable characters as she crafts a world filled with unique monsters and an original approach to magic." ( Library Journal)
"Compelling characters lift this first of a two-book romantic fantasy from Hugo-winner Bujold....Bujold hints at an epic past of mighty kingdoms and ancient sorceries, a past that will hopefully be fully detailed in the sequel." ( Publishers Weekly)
Rich Worldbuilding • Complex Characters • Compelling Fantasy Elements • Moral Themes • Engaging Romance • Soothing Voice
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This is a fairly solid, even standard fantasy story. It is also, unabashedly, a romance novel. I'm not usually a fan of romance novels, but it was tastefully done and the fantasy bits were likely enough to keep me involved. Overall it is a great tale if you don't mind mixing the genres.

Would you like romance with your fantasy?

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Sweet and comfortable love story and I am cutting this review short to go buy the next one now!

Love love

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I liked the story, even though it's definitely the "weak, stupid, young damsel in distress" and "interracial romance is forbidden" and "age gap love" tropes because the fantasy world with Malices is interesting. But I was disappointed there wasn't more development of that throughout the book. The first few chapters were combat/adventure, and the rest of the book is a love story. I think the author was trying to make people uncomfortable and challenge views, but it's kinda extra, how the author tries to do it. Overall, I was entertained for a 9-hour bus ride, and the narrator performance was great, so not a loss. I'm just not sure I'll try the second book. I need a little more substance to a romantic fantasy than "We're in love" and managing the world's response to an unlikely pairing. I have autism and just cannot grasp social relationships in the same way others do, so maybe that's why it turned me off once they took the relationship back to the judgy family. I wouldn't care what they think or about getting their blessings, especially if I had been emotionally abused or neglected by them, but it seems normal social behavior to need to? want to? get the approval of people who haven't treated you that great nevertheless in society... I guess. Mind boggling, really...

A few chapters of action, then all romance.

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I love weird and interesting worlds. This one fits the weird category. I loved the series and have listened to it three or four times. #funlisten #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Weird World

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it made me thoughtful on the way we interact with the world around us. Beautiful

loved it

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I've loved listening to this entire series! I enjoyed it even more than Bujold's other fantasy works. All four books are great, but definitely start with this one, as the series is essentially one long story broken up into 4 books. Book 1 introduces the wonderful romantic relationship that runs through the series, between two thoroughly memorable characters Fawn and Dag, and sets up everything that they will be working for and fighting for in the later books.

The world of the story is very rich, and the ideas it explores are actually more sophisticated than many fantasy novels. There is less "sword and sorcery" in it than in the more male-oriented fantasy volumes. I think that women listeners will really love this series. It is about relationships and love, about different paradigms and world views, and how to harmonise people's differences.

There is so much love and joy in this book! It is very gripping, yet nothing too terrible happens in it, and all the characters learn and grow, which is very satisfying. It is a very uplifting story and I always felt happy when listening to it.

Re the narrator: The characters in this series are wonderful and really come to life in this reading by Bernadette Dunne. Every single character is immediately recognisable as soon as they speak - I don't know how she does it! It is one of the best narrations I have experienced so far on Audible. Five stars!

A truly wonderful series for women!

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Bujold is masterful story teller, Sometimes I have to take breaks from reading due to it causing me heart palpitations.

A Masterful story teller

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While I enjoyed the story it wasn’t what I was expecting.
I was expecting more of an in depth story line with action and some romance (like the Challion series). Instead this is a romance novel with a sprinkling of magic and some action.

Book 1 & 2 are both good stories but again they are not fantasy/action novels – they are love stories.

If I had purchased these as romance novels I would have given them a 4 but I was expecting more out of Bujold.

Not bad for a Romance Novel, but not her best work

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I reached the end of this novel and said "But it nothing's really happened yet, It can't be over." The characters were nice, the story was nice, but I felt like this was definitely a prelude, not a novel in itself. But it didn't interest me enough to read the second one.
Bujold novels are at the top of my reading list, but this one didn't make the grade. As an average romance fantasy written by an average fantasy author, it's fine.

NIce enough but I felt un-fulfilled.

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This is a must read series. I can't wait until the next book comes out. This storyline is well written and the chacter detail is just amazing. This author did an outstanding job.

Amazing

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