The Spirit Ring

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

In an alternate Renaissance Italy where the church regulates magic and licenses magicians, fiery Fiametta Beneforte wants to be more than her goldsmith-mage father's unpaid apprentice. But when the Duchy of Montefoglia is laid under military and magical siege, she unexpectedly must join with Thur Ochs, a young Swiss miner and foundryman, to tap their skills in both metalwork and necromancy to rescue her father's soul and combat an evil sorcerer.

©2019 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A lovely fantasy with just enough magic

Bujold's imagination is surprisingly clever. But it is only surprising if you only know her Vorkosigan SF. The characters are either delightfully good or ferociously evil. The tale has a happy ending with the loose ends all tied off. I thoroughly enjoyed it as much as I like her military space operas.

Middle age magic

Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Spirit Ring is a fantasy tale in a medieval setting where magic is overseen the dominant religion that is decidedly Roman Catholic in structure. A young girl, whose father is an artist with magical skills, has ambitions of magic, but gender roles preclude formal training. Allied with a young man who is the brother of a soldier in town after marriage arrangement goes awry, the girl and boy lead efforts to defeat the occupiers.

Bujold crafts an intriguing tale that relies on classical medieval times with the insertion of magic. The Church exerts mostly resistance to magic, while the girl must eventually rely on questionable dark arts to defeat the evil usurper.

The narration is well done with decent character distinction. Pacing is smooth for easy listening.

Fantastic piece of historical fantasy

Having never read any of this author, I chose to start with the first of her works, and can only say that I'm certainly in for a treat given how strong this piece opens. Engaging and human characters, witty humor and a knack for leaving just enough of her magic system to the imagination to retain mystery, Bujold conjurs up an engaging sword and sorcery drama set in medieval Italy, with political intrigue and even a few cameos by real historical figures, now cast through the lens of a developing Renaissance in which ceremonial magic vies for favor in the eyes of the Catholic Church. I am most reminded of Avram Davidson's Vergil Magus series, and honestly the finale of the Spirit Ring now ranks as my favorite and most innovative use of necromancy in any fiction I've ever encountered. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Very nice book

The narrator has a quite strong American accent. However, after you get used to it everything is excellent and the narration is very good and clear.

An engrossing story read by a skilled narrator

Renaissance-era Italy reimagined to include magic, both light and dark. A well-told story that I just didn't want to stop reading!

Note about the narrator: While his style may not be to everyone's taste, I found him quite competent and I enjoyed this listen. Unsure if you'll like it? That's what the sample is for. But, as to those who abject because he is the same narrator as the Vorkosigan Saga (a vastly different story to this one), I can only wonder why. After all, they were written by the same author. Why not be read by the same narrator? I choose to see it as a positive thing, artistic diversity from both the author and the narrator.

not a bad one shot story

was written pretty well. the concept is pretty cool. some parts do seem a bit rushed but it still fits well into the happenings of the story.

I couldn't continue

I'd only started the book...maybe a couple chapters in...did not finish. This narration is just not for me personally. The story sounds like it has promise and it's a genre I enjoy so I will look into purchasing the physical book.

It was really hard to connect with the characters.

After experiencing the vivid characters in the Miles Vorkosigan series, I found the characters in the story fairly flat and lifeless. I did manage to finish the story, but I wouldn’t be interested in reading anything more in this storyline.

Great story

A great story and performance but the chapters that are listed as an hour long are actually 1/3 material that was already performed within the same chapter.

great story but

yeah, it is Not the story that I complain about but this recording. About every other chapter, it would bump back and replay that chapter instead of continueing to the next. Great story. wnt places I didn't expect