The Sharing Knife, Volume 1

Beguilement

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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)

Love love

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

Would you like romance with your fantasy?

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.

Weird World

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

loved it

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

A truly wonderful series for women!

Any additional comments?

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 few chapters of action, then all romance.

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...

True love and a wry look at life

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Lois McMaster Bujold has characters you can respect and grow to love.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Sharing Knife, Volume 1?

The loving couple was on the fifth day of their 2-day trip. That thought is quietly inserted into the descriptions.

Have you listened to any of Bernadette Dunne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The reader catches the voices of the aunt's patient comforting and of the youngest brother's careless teasing.

my favorite series

This is the first book in the Sharing Knife series and is such a lovely quadrilogy. It begins with the meeting of two people from various different backgrounds and customs and sets the world and the two main characters. Together they work to build a better world for all.

Awesome Story with Excellent Narration

Just the fantasy escape I needed! Couldn't stop listening the author has great style and the world she built is very intriguing.

Awesome find!

This was an awesome surprise. After going through the entire Vorkosigan library I decided to try more of her works and although I missed Grover Gardner I thoroughly enjoyed this title and and starting Volume 2 today. Thank you for all you do Louis!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏻🤗